Autumn is here

Hi everyone.  A more autumnal card today using a Lavinia stencil called Laurel and using the Stencil Monoprint technique which is the theme of this month's Group of Seven Cardmakers, and also featuring a leaf print which I made using a real leaf.

I started with the background and the stencil monoprint which means that you ink the stencil itself rather than inking through it, which in this case meant the leaves were inked but if inking through the leaves would have been white and the surroundings coloured.  I decided to ink it up with a set of Lyra Aqua Brush Markers and a couple of different greens.  When I had got ink over the whole stencil I spritzed it with water and turned it over onto a piece of white card with a piece of kitchen towel over the top to mop up any leakage from under the sides of the stencil which helps to get a clearer print.  I was happy with the coverage, there were a few areas where it could have done with a bit more water but fine, and I cut it down to fit a 5" x 7" card.  

I then turned my attention to the leaf.  I had collected several leaves when out on a recent walk, and I decided to experiment with inking the leaf to get a print.  The leaf was still green and I wanted a more autumnal look, so I used the same Lyra Pens and used a green, orange and red pen to give the look I wanted.  I then spritzed it and placed it down onto another piece of white card and again put a piece of kitchen towel over it and rubbed it well.  It actually was a better print than I expected but there were some gaps.  I wanted to cut it out so I placed the leaf back down and pencilled around the shape and fussy cut it out and finished by ink blending over the areas where the ink coverage was a bit thin using Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon and Walnut Stain Distress ink applied with a brush, and glued it down over the leaf background cutting it to fit as it was a large leaf.  I finished the card with the sentiment stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink and placed it over the leaf for a different look, and the background being less busy it shows up better.

Thank you for coming to visit my blog today and I'll see you again soon.

I am entering the following challenges:

Stencil Fun Challenge - Oct. '24 Anything Goes/Halloween.

Allsorts Challenge - Week 801 Falling Leaves/Anything Goes.

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Autumn Magic.

We Love to Create Challenge - No. 9 Anything Goes.

Seize the Birthday Challenge - No. 292 Celebrate.

I am also joining in with Darnell's I.D.E.A.S., a challenge she has set herself and has said that anyone can join in.  This is Week 5: Stencils.