Happy Harvest Fall Card

Hello there! Well, the good news is, we survived Nicholas, but it sure was scary at times. For one thing, it was only supposed to be a tropical storm but eerily ramped up to Category 1 Hurricane status right before it made landfall...but it really didn't make complete landfall because half of it was always churning on the water, so we were told about the rain amounts but I think the severity of the winds/guests took most by surprise. It also hit us in the wee hours, the worst of it between midnight and 6 am on Tuesday, and that always makes them worse to suffer through. It was a very loud storm, no way could even Honey sleep through it, so he ended up staying awake for it like I did, BUT that made it easier for me. We had a few outside peripheral things come apart that he was able to get out there and secure (ie, the wind literally ripped the hinge screws out of our wood gate latch on back porch, I heard it and he was able to tie-wrap it back together so we didn't lose the fence.) All in all, we fared much better than I expected. I was sure we were going to lose power, but we never did. Only a few blips. I heard a few transformers around us explode, but not ours. Very thankful. Lots of downed tree limbs and leaves in our yard, but tomorrow's the lawn guy's regular day so hopefully he is able to mow and isn't behind because of the storm and wetness. It is still very wet but he mows/weed-eats anyway. Only thing is, Honey and I are both just worn out from the stress and disrupted sleep. Hopefully we can get rested this week and not have to deal with any more storms this season! 🙏🙏🙏

So, along those lines, let's think Fall! 😊 This digi image from Beccy's Place (a freebie from way back and no longer offered to my knowledge-see below for link to a remastered version) had been printed out last year and was languishing in a UFAP box top, lovingly looked at multiple times until now was the time to create with it. It's printed out on Springhill Digital card and colored with Promarkers. I did the background in a pointillism style and I really like the effect! 

    

I chose this Splitcoaststampers sketch, resized to A7, and had every intention of adding the horizontal sentiment strip but ultimately chose not to because I did not want to interfere with the focal image. So I added framing strips with my leftovers from cutting my card base and added a sentiment to the bottom strip along with a leaf in place of that element.

I just love the purple shades of SU card stocks I used for the base and the mat. I cut into a piece of 12x12 Karen Foster scrapbooking paper for that leafy vertical element (you long-time or former scrap bookers will remember her!). Out of the leftover piece I was able to cut out another leaf which I added to the top corner. I have some Tim Holtz/Sizzix Thinlit die cut leaves cut out of Distress ink-blended glossy card made a while back, so I used a couple of those. The patterned paper lines peeking out interestingly from behind the focal image is some very old but still loved 12x12 Doodlebug that matched Karen's paper nicely.

Just on a whim, I decided to decorate the inside of the card this way and I like it! Makes for a nice change of pace for me. Snippet scraps of Doodlebug (the striped paper is used on the back) and a cut out leaf on some of the lighter SU card adorn the page along with a stamped Neat&Tangled sentiment (inked up with Fantasia Versafine Clair).

And my favorite view of the card back. The striped piece of Doodlebug on the lighter purple mat with a Kaisercraft stamped siggie. The papers go so well together from front to back, love it!

A close-up to show the shine on the glossy leaves and the Wink of Stella clear glitter I brushed on the sunflowers.

And a final view. Thanks so much for visiting and for your sweet storm survival thoughts and prayers. I hope you have a great day and until next time, Stay Well and Craft On! xoxo

MY CHALLENGES PLAYLIST:

1.   Splitcoaststampers Sketch SC783

2.   Beccy's Place September Challenge: AG w/a Beccy's Image -- #1/xx Option to CASE myself not played. Used her image (original) Cottage Chair - remastered one is HERE.

3.   Crafty Gals Corner #223: Hello Fall! -- #1/3

4.   The Paper Funday Challenges #33: AG + Opt. Autumn/Fall -- #1/4 Option played!

5.   The Male Room #154: Nature's Bounty -- #/xx  

6.   Double D Challenge: Leaves -- #1/3  

7.   Colour Crazy Craft Challenge Week 35: AG w/Colouring -- #1/2 I used Promarkers to color my focal image.

8.   I Love Promarkers #443: AG -- #1/3 Option not played this time. I used Promarkers to color my focal image.

9.   Passion for Markers Week 609: Something Beginning with B -- #1/xx Basket, Blue, Bonnet, Butternut squash and I used Promarkers to color my focal image

10. Sparkles Monthly Challenge #144: Autumn Colors -- #1/3

11. Four Seasons Challenge #1: AG Fall -- #1/3 

12. Inkspirational #247: Autumn Leaves -- #1/xx  

13. Inspiration Station #13: Traveling Autumn Roads -- #1/xx The leaves and tree colors, also the yellow road stripe on the curving road like my vertical element   

14. Creative Fingers #214: AG -- #3/3

15. Country View Challenge Sept: The Leaves Begin to Fall -- #1/xx

16. ABMTTC #145: AAG -- #1/xx

17. ABMTTCXtra Sept: AAG -- #5/xx

18. More Mixed Media Sept.: AG + Opt. Brown -- #3/xx Option played!

19. CD Sunday Plus #69: AG w/USB/CD/Digi -- #1/3 I used Beccy's Place Cottage Chair digi

20. Classic Design Challenge #9 Sept 2021: AAG -- #4/xx