I fell in love with Simon Hurley's new Jack O'Lanterns Layering Stencil set the minute I saw it, but oddly enough, my first thought was to use the pumpkin and stem layers *without* the (admittedly adorable) faces. I had so much fun using this set in a non-traditional way!

Step 1: Using the Stickles Confetti Template from the Ranger Tutorials Page, dispense half a dozen dots each of Marigold, Sweet Potato and Firecracker Liquid Pearls. Set aside on a flat surface and allow to dry completely; ideally overnight.

Step 2: With Clear Emboss It Ink, Stamp Simon Hurley's Nature Hike Peel-Apart Background on a piece of Dina Wakley MEdia Kraft Paper trimmed to 4.5 x 6" and sprinkle with Vintage Pearl Embossing Powder. Melt with the Heat It Craft Tool and set aside to cool.

Step 3: Remove the individual leaf and acorn stamps from the Nature Hike Background and, in the same method as Step 2, emboss just those images on a scrap of Kraft Paper.

Step 4: Paint the leaves and acorn from Step 3 using a fine brush and small amounts of Liquid Pearls in autumnal shades: Firecracker, Kiwi, Sweet Potato, Outrageous, Copper Pearl and Truffle. Set aside and allow to dry, before cutting them out neatly with scissors. If desired, curl the edges of the leaves slightly for extra texture and interest.

Step 5: Place the pumpkin background from the Simon Hurley create Jack O' Lanterns Layering Stencil Set over a 4 x 5.5" panel of Stark White Cardstock. Using sticky-notes to mask the surrounding gourds, add a light coat of Archival Ink with a Mini Ink Blending Tool and a Domed Foam; then use a Tiny Blending Tool and a slightly darker color to apply a bit of shading to the bottom edge, right-hand side, and around the top, where the stem will be. When finished, move the sticky-note mask to the next pumpkin and repeat until the entire panel is colored. Sample uses: Chrome Yellow, Sun Dazed, Sandcastle, Coastal Coral, Bright Tangelo, Monarch Orange, Avocado Toast and Olive in various combinations.

A few tips about colors: The sample features multi-colored squash and pumpkins, but you might choose to make them all the same. For that matter, they will be beautiful without the shading; but this method is quite easy and worth trying out! Note that you can achieve "custom" shades by layering two Archival colors with a very light hand. A soft tan like Sand Castle will tone down overly-bright hues, while a medium yellow like Chrome will intensify them. Experiment and have fun!

Step 6: Replace the pumpkin stencil with the stem stencil from the same set. Apply a generous coat of Sand Castle Archival to all of the stems. OPTIONAL: After removing the stencil, you may choose to add a little more detail with a very sharp, medium-brown colored pencil. The little "dents" at the bottom of each gourd show you where the ridges would be, you can add a very light line of 2-4mm going upwards; you can darken the shading at the bottom of the gourd and around the stem; and you can add a few lines to the stems to give the appearance of texture, if desired.

Step 7: Place the pumpkin stencil over a scrap of Stark White Cardstock so that a single gourd is featured. Using exactly the same method as in Steps 5 and 6, base coat, blend, shade, stem and add detail to your pumpkin, then cut it out neatly with scissors leaving a very thin band of white all around.

Step 8: Trim a piece of Stark White Cardstock to 1.75 x 4" and tape just the short edges onto your Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stay-tion or stamping platform, at about a forty-five degree angle. Using the stamps in Simon Hurley's Plaid Builder Peel Apart Background Stamp and Archival Ink shades that coordinate with your pumpkins and leaves, work back and forth to add stripes of varying widths. Use the grid to align and space the stripes evenly without measuring. Archival Ink shades used are the same as in Step 5, with the addition of Dark Roast. When your diagonal plaid is complete, trim a piece of kraft cardstock to serve as a mat.

Step 9: Stamp, "Hey Pumpkin!" from Simon's Fall Sampler Photopolymer Stamp Set in Monarch Orange Archival on a small piece of white cardstock. Using a die or template, cut the sentiment into an oval; then create an oval mat from kraft cardstock that's just slightly bigger. Affix the sentiment to the mat with Dina Wakley MEdia Glue.

Step 10: Assembly: Affix the stenciled pumpkin panel to the embossed kraft panel with Dina Wakley MEdia Glue. Add the matted plaid strip to the left-hand side, about half an inch above the lower edge, with a similar gap between it and the right-hand edge of the panel, as pictured; trimming the left edge, if necessary. Mount the matted sentiment oval as pictured, using Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares. Cluster the painted leaves and acorn above and below the sentiment, as if they've been blown by the wind. Scatter a few of the Liquid Pearls enamel dots from Step 1 around the leaves and sentiment. Attach the completed design panel to a white A6 card.

Step 11: Stamp an interior sentiment, write a cheery greeting, and mail ASAP to an Autumn-loving friend, it's sure to brighten their day!