Tag Archives: Sound of Autumn

Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves

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Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn-Mixed Media Card-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves Easel Card with RRR and Reneabouquets

Hello, Friends!  The promise of fall has inspired me to create this Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves Easel Card with Really Reasonable Ribbon and goodies from Reneabouquets.  Everything about this card reminds me of strolling in an autumn wood with leaves crunching under my feet and sweet woodland critters scurrying around my feet.

This was a very fun (and messy) crafty adventure with dies, texture pastes, paints, stains, RRR mulberry flowers and chippies. I tied it all together with gorgeous Copper and Cream Plaid Ribbon and Pumpkin Baker’s Twine.

TIP: Add fall texture to your die cut wreath by applying Crackle Texture paste through a stencil.  If you color your branches with Gathered Twigs Distress Stain, the color will seep through and create a really cool fungi-like effect.

Autumn Roses

TIP: Did you know you can alter mulberry flowers and leaves with stains and paint?  It’s quick and easy!  Here’s how:

  • First, select a few 35mm Mixed Earth Tone Trellis Roses from your stash (linked below).
  • Next, select autumn hued Distress Stains like Carved Pumpkin, Tea Dye, Fossilized Amber and Candied Apple.
  • Now lightly dab the applicator tip of the stain over the the petals of the roses in a random way.  Let the ink run down the sides and inside the petals, too.
  • Don’t forget to gently heat dry between colors so you don’t end up with mud-colored roses.
  • Use this same technique to quickly alter Reneabouquets fall chippies (linked below).
  • Alter green mulberry leaves by dabbing Distress Paint over the surface until you achieve the desired autumn hues.
An Easel Card Pocket?

Create a pocket inside your easel card, and it does double-duty as the brake for the easel mechanism.  This allows you to tuck some sweet surprises inside the card.

Create a mini folio and tag with your scraps.  Then add a honey stick to sweeten the deal.

Fall weather calls for a Pumpkin Spice tea break, so I tucked a pumpkin spice teabag into the pocket of this little folio.  Now my card doubles as a gift and home decor, too!

I hope I’ve shared some tips and ideas that you can use in your fall crafty adventures.  What’s your favorite element of this sweet card?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

If you’d like to see previous fall projects made with Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn, please click HERE.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Autumn Woods Slimline Card Folio Tutorial

Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Slimline Card Folio Tutorial Reneabouquets Printed Beautiful Board by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Autumn Woods Slimline Card Folio Tutorial with Reneabouquets and Ciao Bella

Hello, Friends!  It’s Throwback Thursday and I have this Autumn Woods Slimline Card Folio Tutorial to share with you.  If you were lucky enough to grow up in a place where you could go adventuring in the fall, then this card will bring back all sorts of wonderful memories for you.

There’s a scent in the autumn woods that is unlike anyplace else on earth.  Fragrant pine needles mingled with musky wet leaves and tree bark and maybe a hint of rotting apples on the forest floor.  We used to escape to the paths through the woods behind our house on a regular basis in the fall.

My mother said the bright blue skies and vibrant maple leaves brought out the gypsy in her soul.  She might be right in the middle of drying dishes when she would drop her towel and say, “let’s go for a walk!  I need some air!”  And off we would traipse, down the fern lined embankment behind our house, up the rocky hillside that was just steep enough to make you sweat just a little and then finally onto the leaf-covered carpet of the deer paths.

Crisp, clean Vermont air filled your lungs and the only sound that broke the silence was the rustle of leaves, a few skittering squirrels, and the sound of your own feet padding along on layers of pine needles, leaves and compost.

Then there were the mushrooms, or toadstools, as Mom called them.  They would spring up in little fairy circles.  Or great huge ones poked their heads up through the rotting leaves.  They had a scent, too, and we always wished we had known which ones were safe to eat. We’d trudge along until Mom remembered she had ironing to do, or bread that needed to be shaped into loaves.  Then home we would go, the memory of that glorious day locked in our  hearts forever.

Acorns and Oak Leaves

Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Slimline Card Folio Tutorial by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

I was feeling nostalgic for those old woods behind the house I grew up in the other day.  So I broke out some fall goodies and relived the memory as my fingers worked with paper.  This 4 1/4″ x 8 1/2″ Ciao Bella Slimline Card Folio is what came together on my work table.  The colors, the soft designs in the paper and that glorious mushroom image took me back in time.

TIP: Frame your focal image with Reneabouquets Fabulous Fall Pattern Printed Beautiful Board.  I altered mine with a bit of sepia paint so it would match the color palette of my card a bit more closely.  Copper metallic paper and cork specialty paper adds to the fall feel of this botanical card.

TIP: Add a real wood slice, some feathers and a gorgeous Reneabouquets butterfly to your composition to bring the autumn woods theme to life.

TIP: Keep everything closed up neat and tidy with a copper hinge clip.  You can turn it into a handsome embellishment by tying on some lovely autumn charms.

A Peek Inside

Oh, here’s Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, rooting through the leaves.  D you suppose she’s looking for more mushrooms?

TIP: Score a  1/2″ hinge on a piece of caramel cardstock and tuck it under the center card panel to create a flap page.  Most of the card interior is paper pieced together with scraps from earlier projects.  You can cover up the seam lines with fussy cut elements.

Fold one of the large images in half and trim to fit inside the card folio pocket.

This is not only a great place to add photos or journaling, but you can tuck in a fall tea bag and honey stick, too.

Autumn Woods Slimline Card Folio Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see how this card folio came together, I hope you’ll enjoy this tutorial on my YouTube channel.

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane with me today.  If you’d like to see a selection of past Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn projects, you can find them in the Archives.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio, 

kathy

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Hello, Hedgehog Card Tutorial

Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Card Tutorial by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Ciao Bella Hello Hedgehog Card Tutorial for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  Since Autumn is officially here, I thought I’d dig into the Closet of Inspiration and Delight to put together this Ciao Bella Hello Hedgehog Card Tutorial for Throwback Thursday.  This is one of my all time favorite fall collections as it is filled with woodsy images, rustic textures and….wait for it…hedgehogs!  Oh my stars and crowns!  Does it get any better than hedgehogs and toadstools?  I think not!

Hello Hedgehog Card Tutorial Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn by Kathy Clement

It’s easy to see why I love this paper collection so much.  My imagination just runs wild every time I take it out for a play date.  Today, these handsome mushrooms caught my eye.   (My mom always called them Toadstools.  Anyone else familiar with that vernacular?)  Our handsome hedgehog is coming out to gather his dinner.  How convenient to have his garden so close to his front door.

Simple Tricks and Techniques

Simple tricks and techniques make all the difference in this 5 1/4″ x 7 1/4″ top fold card.

  • First, ink all the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  This helps to frame each layer and keep them separate.
  • Next, lightly distress the bittersweet cardstock layer to add extra texture.
  • Then, use a craft knife to trim around the outline of the mushrooms.  I’ll share a nifty trick in the tutorial that makes that knife glide around the images.

  • Now add a little fussy cutting to add a pop of color to the card design.
  • Next, ground the corner of the hedgehog image with a twine bow.

Spatter fall flowers with diluted paint to give them that perfect touch of fall.  Yummy! Brown and Cream Tartan Ribbon is the perfect finishing touch.

A Peek Inside

Piece together compatible sections of paper from your scraps to decorate the inside of the card.  I’ll show you how to do this in the tutorial below.

If there’s a pocket…there must be something to tuck inside.  Fall teas, a little note card and a tag do the trick nicely, thank you very much!

Throwback Thursday Hello Hedgehog Tutorial on YouTube

Now if you’d like to see this card come together in real time, please enjoy this video tutorial.

This paper collection was  hard to find, even when it was newly released.  A quick Google search revealed that it can be found in bits and pieces in various online shops.  THIS LINK will take you to my page search if you wish to add it to your Closet of Inspiration and Delight.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Throwback Thursday.  I’m smack in the middle of creating my Button Farm Club Christmas card kit, so I hope I will be able to squeeze in one more Throwback in September.  Many of you wanted me to share the tutorial for the Let it Snow Folio Base.  I’m working on it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

PS:  If you’d like to see past projects made with Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn, please click HERE.

Spellbinders Autumn Flora by Susan Tierney-Cockburn

Spellbinders Autumn Flora by Susan Tierney-Cockburn Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Tall & Skinny Folio by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Spellbinders Autumn Flora by Susan Tierney-Cockburn: Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Folio

Hello, Friends!  Fall flowers are so very lovely, especially when you  make them by hand with Spellbinders Autumn Flora by Susan Tierney-Cockburn.  When Spellbinders asked me if I would be willing to play with a couple of the floral dies from this release, I did not hesitate for a second!  I was asked to choose 2 dies from the release to use in a project of my choice.  I opted for the Coreopsis and the Gaillardia dies because I thought the size and shapes would work well together in a floral cluster.

Next, I had to decide what papers to use.  After flipping through my stash of fall designs, I decided to use Ciao Bella’s glorious “Sound of Autumn” collection. I love the vibrant hues and artsy vibe this collection provides.

Autumn Flora Tips and Tricks

First gather up scraps of designer paper from the collection.  Then die cut loads of petals and foliage from those scraps.  Your flowers will match your paper collection perfectly.

  • Begin by lightly misting all your die cut flower layers.  This will make them easier to shape.  It also releases the starch in the paper.  When the flowers dry, they will hold their shape and be much sturdier.
  • Next,  shape each petal with a the Golf Groove Flower Shaping Tools.  Place the flower layer face down on a shaping mat (linked below).
  • Now, run the grooved tools from the tip of each petal toward the center.  The petals will curl in on themselves.  That is normal.
  • Then flip the flower over and cup the center with the round end of the largest Golf Groove Tool.  The curled petals will relax and take on a pretty shape.
  • Now add more detail with a straight tweezer.  Place the tweezer in the center of each petal and gently fold up or down.  Then gently grasp the tip of the petal and twist slightly.
  • Layer the petals together.  I used two of each large layer and 2 of each small plus the little bits that go in the center of each flower.  Stagger the flower layers to create fulness and dimension.
Finishing Touches
  • If desired, you can fill the center of each flower with Dries Clear Adhesive or hot glue and Go Mango Prills.
  • Brush the edges of the flowers with Gathered Twigs Distress ink to really amp up the fall vibe.
  • Then place the flowers in a box and mist lightly with Copper Perfect Pearls Mist and Jack-o-Lantern Glimmer Mist.
  • Follow the same steps for the foliage.  I always make extra foliage!
Tall and Skinny Box Pocket Folio

This tall and skinny folio base is made from one sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ kraft cardstock.  Score it at 4 1/4″, 5, 9 1/4″, and 9 3/4.  Fold along the scored lines to create a 4 1/4″ x 8 1/2″ folio with 3/4″ spines on both sides. Ink the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Then brush a little Copper Metallic paint along the edges to add a soft autumnal glow.

Create the Frames by die cutting ivory cardstock with Spellbinders Picot Petite Ovals from Amazing Paper Grace. Back  the frames with designer paper and foam dimensionals.  Then layer them together as seen in the photo. Now you can cluster your flowers and foliage around the frames.

Our son cut me a pile of little oak branch slices.  I topped one with acorns, pollen stems, foliage, Prills and a burlap bow as an embellishment for the cover.  The acorns have been brushed with Copper Metallic paint.

Wrap the folio with ribbon to serve as a closure.

A Peek Inside

A pair of pockets fills the inside of the folio.  The standard pocket on the left holds a bookmark and a vintage silver plate demitasse spoon.

The box pocket on the right holds a tea party in a box.

It’s everything you need for a tea party for one: tea, cookies, chocolate, honey, and a little honey dipper.  There’s also a smaller 4″ x 6″  folio tucked in here.  Place photos or write a note inside.  When all the goodies have been consumed, this pocket is a great spot to tuck in some favorite fall photos.

Fall is absolutely my favorite season of the year.  And fall flowers are always extra special.  I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and flower shaping  techniques for these Spellbinders Autumn Flora that you can use in your next crafty adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

To see more projects made from Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Autumn Woodlands Gatefold Folio

Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Gatefold Folio by Kathy Clement

Autumn Woodlands Gatefold Folio and a New Ribbon Crush from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, Friends!  Let’s take a stroll together through this Ciao Bella Autumn Woodlands Gatefold Folio.  It features my new favorite addition to the  RRR shop: Variegated Sheer Ribbon.  Oooh la la!  This ribbon is everything I love: soft, elegant, easy to tie, just a touch of shimmer, and it comes in so many colors.  I’ve used the Moss/Taupe variety as a closure on this lovely little fall folio.   It’s the perfect color match for all the autumnal shades in this Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn Folio.

This 5″ x 6 3/4″ folio has a gatefold cover and 1/2″ spines on each side.    I’ve piled up lots of little woodland elements on the textured wood panels.  The way I’ve stacked and placed the elements reminds me of the forest floor after all the leaves have fallen from the trees.  Serene, quiet beauty with lots of little treasures to please the senses.  That’s what I was going for here.

TIP:  Here’s how to create the card base. Cut an 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of kraft cardstock down to 6 3/4″ ” x 11.  Then score on the long side at 2 1/2, 3″, 8″, and 8 1/2″ to form the dimensional card base.  So easy, but so effective!

Autumn Woodlands Gatefold Folio: Adding Texture

TIP: Texture papers with a 3-D embossing folder. For these panels, I inked up the flat side of a Spellbinder’s folder with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Then I spritzed the patterned paper lightly with water and ran it through my Spellbinder’s Platinum machine.  The embossing folder forms deep ridges in the patterned paper, and the dark ink seeps into these crevices.  Then end result is paper that looks like tree bark.  It’s a wonderful thing!

TIP: Fill a  giant wood button with wood shavings to add even more of a woodland feel.  Then top the wood shavings with an acorn novelty button, feathers, Prills and a small burlap flower.

Autumn Woodlands Gatefold Folio: A Peek Inside

Well hello, Mr. Fox!  How nice of you to invite us in!  Can you spot the sweet little squirrel charm tucked into the burlap flower?  I love him!

One of the things I  love about a gatefold style folio is all the little nooks and crannies where you can add visual treats.

See that adorable little hedgehog on the left?

It’s actually a little folio with a magnetic closure.  This is a great spot to tuck in a note, gift card or photo.

The box style center pocket holds another min folio, vintage silver plate spoon and some honey.

And where there is honey, one simply must have tea!

Here’s a peek at the back side of the album.  I wish it could be autumn for at least 6 months a year!

Did I share some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures?  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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