I'm in Haven: Maple Leaf Strips

I used the beautiful new Poppy Stamps Maple Leaf Side Strips Die and Stencil to make a couple cards!

I LOVE maple leaves!! Having grown up in the Buffalo, NY area, there were LOTS of Maple trees....and in Fall...the range of colors...some trees all yellow/orange, other red...they are a sight to behold...beautiful!!

The first card, I die cut the leaves and used the stencil to sponge on ink and not get the ink anywhere but on the leaves. I layered the leaves from underneath a couple times, and adhered them together. I added a stamped sentiment, and Simon Says Stamp woodgrain cardstock, that I had used Distress inks to color the color of wood. Here's a close up...

The second one, I used watercolor paper, and swiped color onto my watercolor paper, then die cut from the colored cardstock...

I thought it would be cool to put the magnificent maples on a diagonal on the card panel for something different, and to flow somewhat like the leaves might in nature. I DID have to hand cut the top panel. I attached the leaves to the card, then attached larger pieces of white cardstock over the leaf die cut ends. I used my scissors, and hand cut the edges that hung past the card. I added a layered Birch Press sentiment die, and sentiment from a Birch Press senitment stamp set. I DID emboss the card panel with a discontinued Papertrey Ink Impression Plate(Simple Stripes). Here's a close up...