Author: Susan Little

Posted on

AECP – Let It Shine

This course is Let It Shine.  I wanted to try something in matte silver as shiny gold or glitter paper are my go to for adding shine.  My last class was about masculine cards and I am still a bit in that mindset.  I love gems, glitter and shiny paper but I wanted to try to add shine but also stay masculine.

I used the Altenew Edged Wildflower Die.  It cuts beautifully and has endless possibilities.  Sympathy cards can sometimes be hard. I struggle with it being too simple or too much.  I tried to stay in the middle of the road with this one.  The sentiment is from Altenew’s Elegant Sayings stamp set embossed with silver embossing powder and splattered with Brutus Monroe’s Sterling Shimmer Splash.

Sometimes matte shine can still shine if you add a little splatter!

Posted on

AECP – For The Guys

This project was for the Altenew course – For The Guys.  Masculine cards can be tough as I always want to add bling or shine.  There were so many great ideas and techniques in this course, I learned so much.

I decided to use the Altenew Step Builder Stencil.  The design on this really intimidated me.  I first tried ink blending and had so much fun I then decided to try it with paste.  I used Lunar Paste in the colors of Midnight Snack and Clear Skies.  I had never used these before and was very happy with the results.

I added a simple hello on the front as well as a couple black enamel dots.

There is still s good bit of shine on this card, but the dimension from the stencil and the paste were so cool.  This will be a technique I will be using again and again.

Posted on

AECP – Clean & Simple Boutique Cards

This card is my project from the Altenew course Clean & Simple Boutique Cards. I sometimes struggle with clean and simple so this class was great for me.

I used the Altenew Peony Sunshine 3D Embossing Folder as well as the Mini Delight Bee Kind stamp and die set. Using the mini blending brush I did light ink blending on the peony with Altenew Blush Rose Fresh Dye Ink.  The bee is stamped with Altenew Permanent Black Ink and Lemonade Stand Fresh Dye Ink.  The sentiment is from the Statement Flowers stamp set.

I cut the panel with the Stitched Indented Rectangles & Fitted Indented Rectangles both from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  I added foam tape to pop up the center panel for added dimension.

I embellished the wings of the bee with  Wink of Stella Clear & added a some mini gems.

Posted on

AECP – All About Layering 4

Today’s card is my project after completing Altenew’s All About Layering 4 course.  Be sure to check out this free class.

I used two Altenew layering stamp sets – Peony Bouquet and Dream Big.  These both were so much fun and easy to line up.

For the flowers I used Altenew Crisp Die Ink Pink Pearl – Coral Bliss – Heart Beat, for the leaves Altenew Fresh Dye Ink Matcha Tea – Swamp Green, and for the butterfly Altenew Fresh Dye Ink: Warm Sunshine – Tangerine Dream.  I cut out the flowers using the Peony Bouquet die set but fussy cut the butterfly.  The sentiment is from the Altenew Scripty Sentiments Die Set.

I used Pink Pearl to ink blend a halo in the center of the card panel and then added some gold ink spatter.  The flowers  and the sentiment are popped up with Dimension Foam Tape.  The butterfly has 2 layers so it would stand up a little taller.

I really enjoyed this class and these stamp sets.  I will be using these again very soon.

Posted on

AECP – All About Layering 3

Howdy!!  It has been a while.  Welcome to a new chapter.

I am excited to be accepted into Altenew’s AECP.  I will be making cards and posting them for different levels of the certification.  So let’s get started.

I am making a card today for my first course – All About Layering 3.  I decided that my first project would center around my mom.  She was my inspiration as a child and my cheerleader throughout my life.  Yellow roses were her favorite, and being a Texan, it just seemed appropriate.

The class explains how to use and line up layering stamp sets.  These layering sets can be a little tough to use at times but this class gives you great instruction on how to use them very easily.  I started with gray ink for my outline later to keep the lines of the flower soft.  Then using three different shades of yellow Altenew Ink (Lemonade Stand, Honey Drizzle & Maple Yellow) and two of green (Oak Moss & Matcha Tea) for each additional layer.  I used the die set to cut out the roses and leaves.  I stamped some of the other flowers from the set, also with gray ink, and cut them out using the die set as well.  I used dimensional tape to bring the layers off of the card base.  I stamped the sentiment with Altenew’s Permanent Black Pigment Ink.

I wanted to keep this card simple to show off the two beautiful yellow roses.

All About Layering 3 – Altenew – Beautiful Day Stamp Set

 

Posted on

Paper Smooches Challenge

Today I am doing a challenge from Paper Smooches.  Below is the sketch of what the card layout looks like.  You are to create any card using this lay out.

I used the stamp set Vegtastic colored with Copic markers and an ink blended background from Distress Oxide ink broken china.

This sketch was a lot of fun to work with and got my creative juices flowing.

If this sounds like fun to you hope over to papersmooches.com and check out all the details.

Have a fantastic day!!

Posted on

Quick Birthday Card

 

I needed to make a quick card because I have been purging my craft room and I let my sister-in-laws birthday catch me off guard.  These layered dies are wonderful for making quick, yet beautiful, cards.  This set is from Altenew – Layered Medallions.  

On this card, I used both the A and the B Layered Medallions Cover Dies.  I chose the papers because they were her favorite colors.  It needed a little sparkle so I added a silver glitter layer in between.  This is what they look like as they are cut and before I decided to add the silver.

These help make quick and gorgeous cards.  Picking the colors is what took the longest.

If you find yourself in a pinch and need a quick card, I highly recommend these dies from Altenew.

Posted on

Baby Card

My co-worker had a baby girl, she is so cute!  I wanted to make a card to go with the gift and dinner I took to her family.  It gave me an excuse to buy the Lawn Fawn Little Bundle stamp and die set.  It is just adorable.  I also picked up the Perfectly Plaid paper pack to use along with it.

I stamped several different images and then after changing my mind so many times I chose the onezie, the dress and the blanket.  I stamped in black ink and clear embossed the close line poles after stamping them in brown ink.  The grass was also a Lawn Fawn die – Grassy Border.

This card was so much fun to make.  I look forward to making more baby cards with this set.

 

Posted on

Foil Effects

I have been seeing a lot of foil being used lately so I thought it was time to finally use the Minc my husband so lovingly bought for me for Christmas.  I have been wanting to try the Deco Foil Transfer Gel from Gina K Designs.  She has a great YouTube video using it.  Everywhere I looked was out of it.  I decided to try an experiment with what I had at home. 

I mixed the embossing paste with the Minc Reactive Paint on my craft mat.  Using watercolor paper I taped down my stencil and spackled the mixed paste over my stencil.  I set it aside and let it dry overnight.

I used the silver foil and ran it through the Minc.  It came out pretty good.  My paste wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked but not bad for an experiment.  I then decided to try the reactive paint as it was intended.  I painted it onto another piece of watercolor paper.  I also let it dry over night and used gold foil on it.  It was a nice effect.

Lastly I tried the Reactive Mist.  That was fun.  I did the same as before putting it on watercolor paper and allowing it to dry over night.  I used the holographic foil on it.  That too had a nice effect.

This has inspired me to clean out my craft room to see what other treasures I have forgotten about.  I’ll let you know what I find.

 

 

Posted on

Sympathy Card

I needed a sympathy card and did not have any in my stash.  I prefer to take my time and plan a pretty card but sometimes that isn’t an option.   I made this one quickly with supplies I had on hand.I pulled out some kraft card stock, the With Sympathy stamp set from Avery Elle, Glossy Accents, Hero Arts Unicorn white pigment ink pad and an old Stampendous  jumbo rubber stamp I have had forever.  I used the large stamp with the white ink and repeatedly stamped it on kraft card stock to create a simple background.  I cut this out with the largest die from a stitched die set.  Then using my Misti I aligned the sentiment and stamped it a couple times with Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink to make sure it was dark and crisp.  I backed it with some black card stock, attached it to an A2 size kraft card and finished it with some glossy accents.  It was really that simple.  You will be amazed at how creative you can be when you are spontaneous.  Give it a try!

Continue reading “Sympathy Card”