Hello, crafty friends! With the crisp air finally settling in, it’s officially sweater weather, and what better way to celebrate than with a cozy fall card featuring some adorable gnomes? I don’t know about you, but I can never resist the combination of warm autumn colors, cute critters, and a fun card layout. This project really came together thanks to some fabulous products from Scrapbook.com, and I’m excited to share the details with you!
Whether you’re looking to create a seasonal card to send to a friend or just want to try something new with your colored pencils, this design will get you in the fall spirit. Let's chat about how it all came together!
It's Time for Sweater Weather Card:
Cozy Gnomes: The Heart of the Card
I knew right away I wanted the Grateful Gnomes Stamps & Dies set from Scrapbook.com to be the star of this card. These gnomes, bundled up in their cozy fall attire, are just perfect for capturing that sweater weather vibe. There’s something so charming about their whimsical look that always brings a smile to my face.
I stamped my trio of gnomes using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto a piece of light orange cardstock from the Daybreak Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad. I went with this soft orange because it reminded me of the light that filters through the leaves on a fall afternoon. I made sure to position the gnomes near the bottom of my panel, giving myself room to add a sentiment and some extra details above them.
Here’s a little tip: When you’re stamping onto colored cardstock, especially if you're using a lighter ink, make sure your surface is clean and even. I like to use a stamping platform to ensure crisp, consistent images. Plus, stamping on colored cardstock adds a whole new layer of depth to your design, saving you some time with background coloring!
Coloring with Pencils: Soft and Blended for Fall
For the coloring, I reached for my colored pencils, which are perfect for adding those soft, blended fall hues. I’ve always loved using colored pencils on colored cardstock because you can build up the color gradually without overwhelming the paper. If you’ve ever struggled with getting the right balance of vibrancy on colored cardstock, don’t worry—light layers are your friend!
I decided to stick with a warm, earthy color palette for the gnomes, pulling in some inspiration from the Cozy Autumn Pattern Paper Pad (more on that in a bit!). The soft oranges, browns, and deep reds just scream autumn to me. One of my favorite parts about working with colored pencils is how forgiving they are—you can always layer and blend until you’re happy with the result. And if you make a mistake? No big deal! You can usually blend it out or add more shading to balance everything out.
Here’s another tip: Don’t shy away from adding a bit of shadow or depth with darker shades, even on light-colored cardstock. It can really make your images pop, and it’s a great way to add dimension without using extra layers.
Embossed Sentiment & Leaf Accents
Once I had the gnomes all colored, I knew I wanted a shiny, embossed sentiment to complete the fall theme. I used Gold Pigment Ink to stamp my sentiment right above the gnomes, then covered it with Polished Gold Super Fine Embossing Powder from WOW Embossing. There’s something magical about heat embossing—watching the powder melt into a smooth, shiny finish is always one of my favorite parts of the process.
After heat-setting the sentiment, I felt like the top of the card needed a little extra something. I stamped a few small leaves from the Grateful Gnomes Stamp Set around the sentiment and above the gnomes, coloring them in fall hues to match the scene. These little details really help tie everything together.
If you’ve never tried heat embossing, here’s a pro tip: Always use an anti-static powder tool before stamping your pigment or embossing ink. It’ll help keep stray powder from sticking where you don’t want it, resulting in a cleaner finish.
Ombre Sky and Grounding the Gnomes
To finish the scene, I wanted to ground the gnomes and create a subtle background. I lightly shaded an ombre sky behind the gnomes with my colored pencils, letting it fade naturally into the light orange cardstock. I also added a bit of grounding beneath the gnomes, so they don’t look like they’re floating in space. These small touches really bring the whole scene to life without overpowering the simplicity of the design.
This is one of those steps that adds depth without needing any additional layers or dies, making it a great technique if you want to keep things flat for mailing.
Layering the Card and Adding Patterned Paper
Now for one of my favorite parts—layering! I adhered my focal panel to a darker blue-violet piece of smooth cardstock from the Daybreak Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad, cut slightly larger to frame the design. This dark border really helps the warm fall colors pop against the background.
Next, I added a strip of patterned paper from the Cozy Autumn Pattern Paper Pad. I always love using patterned paper as a way to pull in more colors and patterns without having to add too many elements. For this card, the strip of patterned paper was the perfect way to balance the focal panel while keeping the design cohesive.
A tip for choosing patterned paper: I like to pull colors from the paper and match them to my image’s palette. It’s an easy way to make sure everything feels coordinated without being too matchy-matchy.
Finishing Touches: Dimension and Highlights
To give the card some dimension, I popped up the entire card front using Instant Dimensional Foam Tape and adhered it to a top-folding A2 card base made from Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. This added height is what really makes the card feel special, without making it too bulky for mailing.
For those final details, I added some white gel pen highlights with my trusty Uni-ball White Signo Gel Pen. A few small highlights on the gnomes’ hats and clothes brought them to life. And, of course, I couldn’t resist adding a few fall-colored sequins for a touch of sparkle.
Wrapping It Up
And there you have it—an adorable fall card featuring some cozy gnomes and rich autumn colors! I hope this project inspires you to break out your colored pencils and create something special for sweater weather. Whether you’re sending this card to a friend or adding it to your collection, it’s sure to bring a bit of fall cheer to anyone’s day.
If you try this design or put your own spin on it, be sure to share—I’d love to see what you create! Until next time, happy crafting and enjoy the season!
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Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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