Autumn Trees!

Hello!  Since Autumn has officially arrived it is now time to fully embrace the change of season, and today I am sharing a few projects I worked on this week using the Stampin’ Up!® Autumn Trees Bundle (item 165893), featured in the September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue as part of the Autumn Toile Suite Collection (item 165904).  The Bundle includes the Autumn Trees stamp set (item 165896) and the Autumn Trees dies (item 165899).  Both the stamp set and the dies are of course also available separate from the Bundle, but if you would like both the stamp set and the co-ordinating dies, and use the Bundle item number when submitting your order you will receive the 10% Bundled Savings!

Of course for my projects I also had to do a little mixing and matching with other current and retired Stampin’ Up!® products, including:

• Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) - flag die;

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - square dies;

• Notes & Totes dies (item 165240) - one of the fence post dies;

• Light & Wonder dies (item 165762) - curving edge die;

• Cloud Cover patterned paper from the Beautiful Gallery 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 165196);

• one of the grayscale floral patterned papers from the Online Exclusives Botanical Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165545);

• three patterned papers from the Autumn Toile 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165882);

• to cover the double photo mats on the first project I used strips trimmed from two wood grain patterned papers from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393), and from one of the patterned papers from the Online Exclusives Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560);

• branch with leaves, and acorn dies from the retired Tree Rings (With Hybrid Embossing Folder) dies (item 159888 - featured in the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue);

• small detailed leaf dies from the retired Giving Gifts dies (item 156563 - featured in the July-December 2021 Mini Catalogue); and

• recently retired Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder (item 165559).

Just a brief summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock, watercolour paper, and DSP, and for scoring card fold lines.  To ensure sharp folds I also burnish the folded scored lines with my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) for all die cutting and embossing; 
• Blending Brushes (item 153611 - package of three) and Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) for applying Classic Stampin' inks to cardstock/watercolour paper die cuts for shading. For a little additional visual texture I sometimes lightly spritz the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), blotting dry with paper towel to create a slightly mottled effect - often adding additional ink after the blotted cardstock/watercolour paper die cut is fully dry; 
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the spatula and tacky putty tips are definitely a great help for manipulating and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). 

For several of my projects I used book pages from discarded books, which I had painted with light coats of white acrylic paint, crumpled up while the paint was still wet, allowed to air dry then ironed.  For two of my projects I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the large tree image from the Autumn Trees stamp set on the paper, colouring the images with Classic Stampin' inks/Classic Stampin' ink refills that were mixed with a little water and applied with small paint brushes.  On the square framed deer card I used some painted book page for the background panel for the scene assembled using a variety of die cuts; and on the Cloud Cover/Basic Black/Basic Gray framed project I used one of the painted book pages in addition to the trimmed piece of Cloud Cover patterned Beautiful Gallery DSP as a background panel for the stamped image. 

I also used StāzOn Jet Black Ink to stamp the large tree image on watercolour paper for two projects, also colouring the images with Classic Stampin' inks.  For the card project I die cut the tree using the co-ordinating Autumn Trees dies.

On with the projects!

In addition to a dollar store frame with a back opening of 10" x 8", and two cardboard photo mats (with openings of 5 3/4" x 3 3/4" and 6 1/2" x 4 1/2") that were covered with the strips trimmed from the Country Woods and Woven Textures DSP, I used the following supplies to complete this project:

• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Early Espresso ink (item 147114), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283), and Old Olive ink refill (item 100531) to colour the image;
• watercolour paper for one acorn, both acorn caps, and the leaves, and branch with leaves die cuts - die cuts coloured using Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Early Espresso ink, Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Old Olive ink (item 147090), Old Olive ink refill, and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Early Espresso ink for one acorn die cut;
• Crumb Cake cardstock for Light & Wonder "ground" die cuts;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), embossed using the Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder, top edge torn, for "ground" between Crumb Cake cardstock die cuts;
• Early Espresso ink to sponge all edges of all DSP strips; and
• I used one of the black Stampin' Dimensionsals (Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack - item 150893) behind the Early Espresso shaded acorn. 

For the cover of this journal I used a full 8 1/2" x 11" piece of Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686), scored at 5 1/2" on the 11" side, and after completing the journal I scraped the top, bottom, and the side edges opposite the fold with the blade of my craft knife.  For the signature I used seven pages of coffee-dyed printer paper, and one page of recycled kraft wrapping paper (for a total of 32 pages), all edges of which I sponged with Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  To attach the signature and the trimmed branch to the cover I used two small black elastic hair bands; and I used an awl and craft hammer to make the four 1/8" holes in both the spine of the cover and the center fold of the signature.  I first punched the holes in the cover (spaced at 1", 3 1/3", 5", and 7 1/2"), and used these holes as a guide for marking the placement of the holes in the center fold of the signature - the papers of the signature were trimmed to be slightly smaller than the cardstock cover).  To complete the decoration of the journal cover and two of the pages I used the following additional supplies:

• DSP panels for the front cover:  1 @ 8 1/4" x 5 1/4"; 1 @ 7 5/8" x 4 5/8", matted with a 7 3/4" x 4 3/4" piece of Early Espresso cardstock; one strip @ 7 5/8" x 2 7/8"; and two strips @ 5 1/2" x 1/4" - ends torn.  All edges of the DSP panels and strips were sponged with Early Espresso ink;
• Early Espresso ink to shade the edges and torn top edge of the book page;
• Early Espresso ink to colour the image, and to add additional splatters;
• two large and two small of the Very Vanilla dots from the Online Exclusives Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) - one of each size added to the two narrow DSP strips;

• Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) for the bow - knotted ends secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue;
• watercolour paper for the large tree, small leaves, and deer edge die cuts:  tree coloured using Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166), Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Early Espresso ink, Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283), and Old Olive ink refill (item 100531); leaves coloured using Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Old Olive ink (item 147090), and Early Espresso ink - for the maple leaf I added in some Real Red ink (item 147084); the deer edge die cut was coloured using Pecan Pie, Old Olive, Basic Gray, and Early Espresso  inks;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink; Early Espresso cardstock, and Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202) for the Light & Wonder die cuts; and
• Crumb Cake cardstock, shaded with Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, and Early Espresso inks for the Notes & Totes fence post die cut (used as a base for the deer edge die cut).

Autumn is certainly about the vibrant colours of the changing leaves, but the quiet palette of the misty gray days should also be appreciated!  To complete this project, framed using a dollar store frame (glass removed, and the edges distressed with a fine grit sandpaper) with inside back dimensions of 7" square, I used the following additional supplies:

• a medium-weight cardboard panel, trimmed to fit the frame's inside back dimensions, covered with one of the grayscale floral patterns from the Botanical Textures DSP.  After applying the glue to the cardboard panel, and spreading it over the panel with an old paint brush, I placed the DSP (cut slightly larger than the cardboard panel) over the panel, and used a brayer (Stampin' Brayer - item 162936) to roll over the DSP to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the DSP to the base cardboard panel.  After the glue was thoroughly dry I used my craft knife to cut away the excess DSP from around the edges of the cardboard panel (to do this I place the DSP-covered cardboard panel face down on my cutting mat);
• Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166) to colour the image, and to add additional splatters - watercolour paper image panel trimmed to 5 1/4" x 3 7/8";
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the image matting panel, trimmed to allow a 1/16" border on all sides of the image panel;
• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the matted image panel; and
• two small and one large of the Cloud Cover dots from the Muted Palette Dots (item 165155) added to image panel.

Additional supplies to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and for the 3 3/4" frame, with 2 3/4" square window die cut using the Stylish Shapes dies;
• watercolour paper that had been coloured using Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283) for the die cut leaves - after die cutting additional shading added using Real Red ink (item 147084);
• watercolour paper for the deer edge die cut - shaded using Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114);
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for two Light & Wonder "ground" die cuts;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), embossed using the Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder, top edge torn, and shaded with Pecan Pie ink, for additional "ground";
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Early Espresso ink for die cut tree;
• 3" x just a tad more than 1/4" wide strip of Autumn Toile DSP for foreground;
• retiring Pecan Pie Stampin' Write Marker (Neutrals Collection Stampin' Write Markers - item 161697 - currently available as one of the Last Chance Products) to add splatters to frame by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid; 
• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to adhere the frame over the scene assembled on the book page background panel.  After attaching the frame the framed scene was glued to the card front; and 
• two small and one large of the Pecan Pie dots from Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) added to frame. 

To the bottom edge of the card's inside panel I added two strips of Autumn Toile DSP.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3" top-fold gift card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• watercolour paper for the image flag panel - I die cut the flag, using the Nested Essentials dies, after stamping the image;
• watercolour paper for the acorn cap, branches with leaves, and leaf die cuts:  acorn cap coloured using Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114); branches with leaves coloured using Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Early Espresso ink, and Old Olive ink refill (item 100531); leaf coloured using Old Olive ink (item 147090), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Early Espresso ink;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Early Espresso ink, for the acorn die cut;
• Crumb Cake ink refill and Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166) to colour the image;
• 3 7/8" x 2 7/8" panel of Autumn Toile DSP;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach the image panel to card front; and
• one of the black Stampin' Dimensionsals (Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack - item 150893) to attach the acorn over the branches on the upper corner of the image flag.

Additional supplies used to complete this 6" x 4" side-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the Light & Wonder "ground" die cut;
• watercolour paper for the tree image, and the two die cut leaves;
• Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to colour the tree image;
• Daffodil Delight ink and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the two leaf die cuts;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach die cut tree, and large leaf die cut; and
• two small and one large of the white dots from Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) added to the Light & Wonder Crumb Cake cardstock die cut.

And finally . . .

For my "Archie" project this week, included at the bottom of this blog post, I used watercolour paper for the base of the 5" square top-fold card, the image panel, and for the 4 1/4" square frame with a 2 3/4" square window die cut using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183).  I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the idyllic image from the long-retired Peace Within stamp set (item 114312), featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue, colouring the image using Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283), Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Basic Gray ink (item 149165), Azure Afternoon ink refill (item 161668), Old Olive ink refill (item 100531), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), and Highland Heather ink refill (item 147167).  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the frame over the image panel, and added a 4 5/8" square Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) matting panel, and, to the lower right corner of the frame, two small and one large of the Pecan Pie dots from Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561).

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun working on my Autumn Trees projects!

Starter Kit Special!

Starting October 1, 2025, and running until October 31, 2025, Stampin' Up! is offering two great options for anyone who may be interested in joining Stampin' Up! as an Independent Demonstrator:

Option 1:  For $48.00 CDN recieve $165.00 CDN worth of Stampin’ Up!® products of your choice; or

Option 2:  For $135.00 CDN recieve $252.00 CDN worth of Stampin’ Up!® products of your choice.

Regardless of which of the two options is selected there is free shipping on the Starter Kit, and each Starter Kit also includes business supplies (including copies of the most recent catalogues), and a free Paper Pumpkin Kit!  Whether you are an avid crafter who would like to receive a nice discount on your own crafting supplies - and early access to new products, or you are interested in establishing a home-based business, and you live in Canada, you would be most welcome to join my team as one of "Archie's Arties"!  If you would like more information about joining my Stampin' Up! team please do not hesitate to contact me!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com), and I will try my best to help!  In addition to the digital version of the September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, the digital version of the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue is also available for you to access at your convenience on my website.   If visiting the online store don't forget to check out all the Online Exclusives as well as the Last Chance Products!  Just a reminder that all Last Chance Products remain available only while supplies last! 

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

"A sleeping cat is a silent poem of peace and tranquility."

- Unknown -