Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Brand New! The Four Seasons Challenge -- September

There's a new challenge in town and I think you're going to like it!  It's The Four Seasons Challenge, and the idea is that every three months the challenge will change with the seasons.  September, October, and November are the fall months, and so that's our current challenge -- anything fall.  I love fall cards!  We have a different inspiration board each month, but you're not required to use it.  I think a lot of us really do enjoy having that board for sparking ideas.  I know I do!  Have a look at this month's board:



There's a lot of pretty fall inspiration on that board!  I chose apples for my card:



I hope to use this challenge as an excuse to really play with the things in my stamp room.  Today I chose one of the many sketches from my Pinterest board and layered up some die cuts and designer papers to support the colorful crate full of apples (Power Poppy digi).  I even added ribbon (oh, happy day!) and some linen thread.  It's important to note that I used 65 lb cardstock for the card base so I could avoid a too-heavy card with the layers.  I like to keep the overall mailing weight no more than an ounce.

I traced and hand cut the circle with the image going slightly out of the box.  Coloring was done with Tombow markers and my homemade blender pen on watercolor paper.



Come and play with us.  It's going to be fun!  See fabulous team samples on The Four Seasons Challenge Blog, and while you're there do say "hi" to Darlene and Diane -- the blog owners/dreamers/administrators.  Happy fall y'all!


Stamps:  Power Poppy All Things Apples digi and Feeling Fall clear stamp set (sentiment)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah 110 lb white for chicken wire, SU Whisper White for sentiment flag, Studio Light Wonderful Autumn DP for background, BasicGrey Scarlett's Letter DP for striped panels, Neenah 65 lb white for card base  Ink:  Printer, SU Close to Cocoa for sentiment  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender, Copic E08 for coloring chicken wire  Other:  Ribbon, linen thread, Cheery Lynn Chicken Wire Frame, Die-namics Stitched Cover Up Companion, Spellbinders Nested Pennants, circle die for tracing image panel


24 comments:

Sue from Oregon said...

Beautiful card. Your apples look so real I could crunch a bite out of them! Fun new challenge...I hope to get to share on it too! Novel idea! ♥ Sue Kment

Diane said...

Beautifully designed card and your coloring on the apples is divine! Loving your pretty fall papers and pretty fall colors, what a great and inspiring deign this is, VERY glad to have you on the team!!
Diane FS DT https://nelliesnest.blogspot.com/2021/09/new-challenge-blog-four-seasons.html

Glenda said...

Your card is simply beautiful! I love apples on a card and you have colored them so well! I love the papers you chose and find this to be a very pleasing card indeed!

Lynette said...

So gorgeous, Leslie! I LOVE your watercolored apples, and of course, all the other details are fabulous. I would love to watch a video of your watercoloring sometime. (Or better yet, watch you in person!)

Darlene said...

Oh Leslie this is just fabulous! Perfectly fall with the chicken wire background and of course this perfectly colored basket of apples. What a great idea to have a 'sketch board' on your pinterest page (I'll be borrowing that idea lol). I too am SO HAPPY you are on the team with us ... going to be fun! Happy Day to you!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

Well, it is Sept. 1st! Fall is here and I love your card using the inspiration board! You have a lot going on here and you brought it all together so beautifully! I can hardly wait for some good apples!

Yogi said...

Love those apples. Beautiful coloring. Have a great day

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Ohh!! Leslie, this is just so gorgeous!! what a feast for the eyes, and you used one of my old-time favorite images for fall from Marcy, this crate of juicy apples, so colorful and beautiful.
And I will tell you, Autumn is my favorite season of the year, the weather becomes mild, the mornings crisp and fresh, and we can't wait to go to the orchard nearby to get apples for pies, they are so incredibly delicious freshly picked from the trees.
Your DSP is amazing, the color combination is spot on!!!
Love the die, and what a fabulous DSP in the background, this is an absolutely amazing card.
Thank you so much for sharing.
XO

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Oh, and thank you also for alerting us about this new challenge, I think it's great, and what a lovely season to start playing.
Stay healthy and safe, my friend.
XO

crafty-stamper said...

Congrats on your new DT and absolutely beaautiful Autumn card and colours-Fabulous colouring and shading on those apples and crate
Carol x

Loll said...

Congrats on your new Design Team, Leslie! What a fun challenge! LOVE your fall card with the box of apples. Perfect! You are a master at layering dies and stamps. This card is fabulous! xx

Nora Noll said...

This is breathtaking!! I LOVE this fun challenge and I cannot wait to try!!

Cat Craig said...

I love your layers and the interesting textures and colors you bring to the background to highlight your main beautifully colored image. Gorgeous card.

Conniecrafter said...

I so love your crate of apples, our farm here has just started apple picking, wonderful time of year for sure. That is a cool sketch you found for it and I love the papers and the touch with the chicken wire background, Gorgeous coloring and love the twine wrapped sentiment tag!

Donna Walls said...

Leslie your card is Fabulous. I love your coloring and design layout. Looking forward to creating with you on The Four Seasons Challenge. Donna

Ros Crawford said...

What an amazing card! I love the mix of colours and papers but most of all I just love those oh so realistic apples and crate! Brilliant Leslie!

Pam Sparks said...

Fabulous Fall creation Leslie and I remember this BG paper! Love it!

Bonnie said...

What a great idea for a challenge and a beautiful way to start off, Leslie! Congratulations on joining this team and on using all the patterned paper to coordinate with the juicy apples. I'm looking forward to some fresh Macs!

Cindy Beach said...

WOW, I think finding more reasons to play with what is already in the craft room is a wonderful challenge theme! And the fall image board is terrific too. I really look forward to seeing your seasonal entries, Leslie! This one is top-notch and I love the apples!

Christine Alexander said...

What a fun challenge, I'll have to play along :)
Your card is so clever, love that box of apples and your combination of DP ♥

Pauline said...

Beautiful! You certainly have captured the essence of Fall! Love everything about your card today, beautiful watercolouring, chicken wire die cut, papers, ribbon (love this) and your little flag tag! So perfect Leslie. I am so far behind in card making, I haven't been creative in almost 2 months! Just can't get it going.
Back to work in the office for 3 days a week - 2 days at home- starting next week, so maybe I'll feel like creating since I won't be in my craft room working all the time. So happy to see your card today, and again sorry for the late commenting, trying to get caught up today as I am off until after the long weekend. Take care, hope all is well. hugs,

HilaryJane said...

So much interest on this card, you can look at it for ages. love that chequered ribbon xx

Carol L said...

This is such a pretty fall card with that crate of apples! I love the split panels of striped papers side by side and that die-cut background is so rich and warm with autumn colors! Great ribbon too! I'm trying to use mine again on cards as I've accumulated so much of it! Love the photos and story of your beautiful dogs too, and what a wonderful craft room you have! Happy Fall!

Stacey's Creative Corner said...

What a perfect Fall card this is! I love everything about this!