The final class within the AECP Level one is called "Seasonal Scene Building".  

I did not know what to think before going into it.  I kept thinking, I don't have any cutesy Altenew stamp sets.

Well, once again I was inspired.  The examples were great! 

I reminded myself that building a scene does not have to be a monkey playing on a swing set or anything cute like that.  So, I grabbed one of my favorite Altenew sets, "Nature Blossoms".

This card is 5" x 7" on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock and Canson XL watercolor paper.  I die cut several blossoms and leaves so that I could make masks out of them, then began to build my scene.  Once I was pleased with the arrangement, I heat embossed using fine detail white embossing powder.  Using the 36 pan watercolor set, I colored in the images in very subtle, soft shades.  The leaves also got some of the metallic silver watercolor added to them while I mixed up the watercolor for a delicate shimmer.  The sentiment is heat embossed in fine detail silver embossing powder, which is from the "Beautiful Quotes" stamp set.  The entire watercolor panel is mounted with foam tape.

My second card is a shaker!  As soon as I received Altenew's "Kind Words" stamp set I knew it had to be a shaker card.  The card is top folding, 5 1/2" x 4 1/4", on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  The first layer is Canson XL watercolor paper where I used "Lindy's Magicals" on it as a watercolor medium.  If you are not familiar with these "magical powders" they start off looking almost white and then when water is added they come alive.  They change color and have a beautiful shimmer.  The pigments are strong and a little powder goes a long way.  I took a smidgen of all the powders I have, and made my own watercolor set.  That way I can see each color before I paint.  They also have "flat" colors that do not have the shimmer but are still beautiful.  As that panel was drying I began to create my shaker frame.  On navy cardstock, I stamped the star image and heat embossed in silver embossing powder.  The sentiment was heat embossed onto heat resistant acetate in fine detail white powder.  The shaker filling is compiled of silver beads and translucent sequins, some of the sequins are stars.  I built up the frame with foam tape and a brushed silver top.  

Because of the colors I showed my husband and stated "Hey, here is a masculine card!"  He shook his head no and said I should just give up on that idea.  Ha ha, I am thinking I will.

  Interactive cards are always fun and I love the sound shaker cards make.

My final card is really simple.  Also a top folding, 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  During the class, the instructor used an adorable stamp set called "Garden Grow".  Being an avid gardener, I had to have it.  Before this class I had no idea that Altenew even had stamp sets like this.  Talk about shockingly pleased.  

I built my scene with a lot of masking and stamping the images in "Memento" black ink knowing it was safe to use with alcohol markers.

  I am assuming many people feel the way I did the first time using alcohol markers.  They can be daunting.  With practice, blending the colors become easier.  I use "Arteza" alcohol markers and have been quite pleased with the quality.  You buy them in sets so so you get a great variety of colors.  I know most love "Copics" but I know for me, the "Arteza" markers work great.

  The sentiment is from the "Heartfelt Sentiments" set and then heat embossed in fine detail embossing powder. The colored panel was finally mounted with foam tape.  

I enjoyed this set so much that I quickly made several other cards while changing up the scene.

Thanks for looking!

I have been feeling so inspired lately that I have been making cards non stop.

  I got really excited for the "Let it Shine" course and immediately my mind went into overdrive.  I really love a good sparkle, as long as my ten year old does not get into glitter.

My first project, which is really quite simple, is a top folding, 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card. I stamped onto "Neenah Solar White" cardstock, using a glue ink pad the image from Altenew's "Watercolor Frames".  This is the very first Altenew stamp I purchased quite a while ago, I was curious as to how old the set actually is.  It says 2017 on the back, OK then!

  After stamping in the glue I sprinkled gilding flakes over the stamped area and pressed them down. To bring up the detail and remove the excess, I used a makeup sponge to gently wipe down and also burnish the flakes further into the glue onto the cardstock.  Once I removed the excess, I was left with an awesome detailed and a metallic mottled image.  To finish it off I chose the sentiment from "Seasonal Blooms" and die cut it from brushed gold cardstock as well as a simple frame to tie it all in.  I really am pleased with how simple, and appealing to my eye, this card is.

My next card is created using the "Nature Blossoms" stamp set.  It is also top folding measuring 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  I just love Altenew's floral images.

  I started with watercolor paper and using the 36 pan watercolor set, laid down several shades of pink and let them flow into each other.  For the main images I stamped just the outline stamps for both the blossom and the leaves and then heat embossed with fine detail white embossing powder, watercolored and then cut out using the coordinating die set.

  Now, onto the "shine"!  I took all of the cut images and rubbed "Versamark" ink onto them and then coated with a glitter embossing powder.  They now have a grainy texture to them, which I believe, makes the glitter stand out even more.  I cut the swirl out of glitter cardstock and stamped the sentiment from the "Sentiment Strips" stamp set.  Both the top panel and the flower is mounted with foam tape.  Finally, teeny rhinestones were added.

My final card is side folding measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and actually has very little shine to it.  I must say, the colors are quite bold, which I do not typically use and often feel uncomfortable using.  However, it turned out very appealing to me.  Maybe because one can't go wrong with primary colors!

The base is "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  I die cut, using the "Lattice" cover die in a primary blue cardstock as the first layer.  For the next layer, I die cut the label shape out in "Neenah Solar White".  The stamps used were from Altenew's "Morning Flowers" stamp set using Lawn Fawn ink.  I die cut "thanks" out from the "Seasonal Blooms" set in shiny gold cardstock and adhered tiny rhinestones throughout the card.

Thanks for looking!

 "Irresistible Inking Techniques"

OK, I'm glad I am onto another course.  I obviously enjoyed this challenge a lot more.  

My first card I used a brayer for the background with three different Lawn Fawn inks.  I used the brayer in many different directions.  The way it ended up reminded me of the old faux painting on walls phase from the early 90's.  I chose to pair it up with Altenew's "Wild Rose" stamp set and sentiment.  Once again, Lawn Fawn inks were used except for the outline of both the flower and the leaves.  I ended up using Distress Ink "Antique Linen" so I would not have the bold outline.  I popped up both the flower and the sentiment with foam dots.  To finish this card, I dusted the leaves and rose with gold "Perfect Pearls" so I would have "sparkle".

 

For my second card, I used the stamp blocking technique.  It made a nice frame both for the sentiment as well as the adornment of the flowers.  Altenew's "Painted Flowers" stamp set and coordinating dies were used for this card. It is a square 5", top folding card with the base made of "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  The first panel is watercolor paper and then painted with Altenew's 36 pan watercolors. I ended up mixing the colors with the Altenew metallic watercolor set, using the silver paint with each color.  It made the entire first panel have a nice, subtle shimmer.  The flowers did not have the addition of the silver but I did stamp the outline image with Distress Ink in "Antique Linen".  The sentiment panel was heat embossed with silver embossing powder and mounted on foam before adhering to the card.  This card is very soft and calming to me.

My third card is from Alnenew's new "Craft Your Life: Silk Art" bundle.

I love when they release the new "Craft Your Life" kits, all the coordinating elements can really get your creative juices flowing.

For this card, it is a 7" x 5" top folding card, and on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  I chose the large stamp as my focus.  However, I used a technique that was not demonstrated in the course, but I do think it is, maybe, a third generation type of stamping, haha.  I am really thrilled with how this turned out.  I definitely have to explore this more.

To start, I used my "Misti" so that I could keep stamping and have it line up every time.  Even for the simplest, or smallest amount of stamping, I tend to almost always use my "Misti".

Now this is where it goes in a different direction.  I started with watercolor paper and using markers (I used "Distress Ink" markers).  I colored on each flower and leaf cluster, over and over again, until I could tell where each image was and the minor details as well.  This is where the "Misti" comes in handy.  Sometimes I pounced some areas with ink using a blender sponge.  The markers allowed me to see where each image started and stopped.  Then, with my image still in the "Misti", I took ink, water, and a brush and brushed color wherever I had stamped images.  The ink that I put on before broke down and mixed with the new ink.  After that was all dry, using "Unicorn" white pigment ink, I stamped over the "watercolored" image.  The results were very cool.  It looks like velvet!  Plus, it adds texture to the image from the pigment ink being so think.

I cut the image out with the coordinating die and then also cut out a frame in black cardstock.  I mounted the frame, the popped up the colored image using foam, allowing parts of the image to "spill over" onto the frame.  The sentiment is from the "Ethereal Roses" stamp set.  There is also a nice, soft touch to it.

Thanks for looking!

What a challenge!  I do not like making cards for males (little boys birthdays are fine).  Several factors go into play in my mind.  Dull colors, boring images, and the number one factor.... in  my experience, they open the card, read it, and promptly throw it out!  The "For the Guys" course was not one I was looking forward to.  I really do not have masculine stamps, especially from Altenew.  Thankfully the class had great inspiration.  Now I just had to embrace it.  I must admit I had some seriously UGLY cards.  I thought that as long as I used drab colors it would be fine.... nope, not the case.  Even my husband said "yeah, that is not nice looking... if that was what you were going for, you nailed it".  Another card I was told, "that mandala still looks like a flower to me".  Back to the art table for me.  I did come up with two cards.  They certainly do not say "wow" to me.

This card is made with Alenew's "Bird of the Woods" stamp set and matching die.  I love this stamp set.  The card is top folding, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", mounted on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  I used two patterned papers, gold and translucent washi tape, Lawn Fawn inks, and hot foiled the sentiment with my "Spellbinder's Glimmer" machine.  It got a nod from my husband... not quite sure what that means.

  My second card is also top folding measuring 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  The card base is a rust colored cardstock.  I stamped a background stamp onto kraft paper and heat embossed it with a bronze embossing powder.  I used the "Trigonometry" stamp set by Altenew to mimic the background stamp on a larger basis.  It was stamped onto a heavy kraft cardstock of a different shade and heat embossed with Ranger's "Chunky Rust" embossing powder.  The sentiment is from Altenew's "Sentiment Strips" set and heat embossed in fine detail white embossing powder.  Once again, mimicking the triangles I cut the banner with slants on each edge and popped it up for more dimension.  

 Thanks for looking!

 "Ink Blending Techniques".  I LOVE ink blending!  I do it all the time, so I was really looking forward to creating a project that focuses on this technique.  I tried really hard to keep it simple and highlight ink blending.

For my card, I actually had made his panel while working on the previous class, "Easy Die Cutting Techniques" .

This card is also top folding on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  The front panel was made with the stencil I made previously.  Once again I used "Versamark" ink and an ink blender to pounce over the stencil onto the cardstock.  I heat embossed the image with "WoW" embossing powder.  Then, I started my ink blending.  I used "Lawn Fawn" ink until I was happy with the results, then spritz the entire panel and blotted off the water droplets after a few seconds.  I die cut a circle on the side and mounted it directly to the card base, the rest of the panel was popped up with foam and then adhered.  The sentiment "Happy Hello" is from the "Build -A- Flower: Anemone Coronaria" stamp set.

Thanks for looking!

 Now we are on to "Easy Die Cutting Techniques".  At first all I could think about was duh... I die cut most of the images that I stamp.  Then I wrote down the different techniques that the course showcased.  OK, yes, I do more that die cut stamped images.

Dies as stencils, perfect!  Time to pull out my handy dandy stencil that I made back during the "Celebration Stencil Techniques".  Hey, it has already come in handy.

My first card is a top folding 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" on "Neenah Solar White" cardstock.  Both for the base of the card and the first panel.  I used "Versamark" ink and a blending sponge and pounced my leaf design all over.  I then heat embossed with fine clear embossing powder and ink blended all over the panel with "Ranger Distress Ink", finally spritzing with water and blotting the water off and mounted that panel onto the card base.  I found some brushed gold cardstock and adhered the strips horizontally under where I knew I wanted my sentiment, I then die cut a rectangle out of some bright, happy I may add, yellow cardstock and adhered it over the gold strips.  I stamped my sentiment which is from the "Craft Your Life Project Kit: Florescence" and then heat embossed it with fine detail gold powder.  The sentiment strip is popped up with foam on top of the yellow cardstock.  I was going to embellish the card further, I did however restrain myself and will call this a clean and simple card (for me).  

For my second card I used the "embossing with dies" technique using the "you are loved" die.  The embossing turned out beautifully and reminded me of a quilted pillow.  Because of the softness I decided to watercolor the panels and leave the embossed area white.  This card is 5" x 5" and is top folding.  The actual base is "Neenah Solar White" and has watercolored paper adhered to it.   The front panel and the black panel is popped up with foam for added dimension.  I adorned the front of the card with rhinestones and then placed a little lavender heart gem to the bottom.  This card is very peaceful to me.

Thank you for viewing!

Onto the next course, "Clean & Simple Boutique Cards".

Like I stated in a previous post, clean & simple is not my forte, however, I am happy with what I created.

The first technique is about creating backgrounds.  I stamped the add-on stamp from Altenew's "Painted Flowers".  What a nice surprise with both the stamp and the coordinating die being included.  Turns out this stamp is my favorite within the collection.

  My first card is top folding and measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2".  I stamped a diagonal pattern using black "Versafine" ink onto "Neenah Solar White" 110lb cardstock  I then used "Distress Ink" and a small blender (one use for charcoal drawings) to place down the ink for both the flower and leaves, followed by faux water coloring using the same inks that I blended with.  I mounted the newly designed cardstock on celery colored cardstock that I die cut using a pin hole edge rectangular die.  The sentiment is from the "Beautiful Quotes" set, embossed with fine detail gold embossing powder.  The flower that is onto the sentiment was die cut and popped up with foam.  I love the bright cheery colors.

My second card features the faux letterpress technique.  This card is top folding and is slightly smaller than a 5x7.  I wanted to have an equal border around the card panel.  The card base is "Neenah Solar White" 110 lb.  I die cut a frame in a red raspberry color to go around the sentiment panel. I then debossed the sentiment into a "Solar White" panel. Then I inlayed the die cut sentiment into the debossed area.  Finally, I ran the sentiment panel through my Tim Holtz "Switch" with the Altenew "Dotted Tile" cover die, placed foam on, and mounted into the center of the frame. 

I really love this look and will be doing it again.

My final card for this course is from the specialty papers unit.  I chose vellum cardstock.  The final card is slightly smaller than a 5" x 7".  The card base is "Neenah Solar White" 110lb.  My project is made with Altenew's "Kind Words" stamp set, purchased totally impulsively, based on the phrases.  (I hope I can come up with more creative ideas for this set.) The front panel is stamped with "Versamark" ink and then heat embossed in fine detail white and find detail gold.  I used a slot punch to hold the vellum in place and mount it on the navy cardstock.  Because of warpage that often happens when heat embossing I got this brilliant idea (NOT) to press my card after it was done.  It made it worse.  Sigh, another life lesson learned.

Thank you for viewing