AECP-Level 2-Impressive Heat Embossing

 Hello! Another wonderful Altenew class is the inspiration for today's cards.  Impressive Heat Embossing is another must take class.  After finishing the lessons, I pulled out ALL of the embossing powders in my stash.  And of course, there were quite a few.  But what fun it was to play with them all.  The card below is the first of my Christmas cards for this year.  I embossed the Amaryllis outline in Gold.  The second layer was stamped using a dark red ink.  The third layer was embossed using an Iridescent Embossing Powder and the fourth layer was embossed using Gold Embossing Powder. I opted to not use the stamen for this flower.  The greenery die cuts were embossed using a Green and Gold Embossing Powder.  I die cut all the pieces along with a Gold foil frame.  For added interest, I die cut the Garden Trellis Cover Die out of white cardstock and used this as my background. All pieces were adhered to an A2 card front.

Below is a close up spotlighting all that glitter and sparkle!

The card below uses several colors of embossing powders-Gold, Silver, Copper, Clear, and Holographic. I heat embossed each color separately.  It wasn't hard, just a slow process.  I think it was worth the effort.  

I used several stamp sets as well.  The sentiment is Copper embossed on Vellum and from the Ornamental Bliss set.  The leaves are from the Darling Rose set and the small branches and dots are from the Watercolor Blooms set.  I enjoy mixing stamp sets to get more out of them.

Here is a close up of all the different colors on this card.  I added a few matching gems, adhered the piece to a copper foil cardstock and then to an A2 cardfront.

This technique turned out to be a 2 for 1 card.  Using my stamp positioner was a great help.  Using 2 pieces of cardstock (one white and the other colored) cut to the same size, I stamped the white cardstock in an ink that matched my colored cardstock.  I then stamped in VersaMark Ink and heat embossed in Clear Embossing Ink. I then stamped my colored cardstock in VersaMark Ink and heat embossed using Silver Pearl Embossing Powder.  I die cut the center out of the colored cardstock and die cut a sentiment to match. A few clear gems were added to the front as well.

The close up shows how the stamping is continuous on the colored cardstock.  I also added some liquid glitter into the flower centers.  I really like how this card and the next one turned out.

This card uses the leftover frame from my previous card and is a very simple card. I stamped my flower in matching ink and Clear Embossing Powder as before. The flower images are from the Starry Flowers set and the sentiment is from the Always There set.

I added color to the flower centers and blooms.  The tiny butterflies were in my stash and just matched my flower centers.  I hope you enjoyed today's post.

Happy Stamping!

AECP-Level 2-Beyond Basic Backgrounds

 As I continue my learning process with these wonderful classes, I have come to realize how little I know! This class was taught by the talented Lydia Evans and was very inspirational.  I am very anxious to try a technique using freezer paper, but need to purchase some first!  

To make the above card, I cut multiple leaves from the Antique Roses set into masking paper.  I positioned it over a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of white cardstock.  I then inked the leaves using Sea Forest, Coral Bliss and Honey Drizzle. The outline image was stamped in Caramel Toffee.  To add more interest to the background, I stamped a small image from the same set using 2nd generation stamping in Mocha ink.  The sentiment is from the Japanese Mum set. The top of the sentiment was stamped using Caramel Toffee and the bottom in Mocha.  I then stamped the sentiment in Versa Mark ink & heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. The edges of my art piece were inked using Sea Forest & the inside was lightly ink blended using Misty Moor ink.  A matching strip if cardstock & ribbon complete this card.

Here is a close up of the different colors in the leaves.  

This picture show the color gradation of the sentiment.

This card uses the same technique, but I heat embossed the veins of the leaves using a copper embossing powder.  My copper cardstock wasn't an exact match, so I heat embossed the right side of my card using the same embossing powder.   The leaves are from the Majestic Bloom set and the sentiment is from the Faithful Feather set.

These 2 cards were made by ink blending Distress Oxide inks onto my background, letting them dry thoroughly and then stamping with a stamp spritzed with water. I have never used water to stamp with before, so this technique was another new one for me.  Both of these cards will be on their way to hopefully brighten someone's day soon.

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 Level 1Final Challenge-Feminine Card Set

 

Oh my, what fun I have had creating! This post contains my submission for the feminine set of my Level 1 Final Challenge. The Level 1 classes are so full of wonderful inspiration and ideas.  If you have the chance, you should enroll in these classes.  I guarantee you will not be disappointed and will increase your crafting skills. This card set incorporates lessons learned from the following classes-All About Layering 1 and 2, Easy Die Cutting Techniques, Irresistible Ink Blending Techniques and Let It Shine.

For my color palate, Purple or Lilac was a must as it was my mother's favorite color. I experimented with different combinations of inks and cardstocks. I fell in love with the ink blending of Antique Linen and Old Paper Distress Oxide Inks. TIP-When using Distress Oxide Inks, let your inks dry well before using your inked piece. 

CARD#1-My ink colors for this Ranunculus bloom (and all my flowers) are Pale Mauve, Amethyst, Grape Agate, and Plum.  The leaves color palate are Marshland, Sea Forest and Mangrove Root.  I ink blended Old Paper Distress Oxide Ink onto the lower left corner, letting it fade away toward the center.  I had some foil tape, but it was too wide, so I made my own. TIP-Make your own tape by adhering a double sided adhesive sheet to a foil sheet of cardstock and then cut it to your desired width. Remove the backing and attach it to the desired area of your card front.  I attached a few gold sequins for more shine.

My sentiment is from the Ranunculus set as well.  I also added some Wink of Stella to the bloom but try as I might, I couldn't capture it in a picture.

CARD#2-I used the Dotted Scales Debossing Plate to add interest to my ink blended background.  The tulips are from the Build A Flower-Bearded Iris Set.  I continued with the same purple color palate for the bloom and green color palate for the leaves.  The sentiment is from the Ranunculus Set. I backed it with purple card stock and adhered it with foam squares. 

I added a few purple gem stones from my stash for some bling.  I truly wish the color of this ink blended background was more defined in the photo.  It is such a soft background. 

CARD#3-This card uses a pale green cardstock as its background and also a recycled element-a used dryer sheet!  I used an oval die to cut out the center area of the pale green card stock and then ran it through an embossing folder.  I then placed it on my card front and traced the inside lightly in pencil.  After stamping and die cutting several blossoms from the Stunning Cosmos Set, I adhered them in place to peak through the oval.  I then covered the blossoms with a glue stick, topped this with my dryer sheet and then rubbed a tiny bit of fine glitter into the sheet and wet glue. When this was dry, I trimmed my excess and attached my embossed cardstock using foam tape. Tiny pearls were added as well.

Above is a close up to see all the glitter and sparkle.  The sentiment is from the Bearded Iris Set.

CARD#4-The ink blended background is more visible in the picture of this card ( I may need a better camera/phone-ha). I used the Gem Frame Die to cut out the center and then cut a second one from my Gold Mirror Cardstock.  The ink blended piece was adhered using foam tape to an A2 card front.  Using the inlaid technique, I then adhered the gem die cut to the card. The bloom and leaves utilize the same color palate and are from the Antique Roses Set.  Wink of Stella was added for more sparkle.

The above picture more closely shows the effect of the inlaid technique.  I also added some purple enamel dots from my stash that are just the right color.  The sentiment is from the Majestic Bloom Set.

CARD#5-The Japanese Mum Set is one of my very favorite sets from Altenew!  This card just makes me smile.  I first ran a piece of white cardstock through an embossing folder very much like Altenew's Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder.  However, this folder is not 3D or Altenew, so it did not emboss as deeply. I then backed this piece with a Gold Mirror Cardstock. My blooms & leaves were adhered & trimmed to fit the A2 card front.

The sentiment is from the Ornamental Bliss Set.  I adhered a purple strip of cardstock to a Gold Mirror piece and after white heat embossing the sentiment to a Vellum strip, I adhered it by wrapping it around to the back of my Gold cardstock and adhering it with tape.

CARD#6-This is by far the easiest of the set when it comes to creating!  I am a huge fan of Altenew's 3D embossing folders.  I only have 2, but my wish list is VERY LONG!  I ran a piece of dark purple cardstock through my machine using the  Daisy Bed 3D Embossing Folder.  Using a VersaMark pen, I inked the center of each flower, applied Iridescent Embossing Powder and heat embossed with my heat tool.  When this was dry, I applied White Pigment Ink over the raised parts of the petals using a (you guessed it) finger dauber. TIP-Pigment Ink takes longer to dry, so either heat set it with your heat gun or wait about 30 minutes.  

I absolutely love the way this card turned out and plan to make several more in different colors.  

Above is the hand made gift box for my cards.  I used the gold foil cardstock for the "ribbon".  I just cut my strips wider than the ones I used on my card and adhered them to the box top. Below are instructions for the box.

Measure the depth that you need for your box. I wanted my box to be 1 1/2" deep.  This measurement is placed in the end blanks of the equation. Since my cards are 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", I chose 4 1/2" as my width and 6" as my length.  This gives you the measurement for your cardstock.  Cut your cardstock 7 1/2" x 9" and score at 1 1/2" on all 4 sides. TIP-FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX ONLY-Before you score, cut a smidge (1/16") off of 2 sides that share a corner.  This helps your top to fit better and doesn't affect your end result.

Since I wanted my box top to be shorter in depth than my box bottom, I used 1" for my depth.  See the equation above.  Below is a screen shot to show you how to cut and adhere your box together.

See how nicely the cards fit into the box!  I made the box for my masculine set in the same way.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you found some inspiration and enjoyment. And give Altenew classes a look, you will not be disappointed.

AECP Level 1 Final Challenge-Masculine Card Set

 

I have recently completed the 10 classes in Level 1 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program and I learned so many techniques, tips & tricks.  The instructors were so easy to follow and gave such great inspiration!

As my final challenge for Level 1, I was challenged to make 2 sets of cards-one masculine & one feminine. Each set should have a similar & cohesive theme. A package for each set should also be included. I really enjoyed making these sets. My masculine version follows. Please read on to see the specifics for each card.

I used techniques from several of the classes for this set-For The Guys(geometrics), Easy Ink Blending, Let It Shine, Clean & Simple Boutique Cards and Irresistible Inking Techniques.  For my cohesive color scheme, I chose Navy, Grey and Burgundy with Silver highlights. 

Card # 1 uses the Cube Builder Stencil. I used grey cardstock, inked half in Navy, flipped the stencil and inked the other side in Burgundy. For my inking tool, I used a finger dauber. These have been around a long time and I had them on hand.  I also inked the edges for more contrast. The sentiment is from the Ornamental Bliss stamp set. I stamped it in Navy and Burgundy onto grey cardstock, inked the edges as well and backed it with a Burgundy piece of cardstock.  I used fun foam for added dimension when adhering it to the card front.

Card # 2-I really got inky with this one! If you look closely, you can see that I wore out the burgundy finger dauber!  I used nesting circle dies to cut several different sizes of circles out of masking paper. Using white cardstock, I then inked one circle at a time in each of the colors in my color scheme and in different sizes of circles.  After this was done, I cut a circle from the corner. I stamped my sentiment from the Stunning Cosmos stamp set onto a white card front and added a few splatters using watered down ink from my Burgundy ink pad and a paint brush. I then adhered my inked circle piece onto the A2 card.  My husband says this one is his favorite!

Card # 3-This card utilizes a recycled element.  We had some Drywall joint tape from an old home improvement project and it sure came in handy! I applied Grey Denim ink onto the tape using my finger dauber and let it dry.  I applied the tape to my navy piece at an angle.  This tape is sticky on one side so it was no problem to adhere it to the cardstock. I then stamped my sentiment from the Ornamental Bliss stamp set using Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. I added splatters using watered down white acrylic paint and a paint brush. The small diamond shaped pieces were cut from grey cardstock using the small die from the Shattered Triangle die set. White enamel dots were added as well. This piece was then backed with Grey and Burgundy cardstock to follow my color scheme.

Card # 4-I started with grey cardstock and embossed it using the Modern Squares 3D embossing folder from Altenew. I inked various areas using Navy ink and attached it to a Navy piece of cardstock.  I then used the Waterbrush Hello die from Altenew to cut 3 pieces from Navy cardstock.  I used Navy so that from the side, the card would look more cohesive.  I covered the complete die with Versa Mark Ink and embossed it using silver embossing powder. I did this 2 times, adhered it to my Grey embossed piece, added a few solid silver sequins and attached it to an A2 card.

Card # 5- Again using grey cardstock as my base, I used the Deco Wallpaper Stencil and inked part of it in Navy and part in Burgundy.  I went darker in some spots than others and let the lower left corner fade away.  This was the look I wanted to achieve. 

I used the stencil to trace one of the large diamond shapes onto a scrap of white cardstock.  I then cut triangles from Grey cardstock, inked those using the stencil and inked the edges as well. These were adhered using foam for dimension. I stamped the sentiment from Ornamental Bliss onto a piece of Vellum using Versa Mark Ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. Here is a tip for adhering vellum to your cardstock-squirt a small amount of glue onto a scrap piece of cardstock & using your fingertip, smear the glue onto the vellum.  It will dry clear and unseen. Navy enamel dots finish out this card.

                                                       Below is a closeup of my template.

Card # 6-This card starts with a white piece of cardstock. I attached a piece of brushed silver cardstock to the left side and embossed it using a folder with a triangular pattern.  I then used the Shattered Triangle Die Set from Altenew to cut several pieces from Grey, Navy and Burgundy cardstock. Here is another tip- After deciding how I wanted them placed on my card front, I used GLAD Press'n'Seal to pick up my pieces and keep them in place. I then flipped them over, applied adhesive and placed them on the card front. I stamped the sentiment from the Ornamental Bliss stamp set onto another piece of brushed silver, backed it with a Burgundy piece of cardstock and adhered it to the card front with adhesive dots.

The white piece was adhered to a Burgundy piece before being added to an A2 card.

My gift packaging takes a traditional path. I rolled several ideas around, made several "containers" and threw several away! I have boxes of paper and cardstock that I have "collected" over the years.  I started looking through them for possible inspiration. Below is a piece of patterned paper that I thought was perfect!

My tag was made using strips from each of my colors and vellum.  The sentiment is stamped in Navy using the Label Love stamp set from Altenew. If you look closely, you will see one of the banners is checked.  I use the drywall tape as a stencil, was unhappy with the card front, but used it as a piece of my tag.

The picture below was made before I adhered the tag to the top, but shows how nicely the cards fit. My box measures 4 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/2".  I measured the height of my cards and envelopes to determine how deep to make my box, then measured the width and length of my cards to determine the width and length of my box. I wanted my burgundy card stock bottom to show, so I cut my box top to 1" in depth.

Happy Stamping!