And in plenty of places (our own wee corner of British Columbia included), both versions of November are often intertwined. Autumn holding on for dear life as best it can, only to ultimately succumb to the icy power of the season that lies ahead.

Personally, as a perpetual lover of fall and someone who connects profoundly with this season, I prefer to celebrate the autumnal elements of November for as long as possible.

Knowing that winter will engulf our world fully within a matter of weeks at most, I am mindful to try and spend as much time outdoors as I possibly can during the gentle days of November.

Living in an area that marries farmland and woodland so majestically it borders on being intoxicating, much of that time is spent in the local woods – including the towering swath of birch and evergreen trees that call our backyard home.

Throughout my life, no matter if I’ve lived in close proximity to the woods or not, I have been drawn to forests and the magnificent microcosms of animal, plant, and fungi life they house.

Before the elegant earth and jewel tones of the woods of fall go to sleep under a heavy blanket of Canadian snow, I wanted to make and share a card that celebrates the joy and whimsy that forests spark in my – and many other peoples’ – heart with all of you.

Layers, fussy cutting, a shaker window, and some seriously cute woodland imagery!

Few paper crafting releases have resonated with me, my aesthetic, and even my spirituality (as a nature-focused Pagan witch) quite like P13’s gorgeous Forest Tea Party collection.

P13 is one of my absolute favourite paper crafting companies. Their products are high quality, their designs breathtakingly beautiful, and their wide selection of offerings helps to ensure a good many crafters will find something amounts P13’s various releases that appeal to them.

This post is not sponsored and I’m not on the P13 design team (a paper crafter can dream though!). I simply adore this brand and wanted to shine the spotlight on this particular release from them.

It’s rarely feasible for me to purchase all of the items in a given line (from any brand), and to be honest, I don’t usually feel like I need to do so – even when I madly adore a release.

I’ve long learned that a few products are often more than enough to craft a bevy of different paper crafting projects with – especially if you combine them with other items from your stash.

Thanks to the heart-touching kindness and generosity of a dear friend in the US who gave me a $25 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com last Christmas, I was able to pick up some of the products in P13’s Forest Tea Party Collection.

This is the second project I’ve shared here so far featuring items from Forest Tea Party. The first, as some of you may recall, was this adorable woodland themed birthday card.

As I plan to get as much use as I can out of the items from P13’s Forest Tea Party Collection that I have, chances are today’s project share won’t be the last you see here starring this whimsically wonderful collection.

Like many card makers, I try to create and keep a supply of versatile, multi-occasion suitable cards on hand throughout the year.

Understandably, I often find that as a given year winds down, my stash of such cards has diminished a good deal since January began.

Looking to replenish it, I opted for a sentiment that could be used for a wide array of possible card giving occasions. Birthdays, thinking of you, missing you, congratulations, thank you new babies, anniversaries, retirement, support – the list goes on and on.

The colours tap into fall, while also housing elements of the other three seasons as well. The classic pairing – amongst the other colours in the palette used here – of red, green, and white means one could even send this darling card as a winter holiday season greeting.

P13 and fussy cutting go together like fall and pumpkin spice lattes in my books. I did some here, both for the larger central image (with super cute woodland mouse) and for the layered foliage tucked around it.

A shaker element that houses a mix of woodland-themed wood veneer pieces coupled with sequins and tiny gem embellishments shares center stage with the fussy cut images.

True to form for most of my makes, a number of layers coupled with various embellishments round out this sweet woodland critter-themed card.

Products used to make this adorable woodland critter shaker card

-Red and green cardstock

-Brown wooden floorboard print paper and light grey leaf/branch print paper – Farmhouse 12 x 12 inch paper pad from Craftsmart (Michael’s)

-Green script print paper – The Green Witch 6 x 6 inch paper pad from Recollections (Michael’s)

-Cut out woodland images – Forest Tea Party 07 – from P13

-Large cut out piece (with mouse) – Forest Tea Party – 06 from P13

-Clear acetate (for shaker window)

-Scallop edge circle die

-Elegant scrolling edge style die

-Eyelet trim border punch – Doily Lace Boarder Punch from Martha Stewart

-Corner punch – Corner Punch from Martha Stewart

-“What a Wonderful World” sentiment sticker – Lost & Found 3 Ruby Sticker Accessory Sheet from My Mind’s Eye

-Shaker mix – Cactus Sparkletz Embellishments from Buttons Galore & More

-Small red faceted flatback embellishments/cabochons – from AliExpress

-Small green faceted flatback embellishments/cabochons – from AliExpress

-Small green flatback pearl embellishments – from AliExpress

-Woodland themed wood veneer shapes – from Dollarama

-Mini premade bows – Green-Gold-White Piped Nylon Bow Stickers from Martha Stewart

-Grey crochet trim – Arty-Licious Kohl Splendid Ribbon from Chatter Box

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to make a shabby chic P13 Forest Tea Party Shaker Card

Begin by making a card base from green cardstock. Next use the Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch to create a strip of red border punched paper the same length as the bottom of the green card base. Attach this strip to the bottom of the card base.

Cut a piece of grey tone-on-tone leaf/branch print paper slightly narrower on the right and left side than your card base and slightly taller on the top than the card base. Use the same Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch to punch the top and bottom edges of this piece of paper. Attach grey paper piece to card base.

Cut a piece of grey crochet trim ever-so-slightly shorter than the width of the grey paper. Adhere just above the bottom scallop portion of the grey paper.

Trim a piece of brown wooden floorboard paper a little smaller than the grey print paper. Using the Martha Stewart photo corner punch, punch out four photo corner pieces from red cardstock. Attach one red photo corner to each corner of the brown floorboard print paper, then attach that piece of paper to the card base layers.

Die cut a scalloped edge circle from green cardstock. Back with a circle of acetate to create your clear shaker window.

Cut (by hand or with a suitable sized circle die) a circle of green text print paper to back your shaker window with.

Fill the acetate portion of the shaker window with wood veneer woodland creature pieces and Cactus Sparkletz Embellishments shaker mix.

Use foam tape, foam dots, or another suitable raised material on the back of the green cardstock circle to create a gap-free border for your shaker window.

Remove backing from foam and attach the shaker window t the green text print piece of paper. Once your shaker is assembled, attach it to the card base layers.

Die cut an elegant flourish shape piece from red cardstock. Adhere it across the centre of the card, overlapping, as you do so, part of the shaker window.

From the two different P13 Woodland Tea Party papers, fussy cut the center (mouse) panel and various foliage elements to tuck around the center image. Adhere all of these pieces to the card base as shown.

Back the “What a Wonderful World” sentiment sticker with a narrow mat of green cardstock followed by an equally narrow mat of red cardstock. Attach sentiment over part of the central image.

Adhere heart shaped embellishments taken from the Cactus Sparkletz Embellishments shaker mix to each of the four red photo corners.

Adhere an alternating pattern of green faceted flatback embellishments and green pearl flatback embellishments around the visible areas of the green scallop edge border of the shaker window.

Tuck and adhere a small smattering of red faceted flat back embellishments around the various fussy cut elements.

Attach four Martha Stewart premade white coloured mini bows vertically across your card front. Adhere a heart shaped embellishment from the Cactus Sparkletz Embellishments shaker mix to each of the bows.

And voila, your cuter-than-cute woodland tea party-themed shaker window card is complete. Ready to send out or give in person to a special someone whose day will surely be brightened by this darling handmade greeting.

What a wonderful world

Let’s be frank, life hasn’t been a bed of roses for many of over the past couple of years. Both globally and often personally as well, these have been times that exemplify words such as challenging, stressful, uncertain, difficult, and, perhaps above all else, unforeseen.

Yet amongst the profound struggles and worries, life marches forward on this planet. Seasons come and seasons go. Days meld into weeks that build months and ultimately etch new years into the history books of time.

Simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness take on greater meaning than ever, the blessing of rising to greet a new morning holds deeper importance to many of us. And as we continue to navigate the waters of a new normal that isn’t quite so new anymore, we hold onto hope and faith – however we may personally choose to interpret those concepts.

Life is rarely perfect. Sometimes it is brutal or boring or scary or terrible. But it can also be glorious, peaceful, comforting, happy, and marvellous. Naturally, it can be many things in between as well.

It would be pollyannaish to say that things are always hunky dory. Goodness knows they are not for me, nor are they for most folks out there.

However, when the going gets tough or a major curveball comes our way, I try to remind myself of what a truly wonderful world it is that we humans are blessed to live in.

At few points in the year is that message more evident to me than during fall, when even in the face of challenges, stress or any other less-than-ideal element, my heart cannot help but purr like a contented kitty. As for a few brief, magnificent weeks, the landscape is once again alive with the fading warmth and exquisite colours of the harvest season.

And if you ask me, that – much like P13’s gorgeous Forest Tea Party Collection itself – is well worth smiling about and finding no shortage of inspiring joy in.

The post Cute Shabby Chic P13 Forest Tea Party Shaker Card appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For me – and many the world over – one of the greatest and most meaningful of these fall time.

After waiting with patience and mounting excitement for nine whole months, autumn – sweet, enchantingly glorious autumn – has officially returned.

Today is the Fall Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere. The rebirth of fall, whose conception began with the first stirrings of spring several months prior.

Autumn will remain in place this year until Tuesday December 21, 2021. At which point, the Winter Solstice will overtake fall once again.

Many witches, Wiccans and Pagans who celebrate the sacred sabbat of Mabon chose to do so on the inaugural day of fall.

This is a camp I fall into myself and I take immense pleasure in observing the second of three fall harvest sabbats each year (the other two being Lammas at the beginning of August and Samhain at the end of October).

Most people who know me are aware of the fact that I live for fall. It is my seasonal soul mate, the chapter of the year in which I feel most like my truest self, and the point on the calendar that I personally view as the start of my year (after all, Samhain is not called the witch’s New Year for nothing!).

Fall sparks something utterly magickal in me. It soothes and uplifts, excites and thrills.

I honestly could not fathom a world without the jewel tones, warm spice aromas, and myriad sights, sounds, tastes and other gifts of autumn.

From today straight on until fall takes its final breath for another year, my heart and face alike will wear a smile so wide it will dwarf that of even the largest jack-o-lantern.

In the beloved children’s book Anne of Green Gables, Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote, “I’m so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers.”

This sentiment is one that most fans of fall time enthusiastically agree with – and which the majority of us who adore this time of the year extends to autumn as a whole.

I am immeasurably grateful to live in a world with fall, and it was a recent reflection on this point that spurs me to create the “Thankful & Blessed” ink blended fall forest sunset scene card that stars in this post.

Thankful & and blessed ink blended fall forest sunset scene card

There is a deeply meaningful element of gratitude inherent to the harvest season, which even in the high-tech world of the 21^st century still, thankfully, plays a vital role in helping to feed and nourish the world’s legions of inhabitants.

While the origins are fairly different and the Canadian version is not based on the happenings of Plymouth Rock or the early American pilgrims, much like the only other country that we share a border with, Canada observes its own Thanksgiving.

This beautiful celebration of the fall harvest, togetherness, gratitude, and autumn’s many blessings transpires each year on the second Monday in October.

As such, this year Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on Monday October 11^th.

(Fun side fact, the latest possible date that Canadian Thanksgiving can happen on is October 14^th, which just happens to my and Tony’s wedding anniversary. This means that every few years we get to celebrate Thanksgiving and our anniversary on the very same day, adding all the more joy to both of these important events.)

The harvest season sabbats of Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain, as well as both Thanksgiving and Halloween are massive influences on my paper crafting – and life in general – the whole year through.

They guided my creative process as I designed the card at the heart of this post.

This elegant fall sunset forest scene card would make for an excellent Thanksgiving Day greeting, It also works terrifically for the fall sabbats, as a thank you greeting, or if, as needed, you changed the sentiment up, as a birthday, sympathy, get well, retirement, anniversary card, thinking of you or just because card.

If the woodland silhouette scene stamp here looks familiar, it’s because I blogged about a different card (Relax and Unwind Forest Scene Summertime Card) that I made using the same image last year.

I love, love, love the look of stamped, stencilled, die cut, etc silhouette images against ink blended backgrounds and had been itching to use that particular stamp on a fall card ever since I made the aforementioned greeting with it in 2020.

For the colour palette of this greeting, I wanted to retain some of the vibrancy of early to mid-autumn and marry it with the rich, beautiful earth tones of the harvest season.

Inky forest green, warm shades of flax and orange, cocoa brown, gleaming gold, and subtle pops of dusky blue combined to do just that – along, of course, with the multi-coloured ink blended sky.

Fall sunsets come in as many – if not more – varieties as the crispy, crunchy leaves that embody this captivating time of the year.

This one is rendered Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink. It was inspired by many (gorgeous!) autumn sunsets that I’ve witnessed firsthand over the years here in the interior of British Columbia.

Deer are a prevalent feature of life around these parts. Some traverse our property (and town as a whole) the whole year through and I’ve had the memorable pleasure of seeing scenes similar to the one depicted here in person on numerous occasions.

Such happenings are something that I am tremendously thankful for.

The stamped and ink blended central panel is the star of the show on this card, but a charming fall leaf print paper (which appears on two different layers here) coupled with intricately die cut cardstock layers, and a smattering of festive embellishments catch the eye as well.

Together these elements team up to deliver a serene, richly autumnal greeting that expresses so much of what I adore about fall.

If you are keen to make a fall forest sunset scene card or your own or simply wish to know more about the creative process of how I constructed this harvest season greeting, read on for a supply list and detailed instructions.

Products used to make this elegant handmade autumn card

-Forest (or pine) green, reddish-orange, and dark/cocoa brown cardstock

-White cardstock (such as Neehah Classic Crest 110 LB Smooth Solar White Paper) that holds up well when ink blending)

-Gold metallic cardstock

-Fall leaf print papers (one design was used for layering, a second to fussy cut the fall foliage and berry images from) – Spiced Pumpkin 12 x 12-inch paper pad from Craftsmart (Michael’s brand)

-Notched corner stitched edge nested die set

-Small stitched edge nested circle die set

-Elegant heart edge design die

-Woodland deer scene stamp (unbranded free gift with purchase from an online seller; you can find similar looking stamps for sale online here and here)

-Dark brown ink – Acorn Archival Ink from Ranger (this is the ink that you will stamp the woodland deer scene with, so you want it to be a richly pigment, long-lasting ink)

-Dark brown ink – Dew Drop Rich Cocoa Ink from Memento

-Ranger Distress Oxide Ink in the following colours (all used for the ink blended sky): Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Chipped Sapphire, Worn Lipstick, Victorian Velvet, Hickory Smoke, Fossilized Amber, Tattered Rose, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, and Carved Pumpkin

-“Thankful & Blessed” sentiment sticker – Celebrate Autumn Element Stickers from Echo Park

-Small orange paper roses

-Earthy gold coloured “sugared” faux berry springs (these hail from AliExpress; craft and dollar stores, as well Etsy, eBay, and as some party supply retailers are also great places to check for this type of product)

-Flax/light gold coloured seam binding – Trophy Gold Seam Binding from Hug Snug

-Natural toned burlap – Burlap Mat Stack from DCWV

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to make a thankful & and blessed ink blended fall forest sunset scene card

Begin by making a side-fold card base from dark/cocoa brown cardstock. Top this with a piece of gold metallic cardstock slightly smaller than your card base. Then top that piece of cardstock with a slightly smaller piece of Craftsmart fall leaf print paper.

Die cut three of the same shaped pieces using the ornate decorative edge die – one each from pine/forest green, dark/cocoa brown, and gold metallic cardstock, respectively.

Adhere a piece of DCWV burlap vertically on your card base. Then layer the three ornate layers you just die cut in the following order: pine/forest green (arranged horizontally), dark/cocoa brown (vertically), and gold metallic (also vertically).

Top the gold metallic layer with a horizontal layer of DCWV burlap.

Using the notched corner stitched edge nesting set, die cut one piece each from reddish-orange cardstock, the same Craftsmart leaf print paper used already, dark/cocoa brown cardstock, gold metallic cardstock (create a border shaped piece with this layer), and a white cardstock that holds up well when ink blending.

Layer and adhere the layers you just die cut, save for the last two layers (they’ll be added once you’ve stamped and inked your woodland sunset scene).

Stamp the forest deer scene in Acorn Archival Ink. Allow to dry, then ink blend a fall sunset scene using Tim Holtz Distress Ink (or other suitable ink of your choosing).

Allow this panel to dry, as needed, then top it with the gold border layer that you die cut. Adhere the stamped panel to the middle of your card front.

Fussy cut some fall leaves and berries from Craftsmart paper.

Die cut three different sizes of small stitched edge circles, one each from pine/forest green, dark/cocoa brown, and gold metallic cardstock.

Adhere these layers together and top with the “Thankful & Blessed” sentiment sticker.

Create a multi-loop bow from the flax/gold coloured seam binding (optionally, you can crinkle and dry your seam binding, if so desired, to give your bow even more of a shabby chic look).

Arrange and adhere bow, “sugared” berry stems, fussy cut leaves and berries, and small orange paper roses on the lower left-hand side of the card. Top with the layered sentiment circle.

And there you have it, one charmingly pretty and very seasonally appropriate ink blended fall sunset scene card to keep and enjoy for yourself or to give away to someone special. Whatever your heart desires.

Welcome fall!

If I could throw autumn a ticker-tape parade to celebrate its triumphant return, I gladly would.

Objectively though, Mother Nature does a marvellous job herself on that front care of the sublimely lovely fall leaves she sends tumbling to the ground throughout the season.

Both literally and proverbially, I roll out the welcome mat for fall time and adore the fact that I’m doing so in unison with countless other fans of this gorgeous chapter of the year.

Last year was, weather-wise, one of the briefest autumns I’ve ever experienced.

It began, fittingly, right around Mabon, only to come to a screeching halt about a month later, when snowy winter weather made an extra early appearance.

While a few hearty trees held onto their fall foliage a bit longer after the snow started, for all intents, autumn’s outdoor aesthetic was over by early November.

This, as you might imagine, made for quite the lengthy winter (we got our final snowfall on April 10^th of this year).

It is anyone’s guess – especially after the scorching hot summer with its record-breaking temperatures – that we just experienced as to how long fall will hold out here this year.

Naturally, I’m keeping my fingers, toes, and cozy knit scarf ends all crossed for a generous sized autumn.

They’re rarer than hen’s teeth around these parts, but I have experienced the occasional fall that lingers until late November or even early December before. Suffice it to say, those were extra awesome years as a result!

As with so much in life, only time will tell as to how long this autumn will grace us with its beguiling presence.

No matter the length of its visit, I will lap up every moment and make the very best of my favourite season. For it truly is one of the things in life that bring me the most joy.

I have a bevy of fall-related content (including plenty of new craft projects) coming down the pipeline over the course of this season. All of which I hope you’ll enjoy and find informative, inspiring, or just plain fun – as the case may be.

I encourage you to embrace fall with all your heart as well and to celebrate this enchantingly special season in whatever ways bring you the most bliss.

Wishing you each the safest, sweetest, and most splendidly wonderful autumn possible, dear friends!  

And, of course, for my friends south of the equator, may you have an equally fantastic springtime + Ostara celebration!

What are you most looking forward to about this fall (or spring)? Do you experience gorgeous autumn sunsets in your area?

The post Thankful and Blessed Ink Blended Fall Forest Sunset Scene Card appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For many of us, however, autumn’s unofficial start took place earlier this week on September 1^st.

And for others still, fall commenced even earlier, at some point (such as Lammas) in August.

No matter when you opt to officially roll out the red (or would that be orange and black? ) carpet for fall, it’s a safe bet to say that many of us jump at the chance to celebrate and make the most of this gorgeous chapter of the year.

For my fellow paper crafters – and indeed, crafty and creative souls of all kinds – fall provides boundless inspiration for our projects.

I am the first person to not just jump, but pole vault when it comes to creating craft projects for special autumn events and holidays such as Thanksgiving (both Canadian and American, respectively), Mabon, Halloween, Samhain, Día de los Muertos, and Remembrance Day (November 11^th).

However, sometimes one wants to shake things up and make cards or other paper crafting projects that are fall-related, but not strictly for the major holidays.

You can, of course, bestow a fall theme onto nearly any type of paper crafting project – from birthday to get well cards, mini albums to tags. Goodness knows I do so with gusto!

It can be a lot of fun though to have a cool launching pad for your creativity that you might not have drawn inspiration from often, if ever before.

To that end, I have compiled a list of some of my favourite classic, unique, poignant, and just plain charming happenings and beloved events that can deliver big time on the fall paper crafting inspiration front.

Each entry is accompanied by a paper crafting item that corresponds to the topic at hand. Naturally, in many instances there are others on the theme to be had as well, so don’t be shy when it comes to Googling for what you’re after.

Whether you are making cards, scrapbook pages, mini albums, canvasses, art journal pages, traveller’s notebooks, pocket letters, MemoryDex cards, home décor item, or any other type of paper crafting project, I hope that the following list helps to stoke the (bon)fires of your creativity all the more this autumn – and for many more to come.

45 Special Occasions and Fun Reasons to Make Cards (and Other Paper Crafting Projects) For This Fall

1. The harvest season: A boundless treasure trove of inspiration lies in the autumn harvest season and the scrumptious bounty that it produces.

Apples, pears, grapes, figs, cranberries, corn, squash, parsnips, cabbage, beets, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts, pumpkins, wheat, barley, and honey are just some of the many delicious fall harvest foods that can serve as a fantastic source of inspiration not only for your meals and seasonal décor, but also for your paper crafting projects.

2. Spirit Day (October 15^th): This annual event draws attention to, and strives to provide support for victims of, the continued widespread abuse and bullying faced by many LGBTQ+ youth around the world.

Use Spirit Day (which is represented by the colour purple) as an ideal time to send cards of support or good cheer to the young LGBTQ+ people in your life.

3. Native American Day (USA; 4^th Friday in September in some states, 2^nd Monday of October in South Dakota and Wisconsin): The roots of this important celebration of Native American culture stretch back to 1939.

Native American Day deserves widespread recognition and observance. It serves as the perfect time of the year (though doing so should be an ongoing lifelong happening, especially for those who live in North America) to further educate oneself about, and celebrate, Native American history and culture both past and present.

(Note: For those in Canada, a similar observation, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, occurs annually on June 21^st.

4. Oktoberfest: Though the ongoing global pandemic has caused the cancellation of Oktoberfest again this year, the spirit that it embodies can still be celebrated all the same.

Whether one enjoys a hearty pint of lager or simply wishes to pay tribute to their German heritage (where applicable), Oktoberfest – which is a sixteen to eighteen-day event that begins in mid and runs until the first Sunday in October) is a time of merriment, hearty food, and plenty of beer.

One need not drink, however, to celebrate Oktoberfest, be it in real life or in paper crafting form. I myself do not drink (or more specifically, have been unable to drink alcohol of any kind for two decades now due to medical reasons), yet as someone with a hefty slice of German ancestry, I use Oktoberfest as a time to reflect on and honour this part of my family tree.

5. International Mountain Day (December 11^th): The world as we know it would be a radically different place if it was devoid of mountains and the ecosystems that these vital natural structures house.

Hailing from a part of Canada (the province of British Columbia) that is all but overflowing with mountains, I have quite the soft spot in my heart for these majestic marvels of nature and have frequently used them as a source of inspiration in my paper crafting.

Whether you live in the Rockies, Swiss Alps, or the flattest part of the globe, it can be a blast to incorporate mountains into our paper crafting both on International Mountain Day and all throughout the rest of the year.

6. Monthly birthstones: While, naturally, often thought of in the context of jewelry, birthstones can also be a marvellous source of creative inspiration (think birthstone colours, rhinestones, and sentiments such as “You’re a gem”) and a memorable way to help celebrate someone special’s birthday.

The following are the most common modern-day birthstones for each of the fall months:

-September birthstone: Sapphire

-October birthstones: Tourmaline and opal

-November birthstones: Citrine and topaz

-December birthstones: Turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon

7. Grandparents Day: When I was growing up, Grandparents’ Day seemed to be observed more often here in Canada and I fondly remember making cards and gifts for my grandparents throughout my youth. While, rather unjustifiably, if you ask me, not as well known or widely observed as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, respectively, Grandparents’ Day takes place on various dates in different countries around the world.

Here in Canada, as well as in the US, Grandparents’ Day takes place in the first half of September. Interestingly, officially, Canada did away with Grandparents’ Day in 2014. However, it is still observed by many, most of whom simply use the US date to mark this meaningful celebration.

This year, Grandparents’ Day falls on Sunday, September 12^th in the States. You need not wait though for this day to honour and celebrate the grandparents in your life. Why not send a heartfelt greeting to your nana, pawpaw, bubby, or granddad this autumn and let them know they’re in your thoughts all season long?

8. World Card Making Day (1^st Saturday in October): Really and truly, you could not find a more apt day to day to create cards on, or for, than World Card Making Day itself.

A beloved annual event amongst crafters around the world, this delightful celebration of all things card making related took root at least a decade ago now and continues to grow in popularity each year.

9. National Taco Day (USA; October 4^th): I don’t know about you, but personally I haven’t met too many people thus far who didn’t enjoy at least one or two types of tacos

If you flip your shell for a great taco or know someone else who does, use National Taco Day as a charming reason to serve up a taco themed card, tag, or other paper crafting project. It’s bound to house all of the fun of the real deal, with none of the risk of your taco shell breaking!

10. The Fall Equinox (September 22^nd): For many an autumn lover the world over, the Fall Equinox alone can power our creative engines all season long – and for good measure!

Fall is an exquisitely beautiful and highly meaningful chapter of the year that offers us a welcome respite between the extremes of summer and winter, and which can be translated in countless ways through our craft projects, be they be paper-based or otherwise.

11. World Post Day (October 9^th): Much as with World Card Making Day, World Post Day is ideally suited to paper crafters.

This annual fall time event was established in 1969 and aims to bring awareness of, and recognition to, the many important roles that the postal system plays in the lives of billions of people around the globe.

As a paper crafter, I see this as the epitome of a great reason to send out some “happy mail” to fellow crafters and plenty of “thinking of you” mail to friends and family around the globe.

12. Bonfire Night (UK and Ireland; November 5^th): Also commonly known, when observed on the 5^th of November, as Guy Fawkes Night, this post-Halloween celebration is a mainstay in parts of Europe, though less so elsewhere in the world.

If you live outside of a country that officially takes part in Bonfire Night, why not use the crisp, chilly days of early November as a wonderful time to celebrate bonfires (and heart fires, too) in general?

For example, in order to do so via paper crafting, you could make a card or tag for someone featuring an image of a fire, fireplace, or glowing candle with a sentiment such as, “You warm my heart” or “You light up my life”.

13. National Cat Day (USA; October 29^th): This meaningful day aims to raise awareness about the many thousands of cats that need rescuing across America. Though this issue is, of course, is a widespread global one as well.

Cats are closely associated with fall (in particular with Halloween and Samhain), so why not use this autumn as an excellent time to spread awareness about rescuing cats via your paper crafting (and/or by adopting a precious new fur baby yourself)?

14. A sense of balance: This one pertains to the Fall Equinox/Mabon in particular, but is also applicable to autumn as a whole.

As one of just two days of the year (the other being the Spring Equinox/Ostara) in which the hours of light and dark are roughly equal, the Autumn Equinox helps to remind us of the importance of seeking, creating, fostering, and celebrating various forms of balance and harmony in our lives.

Use the serenity of fall and the blessing of balance as a meaningful springboard for various creative projects this season. In addition, you may wish to utilize fall’s sense of balance in your self-care and wellness-focused activities, too.

15. International Bacon Day: If bacon is your jam (or if bacon jam is your jam ) then why not take a hearty bite of inspiration from one of the world’s most beloved pork products and celebrate International Bacon Day on September 4^th with a project that incorporated a crafting version this very moreish meat?

(Naturally, those who prefer non-pork bacon, such as beef, turkey, or chicken, as well as vegetarian and vegan bacon options can just as easily raise a fork to International Bacon Day, too.)

16. Canadian and American Labour Day (September 6^th): While not necessarily the first holiday that may spring to mind as an occasion to make cards for, Labour Day can in fact provide a wealth of paper crafting inspiration.

Use this annual event to create a scrapbook layout, mini album, card or other type of project that honours either your own career path or the profession of someone special in your life.

17. International Volunteer Day (December 5^th): This important annual event celebrates and raises awareness of the work that volunteers around the world contribute to society.

Utilize International Volunteer Day as an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and thank the hard working volunteers in your own life and/or community.

18. Fall leaves: I know that autumn flowers and foliage appear as an entry elsewhere on this list, but much as with pumpkins and the broader harvest season, so too do fall leaves deserve their own entry.

Synonymous with autumn in much of the Western Hemisphere, crispy, crunchy earth and jewel-toned leaves are a gorgeous element of fall and a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature both of the seasons and of life in general.

Awesomely, no shortage of leaf-themed products (from stamps to metal dies, stickers to stencils) exist in the paper crafting world, many of which suit the splendours of fall time foliage to an absolute tee.

19. World Kindness Day (November 13^th): On the list of things that there can never be too much of on this planet, kindness ranks extremely high up there in my books.

If you’re equally keen on kindness, I encourage you to use the middle of November as a fantastic time to acknowledge and thank some of the people in your life whose kindness and care have made a lasting impact on your days.

20. National Ampersand Day (USA; September 8^th): If you’ve ever looked at the humble, elegant, and very hardworking ampersand (aka, the “and symbol”) and thought that it deserved its own special day of recognition, then National Ampersand Day is for you!

Plenty of paper crafting products (particularly stamps and dies) feature ampersands, which means that should have no trouble coming up with lots & lots of charming craft project ideas that feature or include this beloved symbol.

21. Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October): As one of the most common cancers in the modern world, rare is the family that has not been touched in some way breast cancer.

If you have a cancer patient or survivor in your family, friend group, or elsewhere in your life, October can be an excellent time to let that person know you’re thinking of them as they’re battling this extremely challenging disease or that you are super proud of all they’ve accomplished in their fight with breast cancer.

As well, you may wish to look into if any of the oncology departments or clinics in your area accept handmade cards, and, if they do, create some supportive greetings for strangers who are battling not only breast cancer, but cancers of all types.

(On the cancer awareness front autumn is also home to both prostate cancer and ovarian cancer awareness in September, and stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer awareness in November.)

22. National Pumpkin Day (USA; October 26^th): I know, I know, pumpkins definitely fall under the first entry on this list, but as one of the most iconic and universally beloved symbols of fall, there’s no way I could deprive National Pumpkin Day of its own entry here.

Be they classic or cute, silly or spooky, pumpkins and the grinning jack-o-lanterns we carve from them are one of the best and most enjoyable ways to instantly convey fall time fun in your paper crafting projects.

23. World Tourism Day (September 27^th): In this time of serious ongoing global challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us are not doing a great deal of international (or even national) travelling. That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t still celebrate our passion for adventure via our paper crafting.

Whether you make a project pertaining to your own travels or a card for a wanderlust-filled loved one, this fall is a terrific time to acknowledge highly meaningful role travel plays not only in our own lives, but in those of countless others across the globe.

24. Fall time flowers and foliage: It is natural to associate spring and summer with lush, gorgeous gardens teeming with blooms as far as the eye can see. However, fall is not without its own wonderful crop of flowers and greenery as well – any and all of which can provide a host of inspiration to crafters everywhere.

Amongst the star players when it comes to autumn flowers you’ll find such beautiful offerings as chrysanthemums, sunflowers, flowering kale, dianthus, shrub roses, cosmos, autumn sedum, heuchera, goldenrod, croton, black-eyed Susan, hydrangeas, snapdragons, purple fountain grass, amaranthus, marigolds, beautyberry, helenium, cornflowers, pansies, violas, and plenty of hearty varieties of roses.

25. International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19^th): Ahoy, maties! If it’s the pirate’s life for you, then your timbers are apt to be shivered and your creativity fuelled by this thoroughly fun annual event, which provides no shortage of paper crafting inspiration.

26. The Northern Lights: While the Northern Lights (aka, the Aurora Borealis) can be seen throughout the year in various parts of the world, according to NASA, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you are twice as likely to spot this breathtaking natural event during the spring and fall months than you in the winter and summer.

Though many people do not live in areas that are northerly enough to witness the Aurora Borealis in person, happily, we can whip up our own dazzling Northern Lights displays via our paper crafting, particularly via ink blended and/or stamped skies.

27. National Beer Lover’s Day (USA; September 7^th): Raise a pint to one of the world’s most beloved and frequently consumed beverages by brewing up a card or other paper crafting project that pays homage to the sudsy tipple that is beer.

28. Fall fashion: Cozy sweaters, chunky knit scarves, fleece shirts, warm coats, opaque tights, and cute gloves are but a few of the fabulous fashion elements that call autumn home.

If, like me, you tend to (vastly) prefer dressing for the cooler half of the year or if you know someone who does, then fall is the ideal time to celebrate your passion for autumnal fashion via not only your wardrobe, but also your paper crafting.

Think cable knit patterned embossing folders and papers, adorable sweater-themed stamp sets, and super cute stickers depicting scarves, to name but a few creative possibilities on this fun and festive front.

29. World Teacher’s Day (October 5^th): Fall and the start of the school year have, in many parts of the world, gone hand in hand for centuries. Autumn is a wonderful and very fitting time to celebrate and honour the teachers in our lives and families, as well as to reflect back (such as in scrapbooking form) on those educators whose impact remains with us to this day.

30. Pumpkin spice everything: Though I’m the first to acknowledge that not everyone flips their lid for pumpkin spice flavoured foods and beverages (be they coffee-based or otherwise), for those of us who do, we’d gladly consume little else from the first day of September right on until the Winter Solstice.

If pumpkin spice makes your heart skip a beat, try whipping up some fun, festive fall themed paper crafting projects that embrace your – or a friend’s – passion for this thoroughly beautiful flavour melange.

31. National Women’s Friendship Day (USA; third Sunday in September): Yaaasss!!! As someone who is a massive proponent of women supporting women and the importance of friendship amongst women, I am 110% in favour of National Women’s Friendship Day.

I’ve quickly some to adore using this annual event as inspiration to make and send cards out to some of my cherished female friends around the globe.

You can easily do the same, too, and do not need any special supplies to create cards or other paper crafting projects for the gal pals in your own life.  

32. Fall time farmer’s markets and produce stands: Growing up, my family had a treasured annual tradition of visiting some of the beautiful and abundantly stocked farmer’s market produce stands in a tiny community less than an hour’s drive south of us. Later on, when as an adult I returned to the same town I spent much of my youth in, I continued this tradition with my husband.

Though we now live considerably further north in the same region and don’t make it that far south most falls, we continue to seek out, celebrate, and support local produce stands and farmer’s markets throughout the autumn months. And rare is the year that some, if not all, of the pumpkins, gourds, squashes, ears of corn, apples, and pears we purchase for Halloween/Samhain don’t hail from such sources.

Whether you are fortunate to have your own local sources for autumnal produce or not, you can easily celebrate this fall time mainstay via the plethora of seasonal paper crafting products that tap into autumn farmer’s markets and create projects that are no less invitingly gorgeous than the real deal.

33. International Rabbit Day (the 4^th Saturday in September): Did you know that, following cats and dogs, rabbits are the third most common pets in numerous countries?

And for good measure! These cute, clever, and charming long-eared animal friends are beautiful creatures that deserve our respect and love, whether we opt to keep one (or more) in our house or not.

The paper crafting world houses, rather fittingly, a proliferation of cotton tail related products, meaning that you can just as easily create rabbit-themed projects in the fall as you can come springtime (the season many of us associate most closely with bunnies).

34. Fall time weather: Just as rain showers can symbolize spring and sunshine is the epitome of a natural fit for summer, so too can we look to the weather for autumn paper crafting inspiration.

Blustery wind, golden rays of sun, vivid autumn sunsets, and even the first frost can all lend a helping hand on the creativity front when looking for themes this season.

35. National Pasta Day (USA; October 17^th): Much as with tacos, rare is the person who doesn’t like at least a few varieties of pasta!

Be it made with wheat, gluten-free alternatives (such as corn, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, or chickpeas), almond flour, shirataki, or other types of ingredients, pasta is a beloved staple in many cuisines and households around the world.

Let this versatile and thoroughly tasty food make for a delightful source of inspiration when dishing up a fall time paper crafting project.

36. The full moons of fall: Perhaps no other full moon is more famous than the breathtaking harvest moon of early autumn (technically the harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the Fall Equinox). Yet each of autumn’s full moons is a gorgeous sight and occurrence that is worthy of being celebrated in paper form.

The year’s monthly full moons are all known by various names across the world. In English speaking countries, some of the most common names for the fall time full moons include:

-September: Harvest Moon, Autumn Moon, Corn Moon, Full Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Falling Leaves Moon (also used at times for October’s full moon), Rutting Moon, Child Moon, and Leaves Turning Moon

-October: Harvest Moon (if the full moon closest to the Fall Equinox transpires in October), Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Frost Moon, Migrating Moon, and Dying Grass Moon

-November: Beaver Moon, Frosty Moon, Mourning Moon (this name is most commonly applied when November’s full moon is the last full moon before the Winter Solstice), Digging Moon, Freezing Moon, and the Oak Moon, though the latter is also given at times to December’s full moon.

-December (some years – including this one – the full moon falls during the fall time portion of December): Cold Moon, Oak Moon, Moon Before Yule, Long Night Moon, Snow Moon, Drift Clearing Moon, Midwinter Moon, and Hoar Frost Moon.

There are oodles of moon-related paper crafting products out there that can make celebrating the full moons of autumn all the more possible, though one can certainly do the same with some basic paper crafting supplies, such as circle punches, ink blended skies that include a moon, or moon themed stickers.

37. International Day of Sign Languages (September 23^rd): Globally, more than 300 different sign languages are spoken.

The meaningful annual observance of International Day of Sign Languages (the date of which was selected to coincide with the founding in 1951 of the World Federation of the Deaf) honours and celebrates sign language, and is an excellent motivator to learn more about this diverse, incredibly important form of communication.

38. Dictionary Day (October 16^th): And speaking of language-related entries, how about celebrating Dictionary Day via your paper crafting this fall?

This odd to lexicology takes place on October 16^th (the birth date of Noah Webster, the founder of Webster’s Dictionary) and is the ideal time to bust out your favourite dictionary related scrapbooking and card making supplies, or simply celebrate the important role that words play in our paper crafting projects the whole year through.

39. Candy Corn Day (October 30^th): In my experience, much as with raisins, people tend to either love or loath candy corn. Personally, I adore it – not just eating the real deal, but creating with craft versions of this sweet, adorable fall time staple as well.

Thankfully, one need not enjoy consuming candy to do the same. Plenty of paper crafting brands offer candy corn-themed goodies that are just the ticket for making some of the sweetest fall time cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects around.

40. International Daughter’s Day (September 26^th): This observance strives to acknowledge daughters around the world and, in doing so, to help raise awareness of the challenges, struggles, and plights experienced by many female children and adults globally.

It can also be an excellent time to honour one’s own daughters and/or, if applicable, the fact that you are a daughter yourself.

41. Vintage fall and Halloween: From campy, fabulous movies (see: Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, for example) to highly collectable yesteryear Halloween décor, looking to the past as inspiration for present-day autumn craft projects can be an awesome way to imbue a strong sense of nostalgia into one’s fall time creative makes.

42. National Cookie Day (USA; December 4^th): It’s only fitting, if you ask me, that National Cookie Day transpires in the same month as many of the best known and most beloved winter holidays (for which cookies are often an integral sweet treat for a lot of folks).

Falling on December 4^th, however, National Cookie Day is still squarely in the realm of autumn and can be a fantastic time to whip up some delectable cookies (aka, biscuits for those in various parts of the world, such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) – be they the real deal or those rendered in equally welcome paper crafting form.

43. Fall zodiac signs: This autumn begins on the last day of Virgo and spans, as each fall does, the signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. If you or someone in your life has a birthday during the autumn months, why not look to the stars for some celestially guided paper crafting inspiration?

44. Button Day (November 16^th): Rare is the textile or paper crafter who hasn’t worked with buttons at least a time or two. For many of us creative folks, buttons are a beloved mainstay in our craft supply arsenal.

This November, embrace your love of this charming fastener by whipping up a project or two (or ten!) that includes buttons – be they the real, die cut versions, button themed stickers, stamped button images, or anything else your creative, button adoring heart can dream up!

45. International Coffee Day (October 1st): Feeling a bit knackered from all the exciting paper crafting you’ve been doing this fall? Then why not brew up a hefty cup of your favourite java and use this delightful event to celebrate your – or a fellow joe adoring friend’s – passion for the beloved pep-inducing drink that is coffee?

*Bonus 46^th reason* #MakeHalloween365: The super fun hashtag #MakeHalloween365 that I created and launched earlier this year.

I am all for using hashtags as inspiration for our crafting, as the projects we share with them can, in turn, help to delight and inspire others.

If you’re not doing so already, I welcome and encourage you to use the hashtag #MakeHalloween365 anytime you share any sort of creative project, blog post, or photo online that pertains to Halloween.

I check this hashtag regularly and love to feature posts that use it on my Instagram stories.

Let’s band together and help #MakeHalloween365 grow and become all the more of a thriving hub of spooky season creative inspiration for fellow All Hallows’ Eve fans around the globe.

Note: The dates listed here for national and international observances are for the year of 2021. Dates may differ in future years but are apt to still fall around the same general points on the calendar.

Please also note that images used in the above list are copyright of their respective sources. To learn more about a particular image and/or the product that it features, please click on the link in the caption directly below a given image.

Welcome September, welcome autumn!

Personally, my mind, spirituality, and heart begin attuning with fall come Lammas, at the beginning of August.

However, there is just something about the first day (and week) of September that instantly makes it feel like fall has begun, regardless of whether the temperature outside is still hot enough to fry pancakes on the sidewalk or chilly enough to make ice cubes out back once the sun has set.

Like many of us, I am elated that September has returned and am embracing fall’s resplendence with the most open of arms. Not only for its own marvellous merits, but also because this summer has been quite the doozy on multiple fronts and I am eager to soon file the current season away and move onward both with the year and with my/our life as well.

I will save going into further detail there for the next edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me (which should be appearing here shortly before the Fall Equinox). Suffice it to say though, that for a multitude of reasons, this will be a summer that I won’t soon forget!

I’m hoping that when all is said and done, I can make the same statement about fall 2021 – however, ideally, for considerably more positive reasons than those that made this summer quite the standout!

As many of you know, I am absolutely, hands down, no two ways about it madly obsessed with autumn!!!

This point is reflected in both my online and offline life all throughout the year, but I try to let it shine even more powerfully come the enchanting days of fall time itself.

With any luck, autumn 2021 will be no exception there. I’m all but bouncing off the (festively decorated) walls with excitement to share a slew of seasonally related blog content with all of you. Just as I am tremendously excited to see and be inspired by your own awesome fall shares.

Here’s to the hope for a safe, happy, relaxing, beautiful, and thoroughly inspiring autumn, dear friends – may it be amongst the loveliest that we have ever experienced!

Which of the fun and unique fall happenings mentioned above jumped out at you the most? What additional autumn time entries would you add to this list?

The post 45 Special Occasions and Fun Reasons to Make Cards (and Other Paper Crafting Projects) For This Fall appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

On the Pagan front, you could create it to give for any of the fall harvest season sabbats. Be it Lammas, Mabon, or Samhain.

In a more secular sense, it works fabulously from the Fall Equinox, Canadian Thanksgiving, American Thanksgiving, and even Halloween – particularly if your recipient favours sweet to spooky.

Of course, one of the best and most meaningful reasons to give a card is “just because”. This festively hued and themed card would be a gorgeous way to let anyone know that they’re in your thoughts this fall.

A message that holds all the more importance and meaning given the way 2020 has unfolded and the continued self-isolation and/or social distancing that many of us are adhering to this season.

As well, you could easily keep the design, but swap out (or add to) the sentiment and make this a really charming birthday, retirement, congratulations, anniversary, encouragement, or fall wedding card.

Blessed harvest season card for any fall time event

Autumn is my favourite and most cherished chapter of the year. I love to celebrate that lifelong passion with my papercrafts, often reach for classic colour palettes and choices of imagery when creating fall time makes.

This card goes to town on that front! All it needs now is a ride in a vintage pickup truck to the nearest pumpkin patch, corn maze, or apple orchard!

As I didn’t create this card with one specific person or fall event in mind, I left its design fairly wide open. This helps to ensure that I can give it for a number of possible events or reasons, as touched on above.

One thing it instantly made me think of is the awesome produce stands, spilling over with pumpkins, squash, ears of corn, apples, pears, and other seasonal delights that my family visited when I was growing up.

I still try to get out to at least one or two each year myself, though currently live over three hours north of the region’s epicenter for produce stands, so that can prove a little trickier some years.

Thankfully though, there are some smaller ones closer to home and we love to brake for them all season long.

Putting this festive autumn card together

To create this elegant harvest season card, I began with a base of timeless kraft cardstock. This was topped with a piece of darker brown card cardstock, which I used a border punch on the north and south sides of.

They might not see as much paper crafting play as they did a number of years back, but paper punches – be they border or shape – remain some of my favourite and most frequently used paper crafting supplies to this day.

Next, I inked the edges of a neutral coloured patterned paper, which I topped with a fairly wide piece of natural burlap and a die cut gold metallic paper frame. This was then topped by a band of fall coloured plaid ribbon towards the bottom of the card, and the central design elements in the middle.

A jaunty bow made from the same red, orange and gold plaid ribbon adds visual interest to the top of the card design, as to the coppery-gold hued sequins sprinkled throughout the design.

For the central panel, I used pre-platted dark chocolate brown coloured ribbon, but you could certainly pleat your own ribbon, paper, vellum, burlap, or other material for a similar effect.

A die cut oval shaped wreath of leaves in kraft and die cut sheaves of wheat in both flax-y light brown and metallic gold cardstock join the wreath to help emphasis the fall harvest message of this greeting.

As does the lovely golden wheat print paper used behind the sentiment.

The Simple Stories Fall Farmhouse collection die cuts with their wonderfully pretty pumpkins, leaves, and sheaves of wheat all sing with the spirit of the fall harvest season as well.

The sentiment is comprised of two different word stickers (which I lightly inked the edges of with dark brown ink) and a cute little heart sticker – a nod both to my passion for fall and the love this card transmits to its future recipient.

This card is sweet and sophisticated, undeniably autumnal and oodles of fun at the same time. You could give it to most anyone, or, if so desired, use it as a piece of handmade seasonal décor in your own home.

Card making tips and ideas from this project

–Kraft cardstock is one of the most versatile products any paper crafter can have in their stash. I reach for it year-round, but tend to lean on it all the more come fall.

The neutral base that kraft cardstock provides means that it will usually work awesomely with a wide range of other colours – especially, but not limited to, those in the both the earthy and rich jewel toned palettes of autumn.

Consider using kraft in one or more of your fall cards, layouts, mini albums, tags, or other paper crafting projects this season. (It also looks fantastic with colours such as black, white, orange, and lime green for Halloween or Samhain.)

-When creating fall time makes, bring rustic elements of the season into your designs. Materials such burlap (aka, hessian), raffia, cork, rough or nubby textured fabrics, felt, acorns, and real or artificial dried leaves, seed pods, flowers, and straw can all work wonders in this capacity.

-Symmetrical designs are a winning classic. While the two haves of this card are not an exact mirror image of each other, they’re certainly close. The subtle variation between each side catches the eye, while the cohesive symmetry gives the design a timeless quality.

-Drive home themes, be they seasonal or otherwise, with subtle uses of printed papers that are in keeping with said theme. In this case, the wheat sheaf print paper behind the sentiment helps to do just that.

Other printed (or stamped, etc) papers that could have worked nicely here as well include leaf, pumpkin, corn, and wildflower designs.

-Wreaths are a beloved décor staple the whole year through. Like many folks, I tend to utilize them all the more come fall and winter, though, and was thinking about autumn wreaths when designing this card.

Why not create a wreath or take a design cue from one when putting together a fall time card of your own?

-If you don’t have pre-pleated ribbon on hand, you can make your own by sewing, stapling (mini staples often work better than standard sizes ones), or gluing ribbon, trim, burlap, felt, paper, or cardstock in the desired pleated design of your choice.

I recommending testing out any glues or adhesives on a scrap piece of the same material first, to see if they A) hold the pleat in place and B) if they bleed through the paper/cardstock/fabric or not. If they do, reduce the amount used or try a different adhesive instead.

Products used to create this lovely fall card

-Kraft, dark brown, and light flax/taupe brown coloured cardstock

-Gold metallic cardstock – Special Bright Gold Metallic Cardstock from Kodamaa

-Wheat sheaf print paper – Gracious Bundle 8×8 Inch Collection from Authentique

-Earthy cream and brown printed paper

-Ornate/fancy frame metal die (used here with the gold metallic cardstock)

-Scrolling edge border punch – Upper Crest Border Punch from Fiskars

-Dark brown ink – Dew Drop Rich Cocoa Brown Ink from Memento

-Dark yellow ink – Street Light Surface Ink from Pink & Main

-Fall themed die cuts – Fall Farmhouse Bits & Pieces from Simple Stories

-Word and heart stickers – Fall Farmhouse Mini Sticker Tablet from Simple Stories

-Natural brown burlap – Burlap Mat Stack from DCWV

-Dark brown pleated ribbon

-Orange, red and gold plaid ribbon (this one is from Michael’s Celebrate It line, purchased a year or two ago)

-Coppery gold coloured sequins

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

Looking ahead to the second and third months of autumn

As hard as it may be to believe, we’ve experienced more than a full month of fall at this point. How quickly the soulful, gorgeous days of this beloved season tumble by like crisp leaves waltzing on a nippy autumn breeze.

The local farms that call our rural community home have brought in their harvests for the year or will soon wrap up doing so. Countless ears of corn and bushels of hay will now go out into the world for all manner of purposes.

With the meaningful day that is Canadian Thanksgiving having transpired again two Mondays ago, it’s safe to say that my thoughts are squarely focused on Halloween/Samhain at this point.

Come November, I plan to post at least one more fall/harvest season project before we start to transition into other paper crafting themes – including winter/Yule/Christmas related makes.

The second half of October is such an enchanting, magickal and poignant chapter of the year. Each day fills my heart with glee and leads my soul to feel all the more aligned and connected to the universe.

Personally, I see these days as part of the larger celebration that is Halloween and Samhain. They’ll be gone faster than the beating of a bat’s wings and while I actively keep the spirit of Halloween going strong in my life all year through, there’s nothing quite like the highly charged magnificence of late October itself.

May this be a time of joy and meaning, abundant fall blessings, cherished nostalgia and wonderful new memories alike – no matter how or what this Halloween/Samhain season looks like for you in 2020.  

Project share

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The post Blessed Harvest Season Card for Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, Thanksgiving, or any fall event! appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.