Monday Challenge – Use a leaf… ~ By Jayne Loughlin

This challenge was I thought quite a nightmare to me thinking about it, but when I started to pick leaves and think what I could do I quite enjoyed making this card. I think this is the point of challenges – You make something ‘outside the box’ Something you wouldn’t usually make maybe or perhaps to kick start a lost Mojo… Hopefully the end result will be a happy one

So go on if you don’t do any crafting this week at least make yourself start this challenge you might be pleasently pleased with the results and your children will love this project too  :)

Things I’ve used: Blank square card, 1 sheet double sided Patterned paper, Adhesive, Alcohol inks (2 colours), A leaf, 2 paper blossoms, Border punch, XL Squeeze Circle punch,Trimmer, Eyelet setter, Sunburst eyelet, Ink,Glossy cardstock (could use a piece of glossy photo paper, Alcohol ink applicator.

Instructions: Firstly measure your card and cover the front with Patterned paper.

Next take your Glossy card and lay a leaf onto the card a leaf with lots of leaves might be better than a big leaf to add more interest to the shape.Collect your Alcohol inks and Applicator put the piece of felt that comes with Applicator onto the velcro. Drop a few dots of 1st colour onto the applicator and a few dots of the 2nd colour next to the 1st dot. Dab over the leaf holding it still move the applicator tool whilst dabbing randomly until the whole glossy cardstock is covered. Lift the leaf and put to one side. If you have trouble with your leaf moving used a repositional glue ! Trim the cardstock to a square if using a square cars base. Adhere down into the centre of the card when happy. Alcohol inks dry very fast.

Next choose a contrasting paper to the paper you glued to the front of the card. Now cut a border the length of your card. Punch with your border punch. Glue this to the bottom of the card a little way up (see 1st photo for placement) Trim if needed.

I have glued the leaf that I alcohol inked over to the bottom right facing corner of my card using the inked side up.  Punch a Circle with the Squeeze punch next. I snipped the edges to make the circle not lie so flat then ink edges in green. (See photo below)

Glue two different sized blossoms onto the circle and then punch a larger hole using the Eyelet Setter through the centre of the blossoms. Poke the Sun Eyelet into the hole. Turn the circle and blossom over and set using the Eyelet setter (See above photo). Glue this circle over the leaf you glued earlier. ** NOTE : There’s an easy video HERE if you do not know how to set an eyelet using eyelet setters.

Add a greeting I used mini peeloffs but you could leave blank or use stickers or Diecut alphas. The card is now finished. So go on do the Challenge this week and share it with us xx