MAPLE LEAF THANKS

I was so sad when Stampin' Up! announced that the lovely stamp set, Soft Seedlings, was going to retire when the Mini Catalog retired. The little helicopter seedlings that a maple tree drops have always intrigued me, and this set included a handful of them. Then, the large maple leaf was so exquisite and real looking. Hopefully you ordered it when you had the chance so you can make a card like this one.

Other than the two small embellishments on the sentiment strip 

and the texture created by the embossing on the background piece, 

this is a fairly flat card.

The colors are straightforward, a recycled neutral cardstock and Early Espresso.

Follow for a tutorial on how to make a card like this, provided you have the stamp set. Otherwise, another set with similar components will work equally well.

SUPPLIES:

Neutral Cardstock

Early Espresso Cardstock

Soft Seedlings stamp set (retired)

Painted Harvest stamp set (retired)

Soft Suede ink

Stampin' Blend in Dark Soft Suede

Die Cutting/Embossing Machine

Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder (Page 177, Annual Catalog)

Seasonal Labels Dies (Page 174, Annual Catalog)

Basic Rhinestones

Stampin' Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of light-colored neutral cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Cut a 3 3/4" x 5" piece of Early Espresso cardstock. Emboss this piece with the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder. Add it to the card base.

Cut a 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" piece of the same cardstock as used in the card base. Onto this, stamp the large maple leaf from the Soft Seedlings set in Early Espresso ink.

Using the die that measures 3" wide and 4" tall from the Seasonal Labels set, die cut the leaf. With Stampin' Dimensionals, adhere this to the embossed piece with approximately equal margins at the top and sides.

From the card base cardstock, cut a strip that measures 1/2" x 3 3/4". On this strip, stamp your sentiment in Early Espresso ink. I used one from the retired Painted Harvest set. (Do you still have yours?) Using Stampin' Dimensionals, add the sentiment to the bottom of the card with 1/8" - 1/4" of brown showing at the bottom. 

Using the Dark Soft Suede Stampin' Blend, color two small Basic Rhinestones. After they have dried completely, add them on either side of the sentiment.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Maples are such sociable trees. 

They're always rustling and whispering to you.

- Lucy Maud Montgomery -

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Maple

Smiles.