Fun with Kraft-Core

I couldn't resist doing one more challenge for Word Art Wednesday.  I've been making fall/thanksgiving cards for a coworker of my husband's, and I got a bit carried away working with Tim Holtz' "Kraft-Core" and Darice's leaf embossing folder. I embossed the pieces, then sanded the tops to reveal the kraft brown beneath. This top card is my absolute favorite, though I almost tossed the panel; I thought the orange (not quite represented accurately in the photo) clashed with the brown horribly.  But, I had the pumpkin pieces from years ago when playing with that image, and the oranges and browns blended perfectly with the embossed/sanded ugly panel!  I was so happy!

This card, and the next, feature the embossed panels.  You can't really tell by the picture (and it's not overly obvious to begin with), but on the second card, I first brayered brown ink over the embossed panel, and then sanded it.   I'd like to try it again with a more contrasting color.  It does add more dimensionality to the panel.

Okay, now honestly, isn't this one a bit ugly?  I think so, and have not turned it into a card yet.  The problem is the colors, but I included it because I like the concept of the card: I laid the leaves onto the panel, embossed it together, than removed the leaves.  Then I sanded the panel, and replaced the leaves in the correct positions.  So if you look close, you can see how the pattern of the embossing folder is not broken by the leaves, but continued by them.  It might have worked just was well (and been less time consuming!) to have glued the leaves on before embossing, and then sanded the panel and leaves together ... maybe I'll try that another time.  And then I will pick a more pleasing combination of colors, lol!