Today's cards feature the LEAF COLLAGE die 99800, both as an embossed image on a card front and as die cuts adhered on top of the embossing. I had never tried embossing a regular die until I had this idea today. Easy Peasy!

I followed the directions with my Big Shot for embossing with a metal stencil, using a piece of red plumbers rubber since I didn't have a silicone rubber mat. This is my sandwich from the bottom up: Tab 1, plastic plate, rubber, cardstock, die face down, plastic plate. I love the way the embossing came out, particularly when I used metallic papers as in the photo below.

Card No. 1: embossed Leaf Collage on gold metallic paper, die cut brown leaves adhered with popdots over the embossed image, tiny gold pearls on the leaves and in the lower right corner; this piece layered over more of the brown cardstock and aligned with the right edge of a top-fold cream notecard; black/metallic washi tape added on the left edge; three more leaves inside card and some more washi tape and stamped message from the EACH DAY IS A BLESSING Clear Stamp Set CL 5214: "THANKFUL FOR EVERY blessing" in Archival Jet Black ink.

Card No. 2: embossed Leaf Collage on brown cardstock, die cut leaves from Mango Distressed Dots Paper; stamped "THANKFUL FOR EVERY" from Each Day is a Blessing Clear Stamp Set in VersaMark ink and gold-embossed; die cut BLESSING die 99864 from more of the Mango dots paper; four small amber gemstones; this panel adhered to a piece of Mango dots paper that covers the front of the cream top-fold notecard; more mango dots paper inside for the message.

Card No. 3: embossed Leaf Collage on copper metallic paper , die cut leaves from mango and red cardstocks, panel adhered to Mango Distressed Dots Paper and then onto a red side-fold notecard... 
...more Mango dots paper inside, a red leaf, and "THANKFUL FOR EVERY blessing" stamped with Archival Jet Black ink.

These will be some of the cards I send at Thanksgiving this year, and I plan to make more. I love how the look of each one changes with the papers I select. I have soooo much paper--more experimenting ahead!
Happy Crafting!

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