STENCILED OAK LEAVES

After I finished the die cutting for the oak leaf  featured in the card below several weeks ago, I was left with a beautiful oak leaf stencil. Reluctant to throw it away (!), I set it to the side. Like I so often do.

The other day I came across this beautiful stencil, and decided to actually put it to good use. The photo below shows how it looked once I was finished with my project.

Isn't it beautiful? Wouldn't you have saved it too?

Putting it to use as an actual stencil and  always with the stem facing upwards, I made a backdrop of fall oak leaves. I started at the top of a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White cardstock, using Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry as my fall-colored inks. 

I just kept overlapping as I worked my way down the cardstock, being extra careful that I always sponged towards the center of the leaf in order to preserve the precious delicate tips of my stencil. I wanted it to last through the whole project. And, truth be told, it still looks pretty healthy, all ready to do some more work!

The sentiment I decided to use for the card is sort of a strange one, and I'm not sure what type of occasion it is actually meant for. I plan on putting "Happy Birthday" inside the card.

The die cut I used for the sentiment label is from the Ornate Frames Dies that can be found on page 53 of the Holiday Catalog. I was smitten with these adorable frames the moment I discovered them in the catalog, and, of course, the set had to become mine. I think I am going to get lots and lots of use out of these little darlings.

You will notice that I took a small portion of the leaf stencil and sponged it onto the sentiment piece in Crushed Curry..

Stencil and resulting creation

I am quite pleased with myself that, even if I originally had good intentions for using this "stencil" when I set it aside, that I actually ended up using it! Yay me!

Are you getting tired of fall colors and leafy creations?

Autumnal

Smiles.