Three Ways to Ink Up Those Fall Dies | Leaf Lab I

inky fall leaves creative session

The craft table has been awash with fall leaves in all manner of stages: die cut, stamped, inked, embellished and clustered. Not even mad about it either. This time of year, I tell ya...it sort of falls like a curtain after the last act of summer. The evenings and mornings are cooler and crisper. The leaves are literally changing. The flower are going to seed. Ready or not, fall is upon us here in the Northern Hem. 

Here's the good news: fresh new making opportunities. I say bring it!!!

This girl is more than eager to bring on the leaves and the autumnal colors and celebrate life that is all around me and out my window. Inspired, I decided to try my hand at what I am calling Leaf Lab. Taking leaves in all their different creative formats and experimenting together with techniques and tools and just plain fun creative play. 

Let me share with you right here how I kick started this month with just that. Three different ways to use ink to color die cut leaves and bringing a bit of personality to each technique.

Technique 1: Ombre Ink Blending

This one was fresh and new to me.  Using what I had I started with a light ink at the top of the die cut leaf.

Worked toward the base with various colors and ending in a brown stem.

A blending brush was utilized to create a smooth transition. I suggest a smaller brush than what I used for this technique.

Then a smattering of Distress Spritz for a finishing touch that simply gave it a grand finale. In the video tutorial that complements this post you will hear my audible and nerdy paper craft girl delight in how this turned out.

Technique 2: Watercolor Ink & Spritz

This technique is a bit looser and, well, more watercolor-ey than the ink and brushed coloring. 

Ink from Distress Oxide was smooshed into a craft mat.

Spritzes of water to the ink and then the Mixed Media paper prepared the surfaces.

Tapping the paper into the ink before cutting allowed for me to create some lovely ink blends that in and of itself was a making session delight.

To be sure, each leaf turned out different and unique....just as we would find out on the trail.

Technique 3: Mixed Media Layers

Oh my gosh! This ever so playful technique? I could do this ALL DAY LONG!!!

This one started with the Mixed Media base ink in a very soft light background color.

Then my favorite stencils came into play with even more ink.

Stamping came on board and created this ever so subtle yet delightful pattern on top of all the other ink.

The result? Leaves with their own individual personality and an idea that can be used over and over again.

Once there is a lovely pile of leaves gathered from all this inking, then it's time to just play with adding them to file cards, scrapbook pages, card fronts, tag enclosures. These leaves are ephemera at the ready. All DIY'd and holding our creative personality in each and every one. Why does this make me so happy? I don't know. And I don't care. It just does!

Watch the Full Tutorial

You can watch me create all three techniques step-by-step in my Leaf Lab I video tutorial right here: 

If you try any of these techniques, I would love to see what you make! Tag me on Instagram @jamiepate so I can cheer you on.

And if you enjoyed this post and video, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next Leaf Lab experiment — I have so many ideas brewing for future sessions.

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