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AECP Final Workshop – Stress Free Watercolor Cards

Howdy!!  Welcome back, I am so glad you are here.

It is with tremendous excitement that I share with you that I have completed my Level 3 final workshop for the AECP Certification on March 14, 2026!!

This journey began when my application for the AECP Certification program with Altenew was accepted on May 20, 2024.  I was so excited.  My plan was to jump in with both feet and finish by the end of the year.  I had recently attended Altenew’s Secret Garden Retreat and reached out to one of the instructors to ask if they had any advice for me starting my AECP journey.  Jaycee Gaspar kindly responded telling me to take my time and enjoy the journey, don’t rush through it.  That changed my entire outlook on finishing by the end of the year.

The AECP certification is 25 self-guided classes over 3 levels of difficulty.  I completed my very first class and submitted my project on June 14, 2024. AECP – All About Layering 3  I must laugh as I thought I did pretty good, but when I look at it now, well…not so much. That is what this journey is all about…growth.

Over the next 22 months I completed all 25 classes and learned some of the most amazing techniques from fantastic instructors.  A couple of my favorites were All About Layering 4 – using color layering as well as die cut layering AECP – All About Layering 4 , All About Layering 7 – using different media for layers AECP – Level 3 – All About Layering 7, Color Your Day – Learning ways to add color to your project AECP – Color Your Day and Elements of Floral Composition – learning about light and color with floral images AECP – Level 3 – Elements of Floral Composition. The challenge that I enjoyed the most was the final for Level 2 making masculine cards.  This pushed me out of my comfort zone. In the end, I felt it was a turning point for me in my crafting journey. The chocolate card is still one of my favorites. AECP – Level 2 Final Challenge – Masculine Cards (Part 1)   Looking back at my first and last posts they are as different as night and day, yet both were yellow florals in memory of my mom.

AECP Final Workshop

The final workshop to receive the certification consists of a 2-hour live in-person or virtual workshop demonstrating cardmaking techniques, you must complete at least 2 cards and have a minimum of 4 participants.  You are given the opportunity to pick any technique you would like to teach.  I chose watercolor florals as it was something I came to really enjoy in the classes.  I also decided to add textured backgrounds.  After deciding on the technique, you create samples and write your step-by-step PDF along with a supply list and submit it for approval. Once it is approved you decide on a date and time, create an invitation and submit that for approval.  I called my class Stress-Free Watercolor Cards and this was my invitation.

I was surprised and blessed to have 15 people sign up for my final workshop from the amazing AECP Community.

I chose stress free water coloring as I personally love watercolor but never feel it is good enough.  I wanted this technique to feel joyful and relaxing, without judgement. Depending on the colors you used the cards could be used for any occasion, season or recipient.

On the day of my workshop, I had 9 participants.  Everyone was enthusiastic and the conversations were fun. It is wonderful to hear what people recommend for alternative products.  I cannot wait to show you the amazing cards everyone created.  It is inspiring to see how they took what was taught and added their own personalities to it.

The Workshop

As the workshop is timed, I chose the steps in a certain order to allow for the dry time needed for certain elements.  Starting with a piece of kraft cardstock cut to 4.25″ x 5.5”, we sprayed it heavily with water and crumbled it up a couple of times.  We then opened it and set it aside to dry.  We stamped and heat embossing two large floral images on watercolor paper. Using a wet-on-wet technique we painted the flowers and then the leaves.  Setting that aside to dry, we worked on the embossed background. Inking the embossing folder with an ink pad and running the dampened paper in the embossing folder through the die cutting machine. Setting that aside we then die cut our sentiments and shadow layers from colored cardstock. We trimmed our embossed panel and did some spotlight ink blending around the edges.  The crumbled panel was dry, and we added some black splatter with black gouache and a bit of water using a paint brush and an acrylic block.  Taking the dried watercolor florals, we used the coordinating dies or fussy cut them out.  We assembled the cards using dimensional foam tape, sticky tape and liquid adhesive.  Finishing everything with some gold dots or gems.

Before I show you the everyone’s’ cards I would like to thank all who participated in my workshop: Carrie, Carol, Walter, Liz, Keia, Angelique, Janet, Kim, Jerralyn and Gretchen.  I am so honored and blessed that you took the time to participate and encourage me.

Thank you to Erum for your encouragement, kindness and patience throughout my entire journey.  Your talent and creativity are inspiring.

Thank you to Bridget for allowing me to be part of your Saturday group and giving me the opportunity me to practice teaching with them.  They are the most positive and encouraging group of crafters.

Thank you to Altenew for this wonderful program and your amazing and innovative products they bring out the artist in all of us.

Lastly thank you to my family and friends for your encouragement and kindness even when my creations were less than attractive.  Your patience with me has never gone unnoticed.

Walter

Liz

Carrie

Carol

Janet

Jerralyn

Kim

 

I have learned so much and grown on this journey.  Through the AECP community I have made new friends and learned to accept encouragement.  I look forward to what lies ahead, whatever it may be, and I will never stop learning.

Thank you for joining me on this wild ride and for staying until the end.

Joshua 1:9

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AECP – Level 3 – Elements of Floral Composition

Hello.  Welcome back.  I am so happy you are here.

This is course 5 for my level 3 certification called Elements of Floral Composition.  These classes were extremely educational as I have never had a formal art or floral class outside of grade school.  Jaycee Gaspar taught us about Color, Value, Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Space and the Rule of 3.  Let’s dive in!

For my card I chose the Altenew Stencil Art: White Cap Peonies with the add-on die. This card had more ink colors than any card I have ever made, using 14 not including the watercolors used on the background. This stencil set was so much fun to use.

My apologies as my photo for the first stencil using Altenew Fresh Dye Ink -Buttercream came out blurry.  On to stencil 2.  After positioning stencil 2 on top of the previously inked image, we ink blend Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Pumpkin Pie. Blending a bit darker towards the center of the large flower and the right side of the smaller flower.

We continue to stencil 3, using Altenew Fresh Dye Ink –  Sicilian Amber and the same technique as before.  This stencil has more than one stenciling layer so we covered the section we are not using with low tack tape, but a Post-It note would work well also.

We shift the stencil and our tape, then blend this section with Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Red Jasper.

Stencil 4 also has several sections to it.  The section on the large flower was ink blended with Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Misty Moor.

As before, we shifted the stencil and taped over areas to keep us from over blending into them.  This section was inked with Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Marshland.

The first later of the stem and leaves was blended using Altenew Crisp Dye Ink – Misty Mint.

We blended the first layer of the smaller flower using Altenew Fresh Dye Ink -Morning Frost, applying it a bit heavier towards the stem of the flower.

On to stencil 5, using Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Sea Forest on the detail of the large flower.  Then moving to the stem and leaves using Altenew Crisp Dye Ink – Sweet Leaf. Continuing the same technique as we did earlier with taping off sections to keep from over blending.

Finished with stencil 5 blending Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Evening Gray onto the smaller flower.

Stencil 6 is the final layers of the flowers. Using Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Mangrove Root on the large flower, Altenew Crisp Dye Ink – Hunter Green on the leaves and stems and the Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Moon Rock on the smaller flower.

The final results using this stencil set are just beautiful. You can’t go wrong with this one!

I went back and ink blended another image using the same inks and techniques as we did on the first.

Now we die cut both images using the coordination die for this set.

These are so pretty.

Starting on our background, we tape a piece of watercolor paper to our board. We are using painters tape.

Wanting to try a technique I saw on Instagram where you put water droplets of color on your dry watercolor paper and then come in with a wet mop brush and move the color.

Mine dried faster than I expected but I went back over the color with the brush and the droplets smoothed out nicely.

Staying with a very night wash.

Before setting it aside to dry, we checked the color saturation on our background with our flowers.

The glitter watercolor added a nice shimmer and dried nicely.

Deciding not to keep the whole floral images we fussy cut one large flower apart and also removed some of the leaves and stems.

We began test placement of the flowers on our dry background.  Adding low tack tape to the arrangement so it can be moved without having to rearrange again.

I use a piece of cardstock that I cut a 5.5″ x 4.25″ rectangle out of the center.  This allows me to see what the final card will look like when all of the excess is cut off.

Testing a couple different arrangements.

Turning the entire taped arrangement over we add glue to the lower right leaves and then low dimension foam to the partial flower on the right.  Adding a bit of liquid glue to the foam gives a bit of wiggle time before adhering to the panel.

Removing all but one piece of low tack tape, which we can use as a hinge, we add dimensional foam tape that is thicker to the back of the large flower. We saved all of the cut off leaves, even creating a couple leaves out of the cut off stems incase they are needed.

Everything has been adhered to the panel, now it is time to flip the panel over and trim off all of the excess that is hanging over the edges.

We added some splatter using Altenew Metallic Watercolor Enchanted Gold and tested out a sentiment found in our stash.

The shimmer from the metallic splatter and the watercolor background is very pretty and adds a bit of texture.

Adding a couple of Champagne clear drops from PinkFresh Studio adds some additional texture.

I hope you like my final card for my AECP certification.  Wish me luck on my final.  Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

 

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AECP – Level 3 – Botanical Illustration Inspired Watercolor – Advanced Techniques

Hello.  It is wonderful to have you back to my blog.

My new set of classes were taught by Jaycee Gaspar entitled Botanical Illustration Inspired Watercolor – Advanced Techniques.  They were inspiring. As I am not an artist, I did not do these classes justice, but I thoroughly enjoyed them.

My inspiration was this picture of purple coneflowers.

I used the Altenew Build-A-Flower: Coneflower stamp set.  I started by stamping the floral images onto masking paper and then fussy cut them out.

Using Altenew Limestone Fresh Dye Ink, I stamped the first floral image onto smooth watercolor paper.

I placed the mask over the image and stamped the next flower.

Using the next mask, placing it over the stamped image and then stamped the third flower.

I did this twice, arranging the flowers in two different configurations, as I was not sure which I liked better.

I chose one of the arrangements and taped the watercolor paper to my board using painters tape to keep the paper from warping during painting.

Using a very diluted wash of purple and the wet-on-dry technique, I began painting the flower petals.

After the petals were dry I did the same to the leaves with a wash of diluted yellow-green.

I slowly added layers of detail to both the petals and the leaves with darker more saturated colors.

Using brown, orange and black I stippled the color onto the flower centers to try to recreate the prickly cone center of the flowers.

I enlarged the center of the flower on the bottom left and added a light wash of yellow to the background, fading from bottom to top.

Before removing the paper from the board, I added some splatter using black watercolor instead of gouache so contrast would not be so stark.

Using my A2 sized die I tested to see which orientation looked better.

After cutting the image using the die, I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set in black ink, using the Stampwheel 2.0 and my T-square to get it straight.

Then added it to a black A2 sized card base using dimensional foam tape to add a bit of lift since this is a one layer card.

I have learned so much in these watercolor classes.  Having a new appreciation for the medium, I plan to continue to take more watercolor classes.  Hope you liked today’s card.  See you soon.

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AECP – Level 3 – Creative Coloring With Erum

Hello!

Todays course is called Creative Coloring With Erum and it was amazing!  I learn so many new and exciting techniques in these classes.

I chose the Altenew Bold Bouquet Stamp, Stencil and Die Set.  I stamped the image on water color paper with watermark ink using the Stampwheel 2.0.

Then heat embossed the image Pearl embossing powder. I did it twice just in case I needed an additional image or elements for my card.

The technique I am doing calls for woodless watercolor pencils and a stencil. I used Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils in Festive Berries, Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn and Broken China.  You messy color through the stencil and then add water.

After removing the stencil you spritz the colored image with water.

The color movement with the water was very cool.  I moved the color around slightly with a brush.

I did this technique again on the second image but I did not use the stencil.  I feel the color flow was better with the stencil on the left.  I left these to dry and started on the background panel.

Using embossing paste I covered a panel of watercolor paper using a palette knife.  I wanted it to look rough and textured.  Using a technique from the class, I covered the wet paste with Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy Glitter.

I left everything to dry completely over night.  The next technique was to add drips to the panel with watercolor paint.  I chose a medium blue which may have been too dark, in hind sight.

I mixed the watercolor with a lot of water and painted it on the paste covered panel, allowing the water to run as it pleased. I then added a bit of splatter using the same color.

Using the die from the set, I cut out both images and worked on the arrangement for the card.

I trimmed the background panel to 5.5″ x 4.25″ and added it to an A2 sized white card base. After adhering the floral images, I trimmed them to the size of the base. I pulled a couple sentiments from my stash and attached them with dimensional foam tape. I also added a couple gems for some added sparkle.

The glitter, paste and watercolor create the most amazing effect. I hope you like the card using today’s techniques.

Before I go, I wanted to pass along a tip about stencils.  The etching is always hard for me to see and I saw this tip from Tim Holtz a long time ago.  If you take black acrylic paint, any brand, and paint if over the etching (I use my finger), then let it sit for a few seconds.

Then take a paper towel and rub it off.  The paint will stay in the etched areas and not wash off.  I have done this to all of my stencils.  You can see it on my earlier picture with the stencil above.  Hope this tip helps you.  Have a great day and hope to see you again soon!

 

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AECP – Level 3 – All About Layering 7

Hello!

The next course for my AECP certification is All About Layering 7.  These were very interesting classes and I learned a lot. Using ink blending, water color, embossing folders, colored pencils, alcohol markers, embellishments, etc. you can add beautiful layers to your projects.

I chose Altenew’s Craft Your Life Set – Illuminated Scenes for this project. This set took me way out of my comfort zone.  It is intended to be a single layer card and is a beautiful set to work with, but I wanted to add layers.

I stamped the image on white cardstock with black ink.

The set includes stencils to color the components and create illumination of a portion of the image.

I worked through each stencil and added a little bit of darker shading in areas of the images. The inks used were Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Fresh Lemon on the window and some pink left in a blending brush, Wisteria and Ultraviolet on the pillows and Mocha and Fresh Lemon on the planter.

I continued working through the stencils and masking off sections so I did not over blend the ink.

I blended a bit of Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Silver Stone onto the blanket and then wanted to try a technique I saw Jen Raza use on a live a few weeks ago.  I masked everything off and using Altenew Shimmer Paste – Pearl, I added it to the image but made it textured so it looked like the blanket.

I really liked how it turned out.  Thanks Jen!!  I added Glossy Accents to the windows to make them look shiny like glass. I then fussy cut around the image to add more dimension.

Using colored pencils I added a bit of shading to the pillows, the couch, the table, the tray, the book and the planter.

Using a fine liner black marker I added a few lines on the blanket to create the folds in the material.

I added foam tape to the cutout image and added it to a white cardstock panel.

After masking off the image, I added just a bit of ink blending on the edges of the panel with Altenew Fresh Dye – Caribbean Sky ink and a large blending brush.

Then using Altenew Carbon Black Gauche, some water and a stamping block, I added splatter.

The fan brush worked well as I wanted fine splatter.

I also did a fine mist of shimmer spray for a bit of sparkle.

I trimmed the panel to 4″ x 5.25″ and added it to a black A2 sized card base.

I finished it with a sentiment from the stamp set and added dimension, as well as a few teal gems.

I hope you liked the card and look forward to seeing you again soon.

 

 

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AECP- Level 3 – Artists Watercolor 101 for Papercrafters

Welcome back to my blog.

This course is Artists Watercolor 101 for Papercrafters. I am really enjoying the watercolor classes and learning so much.

For this card I started by taping down the watercolor paper to my board to keep the warping to a minimum.

I tried the ombre technique with pink and blue watercolor paint with wet-on-wet painting.  You begin with a color on their side and then blend them to the center and create a third color. You try not to leave harsh lines and also not to overwork the color or paper.

I let it dry overnight and was very happy with the result.  When removing the tape be sure to pull it at an angle as to limit the tape tearing the paper.

I decided to add a floral stamp from Altenew’s Flower Arch – Craft Your Life Project Kit with white pigment ink and white embossing powder.

The white ink alone was pretty but the embossing powder adds such nice contrast.

After heat embossing I tested a couple colors of ink to see which looked better with the watercolor background. In the end I went with Altenew Berrylicious Fresh Dye Ink.

I cut the word “sending” from the Altenew Versatile Greeting 2 Die Set in two different areas of the blended ink, as I was planning on using an ombre on the word as well.  I did not like it as it did not contrast well enough.

I tested the orientation of the floral background as well as the sentiment placement in both horizontal and vertical directions.  I also heat embossed “BIG HUGS” from the stamp set on the scrap from the ink blended cardstock.

I cut the background down to 5.25″ x 4″ and used dimensional foam tape to add dimension to the back before adding it to an A2 card base. I cut 5 more sentiments from white cardstock, gluing and stacking them for dimension.  The BIG HUGS is popped up with dimensional foam tape.

I finished the card off with Altenew Mother of Pearl Gem Sparkles.  This is a simple card but I feel it shows off the ombre background very well.

This technique was challenging but so much fun to learn.  I hope you like the card and will see you back again soon.

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AECP – Creative Watercolor Media

Welcome Back!!  It has been a while.

I am now working on my Level 3 classes for my AECP.  This class is Creative Watercolor Media.  It was so much fun.  I love watercolor and I have so much to learn.

I chose to watercolor a beautiful floral stamp from Altenew called Statement Flowers. Using the Stampwheel 2.0, I stamped it using Altenew Obsidian black ink on Strathmore watercolor paper and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

The crisp clean stamping you get from this ink is amazing.

Using a medium-dark green from my watercolor paints, I started at the points closest to the flower using a wet-on-dry technique but I had a very wet brush.

While the paint is still wet I switched to a lighter green and painted from the tips of the leaves towards the darker paint.  Allowing them to mix and flow together.  Using the same technique on the flowers but starting with a dark orange-pink and moving to a medium yellow.

On the larger flower I painted the center first.  As you can see I got paint outside on the white area.  I was not too worried as I am going to cut the flowers out before I add them to a card base.

Then adding the yellow paint and pulling the colors together in the center.

This is such a fun technique.  I love how the colors flow together and mix to make a beautiful orange.

While this was drying, I cut a piece of kraft colored cardstock to 5.5″ x 8″. Then using the Altenew Woven Basket 3D Embossing Folder, I covered one side with Altenew Espresso Fresh Dye Ink.  I spritzed the cardstock with water and ran it through the embossing folder.

By adding the ink it brings out the depth in the embossing folder.

While that was drying, I stamped out a couple cute bees using the Altenew Mini Delight: Bee Kind Stamp.  I used the same black ink as before and also used the Altenew Fresh Lemon Fresh Dye Ink. I cut them out using the coordinating die.

I cut an A2 sized card base from Spellbinders Truffle cardstock and trimmed the embossed background to 5.25″ x 4″. I also cut a piece of Spellbinder Pop-Up Die Cutting Foam in Cocoa to 5″ x 3.75″ to glue to the background and provide dimension.

I attached the flowers to the background and trimmed them off.  Then  attached some of the leaves that were trimmed off under the flowers.  I cut the “thank you” sentiment from the Altenew Timeless Sentiments Die Set using a dark brown and a tan cardstock from my scraps. I backed the sentiment as well as the bee with some dimensional foam tape and attached them to the front of the card.  I added a some clear champagne drops from PinkFresh Studio and a bit of Glossy Accents to the bee’s body, as well as a bit of shimmer to the wings.

I hope you liked this card.  It was so much fun and I look forward to more water coloring soon.

 

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AECP – Level 2 Final Challenge – Altered Item/Upcycled Project (Part 2)

Thank you for continuing on my journey.

This is the second half of the final for my AECP – Level 2.  For this portion the challenge was:

  • Altered Item/Upcycled Project: Include an additional project that involves altering or upcycling an item.

I chose an old, dented metal box that has previously held nail clippers.

After lightly sanding the lid, I then painted it with light blue acrylic paint.  I made an arrangement of different flowers in various colors using the Altenew die sets: Pond Flowers, Lovely Floral Hat, and Zero-Waste 3D Floral Cover Die.

Using a piece of paper the size of the lid, I tested placement.

Once I had adjusted the flower placement, I covered the lid with a layer of Ranger Multi Medium Matte as my adhesive.

After adhering the flowers to the lid, I added bit of Glossy Accents to some of the flower centers for dimension.

I placed a piece of black foam on the inside of the box for a more finished look and to cover up the dents.

To complete it, I made a set of four matching gift tags using the Altenew Wild Daisies Press Plate and the following Altenew Fresh Dye Inks: Sapphire, Teal Cave, Berrylicious and Crystal Violet.  The inks were used on the press plate as well as ink blending the edges.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my upcycled box.  Wish me luck on my final!!

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AECP – Level 2 Final Challenge – Masculine Cards (Part 1)

I have been working towards my Educator Certification with Altenew through their AECP program.  This is my final for Level 2.  For the final challenge I was given these parameters:

  • Select 3 components from Level 1 or Level 2 classes
  • Explain these components
  • Create 4 Masculine cards for the following themes:
  1. Birthday
  2. Love/Thinking of You
  3. Anniversary
  4. Encouragement
  • Altered Item/Upcycled Project: Include an additional project that involves altering or upcycling an item (this will be a separate post).

I chose the following components from the Level 2 Classes:

Beyond Basic Backgrounds:  I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and try techniques I had never done before.

With A Twist:  I  learned in this class how to try things a bit differently than what you are used to by putting  my own twist on the project.

Beautiful Details:  When making masculine cards I struggle with the finer details, so I wanted to be sure this was a component I focused on.

Birthday Card

For all of the cards I used a neutral color pallet.

I chose the Altenew Essential Textures: Gilded Marble Press Plate.  Using  Altenew Permanent Black Pigment Ink for the first layer on the press plate.  Then turning the plate 180 degrees, inking the plate with Altenew Antique Gold Pigment Ink and running it through again.  Oddly, in some areas, it lost its shine, but the color was wonderful.

I cut the inked panel into 1.5” squares and tested the placement on the card front.  After ink blending the white card base with Altenew Morning Frost Fresh Dye Ink, to add a shadow under the edge of the square tiles, I splattered the card base with Altenew Black Gouache.  The squares were adhered with glue and foam tape for added dimension on a few of the tiles.

Using a word and shadow die from Simon Says Stamp, I cut the sentiment from black cardstock and the shadow from white.

I also added a bit of glue and dimensional foam to adhere it to the card base and finished it with a couple gold and black enamel pearls.

 

Love/Thinking of You Card

I bought the Altenew Craft Your Life: Chocolate Flowers project kit just for this 3D embossing folder.  It looked so unique I could not wait to try it out.

I ran brown cardstock through the embossing folder after spritzing the back with a bit of water.  It embossed beautifully.  I trimmed it to be four complete squares.  I cut wax paper and heavy-duty foil and wrapped the cardstock in the two layers to resemble a chocolate bar.

Wanting it to look like a bite had been taken out, I bit the paper and cut around it.  Not exactly what I was hoping for, but I hope you can tell it was meant to be a bite.  I lightly burnished the front to show the squares in the foil.  By tearing the foil and the wax paper, I was able to make it look like someone had opened the chocolate bar to eat it, the crumpling and folding of the layers helped with this as well.

I could not find the sentiment I wanted, so I typed it out and printed it using toner on white cardstock.  The font is Courier New in font size 14.   I used toner reactive foil in iridescent peach.

I wanted the shadow piece behind the sentiment to look chocolatey so I water-colored a piece of paper in a milk chocolate brown.

Cut it all to size and adhered everything onto a kraft card base using glue and dimensional foam tape.

 

Anniversary

This one started with coloring the Altenew Cardinal Love Layering Die Set with alcohol markers.

I colored both the male and female, but I did not like how the female turned out, so I only used the male.

The background is kraft cardstock, embossed using the Altenew Tree Bark 3D embossing folder.  Adding embossing ink directly onto the folder, then heat set the ink with clear embossing powder.

Feeling the result was lighter than I was hoping for, I decided to try something different.  After spritzing the back of the cardstock with water, I ran it through with the Altenew Rows of Squares 3D embossing folder for double embossing.  I really liked the look!

To add a rustic look, I tore the edges, and ink blended them using Altenew Lava Rock Fresh Dye Ink and a large blending brush.  I splattered the embossed panel with Altenew Black Gouache and adhered it to a black card base using dimensional foam tape.

Using the Altenew Versatile Greetings 2 Die Set, I cut the word out of black cardstock twice and the shadow once from brown.  Gluing the stacked word die cuts for dimension and adhering them to the shadow.

Stamping the word anniversary on the same brown cardstock with black ink and heat embossing with clear embossing powder.  The sentiment was adhered with a single layer of foam tape and the cardinal with two layers of foam tape to be sure his foot would sit on top of the sentiment.

 

Encouragement

I started with a kraft cardstock panel and blended various brown Distress Inks to create the look of rocks. I then used the Altenew Calming Reflective Cover Die to cut out the rocks from the blended panel.

Using Altenew Caribbean Sky Fresh Dye Ink, the Water Builder Stencil and a large blender brush, I blended a white cardstock panel.  Then, I turned the stencil 90 degrees and blended again to complete the water effect.

After putting repositionable adhesive on the backs of the large rock die cuts, I attached popsicle sticks to them, pressed the die cut into the embossing ink and then covered them with clear embossing powder and heat set.  While they were still hot, I covered them again with embossing powder and heat set again.

Using the waste portion from the die cut as my guide, I adhered the rocks using either glue or 1mm dimensional foam tape.

Any rocks that had not been heat embossed were then covered in Glossy Accents.

Once everything was dry, I ink blended the panel with Altenew Fresh Dye Inks: Evening Gray using a large blending brush and Moon Rock using a Detail Blending Brush #7.  The panel was trimmed to 4” x 5.25” and adhered to a black card base.

On white cardstock, the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp was stamped using Altenew Permanent Black Ink.  I also stamped on brown cardstock and clear heat embossed it but felt it was hard to read.

Using low tack tape as a mask I covered the stamped image, and ink blended the edges with Altenew Fresh Dye Ink Evening Gray.

Then, the sentiment was adhered with dimensional foam tape.

Tips

Choose a set of colors as your base for your project.  This reduces stress when trying to color match a set of cards.

Try not to rush the project and give it time to dry.  Sometimes heat setting an adhesive will cause it to bubble or crack.

Consider trying a technique that is outside of your comfort zone to stretch your imagination and creativity.

Thank you so very much for checking out my post.  Hope to see you again very soon.

 

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AECP – Masking Unleashed

Hello!!  So glad to see you today!

Today’s card is based on the classes from AECP – Masking Unleashed.

I used two different stamp sets for this card.  A retired stamp set from Altenew called Tulip and another stamp set called Versatile Vases.

I stamped out the tulip images and some of the leaves onto masking paper using Altenew – Permanent Black ink..

Then fussy cut them out staying close to the black stamped lines.  These will be my masks for the layers of stamping.  I needed more than I originally created so I stamped more tulips and one of the vase as well in green ink.

I tested out several ink combinations for my tulips as I wanted 3 to 4 different colored flowers in my vase.

I created a template for my stamping on a plain piece of paper and tested the placement.

Placing the template into the Misti stamping tool I set the bottom stamp later in position on the template.  Closed the door and picked up the stamp, removed the template and placed down my card stock piece.  Inked and stamped that bottom stamp.

Then lined up the detail stamp on the bottom stamped layer.  Ink and stamp the detail, repeat that for the other flowers.  I also placed the mask for the outer edge of the vase.

Once most of the flowers were stamped, I add the masks and begin stamping the leaves and stems.

Placing more masks I added an additional flower in the back at the top that would be behind a leaf.

After removing the flower masks.

I added a large piece of masking paper to create the table line at the bottom adding a bit of color from a blending brush.  I also added a bit of Altenew Fresh Dye Ink – Arctic to the vase to add water in the vase.

I cropped the image down and adhered it to an A2 sized card base from kraft card stock.

Stamped the “hello” from the Versatile Vases stamp set onto light blue card stock to create a sentiment strip, added some foam tape and adhered it to the card front.

Then finished it off with some colored gems.  It turned out more with a  watercolor look than I had planned.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Hope you liked this card.