I survived!  I did not think I would.

 After completing all the classes in Level One for AECP there is a final challenge.  The assignment was to create both a masculine and a feminine card set that is cohesive and package it.  There were very specific requirements.  When I read what I had to do, my heart sank.... I HATE making masculine cards; They are such a huge struggle for me.

After a brief internal battle in my mind I decided I had to "just do it"!  I started an outline of sorts, brainstorming my ideas.  Some were good and others, not so much.  

I first decided that I wanted an industrial, grunge look, but also clean.  Rusted metals came to mind.  And I should do geometric and right angle images.  Finally, I choose a triangle using Altenew's "Trigonometry" set.  

Next, I needed to choose which of the classes I wanted to highlight in my project.  

I chose:  Easy Die Cutting Techniques

               Easy Ink Blending Techniques

               Let it shine

My brainstorming ideas were put to paper so I would have a rough outline.

I knew that I wanted each card to have a matching blended backgrounds, for that, I chose "Distress Oxides" blended on bristol board.  I love how smooth bristol is and ink blending is so simple. 

I also decided to make my own watercolor cardstock using "Lindy's Magicals".  I chose the Enchanted Forest collection since it reminds me of rusted and patinaed metals.  It looked like a hot mess!  I loved it!

In an earlier post I explained that "Lindy's Magicals"  are a a powder that is basically white and once water is added, the magic happens and it turns into vibrant color.  I shall take a detour and explain that in case you don't know this, it is actually best to tape your watercolor paper down before you add water (especially with large and heavy paper).  I have some coated Masonite boards that are cut down to accommodate large pieces of paper that I use specifically for this purpose.  Not to mention, you can easily move the board out of the way while it dries.  I use painter tape to adhere my paper to the boards for easy removal.  OK, back to my process, I actually used the powders wet and brushed it all over, then flung more powder here and there.  I then sprayed the entire watercolor paper with my fine water mister.  It puddled in areas and some were down right flooded.  The flooded areas I mopped up a bit with paper towel.  This is what it looked like after spraying it.

After it dried, I decided it needed even more, I went back to painting it on.  

This is a close up of the finished piece (what is left of it, after making my cards).

In some areas the powder did not dissolve all the way and it other areas it was on super thick.  Both of these gave it a great metal texture, yet also awesome shimmer and shine.  I made it a point to use some of this new cardstock incorporated into each card.

For additional "shine", I heat embossed, foiled, and added metal brads and staples.  Very manly!

Now, onto the cards!  All cards are mounted onto "Neenah Solar White" cardstock and all are ink blended using the "Distress Oxides", Brushed Corduroy, Pumice Stone, Stormy Sky, and Peacock Feathers. 

For my first card, this is where I chose which triangle which I wanted to use throughout the series.  I chose the bold outline triangle.  The card is top folding, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

On my blended panel I stamped the triangle in a waterfall pattern and then black heat embossed.  The sentiment "Congrats" is from Altenew's "Sentiments & Quotes" stamp set.  I must say, Altenew has some great sentiment only sets.  The stamped sentiment is mounted onto a piece of my "rusted metal" paper with antiqued brass brads, then popped up with foam for added dimension.  I cannot tell you how hard it was for me to get rolling and finish the first card.  I had many attempts and none "felt" right.  Once I got this one finished I prayed the others would be easier to design.  They were.  Hmmm, maybe I changed my attitude and decided I would make this fun.  Yes, I think that was it!

For my second card I knew I wanted to use a cover die, but was not quite sure how I wanted to execute it.  I ended up with a series of progression.  The left panel I die cut a stencil and used embossing paste colored with "Lindy's Magical" powder, nope.  The middle panel I used the stencil I made and some "Deco Foil Duo" paste.  I placed some "Brutus Monroe" foil, thinking that the pattern was all scratchy looking and that it could look manly.... NOPE!  Too much bling!  Obviously my third try was the one that I used.

My second card is also top folding 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I started by cutting my blending layer into two pieces.  The bottom was mounted onto the card base and the upper part was run through my "Switch" using Altenew's "Lattice" die.  Diamonds/triangles, hey, right angles.  I am onto something!  I then lined up and adhered the die cut up with the bottom so that the blend is continuous.  The sentiment banner is from the "Sentiment Strips" stamp set and popped up with foam.  I finished the card off with making a vertical double banner out of my rust paper, attached together with mini staples, and then cutting strips of my metal paper for the bottom portion of the card.

My third card idea went for a bit of a ride before I decided on how I wanted it.  Here, you can see my various experiments.

The panel on the left was "Lindy's Magicals" powder dusted onto the embossing folder, misted with water, and then run though the "Switch" using Altenew's "Linked Ovals" 3D embossing folder.  Then I remembered that they were going to all have the blended base panel.  That was OK, I thought it looked horrid anyway.  The middle panel was what I was going for, but the bristol ripped too much.  Finally, by the third attempt (which was the final card) I misted the BACK of the panel with water before putting it through the "Switch" which resulted in the fibers of the cardstock breaking down a bit so it was not under as much pressure.

This card was super simple.  Top folded, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I blended, embossed (even though there were no triangles at least it was a geometric folder), rust cardstock strip, which is adhered with super sticky double sided tape, and then the sentiment popped up with foam and from the "Sentiment Strips 3" set.

At this point, since I am half way through my cards, I am going to have a brief intermission.  I have been making journal and art books for the last year and I have discovered that the tape adhesive was (A.) not staying for long periods of time and (B.) was leaching onto the front of the cards showing horrid yellow tape lines.  Therefore I now use, almost exclusively, a PVA glue.  PVA glue is water soluble, no odor, cost effective, super holding power, fast drying yet allows you a little wiggle room in case you did not line something up just right and does not warp the paper and dries clear.  I buy it in a huge bottle and then pour it into a tiny needle opening bottle.  I can thin it out and use it with a paintbrush if I want , this also has no added warping to by cardstock and paper.  Not to mention... I know it will not yellow.  This is what I buy.  I get it from Amazon.

Intermission is over.  Onto number 4.  I love doing these mosaics! 

Top Folding 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I chose the Altenew "Kaleidoscope A" cover die for this.  The cool thing about these dies is that when you use them as an inlay, they are like a puzzle that you get to put the pieces where you want.  I cut out both my blended layer and a white layer but kept all the positive pieces from the blended cardstock.  Left with a white frame and a pile of colored pieces, I then mounted the frame onto the base and started piecing in all the little triangles and other geometric shapes into the negative spaces using my PVA glue in a fine needle tipped bottle.  The "Many Congrats To You" is from the "Sentiment Strips" stamp set which is mounted onto the metal paper and popped up with foam. 

By this time I have certainly found my Mojo!  Card five, top folded 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I stamped out many triangles with a glue ink pad then placed silver foil on it and ran it through my "Minc" using the number 3 setting.  It was not a real crisp foiling attempt.  Normally I would have had some choice words coming out of my mouth, but this was awesome!  It looked aged and rough.  I loved it!  I then watercolored each triangle using the same colors as my blended panels but I used "Distress Inks".  I followed the same pattern for each triangle that I used with the blended layers when laying down my watercolors.

  To incorporate my metal cardstock, I cut strips/banners and randomly laid them down horizontally at different angles.  I fooled around with angles and straight horizontal with my strips.

  Once again, I waterfalled the triangles but left one out so that I could pop it up with foam.  When adhering each triangle, I made sure to not put adhesive on the downward point so that I could slightly curl each one up.  The sentiment "You're Amazing" is from "Sentiment Strips".

My final card of this collection is top folding, 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  My one and only horizontal card.  I stamped and heat embossed six triangles then ink blended each triangle individually, then cut out.  I arranged each triangle to make a large hexagon.  Each triangle is popped up with foam and mounted onto a single square of  my "metal" cardstock.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Altenew's "Sentiment Strips 3" set. 

When I was done I had to laugh at myself.  I had psyched myself into an overwhelmed mess thinking there was no way I would come up with anything.  I certainly proved myself wrong.  I am quite pleased with how this turned out.  But, there was still the packaging of this entire collection!  I knew exactly what I wanted to do before I even had planned out my cards.  

A stationary gift set! 

 This was going to be a set that, I'm assuming a female, would buy and have on their desk full of cards ready when the time is needed.  There would be envelopes, a pen, and stamps all in the box just waiting for the perfect time to be mailed out.  Back to brainstorming.......

I decided that it was going to be pizza box style, covered in fabric, taller than a pizza box so more cards could be placed in, or recycled to store other items.  The closure still has me pondering though.  I used mat board for the structure.  I cut it and scored it with a utility knife and metal ruler.  The dimensions are 10" x 7" x 3" height.  I ended up creating a little removable riser at the bottom of the inside of the box so the cards are not lost within the depth.

I corner rounded the front flap edge and then chose a soft cotton fabric that is neutral and has a subtle marble pattern to it.  To adhere it, I used my PVA glue which I placed in a glass jar with a lit that fits well and added some water to it, thinning it down so that it is slightly runny and spreads easily with a paintbrush.  This glue is strong enough to adhere fabric to the mat board permanently.  I found it helpful to start at the bottom and then work my way around, using binder clips to hold in place while drying if needed.  This glue makes it easy to stretch the fabric smooth so you don't have to iron it first, as you can see in the following photos.... all wrinkly.  No problem.

I ended up lining the inside with kraft cardstock, put baker's twine around both the cards and the envelopes, made a pocket for the stamps on the inside of the lid and wrapped in tissue paper (which was awful wrinkly, sorry about that).

and then sealed with a gold wax seal.

To finish this post off.... I am going to share what my desk looks like after a major creating session.  I just keep pushing stuff back until I eventually have only a 6" x 6" area to work.  Organized chaos, I say!  Anyone else have this problem? 

In all honesty, I was not done yet, but this was so bad I had to stop to put some things away.

Thanks for looking!