One Layer Cards (OLCs) are often the trickiest of the Less is More challenges. All the elements must be directly on the cardstock used for the card itself. No die cuts, matting layers, or indeed most embellishments are allowed. The card itself must retain the clean and simple rule as well. This week’s theme is ‘autumnal’ and I’ve used a previous art journal page as inspiration for my card, which I think would be suitable for a sympathy card.

Start by taping off a strip with stencil tape. Then blend distress inks along the masked area in autumnal colours. I chose to blend greens into russets to echo the ageing process in autumn leaves. Stamp the skeleton leaves in archival ink over the top of the blended inks making sure you stamp within the borders. I painted black acrylic ink over all the strip where the leaves weren’t before adding a little dark grey distress ink over half of each leaf to fake a little dimension. Finally, peel off the masking tape and stamp a suitable sentiment.

Used for this autumnal card:

• Stix2 stencil tape
• Ranger / Tim Holtz distress inks: Twisted Citron / Mustard Seed / Vintage Photo / Candied Apple / Hickory Smoke
• Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz: Falling Leaves [CMS097]
• Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz: Simple Sayings [CMS155]
• Ranger / Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink: Potted Soil
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Daler Rowney FW acrylic artists ink: black