Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards are the hardest to make, but this one was made with so much love and many prayers as I worked bit by bit...  From death comes life, just as the fading leaves bring forth fresh soil for new growth.  There is hope, my friends.  From the ashes of this life God can bring beauty and wholeness.  If you would like to talk about the promises of God and how He can bring you from death into life, please email me through the link in my sidebar. 

For this card I wanted to use spring green, with a bit of fall hue.  I pulled a plaid background I had shared earlier in THIS post.  Here is the video I made for two-toned plaid background stamping.

I used 5.5 x 4.25" mixed media cardstock that was precut in a pack.  I wanted to elongate my design, so I ran the Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangle die through my machine until I got to the end and stopped. 

I lined up the opposite end with the die and put it upside down in my machine for a second run, this time just barely going over the top end.  

Here you can see where the die cut pattern meets.  I knew I was going to add a strip across this section, so it works just fine and gave me the elongated shape I needed.

I have many beautiful scripture stamps by Verve, but none so encouraging as this verse.  I cut it freehand like a scroll and sponged the edges, then curved it with a paintbrush handle.  I tucked it beneath my Skeleton Leaf die, which I had stained with Twisted Citron, Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  I used the 3D Scallop Impresslit to cover the gap on my background. 

The leaves rest on a die cut Stitched Oval, stained with Antique Linen Distress Oxide.   The panel behind the plaid was stamped with the Entomology stamp set script.  On the inside of the card I added another sponged die cut.

I finished it off with a wrap of bakers twine and a Tim Holtz brad.  With love and condolences to the Thomason family...

Darkroom Door Majestic Mountains Stamped Card

Pause the regularly scheduled program for a inky good stamping time - just for fun!  :)  Aren't those the best?!  I received the oh so dear to my heart Majestic Mountains stamp set by Darkroom Door and just had to take a moment to play.  DH and I were supposed to go hiking today and I made this card to entice him, but instead had to attend a funeral for our youngest son's best friend's daddy.  What a terrible loss.  Please lift up the Thomason family in your prayers.  It's unthinkable...

I was in the mood for bright and summer colors, since it's still hot outside and I've been making so so many fall cards.  I sponged BluePrint Sketch and Mowed Lawn inward on my Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangle die cut, then sprayed water in the center to lift some of the excess ink off.  I dried the panel, then did the spritz and lift technique.

My elements were made with my stamping tool and Distress Ink pads.  I added color and more color until I got such vibrant effects, then had a fussy cutting marathon.  Whew!  ;0  I wanted a plaid background and finally decided on this stencil by Carta Bella.  I totally love this new stamp set and know you will too.  Make sure to play along with the current Travel challenge on the Darkroom Door Inspiration Facebook page with #ddoctoberchallenge.

Tim Holtz Autumn Wishes Leaves Card

Hi there and welcome!  Today I'm sharing more of a shabby chic style card with you.  I wanted to create some lighter color schemes in my fall designs this year, so I dipped my white panel into Antique Linen Distress Ink, then added some stamping in Rusty Hinge.  I used the Tim Holtz Ledger Script and Ornate Trims stamps and some Nature's Wonder leaves, stamped behind the circles.

I made my flower with Tim's Tattered Florals die using Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks.  I tucked in the pine cones from the Festive Greens die set and some of Tim's jute string with some sisal fibers.

I used the 1" Alphanumeric set for the sentiment, with a Small Talk sticker.  I used Tim's Stitched Circles and cut the bottom one with my Wendy Vecchi plaid background stamp I shared HERE.  The perched butterfly is from Tim's Botanical Ephemera set.  I sanded it lightly and added a touch of Vintage Photo sponging.

I tucked in a few dyed leaves from the Fall Foliage die set to complete the design.  I hope you've been inspired by this light, bright card design. 

Tim Holtz Hello Autumn Funky Foliage and Woodgrain Card

Hi friends!  Today I'm sharing a fall card I made for my sweet friend Madelyn using the Tim Holtz Funky Foliage dies and the 3D Lumber Texture Fade.

As I shared in THIS post and THIS post, I sanded Tim Holtz Kraft Core Cardstock by Core'dinations, then cut and assembled a stash of these precious dies.  I sponged them a little here and there with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For my wood grain background, I embossed the Lumber 3D folder with kraft cardstock, then dipped in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain and distressed the edges, particularly in the seams of the "wood."

I used the Friendship Script die for my sentiment, paired with some stamping using a $1 alphabet set.  The oval panel was cut from Tim's Stitched Ovals and dipped in Antique Linen Distress Oxide, then stamped with the (Lattice &) Flourish stamp.  What fun!  Wishing you a crafty good time this week...

Tim Holtz Pumpkin Patch Thanksgiving Fall Card

Today I'm sharing a compilation card of oldie but goodie Tim Holtz products for this pumpkin patch design.  I find that I've had to be quite creative with coming up with sentiment ideas since I didn't have any fall quotes or dies.  This time I reached for the Shadow Script #2 die and paired it with a tiny stamped banner using $1 bin alphabets.

I shared the 1 minute video below on Instagram (@sewpaperpaint) to show how easy it is to ink up a huge batch of leaves for fall cardmaking.  I used these leaves as the base for my arrangement, then layered with a twig cut from the Fall Foliage leaves set, a crackled Scroll painted with Peeled Paint Distress Paint, a handmade flower from the Tattered Florals die and some sisal fibers.  I shared a tutorial on making flowers HERE if you're interested.

My background was stamped with Tim's (Mesh &) Linen stamp.  I inked it with several colors and repeat stamped it until I was happy.  I spritzed it with water to let it blend a little and help the colors pop.  

The Pumpkin Bigz die was embossed with the Woodgrain Texture Fade and sponged with Vintage Photo.  I added a leaf from the Funky Foliage dies and a loopy bakers twine bow.  I hope you're inspired to play with your goodies and mostly to be thankful today for our many blessings.  So what are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.  Hugs, Autumn