Colorful Options Challenge - August 2025 DT Card

Hello crafty friends, and welcome to a brand-new month of creative fun!

This month’s Colorful Options theme is all about those rich Back to School tones — and nothing says a fresh start like the earthy, grounding hues of brown and teal. If you're not quite feeling the seasonal shift, remember — you can always use the rainbow option instead and bring your own bold twist to the challenge. 

I chose to lean into a cozy fall palette with a mixed media panel full of texture, shimmer, and layered autumn vibes.

I began by creating my background on a piece of watercolored cardstock using the ink smooshing technique with Distress Oxide Inks in Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, and Salty Ocean. These colors melted into each other beautifully, offering that perfect mix of warmth and cool contrast that feels just right for this transitional time of year. 

To add more depth and visual interest, I brought in some geometric stamps from a few different sets and layered them over the panel in coordinating ink colors, plus a few pops of crisp black for extra definition.

Next, I added shimmer and texture by applying Shimmer Relief Paste Brown Moonstone through A Little Sketchy Stencil from Papertrey Ink and blended Vintage Photo through Altenew Playful Stripes Stencil. It created a soft, iridescent layer that gives just the right amount of light-catching detail without overpowering the earthy background. 

For a seasonal touch, I die cut a few leaves and blended them with the same oxide inks. I then arranged them into an organic cluster along the left-center of the panel, giving the design a natural focal point.

To finish the look, I stamped a few sentiments from Altenew Label Love Stamp Set in black ink, trimmed them into strips, and adhered them near the leaf cluster. I used scissors to carefully distress the edges of the panel, adding a soft worn-in look that complements the back-to-school theme. The panel was then mounted onto a card base, which I had lightly swiped with Walnut Stain ink around the edges for a warm, cohesive finish.

This piece came together with that perfect balance of texture, tone, and seasonal inspiration. I hope it sparks some ideas for your own back-to-school or fall-inspired projects — or inspires you to grab your rainbow palette and make something bold and bright!

CHALLENGES:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - AG

Word Art Wednesday - #710-711

Penny's Paper - #602