Hello there and welcome to the final day of the August Countdown at Papertrey Ink! Tonight is the night when all of the new goodies you've gotten glimpses of all week, will finally be available for purchase!
I'm pleased to get to help introduce you to two more stamp sets from this release, both of which were designed by Nichole Heady herself! The first set I'd like to show you is called Leaf Prints and it consists of a variety of fall-type leaf images -- both the solid images with some distressing as well as images to allow you to add the veining that you see on leaves. There is also a set of coordinating leaf dies that you are going to LOVE!
Let's get right to today's first project.....I've got LOTS to show you today! First up, how about a fall wreath for your front door?
To get started, I bought a 12" PlastiFoam wreath at Michael's for about $5.50. Then, I cut dark chocolate card stock into strips measuring 1 1/2" x 11". I used 19 strips of card stock in total. To get that many strips, you'll need 4 sheets of card stock.
I chose to wrap the wreath in dark chocolate card stock because I didn't want the green color to show at all, so it wouldn't clash with the colors on my wreath. You could also wrap the wreath in ribbon, however card stock is a much more cost effective route. You could also paint the wreath if you wanted.
As you can see in the photo above, I added strips of scor-tape on either end of each strip of card stock. Then I just began wrapping the card stock around the wreath, securing the ends along the way. As you're wrapping, you'll need to sort of mush the card stock around the wreath well since card stock isn't as soft and pliable as ribbon would be. Don't worry about it though because when we're finished, the card stock will be covered with leaves.
Here's how the wreath will look when it's been wrapped with card stock all the way around.
Next up, I used the new Leaf Print dies to die cut 4 different types of leaves from ripe avocado, dark chocolate, and terracotta tile card stock as well as some kraft patterned paper from the 2009 Bitty Dot Basics collection. All in all, I used about 75 leaves. Keep in mind that since there are 4 leaf dies, you can cut multiple leaves out at once from the same piece of card stock. I laid all 4 dies on the cutting platform and then put a piece of card stock over them all, to help minimize my cutting time.
Once the leaves were die cut, I stamped each one with the coordinating 'veining images' from the Leaf Prints stamp set using versamark ink. After that, I distressed the edges of each leaf quickly with vintage touch tea dye ink.
Now comes the fun part! After all the leaves were stamped and inked, I gathered them all up in a pile. Then I took the pile of leaves in my hands and mashed them into a ball, basically wadding them up! By doing them all at once like this, you don't get TOO much crinkling, and the end result looks like a pile of freshly fallen leaves!!
Once your leaves are ready to go, it's time to pull out the scor-tape again. I just put a little strip on the back of each leaf and simply stuck the leaves directly to the card stock on the wreath. Once you get leaves all the way around your wreath, you can go back and fill in any holes that might need another leaf or two. You can make your wreath as full or as thinned out as you'd like!
And the finished wreath!!
In the upper left corner, I attached a bow of terracotta tile saddle stitch ribbon. To the center of the bow, I added a great big dark chocolate button.
This wreath is a simple and inexpensive way to add a bit of fall decor to your home. You could also make them as gifts. The entire project took me about 3 hours to complete and the best part is that it's super inexpensive!
Next up, I have a couple of cards to show you that incorporate both the Leaf Prints stamp set and some Color Couture Vol. 9 Embellies!
For this card, I started out with a harvest gold card base and added a Color Couture trim strip across the lower portion. I then tied a bow from 1/4" white silk ribbon. To the top of the card, I stamped the "Hi-Ya!" sentiment from Say It With Style.
I had a few leaves left over from my wreath project so I used one on this card. :) I die cut a piece of dark chocolate card stock using the Mat Stack 3 die. To that, I added a paper doily from Martha Stewart followed by the "Sweet Cheeks" Color Couture Embellie that I punched out using a 1 3/4" circle punch. Lastly, I added the leaf to the embellie and topped it with a terracotta tile button.
For this card, I couldn't resist die cutting some ledger paper from the Library Ledger collection with the new leaf dies! I LOVE how they turned out! Next, I stamped some of the smaller leaves from Leaf Prints and cut them out, adding them on top of the ledger leaves.
The trim strip along the bottom is another from Color Couture, as well as the "Autumn Bliss" embellie. I finished things off with some melon berry buttons.
And now, I'd like to introduce you to another stamp set designed by Nichole Heady called Places, Please which is a cute little set that allows you to create custom place cards! There is a main frame image in the set as well as quite a few mini images that can be stamped inside the circle portion of the frame.
For today, I thought it'd be fun to put together a place setting in my dining room so you could see this little gem in action. I started out by selecting my color scheme.....I went with cream and red to coordinate with my beautiful vintage embroidered table cloth. The main set of dishes that we eat on everyday are the pretty winter white ones in the photo above. I love having white dishes because I can create a wide variety of different tablescapes just by changing out accessories such as chargers and napkins.
To dress up the red napkin just a bit, I die cut a couple of leaves from vintage cream felt, using the new Leaf Prints dies.
I stamped the veining (from Leaf Prints) on the leaves using dark chocolate ink. Then, I simply stitched the two leaves together with a pure poppy button and a bit of chocolate baker's twine. The leaves are simply laying on the napkin. After the dinner party, these leaves could easily be used again on a card or other paper crafty project!
Here's the little place card I created using the Places Please stamp set. I die cut the little place card using the new place card die and then stamped the frame image in pure poppy ink. I chose to use the little leaf image to help tie in the leaves on the place setting. I hand-wrote my name on the place card but you could easily use several of Papertrey's alphabet stamp sets if you prefer.
Now, I've told you before how much fun I think it is to have a "fancy dinner" at home with family. That could be you and your spouse or you could even throw the kiddos in the mix.....everyone loves a special dinner at home now and then! So, it was with that in mind, that I created a card to give to a loved one (in this case, my hottie hubs) at said "fancy dinner". :)
I used the same Places Please images from the place card to create the focal point on the card. I stamped the "I Love You So Much" sentiment from my Signature Greetings stamp set using dark chocolate ink.
As for that pretty background, I took a piece of rustic cream card stock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the new Guide Lines impression plate. Next, I stamped the pretty little image from the Guide Lines stamp set in each of the little boxes that the impression plate created. I used the medium scallop border die to create the border along the bottom of the card.
Well, I certainly hope you've enjoyed your visit with me today! Nichole Heady and Maile Belles have more new sneak peeks at new sets for you plus Heather Nichols, Alli Miles, Beth Silaika and Tiffany Pastor will all have one last peek at their new sets as well.
I hope your day is positively fabulous!!
xo,
{Fall Leaves Wreath supplies}
Paper: dark chocolate, ripe avocado, terracotta tile, 2009 Bitty Dot Basics
Stamps: Leaf Prints
Ink: versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: plastifoam wreath, scor-tape, leaf prints dies, terracotta tile saddle stitch ribbon, dark chocolate button, rustic cream button twine
{Hi-Ya! Sweet Cheeks supplies}
Paper: harvest gold, dark chocolate, terracotta tile
Stamps: Say It With Style, Leaf Prints
Ink: dark chocolate, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Color Couture Embellies-Vol. 9, Mat Stack 3 die, Leaf Prints die, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" white silk ribbon, terracotta tile button, Martha Stewart paper doily
{Autumn Bliss supplies}
Paper: melon berry, rustic cream, Library Ledger
Stamps: Leaf Prints
Ink: dark chocolate, melon berry, terracotta tile
Other: Color Couture Vol. 9 Embellies, melon berry buttons, Leaf Prints dies
{I Love You So Much supplies}
Paper: pure poppy, dark chocolate, rustic cream
Stamps: Places Please, Guide Lines, Signature Greetings
Ink: dark chocolate, pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: place card die, Guide Lines impression plate, medium scallop border die, pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon
