Hello friends! Today I’m welcoming a little bit of fall into my craft room with a colorful mixed media card featuring the beautiful leaves from PaperArtsy Alison Bomber 53.
There’s something about fall crafting that makes me want to pull out all those rich colors, layered backgrounds, and touches of gold. For this card, I didn’t have to start from scratch—I found a watercolor background made with leftover Lindy’s Gang Magicals and a fall-colored gel print in my stash.
Sometimes the perfect beginning to a project is already sitting on your craft desk!
🍂 Starting with a Leftover Watercolor Background
I started with a watercolor background I had previously created using some leftover Lindy’s Gang Magicals.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I hate wasting beautiful color! When I have Magicals, sprays, or paints left over from another project, I love using them to create backgrounds that I can save for later.
This one had the perfect colors and movement for an autumn card, so it finally found its purpose.
✨ Adding Golden Details
Next, I reached for the PaperArtsy Alison Bomber 53 stamp set.
I stamped the leaves and number details directly onto my watercolor background and heat embossed them in gold.
The metallic embossing adds such a beautiful contrast against the loose watercolor. I especially love the way the gold catches the light while still allowing all those colors underneath to show through.
🎨 Creating the Layered Leaves
I wanted the leaves to have even more dimension, so I searched through my stash again and found a gel press print filled with beautiful fall colors.
I stamped the same leaves onto the gel print and heat embossed them in gold to coordinate with the background.
After fussy cutting the leaves, I arranged them over the watercolor panel to create my focal point.
Using the same stamp on both the background and the dimensional pieces helps connect all the layers, while the different backgrounds keep everything interesting.
💌 Finishing Touches
To complete the card, I added a sentiment from the Alison Bomber 53 stamp set and finished everything with a simple gold frame.
I didn’t want to add too much more. Between the watercolor, gel print, detailed stamping, and metallic embossing, there was already plenty of color and texture to enjoy.
Sometimes knowing when to stop is part of the creative process too!
💛 Why This Card Works
One of my favorite things about this card is how several different techniques come together without competing with one another.
The watercolor background is loose and organic, the gel-printed leaves add another layer of color and texture, and the gold embossing ties everything together.
And even better, much of the card was created from backgrounds and leftover color I already had in my stash.
💡 A Little Creative Challenge
Before starting your next fall project, take a look through the backgrounds and scraps you’ve already created.
🍁 Look for colors that remind you of autumn.
🎨 Pull out an unfinished watercolor or gel print.
✨ Stamp the same image on both your background and a separate piece to create coordinating layers.
You don’t always need a brand-new background to start a new project. Sometimes something you created weeks—or even months—ago is just waiting for the right idea.
Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this card inspires you to dig through your stash, rediscover some forgotten backgrounds, and add a little golden autumn magic to your next project.
Have a wonderful week and happy creating! 🍂✨
 PaperArtsy – Alison Bomber 53 – Twisted Leaves Shop at: TP |
 WOW! Embossing – Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: WOW US | TP |
 WOW! Embossing – Metallic Gold Rich Pale Shop at: WOW US | TP |
 Tsukineko – VersaFine Clair – Nocturn Shop at: AZ | TP |
 Gel Press – Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: AZ | TP | Misc |
 Speedball – 2″ Brayer Shop at: TP |