Dry embossing - Right as Rain

Penny Black | Jumping into Fall

Hello! I used another image from Penny Black’s new Joyful Fall stamp set, released in September, for this fall card. The girl jumping into a pile of leaves captures a simple autumn pleasure. I watercolored the image, then paired it with a Penny Black frame die (51-815 All-in-One Oval) and a dry-embossed background (Taylored Expressions Cloudy Days) for added texture. The sentiment, also from the Joyful Fall set, has a matching die for easy cutting.

See my first card with this stamp set HERE.

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Penny Black 31-264 Joyful Fall stamp set Scrapbook.com | Simon Says Stamp

Penny Black 52-068 Joyful Fall cutout die Scrapbook.com | Simon Says Stamp

Make a Halloween Balloon Arch with Paper

Hello! For this Halloween card, I created a festive scene with two ghosts (made with dies in the Spellbinders Envelope of Wonder Halloween set I discovered after one of my last cards), a balloon arch, and a dry-embossed background. One of the ghosts holds a sentiment that says BOO!

Balloon arches have become a popular decorating trend for parties and celebrations. I wanted to bring that look to a handmade Halloween card, using supplies already in my craft room rather than purchasing anything new.

The balloon arch was made with die-cut circles in two sizes. Initially, I tried three sizes, but the smallest circles didn’t work with the design. A few die-cut bats accessorize the scene and reinforce the Halloween theme. The teal dry-embossed panel (Taylored Expressions Weathered folder) adds texture without distracting from the ghosts and balloon arch.

I’m noticing that it’s surprisingly easy to limit my cardstock choices. Instead of pulling out every possible color, I choose a handful that work together and build the scene around them.

Brewing Up Halloween

Hello! Since Halloween is such a short cardmaking season, I’m trying to be mindful about buying products I’ll only use for a few weeks. I purchased nothing this year to make this card.

I pulled out a set of stacking teacup dies from Taylored Expressions that I’ve had for almost a decade and gave it a Halloween makeover with seasonal colors. I added the steam from a Penny Black die set. Once assembled, I added the teacups to a dry-embossed panel with a bat motif (TE Fright Night Flight) and framed it. I used two Taylored Expressions die sets (a rectangle set and an Inside Out Scallop set) to create the frame. I went through my extensive patterned paper collection for a spider-patterned background. I did not purchase any additional Halloween-themed patterned paper this year. I created the sentiment on my computer and cut it with a banner die.

Because I recently reorganized my embossing folders, I could easily locate the Halloween-themed one I used on this card.

It’s a good reminder to look at what you already own and think about how you can change it up for the season. A little creative mixing and matching can give older supplies a whole new life!

Halloween Trunk or Treat Scene

Hello! One thing I am currently enjoying is putting together my own “kit” from supplies I already own. For this Trunk or Treat card, I pulled dies from several different sets and mixed and matched the pieces to create the scene. If you don’t know, Trunk or Treat is a Halloween tradition where families gather in a parking lot, and children go from decorated car to decorated car to collect treats instead of going door to door. The decorated trunks can be surprisingly creative, and I had fun translating that idea into a card by combining dies from several different sets to build the scene.

I used the Spellbinders Truckin’ Through the Seasons die set to create the vehicle for my Trunk or Treat scene, where the Halloween decorations are displayed in the truck bed.

After making this card, I discovered another die set (Envelope of Wonder Halloween) that would be perfect for creating a Trunk or Treat scene, especially the candy pieces! I used that set on a card for the Spellbinders blog HERE.

Taylored Expressions dies: Skinny Mini Halloween Borders, Little Bits – Ghosts, Little Bits – Halloween Confetti, The Witch Is In

Spellbinders dies: Truckin’ Through the Seasons (October 2018 Large Die of the Month), Boo Crew, Open House Boo!, Open House Halloween, Spooky Boo

Taylored Expressions cardstock: Candy Corn, Poppy Seed, Jelly Donut, Black Licorice

Spellbinders cardstock: Waterfall, Rainforest, Brushed Metallic Silver, Black Glitter foam

Taylored Expressions Brick embossing folder

Die-cut Autumn Scene

Hello! I created this fall-themed card with a variety of dies from Penny Black and Hello Bluebird. The focal point was cut with the Penny Black 51-275 Winter Lantern die set. The leaves and pumpkins were cut with dies in the Penny Black 51-360 Pumpkins & Leaves and Hello Bluebird Gallery Frame 3 sets. All of the dies, while released years ago, are available on their respective sites. Lanterns feel especially fitting for the autumnal equinox, as we start welcoming the warm glow of candlelight!

I cut the elements from solid cardstock (which gave me a chance to continue organizing my cardstock) and used the Penny Black All-In-One Oval frame to draw the eye to the lanterns.

The “Thinking of You” sentiment (Positivity) has its own coordinating die, which makes placement easy.

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