AECP-Level 2 Challenge-Part 2

The next part of the challenge was an upcycled/recycled project.  I had a certain project in mind, but as I was decorating for Christmas, I found an old decoration and decided to make something to inspire me in my craft area.  I don't have a craft room as such-my husband and I share our unfinished basement space for our hobbies. Here is the decoration I used.

I began by painting the interior white.  I then heat embossed 2 of the flower images from Vintage Garden stamp set using Rose Gold  Embossing powder onto watercolor paper.  I adore this stamp set!

Using the Watercolor Essential 12 pan set, I colored the stamped images.  After letting them dry, I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I also used 3 of the leaves in the set using the same technique.

For the background, I ink blended Stormy Sky and Tattered Rose Distress Oxide inks onto white cardstock.  For added interest, I stamped a text background using Silver Lake ink.  I wanted the sentiment to pop, so I used the same background technique on a separate piece of cardstock. I then stamped the sentiment, using gray and black inks to achieve a vintage look.  After cutting the sentiment piece, I dipped the edges into Versa Mark ink and heat embossed them using Rose Gold.  TIP-BE SURE TO HEAT FRONT AND BACK SIDES OF THE SENTIMENT PIECE.  

I did cut one of the flower images and arranged them onto the stamped cardstock.  The center flower image has one layer of cardstock behind it for some added dimension.  I also added 2 layers of cardstock behind the sentiment.  A few sequins finishes the project.

I really like the way this turned out and the sentiment helps me to try new things.  I am nervous with any watercolor technique, so these flower images also encourage me.

I hope this inspires you to try new things!  And the Altenew classes are a great place to start. 

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-Level2-With A Twist

 I have completed another fantastic class in the Altenew classroom!  These classes are wonderful and each one is filled with techniques and tips to take your cardmaking and crafting up a notch.  This class is named With A Twist and was such a delight.  Therese Calvird is the instructor and so easy to follow. 

My first example is using a stamp in a slightly different way than it's designed use.  I started by stamping the Ranunculus outline stamp with Versa Mark ink and heat embossing it onto a blue cardstock.  For the second layer, I used only one of the shadow stamps and stamped it in Sapphire Ink. For the background, I ran two pieces of cardstock (one silver and one white) through my die cutting machine using the Dotted Scales Debossing Die.  I adhered these to my card front and attached a matching cardstock strip for added detail.  I then popped my flower and added a sentiment from the same set heat embossed in silver as well.

Here is a close up of the Ranuculus bloom.  I really like how this turned out and have another one in my stash for another card.

The above card used a different cut from the normal A2 design.  I have had this Ornamental Bliss stamp set for awhile and only used the sentiments.  That is really the reason I purchased it, but decided to use it for this design.  I think it worked well.  It is very easy to line up the layers.  The most difficult part is deciding which colors to use!  My color choices were Vineyard Berry, Amethyst, Caramel Toffee, Maple Yellow, Sweet Leaf and Galactic Stream. A few of my colors were not bright enough for my liking, so I brightened them up with Prisma Color Pencils.  After die cutting my stamped pieces, I adhered them to my circle card front.  The card front is ink blended in Sweet Leaf and the sentiment is stamped in Galactic Stream. I also added a few gems.

My final card used the twist of "inside out".  The front of the card depicts an indoor scene and the inside of the card is an outdoor scene.  I used five different stamp sets for this card and some of them are discontinued.  I mix and match my sets and I encourage you to try it as well. I did place a piece of acetate in the window for my glass.

I used Kraft cardstock for my window and lightly ink blended a darker brown for added detail.

After stamping the inside, I colored my images and used a Versa Mark Pen to the trees. I then heat embossed some white for snow.  The sentiment is from the Holiday Flower set and the Altenew ink colors used were Hunter Green, Just Green and Heart Beat.  If you would like the details of this card, please email me and I will give them to you.

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-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!