Warm Hugs Card for Just Us Girls #845

I'm thrilled to be the October Guest Designer up on the Just Us Girls Challenge blog, and this week's challenge is a Mood Board: 

I have the 3D Cozy Sweater embossing folder by Altenew in my stash, so I immediately thought of using that when I saw the photo. Then I wanted to create a mug and some leaves, so I got busy embossing and die cutting. The watercolor paper I embossed for the sweater texture background was painted with a gold acrylic paint, so it has some shine in real life. 

For the cute little mug, I used dies from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: The Afternoon Spread project kit and then ink blended the die cuts with inks from Altenew's Delectable Desserts ink collection. For the little tea bag, I used a blend of Altenew's Crimson and Cherry Sweet inks to mimic the color in the leaves. 

For the leaves, I die cut Altenew's Zero Waste: Autumn Leaves for the leaves behind the mug and Altenew's Creative Cuts: EZ Arrangement Antique Leaves set for the maple leaf in front of the mug. I die cut them using watercolor paper I had painted with a few acrylic paints in autumn colors. 

I then die cut "warm hugs" using dies from Altenew's Warm & Cozy Sentiments die set. I ink blended them with the Chocolate Hazelnut from the Delectable Desserts ink collection and Crimson and Cherry Sweet with a bit of Almond Butter (also from Delectable Desserts). I die cut a few layers of the words and adhered the stacked die cuts together before adding them to the embossed panel. I added Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to the back of the mug and die cut leaves and then added them to the embossed panel as well. 

I created a top-folding A2 card base using kraft cardstock and adhered a panel of the same watercolor paper I had die cut the leaves from as my bottom layer on the card front. Then I adhered the embossed panel using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to pop it up. 

Take a look at the Mood Board and show us how it inspires you this week! I hope you'll join the fun over on the Just Us Girls blog here: "Just Us Girls" Challenge. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many wonderful craft products and has a great weekly sales section if you are looking for bargain prices to grow your Altenew collection. 

 Challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 10/29/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of Spotlight technique (8/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of Think Pink (8/8; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (5/5; ends 10/23/26)

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with optional twist of "happy" (3/3; ends 10/21/26)

I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:22-26