Friday, October 15, 2021

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Mixed Media Botanical Prints

Hello!  The creative good times continue with our mid-month reminder for the CAS Mix Up Challenge where our host, Bonnie, has asked us to bring the outdoors in and make some botanical prints.  We're in the mixed media cycle this month, so all cards must include stamping and at least one other mixed media element.




For today's card I tried one of the easier and more reliable techniques which also gives awesome results.  Serendipitously a leaf from our Purple Smoke Tree had been tracked in on a shoe and was lying damply on the floor.  I scooped it up and went straight to my stamp room.  Pressed it into inks, then onto paper, and was surprised with how distinct the impression was.  Naturally, I went outside and picked another leaf or two so I could change inks... ended up with a way cool background.



I didn't use very much of the background because I have to keep it CAS for the challenge, but you can clearly see the results.  You would never guess it had been done with a real leaf.  I inked the underside of the leaf so the veins would show.  I used an old SU stamp set for the gold and copper leaves.  The sentiment is from the same set, but wish I'd used something else.  Hindsight, you know.

To meet the mixed media requirement I did stamping, embossing, and fussy cutting.  The wood grain card base is 111 lb Gmund Limba White which can be found at different sites if you search.




The team and our guest designer, Izzy, have the most creative and beautiful botanical print samples for you to see at the CAS Mix Up blog.  They all really got their game on for this one!

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Wishing you happiness!


Stamps:  A real leaf from my garden, SU Autumn Leaf Prints (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, white wood grain cardstock  Ink:  SU Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzelberry, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Versamark  Other:  Ranger Princess gold EP and SU Classy Copper EP (retired?), copper cord


33 comments:

crafty-stamper said...

Love the brilliant result you got stamping the leaves,never thought of using the under side!
Carol x

Pauline said...

Wow! this is gorgeous Leslie. I love the results you got with the leaf prints - I must try this! Gorgeous fall colour palette as well. Love the added cut out leaves and this simple 'hello' can be used for many occasions! Fabulous as always Leslie! I'm hoping to get back at stamping, now that I've had a week of relaxation away from the day to day life! Have a wonderful day Leslie!

HilaryJane said...

Leslie, I love it, such gorgeous colours and wonderful detail on the leaves and the added interest from the heat embossed leaves adds up to a very special card. I also love how you have tucked that tiny sentiment into the arch of the leaves and the little bow is the perfect finishing touch xx

Cat Craig said...

Wow Leslie, this couldn't have come together any better. Stunning card.

conil said...

Don't you love happy accidents, like finding the perfect leaf for your project on your shoe. The results of your inking are gorgeous. Trimming it and adding it to a woodgrain cardbase was such a clever idea. Those fussy cut leaves are equally lovely. Personally, love sentiments that are so universal and usable for any occasion.

Lynette said...

That is SO beautiful, Leslie!! Your leaves stamps so wonderfully. Awesome card.

Happy Birthday!

Pat said...

Gorgeous colours for your wonderful leaf prints Leslie and the two stamped and embossed leaves go perfectly. I love the background woodgrain card too. x

Yogi said...

Beautiful leaves. Nice texture. Have a great day

nancy littrell said...

How easy and convenient to be able to pick up your beautiful wet leaf off your kitchen floor...perfect leaf for the CAS Mix Up Botanical Print Challenge, Leslie. I love how you used the retired SU leaf to stamp more leaves and then heat emboss the leaves on your side panel. I love how you split the panel in half for more interest and added a tiny sentiment. TFS my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Glenda said...

How very artsy and extremely clever of you for using a leaf you tracked in on your shoe to make a gorgeous card my friend. You have me going on a hunt for leaves in my yard as soon as the rain stops here! Love the colors you chose for your prints!

Ros Crawford said...

Oh this is so pretty! Absolutely gorgeous!

Viv said...

You've achieved such texture with your leaf prints Leslie - your card has so much depth and the colours are perfect.
Splitting your panel into 2 and adding the 2 stamped leaves makes for a fab card! x

Margaret said...

Fabulous card. Such creative talent. You did get great depth using the back of the leaves. It's really great that you had an actual stamp to use with it.

Judy Woodland said...

This is just so fabulous!! I have done this technique with the leaves, and it's so satisfying, isn't it. The colors you have chosen, though, are spot on, simply gorgeous. And adding the metallic leaves is the perfect final touch. I love this so much, I'm pinning for sure!!!

pam said...

Oh this is fabulous Lesley, what a great idea, love the colours and beautiful design.
Hugs Pam x

Darlene said...

LOVE this card Leslie! Beautiful design with those real leaves (I'll have to give that a try!) Like I've said many times before and I'll say it again ... I'm ALWAYS inspired when I come to visit your blog! THANKS SO MUCH my friend! Beautiful card!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What a great idea - always thinking of how to do a technique! Reminds me when I was a kid and we cut into a potato and made lines so it looked like the veins of a leaf. The good old days! One would never know that you got such a good result from leaves in the yard.

laurie said...

Those leaves are gorgeous! Love that technique..so pretty!

Christine Alexander said...

I'm loving all these different leaf prints and have to try the inky version. Gorgeous card ♥

Mac Mable said...

Sure is a cool background and love how serendipity intervened and yes what amazing results from a 'real' leaf or two Leslie x.

Cindy Beach said...

And to think I was afraid to try this technique because I am still sure mine would turn out looking like mush. This is amazing my friend! Such lovely detail and colors. It is mixed media but still not too busy, just rich. Love it!

Loll said...

Amazing results from your smoke bush leaves, Leslie! I love how you've created a strip and then split in half ... great design detail. Your embossed leaves are so beautiful at the top. Great work, my friend! xx

Bonnie said...

WOW! Your leaves yielded such a beautiful background, Leslie! I love how you've cut it into strips and put it on the woodgrain cardstock! Beautiful stamped and embossed leaves to top it off! Awesome card, my friend!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh wow your stamping worked great, I tried a card but it didn't turn out at all, haven't given it another try, love how you used a strip with it and your stamped leaves look so great with it!

Chrissie said...

What a terrific cascade of leaves Leslie, the printing is simply beautiful and the layout suits the leaves perfectly!
Chrissie x

My Paper Epiphany said...

LOVE, love, love your beautiful card! The design is fantastic and the colours are gorgeous!

Pam Sparks said...

I love this so much! So fun to use the real deal for stamping! Loe your gorgeous CAS design! oh, I already said that! lol

AlisonC said...

This is beautiful and really fits the season (here anyway). Lovely rich colours. x

Nora Noll said...

This is so pretty1! I LOVE the technique you used and your colors are fabulous!!! Beautiful card design.

Cynthia M said...

What a creative genius you are! Who knew you could turn any leaf into a stamp!? I still have that SU leaf set too. The combo of colors, the layout, the Real vs. Nature stamps,... it's just divine!

Susan Joyce said...

Totally delightful design Lesley, I love every creative element you used.

Linda said...

WOW! What a fabulous background. Stunning colours, great texture and I love the heat embossed leaves. Such a beautiful card xx

Colleen Dietrich said...

Oh wow! Real leaves used for these impressions, so very cool. I had been thinking it looked like an older SU set, French Foliage, and then read what you did and it is beautiful.