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AECP – Celebration: Stencil Techniques

Today’s course is Altenew’s Celebration: Stencil Techniques.  So many fun ways to use stencils.  I wanted to try out a new stencil I have from Altenew called Modern Circles.

I used an Altenew color family of inks – Sweet Dreams.  I applied  Aqualicious, Teal Cave and Galactic Stream with Altenew mini blending brushes.  The Ultra Sticky Mat is great for holding down the stencils and cardstock.  No need for tape.

I added a thank you sentiment from the Altenew Timeless Sentiments Die Set cut from Altenew Brushed Gold Metallic Cardstock and backed it in white.  I popped the sentiment with foam tape and finished it off with a couple of gems.

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AECP – Easy Ink Blending

This course from Altenew is Easy Ink Blending.  I looked forward to this one as I tend to struggle with the smooth blend of ink and which ink colors to use.  I learned a lot!

 

For this card I chose the Altenew Spoon Daisy 3D Embossing Folder.  The embossed dimension of this folder is just stunning.  I pulled out my color cubes to get the inspiration for which colors to pick.  I decided on Altenew’s Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields and Teal Cave, and added MFT’s Boysenberry.  These colors were blended onto white cardstock using the Altenew medium blending brushes and the Ultra Sticky Mat.

I then embossed the blended panel, as well as, one cut out of white cardstock. I cut down the blended panel and placed it on top of the white embossed panel.  The images “locked” into one another and then I glued them down.

I went over the raised areas with a white ink pad to enhance the embossed image.  I popped up the embossed panel with foam tape and then added a simple hello sentiment to finish it off.

 

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

 

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Create Your Own Background – Incy Wincy Design Challenge

The focal point of this card is the creation of A Day for Daisies Shop “Gift Tag”.   

I pictured this package sitting under a Christmas tree awaiting Christmas morning.  I used Distress Ink to color the background and used a stamp from Sunny Studio to create the branches.  I colored the package using Copic markers R14, R37 & R89.  The bow was colored with Y06, Y17 & YR16.  The tag is B00 and a Copic Multiliner to write in the names on the tag.  The half pearls are from Ink Road Stamps.

This image is so cute and has so many possibilities from Christmas to birthdays and even Valentine’s Day.  A Day for Daisies Shop has so many cute images.  I hope you will check out the shop and create something amazing.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.  I pray all of your Christmas wishes are fulfilled.

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I failed as Jennifer McGuire, but I learned something.

Have you ever bought craft supplies because of an amazing card you saw one of the crafting goddesses make only to have the supplies arrive and you get to busy to make the card?  They get put in your stash, then time passes and you completely forget about the project.  Well needless to say it has happened to me many times.  I have decided to revisit many of these items and let you see how my attempt to recreate their masterpieces tuns out.

Today we are going back a few years to an awesome creation by the one and only Jennifer McGuire.  She, like so many others, makes everything look so easy and always beautiful.  I watched the video in October 2016 and purchased the supplies after watching “Embossed Impressions” using a die from Simon Says Stamps – Corbel Tree Die.  I thought those looks easy and so pretty….”that will be this year’s Christmas card”, I thought.  We will just say it didn’t happen and I came across it again this season – 2 years later.

I revisited the video and made my attempt to create her amazing card.  Below is my sad outcome.

Parts of the die cut through and the embossing is just a mess.  Sadly I did this several times and this was the best of the worst.  So, I decided to try something completely different.  I cut the design out to use as a stencil with Nuvo Glimmer Paste to made a dimensional tree.  This did not work very well either, but out of that fail came inspiration.  I cut out another of the same tree from white cardstock and after the “stencil” dried I put it behind the white piece.

I took some Lawn Fawn Pixy Dust cardstock and colored it with varies colors of blue, green and purple Copic markers to create this.

I put it all together and was in love with all of the layers and the colors.  I attached some craft foam to the back for dimension and then to a purple card base.  I added the “joy” from Hero Arts stamp set Joy.  It was cut out once from purple and three times from white cardstock and stacked.  I also added Glossy Accents to add shine.

My Jennifer McGuire fail turned out to be a moment of learning, so thank you, Jennifer, for the inspiration.  Merry Christmas!