Monday, August 24, 2009

Sneak Peek: A Year of Leaves and Fruitful Harvest

The set giveaway is closed, see the winner HERE!

A year after releasing "A Year of Flowers" for Gina K Designs, I am thrilled to bring you "A Year of Leaves", a nature set filled with greetings and images that will take you through the entire year, year after year, no matter the occasion! The changing seasons will allow you to color this festival of leaves in Spring and Fall combinations you will love. (Try adding them to your "A Year of Flowers" images, for stunning greenery or spectacular seasonal bouquets!)

The card above uses the new Gina K Pure Luxury Pumpkin Spice and Green Apple Cardstocks. The greeting is stamped on Summer Sun and the leaves are colored with Copics.


Leaves symbolize beauty, life, growth, change, and ultimately, death. We all have times we need to celebrate or recognize each of these themes with a card to a loved one, and you'll be able to do them all, (even masculine cards!) with this ONE set.



Now, I didn't think a a set of leaves would be complete without a hungry little caterpillar! I have always been fascinated with them, even before I was old enough to truly appreciate the miracle I held in my hand: the humblest of creatures transforms into one of the most magnificent in all creation. Here is a leaf scape made from one leaf image, masked and colored with Copics and the popped up caterpillar. I masked some diagonals and sponged to create some sunlight pouring down on this scene and added the first half of this wonderful Richard Bach quote (included in the set):

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world....

to reveal "... the Master calls a butterfly." (It gets me weepy every time I read it!)

I made the inside a pop up card using Gina K's "Take Flight" butterfly to hover over the sentiment and another pattern along the bottom (butterflies!) from the same Basic Grey Ambrosia pack I used on the card front. Card base is the new Gina K Pure Luxury Moonlit Fog CS, a fabulous, elegant neutral. This story of the caterpillar and this sentiment of change is such wonderful reassurance when a door is closing, be it a job, relationship, opportunity, losing a loved one; it's a gentle reminder that the story is not over and God is calling us to become butterflies...
Would you like to win "A Year of Leaves"? Please leave (ha! get it? "leave"?!) a comment below telling me your ideas for the leaf set, I will randomly select a winner and announce it here on Thursday before the big party! :)

Before you leave (there I go again!) one more peek! This next sample uses Asela's new "Fruitful Harvest", my favorite image from it being these grapes. (Do you know, I came this close to adding some grapes to my "A Charmed Life" set I released in March, but opted to give you more quotes and charms at the time... well, now we have some grapes to go with my glass!! Hip hip hurray!) Don't they create a beautiful focal point here? A match made in rubber heaven!
Images (and quote, also from "A Charmed Life") are stamped onto Gina K Pure Luxury White (edges sponged with Antique Linen Distressing ink), I distressed the edges and matted onto Pure Luxury Black Onyx and Soft Sand, added some ribbon and a real charm, which was fun to bring attention to the stamped leaf charm I added to the stem. I really look forward to using both these sets for my fall and holiday cards, very seasonal and festive!


To create dimension and have the grapes show through the glass:

1. Stamp the glass.
2. Stamp the grapes separately.
3.Without re-inking the grapes, stamp them AGAIN over the glass image.
4. Cut out both and color, coloring the grapes paler on the glass.
5. Adhere with pop dots to card, lining up the grapes on the glass with the grapes behind it.


For more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog, as well as Asela Hopkins, the illustrator of Fruitful Harvest.
For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Kurtis, Jessica, Lee, Lynn, and Theresa as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members: Denise Kelemen and Geri Utterback


Our Release Party will be held once again over on SCS starting at 7pm CST on Thursday, August 27th. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too! You won't want to miss it!

161 comments:

  1. GORGEOUS butterfly pop-up card! I love all the cards, though as usual.

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  2. Amazing! LOVE this set!!! Your cards are gorgeous.

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  3. Oh that butterfly pop up is adorable. I cannot wait to get my hands on this set. Ideas...hmmmmm I can see jumping in fall leaves scrapbooking pages. I LOVE leaves. And I spotted that grape bunch too. Oh this release is gonna be great.

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  4. Melanie, Another amazing set! Your cards are gorgeous!

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  5. I would like to work with those leaves and some snow flakes - maybe from Gina K's Magic of Christmas, it has a tiny snow flake and white embossing powder. Hummmmmmm... I'm thinking.

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  6. Melanie....this set is GORGEOUS! Wowzers...just love the quote :o) Gorgeous card and love the butterfly popping up on the inside. Nice design using Asela's set too, perfect compliment to the glass :o)

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  7. Would I like to win this set???? Would I ever! I like to use leaves for masculine cards, particulaly get well cards! Your card with the butterfly inside is gorgeous! How do you keep coming up with winner after winner????

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  8. I look forward to seeing what you come up with each month! Beautiful! I can see some amazing fall-themed scrapbook pages with this set...

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  9. Oh I LOVE those leaves and the grapes go wonderfully for your Charmled Life set!!! I would have to take those leaves and make a huge pile and maybe use a cutey from your Just So Hoppy set to dive right in on top!!! Hee Hee

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  10. Wow Mel! I can only imagine how these leaves would work with your last Inspirational Mosaic set. Then coloring with pencils & OMS. Beautiful set!

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  11. I can see some of these leaves with my copper verdigris embossing powder on them. I have used this on leaves before and it is SOO rich. Also, using any gold or silver embossing powder would make these SOOO elegant. I'd LOVE to win this set. :)

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  12. What an amazing new set and your cards are gorgeous! Flowers and leaves are the two images I love to use most when stamping cards. So how perfect is this set! I love using leaves not only for stamping cards, but also for other projects such as decorations for Thanksgiving. Stamping leaves on a candle and making placecards would be my first project if I won this set. Here's keeping my fingers crossed!

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  13. Melanie, the new set "A Year of Leaves" is so gorgeous!!! I can just see a wreath done with some of the leaves! Your cards are always so stunning. I would love to see the leaves in combination with "Inspiraton Mosaic" Thanks for the chance to win this set!

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  14. Your cards are gorgeous Melanie. This is another "must have" stamp set. I can see using it with a Year of Flowers and also your Inspirational Mosaic. I am sure it is a set I would use all year.

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  15. I love your cards and the new ideas for the new set. I think that the leaves would go great for a Thanksgiving card idea that I had but was having a hard time finding a set that I liked.

    I so can't wait to see the complete set.

    Jamie

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  16. This set is just fantastic! I love the way you've drawn these leaves (and that cute little caterpillar). I can't wait to get this set and punch some tiny scalloped circles through the leaves to reveal a hungry caterpillar behind them. How fun! :)

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  17. I'm so excited about your new set! I love it already. I would use it in combination with my "Year of Flowers" stamp set to create a big bouquet.
    ~Angie

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  18. Another wonderful stamp set! You are really awsome I must tell you. Cards, Scrapbook pages...you can really use these stamps for so many things. I am thinking of using them on name cards for Thanksgiving.

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  19. Mel, I love your new set! Your pop-up card is just perfect and I love Asela's grapes paired with your wine glass!

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  20. LOVE A Year of Leaves especially - I see each leaf colored in my Copics, cut out & piled on the front of the card at different levels, just like a raked pile of leaves (even if they wouldn't necessarily be seen at the same time of year!). I love leaves!

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  21. Beautiful Set. I can see so many possibilities. I can see myself making a fall wreath using the leaves and a thank you statement from the stamp tv kit. Or a christmas wreath. I can see lots of uses for this stamp set on scrapbook pages or even to create backgrounds for pages :) Embossed in clear and colored in copics....I am in love with this set.

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  22. I see a beautiful leaf border on a scrapbook page of the kids playing in the leaves. Beautiful cards!

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  23. I don't know that I have a unique way to use the leaves but they would look cute on my autumn scrap pages.

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  24. Awesome cards--great idea. I think the leaves could all be done in shrink dinky style and adhered together to make wonderful napkins ring for the fall season. Dar

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  25. Beautiful sets, beautiful cards. HMMMM ...Ideas for the leaf set - I have some large tree stamps that need some leaves at the base.... as for that caterpllar - he is just gorgeous!!!

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  26. You are so talented and what a perfect set for doing fall and thanksgiving cards.Sure would love to win one!
    Nan

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  27. Oh wow!! I am so looking forward to this set. I love the images, but the quotes are heavenly too! Thanks so much for the tips on stamping the grapes and glass. I will work on that because you make it sound so straight forward. Keep up the great work! ~ky

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  28. You have done it again Melanie! I LOVE leaves. Scrapbook pages for Fall, Halloween,
    Thanksgiving ......and then spring will come around again and we go green. Can't "leave" summer out!

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  29. Hi Mel,
    I am loving these leaves! Your cards are beautiful I love stamping Fall inspired images, it's probably because the color palette is so rich and varied. I'd like to try making backgrounds with the leaves in 2nd and 3rd generation stamping. I'm sure I'll love the quotes you've chosen for this set, and I'd make one of those a focal image.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  30. love the leaves but HAVE TO HAVE that caterpillar LOL - this is a wonderful set...cant wait to get my hands on it...love your style :))
    Linda

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  31. Wonderful! I love them all! And I would love to win!
    Thanks for all the fun and inspiration!
    Sandra

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  32. Oh my word -- how I love what you have done. Thanks so much for sharing it all, and thanks also for a chance to win!

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  33. Autumn is my favorite time of year and I never tire of the autumn leaves. I love making cards with them and edging a scrapbook page in them. And I know that you will be giving us a lot of inspiration and examples to CASE. LOL.

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  34. I love that butterfly card. It is one of my all timw favourite quotes.
    I can just see these leaves being used as camouflage for some cheeky little fairie peeking out.

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  35. Melanie- I love it, and I wanted to "leaf" a comment. As usual, this is so versatile, I want to add this set to my collection.

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  36. Your cards are so lovely! Great shading on all your colouring. I love all things related to leaves & trees. On the pumpkin spice, in the centre of the card, I would stamp 4 leaves in black permanent dye ink, and build up colours using pencil crayons and get them all pretty and waxy and then burnish the wax to a shine!

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  37. What about paper piecing for the leaves. So I now have my next project. It would be so great to win this set and make those paper pieced leaves.

    thanks much

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  38. Beautiful creations Melanie!! I love your new set!! It is just amazing!! Yes, it needed a lot of exclamation!!
    God bless
    Giovana

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  39. Gorgeous cards Melanie!! and you set is fabulous!!! I would use this set with your A Year of Flowers set and inspiration mosaic. Thank you for the chance to win, my fingers are crossed.

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  40. I love this set already! Fall images are among some of my favorites. I can see creating some great backgrounds with the different leaves.

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  41. Amazing set. I love the addition of the butterfly. I can see using the leaves on invitations for Thanksgiving, even stamping them out and placing on the table over a cloth runner all dones in rusts and browns and golds. So many options.

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  42. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Love the pop-up card.

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  43. however did I miss that sheet of Ambrosia paper?>!?! Fabulous cards as always, Mel!

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  44. The leaf set is perfect for guy cards because not all guys are into cars or golf!! It can be difficult to come up with a card for them, but with this set you could do so much!! Thanks for the generous chance to win!!

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  45. I love nature, and this leaf set is perfect! I love a card that Michelle Zindorf did some time ago with a leaf floating on the water. I enjoy recreating that, and again your leaves would be perfect for that image.

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  46. Love all your ideas.
    Your cards are gorgeous. Thank you for the neat ideas.
    Love the butterfly pop up

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  47. Gorgeous new set, Melanie! Love your pop-up butterfly card and the grapes overstamped on the wine glass is genius (beautiful card, too)!

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  48. The set is Beautiful Melanie! It will combine with so many diffrent sets.
    It will make beautiful Autum and Thanksgiving cards of course...But those verses you included are so perfect for cards and for art work,which the leaves will be [erfect in as well. I am thinking that because the stamps are red rubber that you could use them as molds to emboss the new sheets of metal from Ten Second studios. All of the diffrent colors they offer and those leaves would be beautiful artwork!
    Thanks for all your hard work in putting this set together!

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  49. Thanks for the chance to win your beautiful stamp set! I could use them to stamp on different colors of felt to create a table scraf. Just think of all the fall decorations not to mention the beautiful cards and scrapbook pages. It must be so exciting for you to see your art come to life.
    Another beautiful addition to Gina's stamp line!
    ~Pam
    http://stampsinc.blogspot.com/

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  50. The set is wonderful, love it. Your work is so creative and I love your use of colours. Adore the butterfly pop-up!

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  51. This has to be one of the most beautiful cards I have seen and the phase matches it beautifully. I would have so much fun with this set of stamps, leaves cross all tyoes of greetings depending on the color one uses and the saying. So creative to make this set.

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  52. Wow Melanie - another fabulous set - and I can't wait to mix it up with A Year of Flowers my all time favourite!

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  53. jaspeppers@yahoo.comAugust 25, 2009 at 1:51 AM

    I would stamp this on a t-shirt and have other people appreciate the art as well. I love to do t-shirts.

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  54. I am so excited over your new set! Your quotes to go with your images are just so inspiring. I can see using it over and over again. I LOVE the caterpillar image. I wonder if I could make a Very Hungry Caterpillar card (that goes with the children's book :)

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  55. Your sayings are just to cute for word :)
    Von

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  56. OMGoodness--these cards are gorgeous!!! I can picture the leaves being used for placecards and napkin rings for Thanksgiving.

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  57. The leaves in your new set "Year of Leaves" would be perfect to use for making great masculine cards. Your butterfly card is absolutely gorgeous. I certainly would LOVE to win this set!

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  58. Oh wow - good bye summer hello fall! I am ready. Love them.

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  59. Great new set! Love it. And you are so right, leaves can work into almost all seasons. Would love to win it!

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  60. Your cards are beautiful! I love the new leaf stamp set. Would love to win it!

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  61. Mel, this set is perfect not only for cards but also scrapbook pages of fall outings. It is truly beautiful

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  62. I think I might do some embossing around the leaves or some glitter. I love the stamp set!

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  63. What wonderful work and how do you keep doing all the wonderful sets. I would love to win this beautiful set and I would use the leaves on everything.lol. I have the year of the flower and would love to win this set too, thanks for the chance to win it. You are great and I stay in awe.
    Thanks again.

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  64. Mel, I always look forward to your reveals, and you never fail to deliver. This is another wonderful set, and you always make the already existing sets that much more useful. Love a chance to win, but I think this one is going in my shopping cart regardless. :)
    Thanks.

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  65. I love your new set, Melanie, and the quotes you've chosen to go with it are amazing! I'd like to try doing some jewellry with the leaf images - maybe shrink plastic earrings or a pin using a small varnished twig with fall colored maple leaves dangling from it. I can picture tons of cards as well since autumn is my fave time of year. Congratulations on another winner set!

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  66. This is a beautiful set... it would be a shame to leave you without and idea:
    Falling into a good book (Teacher),
    Can't leave without saying "Happy Birthday",
    Cascading leaves falling down within your mosiac stamp - "Friends leave, but are never forgotten"...
    A scenery looking through a tree limb with multicolored leaves ""The wonder of His Majesty" (Sponged sky, etc)...
    Thank you for the opportunity.
    You are such a gifted person,
    Marilyn in Texas :o)

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  67. Beautiful and I love the butterfly and caterpillar.

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  68. I would just love to win this set........I have lots of b-day cards to make for the fall and I don't want to do the traditional b-day card. This set would also be great for scrap pages for fall. Thanks for a chance to win :0)
    Debbie
    essay18@verizon.net

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  69. Mel, you have truly created a set that I will go to time and again! I can not wait to add this to my collection! Beautiful work!

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  70. Of course these beautifully illustrated leaves will work well with any fall layout or card, but I especially like to use leaves on cards for guys, you know flowers just don't work for them.

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  71. how beautiful! GEE what would I do with it? I can't even think right now but I know I could come up with something for every season. I love the caterpillar. Did you use Flower Soft on him? He looks so fuzzy.

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  72. I love the butterfly pop up and your colors are just so vibrant. I could see using this for fall birthdays or some going back to school cards. It would be neat if you could stamp a bunch of leaves and make them into a pile with a child image jumping into them... mmm.

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  73. Awesome set, Melanie. Your creativity is amazing. What would I do with this set? I would CASE your caterpillar pop up card as I know several folks who could benefit from that sentiment. Beautiful work.
    Cheryl Sims

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  74. Oh my, Melanie! Your new set is absolutely gorgeous! Your cards are stunning also! Can't wait to see these leaves combined with your other awesome sets!

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  75. love what you did with the pop up butterfly, i love fall leaves looks like a great set, thanks for a chance to win. lisamosh@verizon.net

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  76. As always you cards are beautiful. Ideas for scrapbook pages are racing through my head. I have pictures of butterflies on my azaleas and grandchildren playing in the leaves that have been raked up. This set would make great Thanksgiving cards also. Keep up the great work. Jeanette Pullum

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  77. Wow this is such a great card... colorful, fun. how about candle rings or a wreath. it would involve a lot of cutting but yet so festive

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  78. I would use it in conjunction with Year of the flowers. What a beautiful creative job with this set.

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  79. Oh wow! Your cards are amazing!! I've never found a good family tree chart. I think you could make a beautiful one using the leaves for each family member. Also, Thanksgiving cards, graduation or moving with the caterpillar, the possibilities are endless!

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  80. I think the leaves will be really beautiful used with the year of flowers images. Love the butterfly/caterpillar saying in combo with the Take Flight butterfly.

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  81. I adore coloring, so I can see those leaves in so many colors as the fall comes closer. I have jar of leaves in fall shades, I think the two together would make an interesting blend.
    Gorgeous leaves though and I love the grapes!!

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  82. Love the coloring and color choices on both projects!

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  83. This "A year of leaves" set warms my heart! Fall to me is the most Spectacular time of year and your cards capture that beauty! TFS and for allowing some lucky gal to win this FAB-ulous set! *fingerscrossed* hope it's me!

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  84. I love the leaves and just had to "leave" a comment on how great your stamps are. The cards are all beautiful.

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  85. Beautiful! Those stamps and that color of card stock are like coffee and friends, a perfect blend!! fall is my favorite time of the year, I think the fall colors are the best..
    I would love to have those leaves stamped at the bottom of a scrap page under a huge bear tree..

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  86. I love this set!! The butterfly card is my favorite!

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  87. These are awesome! I love the new autumn images and paired with the older images it's amazing. Looks like you rocked another amazing set!

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  88. Burchboo@maconcountyhealth.orgAugust 25, 2009 at 8:23 AM

    Oh, Melanie...leaves, butterflies, grapes...I can smell fall in the air just thinking about this. I have a thing for leaves; they always can add something and just speak of nature to me. Thanks for this opportunity to win this awesome new set.
    Wish I could create like you....awesome, girl.
    Joyce B

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  89. I absolutely love your caterpillar/butterfly card! I love how you did the rays of sunshine, and that sentiment is perfect! I love Fall and all that goes with it, so these leaves are perfect for me. But I can also see them in other ways besides in Fall colors. It looks like it's going to be a great set, can't wait to see the full reveal! I am so wanting a set now!

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  90. Beautiful card! Love the leaves and pop-up butterfly! Great sentiment too! I certainly would use this set all year long but for right now it would be fall cards, Thanksgiving, and I would make some gift bags and tags too!

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  91. Love the new set. The pop up butterfly was a great idea. Can't wait to try it.

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  92. I love, love, LOVE this new set from you. The sentiments are wonderful and the images absolutely perfect. Can't you just picture a scrapbook page filled with fall leaves? Thanks so much for the chance to win this fabulous set.

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  93. Your Cards are absolutley BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for the opportunity to win this set. I would use the stamps for Thanksgiving as our family (and extended family) really work to show our thankfulness to those around us. I would make cards, and gifts (stamped candles, mini wreaths, decorated boxes and jars filled with "baked & canned goodies" and such). This stamp set would be perfect for what we are going to be doing.

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  94. I absolutely have to have this set. I love the butterfly saying!! Blessings!

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  95. OMGosh Melaneie! These are amazing! Your new stamp set has endless possibilities!I will definitely be ordering this one!

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  96. oh I don't know... I'd just case all the gorgeous cards that everyone else makes!!! Leaves are definitely a year-round image - and a definite 'go to' image for me when making masculine cards...

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  97. Gorgeous Melanie! Can't wait to see the whole! Congrats on another beautiful stamp set!

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  98. These leaves would make beautiful autumn cards for Thanksgiving to give to those people in our lives that we are thankful for.

    If you happen to pick my name.. I will be sure your name is first on my list...:)

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  99. Those cards are amazing. Wow what a fantastic set you have come up with. I love the quotes, the leaves and just everything you have here. Thank you so much for your inspiration. God Bless!~
    poquosonmom@yahoo.com

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  100. Love the leaves. Would use them with my "Year in a Flower" stamp set. I can imagine a lot of uses
    with the leaves...scrapbook pages,
    cards...etc.
    Gladys R.

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  101. Beautiful cards...love how you popped out the butterfly inside. Your set is gorgeous!!!

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  102. I love leaves!!! I have never tried it, but I would love to make a brooch with the leaves. Or, a framed piece of art. They seem to inspire me!

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  103. I loved seeing the pop-up butterfly on the inside of your year of leaves card!. What I would do with the leaves depends on the other leaves in the set; but with what you've peeked out so far, I'm thinking spectrum colored leaves on Fall and Thanksgiving cards.

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  104. Both you cards are stunning - I love leaves and fall so I can think of a ton of fall cards - probably with pumkins.

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  105. I absolutely love fall and these leaves are beautiful. I also like the catterpillar quote used on your card. It is a gentle reminder that only God knows what changes the next season in our lives will bring.

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  106. Wow! I LOVE the pop-up! Beautiful card and sentiment! I'd love to make Autumn picture frames with this set for my family!!

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  107. Your leaf set is fabulous. And your card is gorgeous. I also like the wine glass with the grapes. Very creative. You are such a genius.

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  108. Beautiful cards, Melanie! I love them all. So colorful and autumn-like. It's hard to tell from the pictures but if the leaves were big enough I think I would make a card using the leaf shape. Can't wait to see the entire set. Congratulations on another set well done!

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  109. Beautiful cards as always!

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  110. I love driving through the country and spotting beautiful fall trees all in so many colors. I think a border of them would be pretty in a scrapbook.

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  111. Well, I can't think of any ingenious ideas for the leaf set that you probably already know. I immediately thought of tasteful sypathy cards. The caterpillar reminded me of the story, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and perhaps recreating the book or a similar card.

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  112. Two great cards Melanie! I look forward to seeing your full set of Year of Leaves and I love how you incorporated your wine glass with Asela's set.

    I think one of the first things I would want to do with your year of leaves is stamp and color them on coasters for the different seasons - spring, summer, fall and work out something for winter. I could also see a catepillar and butterfly with the saying on the coasters as well. Thanks for the chance to win a set and dream about how I would use it.

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  113. This looks like a set that I can always use to create those challenging male cards.

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  114. Fabulous cards! I love using leaves for fall cards or masculine cards!

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  115. I love the stamps - and I picture my puppies and granddaughter playing in the leaves - how I will do that is another story. The grape bunch will also be great.

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  116. OMGosh! It's hard to quit looking at these amazing and inspiring cards. I just love the colors and lovin this set. Thanks for a chance.

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  117. Having just purchased (FINALLY!) your mosaic stamp, I can see beautiful cards using that with the leaves, which, by the way, are also Georgeous!

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  118. I love these cards. The pop-up butterful is WOW. I never have the right leaf for a card. These are beautiful.

    Thanks.

    Linda D.

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  119. Your new stamp set looks amazing...Congrats!

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  120. Oh my! ideas? there are so many, leaves can be any color and reflect any season. I can't wait to see what goes with these ones. SharriC

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  121. Your cards are beautiful as always. I would love to see the leaves used with a glossy card stock and versamark resist. With the right colors it would create a beautiful background. The leaves would also look really cool with clay and watercolored. Thanks for the opportunity to win the set.

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  122. I love your new set and the cards you showcased. Thanks for sharing and thanks for a chance to win this great leaves set.

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  123. Your new set looks gorgeous. I can see using it for cards, of course, but also Thanksgiving table decorations, even stamping on fabric to create a table runner.

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  124. Your new leave set is gorgeous. Can picture me making a border of leaves and maybe putting a scene into it or putting a child/dog playing in a pile of leaves. Your sets are awesome. Linda Grady

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  125. Melanie!!! I LOVE all of your cards - your new Year of Leaves stamp set is so lovely! And, pairing the grapes with your wine glass - genious!!!

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  126. Gorgeous cards!!! LOVE the leaf set!! I would stamp on polymer clay and then embellish all kinds of things with the leaves....candle holders, wreaths, picture frames....

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  127. Gorgeous cards!!! LOVE the leaf set!! I would stamp on polymer clay and then embellish all kinds of things with the leaves....candle holders, wreaths, picture frames....

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  128. I love your caterpillar to go with your leaves!!! Autumn is my very favorite season and I can't wait for it to arrive!
    Very cool with the glass and the grapes! :)

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  129. Autumn is the perfect time to curl up with a good book, so I can see using the leaves to create wonderful bookmarks. I can also see using them for thank you, thinking of you and get well cards.

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  130. Wow love the new leaf set! I saw a card on one of the other designers and really liked the leaf cut out and then placed over 2 squares...would like to win! Thanks for all your great cards and stamp sets.

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  131. Wow both cards are amazing but I hate to admit it, I love the leaves the best! Thank you so much for the chance to win such a great set!

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  132. GORGEOUS!!! As a teacher I would love to use the leaves in my classroom. I could use them to make "leaf books" or in the telling of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

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  133. Ohhh, love leaf images. If it is anything like the Year of Flowers, it will be smashing. I bet these would look great stamped on metal and pressure embossed.

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  134. This set looks like one I "must" own. I have the Year of Flowers and it is my very favorite set! I think I would like to make a fall bracelet and use shrink plastic leaves between fall colored beads.

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  135. Awesome set! Perfect for my fall scrapbook pages - dimensional leaves is what I am thinking I can do with this set.

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  136. Your cards are gorgeous! I love fall colors and I would create a wreath with the leaf images.

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  137. Wow Melanie...terrific set and great creations to showcase it!

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  138. Besides making gorgeous cards, what would it be like to stamp the leaves on fabric with fabric inks? Silk fabric could be used for pretty scarves. Other smooth, natural fiber fabrics could make pillows, or other accent pieces. It would be fun to experiment with stamping them on clothing too. Endless ideas for this set.

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  139. These are just beautiful!!! I'm hoping there's something wintery in the mix of leaves. I'm loving the saying you've added in.

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  140. What about doing a wreath of leaves?

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  141. I have to say the card you designed with your new leaves stamp is absolutely beautiful, Melanie! It's one of the lovliest you've ever done! If I had that set I'd either do a design like yours (that's how much I love it!) or design something with your Inspirational Mosaic stamp set. A wreath might be something I'd do, too. Thanks for the chance to win!!! Hope I do!

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  142. I was trying to think of something different to do with this set and the one thing I could come up with is a "spinner" card. Stamp the caterpillar on one side of a circle and stamp a butterfly on another circle. Put a piece of fishing line between them and stick them together back to back. Die cut a circle from the front of a card and mount the spinner in it with the caterpillar facing out the front. Open the card and see the butterfly. Of course you can embellish the rest of the card with those beautiful leaves and of course the quote about the caterpillar becoming a butterfly! Thanks for a chance to win a set.

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  143. Fall is my favorite time of year! I would love to color the leaves in autumn colors for fall cards and of course scrapbook pages of kids in the leaf pile.

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  144. What a beautiful card!!!!!!!!!!! I love butterflies, especially after my late grandfather planted 2 butterfly gardens in his yard the summer before he passed away. Just love your card.

    mays331@embarqmail.com

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  145. Wow! Your leaves look as though I could pluck them right off a tree...right here in SW Indiana...in the not so distant future! Just an amazing stamp set! Anyone ready to jump into a huge pile of fall leaves?

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  146. Treasured comments - I love it. First time I have seen it. Thanks for sharing.

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  148. I would like to use the leaves to enhance a picture of my Pre-K classroom of children playing in that huge pile of fall leaves! I left this comment out of my 1st comment...sorry!

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  149. Wow... love the leaves they are awesome. And they would be so many uses for them. Awesome job and very inspiring cards!!!

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  150. I am so excited to see your sentiments. You always put so much thought into your stamps sets.

    It's a good life!
    Terri E.

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  151. What amazing cards! Since autumn is my favorite season, I adore leaves. I can't wait to see this set revealed. I love to use leaf images for fall birthdays and all throughout the season for "thinking of you" cards. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  152. Those leaves are beautiful! So much versatility in this set. I love that about your "Year in Flowers." Great work! I'd like to use them as a background, stamped in different shades of orange and gold for a stunning fall card!

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  153. I can't wait to use this set with my "year of flowers" set!! I have tried pairing some other leaf stamps I have with them but they just don't have the same quality as yours do!! :)
    My friend is also planning a fall wedding next year and we are trying to do her wedding invites, and she would love to incorporate leaves with red and gold, so this set would come in handy!!
    Thanks so much again for the great inspiration on your blog and the wonderful stamps that you create!!

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  154. Your leaves are so detailed that they would add such great dimension to any project I'd use them one. Finding some great desinger paper to stamp them on and then cut out would be terrific! Thanks for your talent.

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  155. Hi Mel, what a fabulous release - I love all these new stamps. I've made wedding invitation for a couple of friends, and I couldn't help thinking how fabulous the grapes and leaves would look on a wedding invitation. Not too far from where I live there are some wineries which from time to time host weddings. Would the grapes/leaves look wonderful on an invitation for a wedding in a winery!
    Hugs, Anne

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  156. This set is stunning, I would make a wiper card card with the caterpillar popping out of the top.

    Another idea it to make an exploding box with a lid of leaves and the butterflies flying out when you open it.

    Barbara

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  157. I love those leaves! I can see me making fall and masculine cards with this set! Or a scrapbook page! There are so many ways to use it! I also love your beautiful card!
    Missy

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  158. Holy Guacamole lady, these are amazing. Of course I am in love with the Vino........

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