Golden Grateful

I started this pretty fall card with this month's Where Creativity Meets C9 challenge theme--sparkle and shine--in mind along with a little inspirational nudge (the leaf and color scheme) from the current Muse challenge.  After incorporating the current Global Design Project sketch with its large panel that was perfect for showing off the intricate large leaf image from Concord & 9th's Lace Leaf set, here's what I came up with

My design started out with the large leaf image stamped in gold ink on a watercolor panel.  I heat embossed the image with gold embossing powder.  It's so pretty, but unfortunately, the golden shine doesn't show up so well in the photo.  I used several Zig Clean Color markers to scribble in color on the embossed image, then blended them with an aquapainter to get the gradient of fall colors.  The image was outlined in yellow for a glow-like effect. 

I die cut the word "grateful" from gold paper and craft foam using one of the Grateful Leaf dies. After layering the die cut pieces, I placed them over the leaf image.  A few gold sequins added a final sparkly touch.  The finished panel was adhered to a gold panel, then arranged on an angle on a kraft card base over a piece of coordinating orange cardstock.

Materials Used:
Lace Leaf stamp set, Grateful Leaf dies (Concord & 9th); Delicata Golden Glitz ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Clean Color markers (Zig); Orange Zest cardstock (My Favorite Things); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gold paper (Target); gold embossing powder (American Crafts); gold sequins; craft foam