Aspen leaves

I made some cards for a friend who invited us to stay at her home in Keystone when she heard we were traveling to Colorado to visit our son earlier this month. I took a picture of the Aspen tree right next to her garage, and picked a few leaves off of the tree to bring home with the hopes to create cards.

First off, I printed 8 3 x 5 pictures of the Aspen tree on Text weight Cryogen White (which fit onto one sheet of the cardstock). I used the picture on all but one card.

I called on my fellow Technique Junkies and Gingersnaps Yahoo friends to give me ideas for what to do with leaves on cards- the first idea was from Juliet- who had received a beautiful card where the leaves were covered with Crystal effects and another TJ'er also suggested trying coating the leaf with Modge Podge or regular glue. 

I used Olive Basis cardstock, stamped with Canvas background (SU), edge punched (SU) on Safari Brown and added the picture and the leaf.



Now I do have to add that after the crystal effects were added to the two leaves one started getting brown lines- I did pick a leaf with no bumps or irregularities, so I am not sure what to say about this...I did disregard the leaf with the brown lines.

Next, I used Kraft cardstock , layered on Safari Brown and added leaf images- I used the actual leaf and embossed them using Mellow Moss Pigment ink and clear embossing powder and gold embossing powder.I added some speckles to the Kraft for interest with a stamp.

I simply used my fingers to press the leaf into the pad- use gloves if you do not want your fingers to be all colored with ink...... You can see that the leaf does not have very pronounced veins- so Acrylic paint did not work too well for this project.

Next, I rolled three leafs together- through the Cuttlebug. I was hoping they would leave pigment, like flowers would, but that did not work. So, I laid them on white cardstock and sprayed them with green Memory Mist.

Next, I embossed the leaves in gold, and edged the green panel in Gold embossing powder.

 I put the leaf in Versamark and very carefully and slowly embossed it with the Gold embossing powder. I held the heat far away from the leaf and took my time embossing it- this is because if you hold it closer, the embossing powder bubbles up. I used the wonderful textured Ivory cardstock in a CAS style.
Some of the ladies in TJ and Gingersnaps suggested ways to emboss without making the powder burn or bubble- put the leaf in the over at 200 degrees, etc..... Also, there is a tutorial or two at Gingersnaps for working with embossing leaves and using them on cards.

My last cards- I used the shimmery Poison Ivy cardstock- Ooohhhhh this is so pretty IRL! It is very slightly off white and very shimmery. I added the picture of the Aspen tree and very lightly Gold embossed the edge of the picture which is on a mat of black. The Gold leaf is on a background of shimmery black Sparkle Noir cardstock that is also edged in Gold embossing powder.



I think my friend will like the cards- what do you think???

Have a great day- stay cool!!!

Shelly