AECP-Transcending Tattoo Techniques

 Hello! I hope you are having a great day.  I recently completed another Altenew class and really found this one fascinating.  The instructor, Jaycee Gaspar, researched different tattoo techniques and transferred them into card making techniques.  Not only did I pick up a few card making techniques, I learned a little about tattooing. I will note the tattoo technique that inspired each card as we move along.

The above card was inspired by the tattoo technique called Trash Polka.  I was so intrigued by this that I actually googled several tattoo images-give it a try yourself. I found some truly beautiful artwork. All images were stamped onto a sand colored cardstock from my stash and then adhered to a white A2 card.  The background was partially stenciled using black ink and the Woven Stencil. The circles were stamped in red and the image is from a bicycle stamp in my stash.  I also added black splatters.  The blooms are from the Wallpaper Art set (one of my favorites) and the leaves are from the Darling Rose set.  The sentiment is from the Halftone Happy set. 

Here is a close up of the flower.  I did rough up the edges of my background and lightly ink blend the edges in black to add to the organic feel of the card.

This card utilizes the Loose Watercolor Technique.  After stamping and heat embossing the butterflies from the Painted Butterflies set in black onto watercolor paper, I wet specific areas and scraped dry pigment from the 12 color pan watercolor set onto the wet areas.  I did move some of the pigment around with a wet brush.  I used the same method on another piece of watercolor paper, then stamped and heat embossed the word happy and the sentiment from the Halftone Happy set. The background is dry embossed using the 3D Cloudy Day Embossing Folder.  The clouds were enhanced by adding highlights with white craft ink.

I hope you can see the pigment in the enlargement.  Can you see the variation of pigment? 

This card refers to the tattoo technique called Old School/Graphic Coloring.  To do this, first stamp the outline and then stamp the most detailed layer.  Hand color using your preferred method and use to create your card. I added some splatters and black gems to complete my card.  

The blooms and leaves are from the Always There set and the sentiment is from the Japanese Mum set.  The small white and black images are the tips from the Starry Flowers set.

This card was inspired by the Dotwork/Pen Shading Details technique.  I was slightly intimidated at first, but found it relaxing as I went along. Below is the stamped image prior to any dot work.

I used the Dotted Scales Debossing Cover Die, the Fancy For You Die, and the Just Leaves Dies to complete my card.  The bloom is from the Build a Flower-Gardenia set.

I hope you enjoyed this post and will give this class a try.  

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-All About Layering 2

 

The All About Layering Class was helpful & inspired me to try layering stamps in new ways.  I usually  stamp my outline stamps in black but chose a different route this time.

It was so exciting to get some new ink colors from Altenew!  Yellow is not one of my favorite colors BUT I really love these colors in the Sunflower Field set.  The ink covers the stamps smoothly which creats beautiful layers for florals. I am so happy with the way this turned out. The layering stamp set used in today's card is Japanese Mum.

I usually stamp my outline stamp in black ink, but decided to use Caramel Toffee for today’s sample. The other layers were Citrus Burst, Maple Yellow, & Honey Drizzle.  I also decided to change up the colors for the leaves a little.  The outline was stamped using Hunter Green & the layers were stamped using Dew Drops, Sweet Leaf, & Teal Cove. This gave the leaves a hint of blue.

I then die cut the stamped images using a die cut machine.  I added 2 layers of cardstock to one of the flowers for dimension.  For the corner piece, I started with a circle die cut from Kraft card stock, embossed it with a basket weave embossing folder & then inked a few areas with Caramel Toffee for a slightly weathered look.

After adhering it to the corner of a top folding A2 card, I cut off the excess, arranged my florals & leaves & then cut off the excess of the Japanese Mum.  A few gold sequins were added for a finishing touch.

Wink of Stella adds a little sparkle to these flowers.  I hope you can see that in this close up. 

Thanks for stopping by!