Hello there! It's been a little while since I have posted anything but no worries!
As you know I have been participating in the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I have completed all of my Level 1 classes. Once completed I was given my final assignment. There is tons to share so you may want to grab your favorite beverage and a comfortable chair!
Here is the assignment I was given for this challenge:
1. Select any 3 components from the classes in Level 1
2. Create two sets of cards, a "His" and a "Hers", to include coordinating gift packaging.
3. Cards need to be a cohesive set for various occasions
4. Incorporate a recycled element, either on the cards or packaging.
Here are just a few of the techniques I have incorporated from the Level 1 Courses:
1. For the Guys: This class was so helpful as masculine cards are a challenge for me personally. I used the tips that were given to create something that I believe would be enjoyed by both boys and men. I kept the color palette the same throughout to keep everything cohesive.
2. Clean and Simple Boutique Cards: I used the clean and simple design style from this class in several cards: repeated stamping, letterpress designs, "one" layered designs.
3. Celebrate Stencil Techniques: I used a few stencils with Altenew Inks to create some backgrounds
A few other techniques that may have appeared, as well come from the following classes:
1. Let It Shine - there is always a way to add some shine!
2. Irresistible Inking Techniques - I cannot resist inking up some backgrounds!
3. All About Layering 1 and All About Layering 2 - these classes are full of tips and are a great help to learning how to line up floral stamps.
Let's get started!
"His" Cards
I began by tackling the "His" cards as I thought it might take me longer to figure out what I would like to do. I chose a color palette by doing a search for a masculine color scheme and was inspired by this color palette.
Card 1: Birthday
For this card I used the following supplies:
Baker's Twine
Bazzill Easter Grass Cardstock
Inks:
Momento London Fog
I started this card by stamping the top portion of my background with the Snowing stamp in various colors of inks that I listed above. This stamp reminds me of confetti so I though it was perfect for this birthday card.
I die cut the work birthday from the background. I saved the pieces and a cut out the letters 2 more times from white cardstock. Once more, I cut the letters out in green yardstick. I stacked this all together and glued them with liquid glue.
Next, I used the Sohcahtoa stamps to create a banner across my card. This simple shape was easy to line up. I added some stamped stars from the Wood Pallet Background set.
I attached the panel to my green card base and added my birthday letters back in their place.
The "Happy" was stamped from an older stamps I had in my stash.
To give the card a little shine I added some Glossy Accents and finished the card with a bit of Baker's Twine.
Card 2: Congratulations
For this card I used the following supplies:
Baker's Twine
Inks:
Momento London Fog
To create this card I started by embossing the background with the Square Weave Pattern Stencil and Altenew Embossing paste. Once dry, I added a strip of cardstock to the bottom that I colored with the inks from my color palette.
Twine was wrapped around the center of the card to give it a finished look.
I stamped the deer from the Festive Silhouettes stamps using Permanent Back Ink and stamping again with VersaMark in. A stamping positioner is super helpful for this. I added some clear embossing powder and heat embossed the image. This was added to the card with some foam tape.
A few stamped stars were popped up as well and card 2 is complete.
Card 3: Sympathy
For this card I used the following supplies:
Fog Cardstock
Baker's Twine
Inks:
This card came together pretty quickly.
The Leaf Canopy stamps are one of my favorite from Altenew and I felt they would be perfect for this card. My plan was to watercolor the image with my Altenew inks. Using the solid image I stamped first using the Olive ink on random portions of the stamp and again with Firebrick ink onto watercolor cardstock.. Using a damp paint brush I went over the ink to get a nice blend. I set aside to dry and then added more ink until I achieve the vibrancy I was looking for.
Once everything was dry I stamped the outline with some Versamark Ink and heat embossed the image using white embossing powder. I used the coordinating dies to cut out my leaves.
I kept the background simple by die cutting a white panel with the Halftone Cover Die. This was attached to a Fog card base. I attached a sentiment stamped from Altenew Sentiment Strips in Pure Graphite ink and added it to the panel. The leaves were attached to the front of the card with a combination of wet glue and foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a bit of twine.
Card 4: Thinking of You
For this card I used the following supplies:
Baker's Twine
Bazzill Candy Corn Cardstock
Inks:
This card doesn't have a lot of elements but it did take a little time to work out.
I chose the deer stamp from Festive Silhouettes and crated a patterned background using Active Ink. For this I used a stamping platform so that I could do some repeat stamping and so that I could keep my image perfectly lined up every time.
I added the stamped panel to an orange card base and added a sentiment from he Sentiment Strips stamps. To embellish, I added leaves that I stamped from the Something Wonderful stamps and diet with the coordinating dies and added some twine.
Card 5: Thank You
For this card I used the following supplies:
Inks:
Momento London Fog
This card is another quick one. This one utilizes the SimplyThank You Die as the focal point of this card. I die cut it out several times and stacked the die cuts. The top layer got its shine by pushing the die cut into the sticky Versamark Ink pad and adding black embossing powder that was heat embossed. I repeated the step another time to get a nice thick shine.
My patterned paper was created by stamping sentiments from the Sohcatoa stamps repeatedly with ink from my color palette. I used a stitched frame die from my stash to add a little interest. This was attached to a black card base.
I centered the Thank You die cut to the center of the card and added some enamel dots.
Card 6: Love
For this card I used the following supplies:
Classy Stripes Stencil (ALT)
Inks:
This card is the last in the set and may be my favorite. To begin, I created a background using the Classy Stripes Stencil and Arctic ink. I wanted to keep the center light so I began inking at the edges and lightened the pressure as I went towards the center.
I used my favorite Leaf Canopy stamps with Firebrick and Olive Ink. The ink was applied randomly on the stamp and spritzed with clear water then stamped onto the cardstock. I repeated this step until I was happy with the color. I really love the texture that was achieved.
The leaves were die cut and mounted onto my stenciled background with a combination of glue and foam adhesive.
The sentiment was stamped from the Painted Greetings stamps and heat embossed.
The only embellishment needed was some splatter from Altenew Jet Black Ink Spray.
Let's move on...
"Her" Cards
Believe it or not I actually struggled more with the her cards than I thought I would. I think I was so focused on the His version that I did not give the her version as much thought. I persevered and in the end I really do love the way these cards came together.
I started by choosing a color palette just as I did with the His cards and was inspired by this image.
Card 1: Thank You
For this card I used the following supplies:
Inks:
This is definitely on the Clean and Simple side but the added gold accents really make this card.
I began by stamping my flower image using Soft Lilac ink. Using a sponge dauber and Deep Iris ink I added the a little depth to the stamped image by sponging the ink to the center and edges on the stamp. I stamped the center with Versamark Ink and added gold embossing powder and heat embossed.
Using masking paper I created a mask for my flower images and added all the other stamped elements. I kept this simple and only used the black ink.
I chose a sentiment from the Leaf Canopy stamps and did a little selective stamping. A stamp platform will be needed for this step as I wanted to use the whole stamp but only ink up a portion at a time. This tool is needed to be able to stamp the sentiment it in the exact spot a second time. I added a piece of tape to the portion of the stamp that I did not want stamped. I added Versamark Ink to the stamp and removed the tape.and stamped the sentiment. This is important to remember. Ask me how I know! Once stamped I added some Gold embossing powder and heat embossed the sentiment.
I repeated the process only adding tape to the upper portion of the stamp and stamping in Permanent Black ink.
For some added interest I used my bone folder and score board to create a bit on Letter Press design on my card panel.
Card 2: Love
For this card I used the following supplies:
Inks:
This card was fun to put together. It involves messy watercoloring and gold embossing.
I started with a a watercolor cardstock panel and the Mega Hydrangea Stencil. Using the sooth side of the cardstock I adhered the stencil with some light-tac glue. I then began painting the stencil with Altenew inks in colors pulled from the color palette. I removed the stencil and let it dry. Once the panel was dry I again added my stencil be sure to line it up with the lines that were created by the watercolor.
I ran the stencil through my die cut machine with an embossing mat. The created some beautiful texture.
Before adhering the panel to my card base I took my Versamark Ink pad and ran it along the edges. I added some gold embossing powder and heat embossed it.
For the focal point I diet sever layers of cardstock using the Simply Thank You Die. Before stacking the die cuts I took the top layer and added Versamark Ink and gold embossing powder and heat embossed. I repeated for a nice thick layer. I stacked all of the layers and added this to my card base.
I chose a sentiment from Altenew Sentiment Strip and stamped it in Midnight Violet Ink.
A few hearts were scattered about and this card was complete.
Card 3: Miss You
For this card I used the following supplies:
Fun Foam
Inks:
For this next card I chose to use the beautiful BAF: Anemone Coronaria stamps. I love that you only need one color, besides black, to create this beautiful bloom.
To start I need up a panel with some buttercream and sunshine ink. I ran the panel through my die cutting machine with a stitched frame die from my stash and set it aside.
I stamped all of the flower leaves images and die-cut them with the coordinating dies.
Using foam adhesive and glue I added my images to the bottom of the panel. I stamped a sentiment from Altenew Painted Greetings stamps and added a few enamel dots.
The panel was popped up on some fun foam and added to my card base.
I think the hardest part of this card was figuring out the floral arrangement!
Card 4: Encouragement
For this card I used the following supplies:
Versamarker
Inks:
This is almost a one layer card, with the exception that I used a card stock panel and added it to card base.
This may be my favorite but that keeps changing!
For this card I started by stamping the base flower from the Sophisticated Wreath stamps. I chose the lightest shade for this. I had to create a few masks. To do this quickly I chose sever sheet of Post Its and stamped my image once. I fussy-cut the image once by keeping all the layers of Post its together.
I continued stamping my base layer across the top and bottom of the card panel. Using my masks I stamped the second layer with the darker ink.
Instead of using the last layer for the flower centers I used a Versmarker to add sticky ink and gold embossing powder. I heat set it and moved on to the sentiment.
I chose to some selective stamping for my sentiment. I heat embossed the Wonderful with good embossing powder and stamped the rest of the sentiment in Deep Iris Ink.
Card 5: Encouragement
For this card I used the following supplies:
Inks:
This card features these beautiful blooms from the Sunflower Daisy stamps. This card's simplicity really makes the bloom stand out.
I wanted this card to be soft so I started by stamping the large daisy beginning with the second layer. I stamped this first layer with Soft Lilac, the next layer in Wisteria, and the last layer in Lavender Fields.
The smaller daisy only has two layers so I used both and stamped the first layer in Soft Lilac and the second layer in Lavender Fields.
For the centers I used Limeade, Lime, and Fresh Leaf. Once the flowers were all stamped I die cut them with the coordinating dies.
I arranged my daisies on the panel where I wanted them and and picked them up with some Glad Press'n Seal. This is an awesome way to keep your images in the arrangement you have just created. I moved them aside and moved on to my leaves. For this I used the Sunflower Daisy Stencil.
I inked the stencil with Limeade and Lime Inks add my leaves onto my white card panel. To achieve the best placement I moved my arranged flower cluster to my card base and arranged the stencil just where it need to be placed. Then I would remove the arrangement and ink the stencil
I did the same when I added a sentiment from the Sentiment Strips stamps.
Before placing the flower arrangement on the card I added a few ink splatters with some Lime Ink and some Jet Black Ink Spray.
After that dried I used my bone folder and score board to add some lines around the card for a Letter Press look.
The flowers were adhered to the card base with glue and foam adhesive.
Card 6: Congratulations
For this card I used the following supplies:
Inks:
This last card is gorgeous! The beautiful design of the Layered Medallions are really all this card needs!
To begin this card I first cut some gold glitter cardstock with Layered Medallions A and the purple cardstock with Layered Medallions B. I glued these together and set them aside while I created a background.
For this background I decided to do an ink layering technique using a brayer and Altenew ink. This is a fun and easy way to create unique backgrounds. I chose a handful of Altenew inks and ran my brayer over the ink pad to pick up a good amount of ink. I then rolled the ink onto my cardstock panel. I would check the coverage by placing my die cut panels on top. Once I was happy with the coverage I adhered all of the layers together and add it to my card base.
The sentiment was heat embossed in white embossing powder and then die cut with a banner die. I added the sentiment to the center of the card with some foam adhesive and that was it! My last card was complete!
Gift Packaging
This is the point in which I incorporated my recycled element. I created card box using some packaging that came with some item that my husband purchased from the hardware store. The cardboard was thin enough to cut with my heavy duty paper trimmer.
I cut the cardboard to the desired sizes and arranged them on my patterned cardstock, In the picture above you can see the sizes and the way I notched out my cardstock. I used double-sided adhesive and put the boxes together.
I packaged my cards in some clear bags that I tied shut with some twine. I added some tags using elements that I had left over from the cards I had created and inserted the bags into my custom made boxes.
I am so pleased with how everything came together. My only regret is that I did not get this project completed by my deadline. I missed it by a few days. Hopefully, the wait was worth it.
I know that this was a long blog post and I just want to thank you for hanging in there with me!
See you soon!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! This is an awesome post! What a truck load of eye candy! Saundra, you did such a terrific job! Each card is a star on it's own! Beautiful projects, fantabulous blog post and description, gorgeous photos and brilliant execution!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering your gorgeous work to the AECP assignment gallery. Top job!
Wow wow woooow~~~~~ I am so glad that you rose to the challenge and created HIS and HER sets of cards. Each one has its own unique elements and yet it is perfectly fitting in a set! I love the handsome and thoughtful masculine cards. The feminine cards are so beautifully crated and incredibly detailed. The DIY packaging is absolutely superb!! Congrats on your success on acing this challenge! Thanks so much for entering your beautiful work in Altenew AECP assignment Gallery. Beautiful colors and design. Well done!
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