AECP-Level 3-Creative Coloring with Erum-Advanced Techniques

 OH MY! I so enjoyed this class and learned so much.  This is a class that I will take over and over again.  Erum is such a fantastic colorist. I hope to be half as good as she is one day.  She is easy to follow and so intriguing to watch as her blossoms come to life before your eyes. This class is another one you must try from Altenew!

This cards is more vibrant in person and uses the Stippling Technique and Drip Background Technique. I used the Wallpaper Art stamp set and the 12 Pan Watercolor Set.  After heat embossing my flowers and leaves in white onto watercolor paper, I followed Erum's instructions.  I really like the way this card turned out and decided to leave off a sentiment to let the background shine.

My next card combines alcohol markers and layering stamping to achieve my desired shading.  I stamped my outline image and only one of my layers. You can see how the flower petals look before adding the alcohol markers. 

After my coloring was done, I embossed a white piece of cardstock using the 3D Modern Squares embossing folder.  I then lightly ink blended over the top using Grape Agate and Silver Lake and added a few splatters.  The blossoms are from the Build A Flower-Gardenia set and my sentiment is from the Dotted Blooms set.

I also added a few solid silver sequins and adhered it to an A2 card front.  The sentiment is white heat embossed onto black cardstock.

The card below uses watercolor pencils and spritzing with water.  The next time I try this technique, I will used a stamp with larger petals. This stamp is from the set Japanese Mum. As you can see below, my coloring is sketchy and random. After spritzing with water, the strokes smooth out and blend.

I heat embossed my image onto watercolor paper using white embossing powder.

To finish the card, I embossed white cardstock using the 3D Floating Foliage embossing folder and the ink blended a light green ink over the leaves only. I wanted my blossoms to be the star of this card, so I chose a sentiment from the Tiny Sentiments-Hello set and stamped it directly onto my card front in black ink.

To finish the card, I added 2 small die cut leaves in mat gold from my stash.

My last card is a one layer card except for the sentiment. Erum shows you how to achieve dimension on your projects with the use of color.  I have a way to go, but am pleased with this card.  I chose to use pencils for my blooms and leaves, but ink blended the stripes using the Classy Stripes Stencil and Sea Forest ink.  I added a few splatters using Mangrove Root ink. The stamp set used is Perfectly Perfect.  I did mask off my stamped blooms and leaves before stenciling.

After die cutting hugs, I ran the Mangrove Root ink pad over the piece for added color and then attached it to a white shadow die cut.  Of course, I added a few gold jewels as well. 

I hope today's cards motivated you to take this class.  You will be glad you did!

Happy Stamping!

AECP-Level 2 Final Challenge-Part 1

 I received my Level 2 Final Challenge  and knew it would take me awhile to complete. And then my husband and I both became ill with sinus congestion/head colds.  That put us out of commission for about a week.  But it did give me some time to think about my planned projects.  

If you have been thinking about applying to the Altenew Educator Program, I would recommend it!  I have learned a great deal and really enjoyed each class.  

The above cards are my set of masculine cards for the challenge.  I will go into detail for each card creation and mention the classes that taught a specific technique or inspired me.

Techniques/Classes

*For The Guys-geometric design

*Easy Die Cutting-inlaid technique

*Let It Shine-brushed silver cardstock

*Magical Marker-coloring inlaid pieces

Instructions

*Cut 2 pieces of midweight white cardstock 4 1/8 x 5 3/8

*Position triangle die cuts on one piece and run through die cut machine TIP-KEEP INTERIOR TRIANGLE PIECES OF EACH TRIANGLE TOGETHER FOR EASIER ASSEMBLY LATER

*Adhere die cut cardstock to solid cardstock

*Cut matching triangles from brushed silver cardstock TIP-SAVE INSIDE PIECES FOR CARDFRONT

*Inlay silver triangle frames into triangle cut outs 

*Color white inside triangle pieces with 3 shades of alcohol markers and adhere to matching triangle cut out

*Cut "happy" 3 times from navy cardstock and adhere together. Adhere to card front.

*Silver emboss "birthday", trim and color edges with alcohol marker. Adhere to card front with foam.

*Attach white piece to navy cardstock measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and adhere to an A2 card

*Adhere brushed silver inside triangle pieces randomly on card front

Techniques/Classes

*Easy Die Cutting-leaves

*Celebrations-stencil technique

*With A Twist-color combination

*For The Guys-geometric design

*Let It Shine-silver embossed sentiment

Instructions

*Using the diamond builder stencil, follow the included guide and ink using Gentleman Gray ink set.

*TIP-CUT CARDSTOCK LARGER THAN WHAT YO NEED  AND TRIM TO SIZE AFTER COMPLETING STENCILING

*Trim stenciled cardstock to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

*Adhere to an A2 card front.

*Use leaf die to die cut 2 pieces from matching cardstock.

*Stamp sentiment and heat emboss in silver.

*Adhere pieces to card front

Techniques/Classes

*All About Layering-stamped globe

*Let It Shine-heat embossing sentiment

*Beyond Basic Backgrounds- stenciled and heat embossed background

*Impressive Heat Embossing-background

*Polychromatic-color choice

Instructions

*Using Stacked Diamonds Cover Die, cut from masking paper the size of your card front.

*Adhere mask to gray cardstock cut to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

* Cover entire card front with Versa Mark ink.

*Remove mask and apply embossing powder. TIP-USE A SCRAP PIECE OF CARDSTOCK TO SAMPLE DIFFERENT COLORS OF EMBOSSING POWDERS TO ACHEIVE YOUR DESIRED COLOR.

*Stamp one layer of world stamp using black ink and another layer using Versa Mark ink. Heat emboss. I used silver.

*Cover a piece of cardstock heavily with Versa Mark ink and heat emboss with silver. Cut the word "world" from this. Cut 2 more from plain cardstock and adhere all 3 together.

*Stamp remaining sentiments in black ink on gray cardstock.

*Cut globe piece from cardstock. (I inked it slightly for an aged look).

*Adhere pieces to card front. TIP-USE A STRONG ADHESIVE AS CARDSTOCK MAY WARP SLIGHTLY FROM THE HEAT EMBOSSING.

Techniques/Classes

*Let It Shine-sequins

*Irresistible Inking Techniques-ink blended background

*Beyond Basic Backgrounds-bokeh technique

*Easy die Cutting-card front

*Masking Unleased-inside of card

Instructions

*Ink blend colors onto card front. I used Gray Denim, Galactic Stream and Vineyard Berry. TIP-INK BLEND LIGHTLY AT FIRST AND THEN GO OVER AS OFTEN AS NEEDED TO ACHEIVE THE COLOR DEPTH THAT YOU DESIRE.

*Cut circles in varying sizes from scrap cardstock.

*Apply white craft ink with a sponge dauber into circles. TIP-WALK AWAY TO LET THE CRAFT INK DRY OR USE YOUR HEAT TOOL, BUT MAKE SURE IT IS DRY BEFORE CONTINUING.

*Use a circle die large enough to contain your sentiment and cut it out of card front in desired position.

*Lightly trace the opening onto a piece of masking paper cut to the size of the inside of your card.  Cut the circle out of the masking paper.

*Adhere masking paper to inside of card.  Ink this circle in the same way that you inked the card front. TIP-AGAIN, LET THE CRAFT INK DRY BEFORE CONTINUING.

*Remove masking paper and stamp sentiment on the inside of the card.

*Adhere sequins.

I hope you received some inspiration from today's post. I really enjoyed the creative process for these.  This is Part 1 of the challenge.  Stay tuned for Part 2. Happy Stamping!

AECP-Level 2-Masking Unleashed

 The Altenew Educator Classes are some of the best around!  Each class is full of wonderful tips and tricks.  The instructors are varied and each has so much to offer. My latest class was no exception! Masking Unleashed is all about using different masking techniques on your cards. 

The steps for this card are simple but do require a little time.  Start by cutting a circle out of a piece of masking paper and using the outside piece for masking. Adhere it to your card front, align your stencil over your circle opening and lightly ink blend a light ink color over the area.  Keep the area that you plan to place your flowers lighter than the rest.  Remove your mask and decide on your flower placement.  After stamping the main image, mask it off and continue stamping and masking until your image is complete.

The ink colors on this card are Altenew Misty Moor, Marshland, Sea Forest, and Mangrove Root. The flowers are from the Always There stamp set and the sentiment is from the Faithful Feathers stamp set.  I heat embossed the sentiment in gold onto a matching color of cardstock.  I also added a tiny gold piece of cardstock on either side of the sentiment strip and a few gold sequins.

These cards use die cuts from the Just Leaves die set as masks.  I cut 2 of each one from masking paper, adhered one to white cardstock and began ink blending.  After a light coat of ink, I then attached the second mask, off setting slightly from the first and ink blended a little more. I white heat embossed the sentiments and finished the cards as shown.  The card on the left uses the Leaves Frame die with one cut from brown cardstock and another cut from vellum.  Adhere the 2 frames with the leaves turned in different directions.

For this card, die cut the You Are Loved die out of masking paper and place it on your card front.  Ink blend over your card front.  Without removing your die, stamp your flowers and leaves.  Remove your mask, adhere some jewels and your card is finished!  I used Altenew inks for this-Teal Cove, Vineyard Berry, Coral Bliss, Citrus Burst, Sea Forest and Pink Pearl(for the blending). The flowers are from the Stunning Cosmos set and the leaves are from the Always There set.

When masking, always start with your top layer first, the pink flower in this card. Mask it off after stamping and stamp your second layer-the blue and purple flowers.  Mask this layer off and stamp your third layer-the leaves.  After my stamping was done, I colored the image using various alcohol markers.  To finish the card, I added some black splatters, the sentiment(white heat embossed on black cardstock and fussy cut) and adhered my piece to an A2 black card.  The leaves and flowers are from the Perfectly Perfect set and the sentiment is from the Coneflower set.

Happy Stamping!

AECP-Level 2-In The Mood for Color

 These cards are inspired my my latest Altenew class- In The Mood for Color.  Did you know that your color choices relay a message to the recipient?  I had never considered this when card making.  This class was another good one in the Altenew lineup.  

My first card uses blue as the main color.  Blue is calming and tranquil. I think this is a good color for a sympathy card and this one is going to my cousin in North Carolina who recently lost his wife.

I stamped each of the blooms in the Wallpaper Art set and colored them with various blue Copic markers.  After stamping the leaf stamp from that set onto my cardstock using Hunter Green ink, I ink blended Arctic blue ink around the edges. I then arranged my blooms.  I attached my cardstock piece to a black piece of cardstock slightly larger.  My sentiment is stamped in black and is from the Starry Flowers stamp set.  This piece was also backed with black cardstock.  All were then adhered to an A2 card base.  The blooms were trimmed as they were hanging over the edge in places.

The color red signifies love, passion or energy.  The Watercolor Blooms stamp set if full of blooms and is easy to stamp.  I stamped several of the images using a base layer of pink with the second layer in red.  The foliage is stamped using Just Green ink.  The sentiment is from the Paint A Flower Anemone set and stamped in red.  

The circle of black and white is preprinted vellum from my stash backed with a white piece of cardstock.  I dry embossed my card front with an embossing folder in my stash as well.  I thought the tiny dots continued the theme of my card.  After die cutting and attaching all of my pieces, I adhered my card front to an A2 card base.

Yellow is a color that can demonstrate energy, optimism, or cheer.  I think this card does that.  It utilizes a partial die cut technique that I have been wanting to try.  The bloom in the Ranunculus set is perfect for this. I used Mocha, Citrus Burst, Maple Yellow, Honey Drizzle and Caramel Toffee for the flower.  The foliage was stamped using Galactic Stream, Dew Drops and Aqualicious inks. I then ink blended the edges using Maple Yellow.  The sentiment is stamped in Galactic Stream, then in Versa Mark and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. To finish off the card, I added tiny gold splatters.

The next two cards are quick and easy ones using embossing folders.  Altenew has some amazing folders.  I received this one in my last order and love it!  This is the Floating Foliage embossing folder.  I used a very light green cardstock from my stash.  After the panel was embossed, I lightly ran Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink over the raised portions.  I used Lucky Clover Distress Oxide ink to darken the centers of the leaves. I cut a 1 1/2" strip off one end of my panel and after white heat embossing my sentiment, I attached it to black cardstock.  I then attached the top portion, added a few pearls and attached to an A2 card base.

Words associated with the color green are growth, soothing and natural.  This embossing folder seems to use those words as well.  The card below uses the same technique as above with a slight color change.  I used Mowed Lawn and Luck Clover Distress Oxide inks.  I completed the card using the Fancy For You die cut out of some gold card stock in my stash. I did add a few matching gems from my stash as well.

Two slightly different looks using the same embossing folder.  I hope you enjoyed today's cards.

Happy Stamping!

AECP-Level 2-Beautiful Details

 YAY! I passed my Level 1 final challenge and am moving on to Level 2.  I am so excited to continue to learn from these fantastic instructors.  This class is called Beautiful Details and the instructor is Marika Rahtu.  I could watch her color every day and still be amazed.  She says to practice, practice, practice.  I am sure to get some practice time in during these classes!  On to my card samples.

 This card was made by using a Navy marker on 2 of the leaf shadow stamps from the Antique Roses set from Altenew. I used first, second and third generation stamping to make the blooms.  I then stamped the stem using a stamp from the Stunning Cosmos set. The sentiment is stamped in black ink and is from the Always There set. I completed the card by adding a few splatters and diagonal cardstock trim that I ran through an embossing folder for dimension.

I also added details to the blooms with a Micron 01 fine liner pen. I was pleased with the way these flowers turned out.

With this card, the emphasis was on the leaves. I stamped the Gardenia outline in Gray Denim and only one of the layers in Coral Bliss. I also stamped the leaves in Gray Denim onto watercolor paper. I used Copic markers & Prisma Color Pencils to finish the detail of the leaves.  To add contrast, I ink blended Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink onto the right upper corner.  The sentiment is stamped in Charcoal Suit Ink. 

A few added gems from my stash complete the card.

This card used one of my favorite stamps from Altenew-Japanese Mum.  I stamped the base color in a soft peach and only one other layer in a darker shade.  The rest of the details were added using Copic markers.  I added details to the leaves with Prisma Color Pencils. The sentiment is stamped with Mangrove Root. I used a die in my stash to add interest to the background and ink blended with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  A few splatters were added as well.

Here is a close up of the detail on both the blossom and the leaves.

My husband really likes this card.  I started by white heat embossing one of the flowers from the Kind Reminders stamp set onto Vellum.  I then flipped it over & used several Copic Markers to color it in-grays, greens & yellows. I used the Dotted Scales Debossing Die on a piece of white cardstock and added a black die cut frame. I then die cut a square out of black cardstock for added interest and attached my bloom.  I did add 2 white die cut blooms behind my Vellum bloom for added dimension.

I also added some darker lines using a Micron 01 fine liner pen. 

Happy Stamping!  

AECP-Seasonal Scene Building

Another wonderful class is complete & I thoroughly enjoyed this one too! I knew I wanted to make a shaker card using the Tropical Toucan. Four colors of Distress Oxide Inks were blended onto 2 different pieces of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock-Wilted Violet, Kitsch Flamingo, Squeezed Lemonade, & Spiced Marmalade. On one piece, I used a small star stencil & some sparkling embossing paste for a few stars in the sky. The sentiment is from Altenew Beautiful Quotes.  The sentiment & tree branch are stamped in black ink & the blossoms are stamped in Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink.  I also stamped the toucan in black ink & colored him using Copic markers.  I fussy cut the image & adhered him with foam dots for added dimension. I cut this piece down & added several frame layers in black cardstock, adhering a piece of acetate between 2 of them. Tiny confetti stars were placed into the framed area before adhering it closed & then it was mounted onto my ink blended card front.

Below is another card using techniques from the class.  I used an old background stamp in my stash for the wood look.  I stamped the image on 2 different shades of brown cardstock using Mocha ink.  Using layering circle dies, I cut the window from the lighter one & a frame from the darker one.  I also used this piece for a plank & the circle behind my sentiment.  The seaweed is stamped using Just Green & the coral is stamped in Coral Bliss (naturally).  I colored the sea creatures using pencils, cut everything out & placed them on a piece of light blue cardstock.  A few bubbles were stamped using light blue ink. This is not a shaker card, but I did adhere a piece of acetate between the window & my "sea". This was then adhered to an A2 card front.

My last (but by far, not the least) card for today goes to a very special boy in Texas!  He loves "woof-woofs", so I hope he enjoys it.  This card utilizes a lot of masking as each image is an individual stamp.   After stamping & coloring the images with Copic markers, I again masked each piece to ink blend the wall & floor. The wall was ink blended in Arctic ink & the floor in Sand Dunes ink. I also added some print to the wall using Arctic ink on a small stamp to make it appear like wallpaper.  The sentiment is stamped in Ultramarine ink & is from the Dotted Blooms set. I cut it out in banner form & adhered it with foam dots.

Below is the inside of the card.  These images were also masked as each stamp is individual. Coloring was again done with Copic markers. In this picture you can see the shadows added under the dogs.  I did this in the card front as well but couldn't seem to capture it in the photo.

Happy Stamping!