Pinkfresh Studio “Gather & Bloom” Release Blog Hop

Layer warm and cool inks for a cozy Autumn Sips card with a quilt-inspired background.

Hi crafty friends! Today I’m joining the Pinkfresh Studio “Gather & Bloom” Release Blog Hop and sharing a cozy fall card featuring the new Autumn Sips and Heirloom Patchwork products. Be sure to scroll down after the project for the giveaway details and full hop information.

For this card, I focused on building rich color with coordinating stencils, including a few unexpected cool shades layered over warm oranges to create deeper amber and brown tones. I paired the colorful apple cider focal point with a softly stenciled patchwork background for a cozy, quilt-inspired finish.

Disclosure

Compensated affiliate links may be used in this post at no cost to you. I received the products featured in this post at no cost as a Pinkfresh Studio guest designer. I will ONLY show you products from companies that I believe in and purchase from personally. Thank you for supporting me so that I can continue to bring you lots of fun crafting content!

Click here for the full supply list or scroll to the end of the post.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How small finishing details add extra depth and dimension
• How to build rich fall color with coordinating stencils
• How to use cool inks to deepen warm orange tones
• How selective stenciling keeps a detailed background light and airy
• How stitched texture can add a cozy, quilt-inspired feel

I started by pressing the Autumn Sips Press Plate onto Porcelain BetterPress A7 Cotton Card Panels using my BetterPress system and VersaFine Clair Nocturne Pigment Ink. The crisp black outline gave me a strong foundation for all of the color I planned to layer on top.

Next came the Autumn Sips Stencil. I started with the apple slices, blending Sweet Mustard and Marigold to create the warm yellow flesh. For the small floral sprig, I used Raspberry Bliss and Regal Kiss, giving me a deeper pop of pink and purple against the warmer colors.

I added soft shading to the glass mug with Rocky Slope, keeping the application light so the cup would still read as transparent. For the leaves, I layered Aquamarine, Paradise, and Sunshine. Mixing the turquoise shades with yellow created fresh green tones that contrast beautifully with the orange cider.

For the apple skin, I added Fruit Punch, then moved on to the cider itself. I layered Mango Sorbet and Marigold to build that rich golden orange color inside the cup. On the surface of the cider, I used those same warm shades but added a touch of Ocean Breeze. That small amount of cool color helps mute the orange and creates a little more depth without simply reaching for a darker orange or brown.

I used the same idea for the cinnamon stick and star anise. I started with Mango Sorbet and Marigold, then used Summer Shower in the areas where I wanted a deeper brown. Layering a cool blue over those warm orange tones helps neutralize them, creating richer brown shadows while still keeping the overall palette coordinated. I also used an alcohol marker to add subtle shading to the star anise, which helped emphasize the small details and give it a little extra dimension.

Once all of the stenciling was complete, I used the coordinating Autumn Sips Die to cut out the mug, fruit, foliage, spices, and other small elements.

For the background, I die cut a piece of 80 lb Neenah cardstock with the Heirloom Patchwork Coverplate Die. I love how the stitched details immediately give the card a soft, quilted feeling.

Instead of coloring the entire pattern, I used just two of the four Heirloom Patchwork Stencils, blending Ballet Slipper and Sunkissed into selected sections. Leaving plenty of the background white was an important design choice. The soft pink and peach accents bring warmth and color into the pattern, but all of that white space keeps the detailed background from competing with the focal image.

I layered the finished patchwork panel over a piece of ivory cardstock, which shows through the openings and adds another subtle layer of warmth.

For the sentiment, I die cut the banner from ivory cardstock using the Autumn Sips Die and used the coordinating Autumn Sips Stencil to add soft shading with Ballet Slipper and Sparkling Rose. I stamped the sentiment from the Autumn Sips Stamp onto the banners in black.

Finally, I arranged the mug, apples, foliage, spices, and sentiment banners over the patchwork background using a combination of liquid glue and foam tape. Varying the height of the pieces helps separate all of the layers and gives the finished card plenty of dimension.

A scattering of ivory confetti adds just a little sparkle without distracting from the soft fall color palette.

I love how this Autumn Sips card mixes traditional fall oranges and yellows with pink, teal, and soft peach. Using cool inks to shift and deepen the warmer shades makes the stenciled images feel more dimensional, while the Heirloom Patchwork background adds that extra cozy detail that feels perfect for a warm fall hug.

Pinkfresh Studio Blog Hop + Giveaways

This post is part of the Pinkfresh Studio “Gather & Bloom” Release Blog Hop, and there is so much inspiration happening along the way. Be sure to hop along and leave comments because there are some wonderful giveaways up for grabs. You can post a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.

Giveaways:

• Pinkfresh Studio is giving away the full Gather & Bloom release on the Pinkfresh Studio blog and YouTube channel.
• Pinkfresh Studio is also giving away FIVE $50 gift cards during the hop. Winners will be randomly selected from comments left along the hop.

Winners will be posted on November 2, 2026, on the Pinkfresh Studio Giveaway Page. Be sure to check that page and claim your prize within two weeks if you are a winner.

Hop List

You can find the full hop list here.

If you arrived from Karin’s blog, you are in the right place.

Your next stop is Andrea’s blog.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today. If you recreate this project, I would love to see what you make. Tag me on Instagram @dreamcraftcreate so I can cheer you on.

Happy hopping and happy crafting!

Charlene

Supplies