Runs with LEAFY Scissors

Well, as they say here in the South, “Happy Fall, y’all”! I had so much fun in Penny Black’s front yard today. Someone very efficiently raked all the leaves into great big piles, just perfect for jumping in, and so I did! I’m sure it won’t take long for someone to realize that anyone who runs with scissors probably jumps in leaf piles, too.

And speaking of leaves and Fall, have you put together your wish list of Penny Black’s Fall 2014 stamps and dies? There are leaf stamps, leaf dies and dies for seasonal sentiments, as well as Halloween stamps for any style. It’s been such fun seeing what the Penny Black artists and designers have created with the new release. I’ve been inspired by each creation, as well as by the cooler temperatures and Mother Nature’s leafy displays.

So today, it is all about leaves.

Obviously Jill Foster’s tags inspired me. I love how she ties the ribbon together with a little bow. Jill uses twine but I chose gold ribbon to match the elements in my tag. I made the tag using Penny Black’s creative die Tagged and stamped it using Textures. I then overstamped it with leaves from the Fall Flutters cling set using Delicata gold ink. I added the house from Shades creative die set and the picket fence from the new Haunted Hollow die set. I stacked two diecuts of “Thankful” from Words of Gratitude and attached them to the tag.

Obviously, I am thankful for my home that never has and never will travel down a highway at 65 miles per hour!

These leaves have been stamped with the Filigree Foliage images, using various colors of Distress inks. I fussy cut them and mounted them to a circle using dimensional tape. I tucked a few twigs among the leaves, using the tree included in the Haunted Hollow Creative Die set. I added the stamped sentiment from Fall Flutters.

No stamping on this card at all. It’s a stenciled background (Zigs & Zags) with various diecuts for the layers and leaves die cut using the creative die set Autumn Jewels. I really enjoy having diecut sentiments!! They make a statement and never smudge!

For most of our pre-retirement years we hosted Thanksgiving dinners at our house. There would be at least 20 people gathered around our table(s). It was a happy mix of kids, their spouses, siblings, grandkids and in-laws. Sometimes I would take the day before Thanksgiving off from work in order to prepare the food. There was always a huge turkey, stuffing, vegetable platter, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, dinner rolls, and relishes. Of course appetizers and beverages were part of the feast. Dessert was often provided by the daughters-in-law who made it a friendly competition. I loved sending leftovers home with the single adult kids and enjoyed knowing that I had made everyone happy with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I was certain everyone in the family treasured the day as much as I did!

Our first Thanksgiving after retirement found us far from Wisconsin, traveling in our RV, and missing family and the traditional Thanksgiving feast. I placed a call to my son and daughter-in-law, knowing that the siblings had all gathered at their house. I was feeling guilty and sad that I hadn’t been there to provide the turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Imagine my shock when I was told that they were so glad not to have to eat turkey that year and instead were enjoying Sue’s home made lasagna! It seems they never liked having to sit down to the formal dinner table, sharing what they were most grateful for and would have preferred a more casual occasion. My response: “Why didn’t someone tell me?” I thought about all the time and effort I spent preparing and cleaning up after those big dinners while they were all too polite to say anything!

Again, I stamped my tag with a Textures stamp and overstamped the bird from Ode to Christmas. I tied leaves made with Autumn Jewels with twine and attached them to the tag. I then added the sentiment cut from glossy gold paper.

While I love the entire Fall 2014 release, I believe this background stamp Autumn Dance is my favorite! I stamped the outline leaves and embossed them with sparkly gold. I then used the embossed resist technique with various distress inks. I thought about a layer of vellum but decided I didn’t want to hide the sparkle. I added a leaf and sentiment diecut to finish the card.

This new release has changed my relationship with leaves to a positive one. Our home in Wisconsin was situated on a very large, multi-leveled, hilly, wooded lot. There were dozens of huge oak trees which were lovely with the leaves attached. I found it hard to enjoy them, however, knowing that the Autumn day would come when those leaves would let go of their branches and require long hours of raking and bagging. The oak trees lost some of their leaves in the Fall and the rest in Spring. So after a long winter of shoveling snow, we found ourselves raking the Spring crop of fallen leaves. While one can enjoy gazing at a single autumn-colored leaf, a half acre of them ceases to be lovely. It is not coincidental that our current home occupies a treeless lot!

The Fall 2014 release definitely makes it easier to create Fall and holiday cards. And many of the non-holiday stamps and dies from previous releases can be used to create layers and embellishments. Although my cards today are appropriate for Thanksgiving, they can easily be “thinking of you”, “happy birthday” or “friendship” cards by using a different sentiment. It’s amazing how the mojo takes over when you play with a new collection. I have many more ideas that I want to try with this new release, but I had to stop somewhere in order to have time for leaf-pile-jumping!

And look who’s ready for Fall! Cooper should get the “good sport” award for allowing me to put his head through this leafy wreath! Do you think he’s learned there is always a treat after the photos are taken?

I would love to see what you create using the Fall 2014 release. Be sure to upload your cards to the Penny Black blog Flickr gallery so everyone can be inspired.

Well, I hear upset voices outside the Penny Black studio. Sounds like a discussion about leaf piles … or former leaf piles. I guess I’ll quickly clean up and trade my scissors for a rake. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you and remember: Happy Fall, y’all!

Shop for today’s featured Penny Black Supplies:



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