Fall Leaves for RRR Fall Leaves Challenge

Fall is in the air here in northeast Ohio. We live atop a large hill in an open field completely surrounded by forest. As I look out my kitchen window each fall day, I see such gorgeous colors that change day by day. The photos on this page were taken just last week, and my view is much different only a mere week later.

These photos are just perfect for the Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge starting today ~ Fall Leaves. I got to combine some of my favorite products on this page including ribbon, lace, cording and WOC flowers from RRR, Clearsnap Smooch Spritz and Mix'd Media Inx by Donna Salazar Designs, 7 Dots Studio 9th Wave collection, Prima Stencils and Helmar Adhesives.

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #82

Fall Leaves 

And of course include some ribbon, lace or cording on your project! 

"Enjoy Fall"

To enter this challenge, create a card, layout, or any handcrafted project. Just be sure to follow the theme and use ribbon, lace, or trim somewhere on your project. 

Really Reasonable Ribbon Products

Seam Binding, White, 1/2"

Jute Rope ~ Natural

May Arts Netting ~ Champagne, 1.5"

Chloe Natural Crochet Lace, 5/8"

Wild Orchid Crafts Mulberry Flowers ~ Sweetheart Blossoms, White

Wild Orchid Crafts Mulberry Flowers ~ Cosmos Daisy Stem Flowers, White

Wild Orchid Crafts Mulberry Flowers ~ Cherry Blossoms

Tombow 3D Foam Tabs

Scor-Tape 6" x 6"

Zutter Bow-it-All

I used the Dusty Attic October Sketch as inspiration for this layout:

Tips and Techniques

I created this beautiful five-loop bow using White Seam Binding and the new Zutter Bow-it-All. this new bow tool is so handy and Bonnie has put together a fabulous video tutorial on making basic bow which can be found here. The Bow-it-All is so easy to use and creates tiny to large bows. I love how quickly I can put together a multi-loop bow and know that all the loops will be nice and uniform in size. There are a few hints to using this tool which Bonnie does a wonderful job explaining. 

After tying the bow, I brushed some Sea Breeze Smooch Spritz across the bow, heavier in some spots than others to get a mottled appearance. Then, I dry brushed the bow in spots with gesso. 

I also dry brushed many of the elements like this metal piece and flowers with more gesso. All the pale blue flowers tucked in around the larger orange flower are white WOC flowers tinted pale blue. A close-up and details follow. 

Bonnie sells a wide variety of gorgeous Wild Orchid Crafts flowers in the Really Reasonable Ribbon Store. I like to keep white flowers in my stash so that I can color them as I did here on this layout. I had a mostly used bottle of Donna Salazar's Sea Breeze Smooch Spritz. I added a little water and poured the colored liquid out onto my craft mat and with a fine tip paint brush, applied to these flowers. (I always save those nearly used up bottles of mist until I get every last drop from them. lol) Of course when dry a bit of gesso was brushed on. 

The rolled flower is created with Natural Jute Rope and the tutorial can be found here. Instead of dabbing with black ink, I brushed on gesso and dabbed with pale blue ink. You can also see the beautiful Chloe Lace I tucked into the layers surrounding the photos. 

 A side view of the focal cluster.

I adore texture and the May Arts Champagne netting was roughly cut along the edge and tucked under the edge of the painted corrugated board and photo. I added some blue ink under the tucked in flowers and butterfly, the netting took this color so beautiful giving a crackle appearance. 

This sweet butterfly came in a Bits and Pieces prize I won from C'est Magnifique earlier this year and is handcrafted by Cathi O'Neill. Yes indeed, I brushed it with the Sea Breeze Smooch as well. 

This Dusty Attic Foliage piece represents my fall leaves. I painted it with Super Heavy Gesso to apply a base of texture. I then brushed on several layers of ink in yellows, golds, orange, and red. It is raised and adhered using Tombow 3D Foam Pads. 

This Dusty Attic Wrought Iron piece is painted in metallic cobalt blue and dry brushed with gesso. Here you can see some of the mixed media background - stamping, molding paste, misting and paint. 

The title was created with the DA UPPER mini ABC chipboard letters on a background cut with Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty-Two, then inked. The letters were painted with DA Sunshine acrylic, then dabbed with Mix'd Media Inx. Finally, I sprayed them with Helmar Crystal Kote Glossy Spray to set the color and give a glossy shine. 

I hope you've been inspired to create a project for 

Really Reasonable Challenge #77 ~ Fall Leaves

Be sure to stop by the RRR Blog for all the details and prize information.

The Really Reasonable Ribbon Store is a fabulous place to find that special ribbon or fiber to fit your paper crafting needs! 

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~