Letting the Season Unfold
For Week 5 of my weekly card challenge, I chose the theme “Let Autumn Unfold.” I created dimensional leaf tiles by stacking die-cut layers, activating pigment powder with water, and adding lighter watercolor leaves on top. Each tile has a gold-edged, glossy finish. As autumn leaves change through the season, they remind me that change can reveal something beautiful in its own time.
Building Dimensional Leaf Tiles
I used Spellbinders leaf dies to cut several layers from cardstock. I stacked the die cuts together to create thick, raised leaves, then placed them on 2 × 2-inch cardstock squares also three layers added together. Building up the leaves this way gave each tile a dimensional focal point.
Activating the Pigment Powder
I colored the leaves with pigment powder and sprayed them with water to activate the color. At first, the leaves and their backgrounds were all in the same shade, so the leaves did not stand out as much as I wanted. I decided to add another layer of leaves to bring more definition to each tile.
Adding a Lighter Layer
I die-cut another set of leaves from watercolor paper and used the same pigment color, diluted with water, to paint them. Once they were completely dry, I layered them over the raised leaves. The lighter leaves stand out against the deeper color underneath while keeping the palette cohesive.
Giving Each Tile a Golden Border
To create the gold edges, I swiped each tile through embossing ink, dipped the edges into gold embossing powder, and heat-set the powder. This gave the small squares a neat border that adds a warm metallic accent.
Brushing on Gloss
I used a brush to apply Glossy Accents across the front of each tile and let it dry completely. The clear gloss gave the tiles a smooth, shiny finish and added another layer of dimension to the design.
Bringing the Tiles Together
Once the tiles were dry, I arranged them in a grid on cream cardstock to create a tiled look. I attached them with foam tape so they sit raised from the background. I stamped the sentiment “Live in the Moment” and heat-embossed it with the same gold powder used on the tile edges.
Letting Change Unfold
The layered leaves tiles became my way of interpreting “Let Autumn Unfold.” Their changing colors and added layers reflect how a new season and the changes that come with it can reveal fresh beauty over time. I enjoyed combining die-cut layers, water-activated pigment powder, gold embossing, and the most important the gloss to bring this Week 5 card to life.
I hope this inspires you to participate in the challenge and create something of your own. If you join in, please tag me so I can see and celebrate your beautiful projects!
Hugs,
Jyoti