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.
 

AECP-Easy Ink Blending

 Hello! I hope you are having a great weekend & staying cool.  It is hot and dry here.  That is a good reason to stay in & craft!  I am SO enjoying the Altenew classes & have just completed Easy Ink Blending with Amy Lee.  I am learning so much & think I will start keeping a notebook with all the tips & tricks from each class to refer to.

The above card uses the Emboss Resist Technique. Start with white cardstock, apply antistatic powder, and stamp your image with VersaMark Embossing Ink.  Sprinkle with embossing powder & heat set. I used the image & sentiments from Altenew Paint A Flower Daffodil and copper embossing powder.  Ink blend until you are happy with your results.  I chose to go lighter in the center & then used a small brush to darken a few spots. I mounted this piece onto copper foil cardstock & then mounted onto an A2 card.  Here is a close up.

Next is a way to add dimension to your inked backgrounds.  Start by ink blending your background in your choice of colors & then use a stencil to add more color.  I used Distress Oxide Inks for my background-Kitsch Flamingo, Twisted Citron, & Wilted Violet.  After this was done, I placed the Altenew Deco Wallpaper Stencil in random spots on my blended piece & applied more ink through the stencil. I stamped the butterfly from Altenew Dream Big in black ink with the layers in colors to match my blended background. The sentiment was embossed on black cardstock using white embossing powder.  I layered this piece on black cardstock & placed on my notecard. I also added a few silver gems.  This card measures 3 1/2 x 7 so I made an envelope from some printed paper in my stash.

My last card features a technique called Faux Watercoloring.  Using watercolor paper, heat emboss your image using white embossing powder.  Ink blend colors of your choice onto your image & surrounding area.  When you are happy with your results, spritz your piece with water, apply ink to a nonporous surface & using a little water & a wet paintbrush, add more color to areas as you prefer. For my card, I used the Altenew Paint A Flower Anemone for the image & a sentiment from Altenew Majestic Bloom.

I added a few ink splatters & Wink of Stella for a little sparkle.  I mounted this onto a grey cardstock & adhered this to an A2 card. I got carried away with my ink blending & painting, but really enjoyed the process.  My picture has a shadow across the bottom-the actual card doesn't have a line across it.