Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Wild Mushrooms

Hello friends!  It's about time for an honest to goodness fall card, and Chanterelles speak fall to me.  This time of year these golden gems glow in the forest like a beacon of yumminess.  They're all the more beautiful when you know how they taste sauteed in butter with salt and pepper and a little bit of a crispy edge.  Did you know you should wait until mushrooms brown up before you add salt?  Makes a world of difference in how quickly they cook.




This is Power Poppy's Wild Mushrooms clear stamp set.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on it when it was released in the spring, yet I'm just now using it for the first time.  Yes, I have too much stuff and, seriously, I'm trying to be better.  You have no idea how many times I've shopped and then clicked off without buying.  I need more time stamping and less time on the computer!  Nevertheless, when I was coloring and creating this card I was thinking it doesn't matter when you get around to a particular stamp set;  it only matters that you enjoy all the stamping you do along the way.

So, about the card... stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and colored with Copics.  I pulled out some old BasicGrey Origins paper and found the brown print with the oval window already cut, so I designed around that.  I cut another oval window in olive green and layered the print over it.  Trimmed the outer edges to a narrow border.  Added two more strips of paper along the edge.  Had to cut an oval notch to fit around the pre-cut oval.  Make sense?




The sponging around the green oval makes it appear as though the image panel is popped up.  An interesting illusion.  Actually, the entire card front is popped up as a frame around the image.

For decoration I die cut some ferns and leaves and tall grass,  and sponged with SU! inks.  All will be listed below my signature.

This card was meant to be a masculine birthday card, but it might be too pretty for a guy.  The guy in mind would appreciate it, but I'm thinking this might go to a girlfriend, instead.  Back to the drawing board.  Oh, what a chore (not)!  Thank you for dropping in today!


Stamps:  Power Poppy Wild Mushrooms  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White for image panel, Neenah 110 lb white for die cuts, SU heavyweight Very Vanilla (card base), SU Old Olive, BasicGrey Origins designer paper  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, SU Old Olive, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel  Coloring:  Copic markers  Accessories:  Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Spellbinders Grand and Large Classic Ovals, Impression Small Leaf Set, Impression Obsession Grass, Memory Box Eva Stem (fern)

18 comments:

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful card, no, it's STUNNING. love the glorious colours and that stamp too.xx

Joan B said...

this just glows!!!! gorgeous

Sherri said...

WOW!! Who knew mushrooms could be so beautiful!! I can see why you had to have this stamp! Absolutely stunning, Leslie! Of course, your fantastic coloring and design could make anything gorgeous!!

Cindy Beach said...

I am so impressed that you know how to pick out those edible mushrooms, and you had my mouth watering as you described cooking them up. I've been enjoying your writing so much lately, Leslie!
The card is beyond amazing. So many pretty details and perfect for fall. The blend of papers is fabulous, you are so good at that! Glad I came to visit today.

Darlene said...

OMG this is GORGEOUS! Your coloring always warms my heart but today's design is FANTASTIC! Really showcases the image beautifully! Who would have thought mushrooms could look so good! LOL (not a mushroom lover here!) Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What an interesting card - never thought of mushrooms as the focal point of a card, but they look great! Good tip about the salt as well. I love basic grey paper. You did such a nice job with all the details that made such a beautiful card!

Yogi said...

what a pretty mushroom set. You did a fabulous job on the card. Love the die cuts in front. Have a great day

Conniecrafter said...

Oh wow how cool is that, You did a fabulous job working around that precut oval piece and I like the added borders, love the shading you did to make it appear it is popped up and your ferns and leaves are beautifully colored and compliment your coloring of the stamp so well, Beautiful card that I think would work for male or female :)

Verna Angerhofer said...

Beautifully colored mushroom image and I love all the other details you added to your card to make it an Autumn wonder. This card is drop dead gorgeous in every way.

And, like you I have filled a cart up with things I wanted to have and then I sort of mentally slap myself and say "You have too much still to play with" so I too Xed them out and left the site. It is getting to where I hate to check on sales as I know I will be so tempted. And truth be told I am once again running out of room. Oh, dear!

crafty-stamper said...

WOW stunning stunning card love the fabulous stamp and great colouring-beautiful papers and Autumn leaves-my favourite time of the year--I love mushrooms but never add salt to anything-when I was pregnant with my first I used to eat raw mushrooms all the time and when we went shopping my youngest grandaughter would have eaten half the pack before we got to the checkout lol--I can fully relate to you shopping and not buying--I even clicked on the link for the stamps even though I have stamps not even used yet!!!(I didn't buy btw)
Carol x

Pauline said...

What a stunning fallish card indeed! Your colouring is fabulous, great layout and love the papers and all your die cuts to finish this off. Yes it does look like the image is popped up, very interesting illusion. I love how you have added some darker red/orange on the leaves to balance out the redish ground cover. You have such a great eye for detail Leslie.
Thanks for sharing a beautiful card and the tip about the salt!

Christine Alexander said...

thanks for the info on browning mushrooms (my fav) before adding the salt, these Chantrelles look amazing. Omg I could just eat them now,

Diane said...

Stunning and full of 'fallish' goodness (I make up my own words)..I just love every single detail and just look at those dies all stacked together, perfection all the way. I love how everything just flows together so perfectly and it does glow!! I have shopping spurts, then I can be good for months, but I only shop when on sale, like 'ahem', Cottage Cutz just had 60% off for Labor Day and I did finalize my cart last night before it ended, because I don't have many dies...hahahaha!!! Have a great day!!

Pam Sparks said...

Beautiful coloring and designing Leslie! So wonderfully embellished!

Ros Crawford said...

I don't think I've ever tasted one of those but I can tell you that this card is delicious!! Full of colour and elements that make it a total work of art... Love it Leslie!

Donna Ellis said...

Very clever about the oval, Leslie. Love the idea and tip -- and -- I love that shading around the inside of the added oval! WILL DEFINITELY be doing that because it does provide such an amazing dimensional aspect! Your coloring is lovely, of course - just breathtaking, and it's a gorgeous card all around (pun intended for the oval) with the dramatic fall colors, wispy floral spray, and wonderful pattern papers! I LOVE THIS CREATION! hugs, de

laurie said...

You are SO talented...this is amazing!!! I just love the fall colors.

Stacy Morgan said...

Awesome!!! This is masculine and beautiful all in one. I knew once you inked this set up you would love it. The die cut accents are perfect and your mushroom looks AWESOME!!!