Looking for Thanksgiving card making ideas that beautifully celebrate the warmth of fall? Today, I’m sharing a cozy autumn card featuring the Harvest of Love stamp and die set along with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 18 to frame a soft watercolor pumpkin focal point.
This image is perfect for alcohol markers, colored pencils, or ink blending — but I thought it would be fun to try something different and watercolor the stamped image. The result? A fresh, artistic look with all the charm of the autumn season.
How I Made This Card
I started by stamping the pumpkin and leaf cluster from Harvest of Love onto watercolor paper using a waterproof ink. Instead of reaching for alcohol markers, I chose to watercolor the pumpkins and foliage for a softer, painterly look — perfect for Thanksgiving themes! Today, I chose to use ink pads with acrylic blocks for palettes. You can see exactly how I did this in the video, below.
While my image was drying, I created a framed panel using Gina K Master Layouts 18. The frame adds a lovely decorative detail and helps draw the eye to the focal image. Once the image was dry, I used the coordinating dies to cut the pumpkin image out with crisp edges.
Next, I layered a white dry embossed layer of cardstock on a plum card base to enhance that cozy autumn feel. I arranged the watercolored pumpkins inside the frame, popping the center image up with foam to add dimension. Finally, I finished the design with a Thanksgiving sentiment and a few simple embellishments — nothing too busy, since I want the watercoloring to shine!
Watch the Tutorial on YouTube!
I’ve shared the full step-by-step tutorial including watercolor tips and assembly.
All you need are your favorite fall colors, some adhesive, and the Spellbinders Acorn Acres Dies. It’s amazing what you can create with die cuts alone!
Want to see this card come together in real time? ’ll walk you through every step and share helpful tips for layering and scene-building.
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Extra Tips for Success
- Light layers work best — build up your watercolor gradually
- Allow each color to dry before adding shadows and details
- Die-cutting after painting gives the cleanest results
- Keep embellishments subtle so the artwork remains the st
To finish the inside, I added a matching strip of patterned paper. Clean, subtle, yet appealing.
Thank you so much for spending time crafting with me today!
I hope this project inspires you to try watercoloring your fall stamps — especially those designed with other mediums in mind. It’s amazing how versatile our supplies can be!
If you give this card a try, I’d love to see what you create.
Share a photo using #SimplyKardsByKathi so I can admire your beautiful work!
Until next time,
Happy Crafting
Supplies
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Additional Products Used
Products listed below are not affiliate links. They are listed for your convenience to find the products used.
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