Susan’s Autumn Flora Collection – Relaxing the Rules

Hello crafty friends! I’m Jean, a papercrafter blogging at Right as Rain. I am delighted to be on the Spellbinders blog today sharing cards created with Susan’s Autumn Flora Collection.

In full disclosure, I am completely new to the world of realistic, dimensional flowers and foliage, and I’m a perfectionist who tends to completely overthink things. With that in mind, I am sharing my process working with these products to create autumn-themed cards. Rather than endeavor to create realistic leaves and greenery, I relaxed the rules, playing with the shape and size of the die-cut pieces. For example, my colors are not entirely accurate, yet the colors I chose evoke autumn.

On the first card, measuring 5"x 7", I created a wreath containing different leaf shapes and colors.

• I colored Bristol board with a variety of Distress Inks.
• I cut the inked Bristol board with five of the leaf dies (Small Oak, Large Oak, Small Maple, Large Maple, and Birch) in the Woodland Garden Leaves I cut multiples of the leaves from a variety of colors. I also cut branches using the Bittersweet die in the Foliage and Ladybugs set.

• I arranged the leaves and branches in a wreath formation, varying the leaf shape and color. I photographed the wreath so that I would have a record of the arrangement.
• I dismantled the arrangement and inked both the edges and the undersides (around the edges which might show) of the leaves. For example, I added Rusty Hinge to a leaf inked in Mustard Seed and Fired Brick to a leaf inked in Candied Apple.

• Using the 1mm tip in the Stylus Tips set with the Tool 'n One, I scored the center of the leaves from the back. I folded the center back exposing the leaf’s vein and applied Bright Yellow Green Pan Pastel with a foam applicator.

• I added vein lines to the leaves with 1mm tip. As a perfectionist, this is where I resisted the process. The vein lines I added are not botanically accurate.
• With the 3 mm stylus tip, I worked the leaves both inside and out to curl and distress on a foam pad. Finally, I added more Distress Ink and reapplied the Pan Pastel as needed.
• I cut a circular frame from cardstock with nesting circle dies on which to glue the leaves.
• Using the original photo as my guide, I glued the leaves and branches (which I trimmed) to the wreath frame.

• I stamped the Autumn Quotes sentiment in brown ink on off-white rustic cardstock and trimmed the panel to just under 5"x 7". I added the stamped panel to a 5"x 7" cardstock base covered with dark brown cardstock. I glued the wreath to the card and fluffed the leaves as needed for additional volume.

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies

Memento Rich Cocoa ink; off-white rustic cardstock; Strathmore 300 Series Bristol board; Bazzill linen-textured brown cardstock; Distress Inks: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Peeled Paint; Bright Yellow Green Pan Pastel; foam applicators; glue; foam pad

I followed the same process as above to create a CAS autumn-themed card.

• After coloring the Bristol board with Distress Inks, I cut four of the leaves (Small Oak, Large Oak, Small Maple, Large Maple, and Birch) with the Woodland Garden Leaves I cut multiples of the leaves as needed. I also cut an evergreen bough using the Rosemary die in the Foliage and Ladybugs set. Even though it’s technically a rosemary sprig, I viewed it as an evergreen bough.
• I cut the frame with a die in the Geometric Floral Frames set (twice).
• After inking the edges and undersides of the foliage, I scored the center of the leaves with the 1mm Stylus tip. I folded the center back exposing the leaf’s vein and applied Bright Yellow Green Pan Pastel. I added vein lines with the 1mm tip.
• With the 3 mm stylus tip, I worked the leaves both inside and out to curl and distress them on a foam pad. I added more Distress Ink and reapplied the Pan Pastel as needed.
• I stamped the Autumn Quotes sentiment in brown ink on off-white rustic cardstock and trimmed the panel to just under 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". I added the stamped panel to an A2 cardstock base covered with dark brown cardstock.

• I glued the frame pieces to the card and the leaves and evergreen to the frame.

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies

Memento Rich Cocoa ink; off-white rustic cardstock; Strathmore 300 Series Bristol board; Bazzill linen-textured brown cardstock; Distress Inks: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce; Bright Yellow Green Pan Pastel; foam applicators; glue; foam pad Thank you for dropping by. Whether you are new to realistic florals or a seasoned pro, I hope you are inspired to create gorgeous, autumn-themed cards with Susan’s Autumn Flora Collection.