AECP-Let It Shine

 

The AECP classes are super fantastic!  I really enjoyed my latest one-Let It Shine.  By the time I finished, I had so many ideas running through my head I was dizzy!  Some of my ideas looked better in my head than they do on paper. Now my desk top is full of die cuts & embossed pieces. Some of them will find their way to other cards in the future. However, I do have several samples to share with you today & can't decide on a favorite. Let me know in the comments which is your favorite.

The Altenew Build A Flower-Gardenia stamp set was used for this card.  I stamped the flower layers using Pale Mauve, Amethyst, Grape Agate & Plum inks & the leaves using Sweet Leaf, Just Green & Hunter Green.  I then stamped the last layer of the flower again in VersaMark ink & applied an iridescent embossing powder for a little sparkle. These were cut out with the matching dies.  I cut a square frame from some silver mirror card stock as well & then set all these pieces aside.  I used the Dotted Scales Debossing Cover Plate from Altenew on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of white card stock, adhered it to an A2 card & then arranged my stamped & die cut images.  The sentiment is from the Altenew Delicate Bouquet, stamped with VersaMark ink & heat embossed in silver. This was adhered to a piece of silver mirror cardstock.  A few sequins add the final touch.  Below is a close up of the sparkle on the flower.

Next up is a VERY shiny card.  I had some copper mirror cardstock in my stash & decided to try it.  I used the Altenew Floral In 'N' Out die & loved the way it turned out.  This was the first time I used this die, but sure won't be the last.  I used a kraft colored card stock as I thought white was just too stark. To mimic a basket, I ran a small piece of the kraft card stock through an embossing folder & then inked a few spots with Altenew Mocha for dimension. The leaves were cut using Altenew Watercolor Garden Layering Die Set. The sentiment was stamped with Mocha ink & then VersaMark.  I then heat embossed it using a clear embossing powder & cut it out with a small die. The "basket" piece was adhered with fun foam & the sentiment was backed with 2 more layers of cardstock. I also rounded the corners of the right side-I thought this helped to visualize the illusion of a basket.

Below is a close up of the sentiment.

Of course, we all hear "Christmas in July", so my next card is a Christmas one.  I actually used one stamp set for the whole card-Altenew Holiday Flower.  I cut a piece of vellum 4 1/2" x 5 1/4" & scored it at 1/2" from the top on the 4 1/2" side.  This allows you to adhere it to your card stock from behind.  I stamped the vellum piece with VersaMark ink & heat embossed in gold.  The flowers & leaves were colored on the BACK SIDE using Copic markers. I then attached the top of my vellum to a white piece of card stock using double sided tape. This was adhered to a matching green card stock measuring 1/8" larger than my white card stock. I did adhere my vellum using small glue dots behind my poinsettias in some strategic places. This was adhered to an A2 card base & finished off with a few gems.

Again, here is a close up.

My next 2 cards are similar & are very quick & easy.  I have had the Altenew Daisy Bed embossing folder for awhile & had not used it until today.  I LOVE the way this folder embosses.  This is a great folder for quick & beautiful cards.  Just spritz your paper lightly with water & run it through your machine.

After running it through my machine, I let it dry & swiped my VersaMark ink pad across it lightly.  I then applied gold embossing powder & heat embossed it.  The sentiment is gold heat embossed & from the Altenew Sentiment Strips set.

If you look closely, you will see a faint white shine to the flowers.  I have some white sparkle paint from years ago & applied it to the petals with a finger dauber. I attached the front panel to 2 more layers of card stock & then adhered it to my card front.

This card was made in a similar manner. I used a finger dauber to apply VersaMark ink to the flower centers only & then heat embossed using gold embossing powder. Use a dry paint brush to remove any stray embossing powder before heat embossing.

Happy Stamping!

AECP-For The Guys

 Another great AECP class is completed!  This was a very fun class & Jennifer is so encouraging!  The above card utilizes ink blending to form the galaxy effect.  I started with a piece of  white cardstock & ink blended Maple Yellow, Coral Bliss, Aqualicious, & Grape Agate into the center.  I then used Galactic Stream to blend those colors.  After this, black was ink blended over the whole piece with a more concentrated color on the edges.  When this was dry, I thinned down some white acrylic paint & splattered on the piece for the stars.  Be careful to cover your workspace as this can get a little messy(ask me how I know).  I cut 2 of  the Layered Cityscape Cover Die B out of black cardstock.  Behind this piece, I placed a shimmer piece of cardstock to simulate light in a dark building. After adhering all the pieces together, I attached it to a top folding A2 card.  Below is a close up of the card.

My next card is my take on Jennifer's geometric design.  I don't have any geometric type stamps so this is what I came up with. It is very simple in design but uses a "female" stamp set to form a "male" card.  The stripes were made using the stem from Stunning Cosmos.  I stamped it in alternating blues to form the stripes.  The colors used were Azurite, Persian Blue & Arctic. I cut varying size circles & inked the edges. After adhering them to a 3 1/4" x 5 3/4" white cardstock, I rounded each corner. The edges of the slimline card were inked in Persian Blue to match the striped circles. Using the negative from my striped piece as a stencil, I then stamped the envelope to match. The sentiment is from the Ornamental Bliss stamp set. This size card fits nicely into a regular envelope.

  

This class also mentioned boys & not just guys.  Since my boys are all 4 and under, primary colors seemed appropriate.  This card is very simple & quick. 

The above card was made with my dad in mind.  His birthday is in July & he is a veteran.  This card is definitely going in the mail to him soon.

My last card was fun to create.  Using the Shutter Cover Die, I cut one out of black cardstock & one out of white cardstock. I then adhered the white piece onto an A2 cardfront. The "negative" pieces from the  black die cut were then inlaid & adhered into the negative places of the white shutter die. The Tropical Toucan was stamped in black ink & colored with Copic markers. The only black alcohol marker I have is a sparkly one, so my toucan is sparkly.  The greeting is black heat embossed & I backed my toucan with a matching yellow cardstock for added color & dimension.  I think a very appropriate greeting for this card on the inside is - Toucan Do It!

Now on to my next class!

AECP-Easy Die Cutting Techniques

 Hello! I am continuing to enjoy my Altenew classes.  I have just completed Easy Die Cutting Techniques.  The instructors make everything look so easy and provide great instructions. The above card uses a die to make an impression.  

I used 110 lb cardstock cut to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 & placed it over the Leaf Frame Die from Altenew. I ran it through my die cut machine following the directions for embossing.  My paper cracked in a few spots and I liked the effect.  If you prefer a smoother look, slightly spritz your cardstock before embossing.

After embossing, I ink blended Bundled Sage & Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Inks onto the frame, covering the center as I went. I then stamped & cut several blooms & leaves from Altenew's Watercolor Blooms set. I used Pink Pearl & Coral Bliss for my blooms  & a green ink in my stash for the leaves.  After arranging them on my card front, I stamped some tiny dots using another of the stamps in that set in Antique Gold Pigment Ink.  Since this is a pigment ink, it dries slower than dye ink.  Use your heat tool to dry it or just wait on it.  The sentiment is stamped in black using a stamp from Altenew's Wispy Begonia. Of course, I had to add some Wink of Stella to the blooms.  This was adhered to a top folding A2 card base.

I really like the effect of the cracked cardstock on the leaves.  I think it adds a more realistic effect.

Another fantastic technique is to use Vellum for your die cut.  I stamped the outline image from Prettiest Pomander several times onto Vellum & white heat embossed. I colored the back of my stamped pieces using Copic Markers. I did several because I enjoyed this technique & I love to color. My first card uses B95, B97, YG67, YR04 & YR07. I cut the completed image using the matching die. I then used a slightly larger circle die to partially cut the side out of my card front.  I found a matching piece of blue cardstock, cut it slightly smaller than my card front & also partially cut it with the same circle die. This blue piece was then embossed to add a small amount of texture. The sentiment was white heat embossed & is from the Ranunculus stamp set.  I also added a few jewels.  I placed glue dots behind the more embossed areas of my Vellum so that they wouldn't show.

Below is another sample using the same technique, only in more muted tones. I added several layers to my die cut piece for dimension. The pink cardstock was partially embossed.  The sentiment is from the Paint A Flower-Hydrangea.

My last sample for this class is totally different & again, I really enjoyed the process.  It is called the Inlaid Technique.  I used a light grey cardstock & stamped a background using matching ink.  I then stamped the sentiment from the Big World set. All the other pieces for this card are from the same set. I die cut the globe & globe holder from the background piece & adhered it to an A2 card front. I then cut a globe holder from black cardstock & adhered it into my cut out. After stamping & die cutting the globe, I cut 4 more out of white cardstock, glued them all together & then into the cut out globe section of my background cardstock.  To complete the card, I inked around the edges & a little on the background.

This was a great class & I really enjoyed these techniques.