Friday, January 26, 2024

AECP Level 3 - Stencils Unleased

I passed my Level 2 Final Project for AECP and have officially started on Level 3.  The first class I decided to take was Stencils Unleased by Nichole Watt.  Stencils are so fun and easy to use and make it easy to step up into a more challenging or elaborate card.


For my first card I used the technique of ink blending through the Flowing Drops stencil and then stepping it up by use a graphite pencil and adding subtle shading.  

You can see here in the first picture that I used 3 colors for the ink blending but haven't done the shading yet.  This image is pretty as it is but by adding the pencil shading and blending it out a little it really does add something to the stenciled image.






If you zoom in and look closely you can see the shading that I added and how it steps up the stenciling.  This pencil shading took some time but wasn't hard and was quite soothing.  Something to do while watching a tv show or movie that you can LISTEN to more than watch.

Finished this card with sentiments from the Bold Sentiments stamp set, some splatters from Altenew Shimmer sprays and a few gems from my stash.


A little closer look at the shading.

And of course, I had to add some splatter to finish off the card.





For my next card, the technique was ink blending through layered stencils.  This stencil set had 3 or 4 stencils to achieve the shading on the floral and leaf elements.  In order to step up this card, I also ink blended around the image in a dark color and then stenciled over the ink blending with the Altenew Tulle stencil.  The floral image is stamped from Sunshine Flowers Craft Your Life Set.  To finish off this card I used Ocean Waves Shimmer Spray to splatter on the image and die cut the words hello friend out of the flower, then layered on a slightly darker cardstock to create an "eclipse" look. 


A zoomed in look at the shading of the stencils, the stenciling over the ink blending (you can see this in the corners) and the eclipse sentiment.  All very subtle but add to the overall card.



This next technique is called stencil stacking and again I stepped it up by also using shimmer sprays over the stencils.

My first step was to use the Altenew Feathery Stencil and I ink blending blues and greens over white cardstock.  Once I was happy with the colors I then stacked the Fine Tulle stencil over the Feathery Stencil and ink blended again using the same colors but just going a little darker.  The final step was to spritz the shimmer sprays over the top of the two stacked stencils.
For the sentiment, I used the Altenew January Release Outline Love You die and the One Go Loving Sentiments - stamp set and One Go Die.



Again zooming in so you can see the texture and the different stencils.
Finally, for my last card I tried a new technique to me, which is watercoloring through a layered stencil.  This was fun and lead to a beautiful card in my opinion.

I started this card out using watercolor paper and the new Watercolor Garden Bi-Monthly stencil subscription from Altenew.  What a beautiful image these stencils provide when using the stencils in a variety of ways.  As I mentioned, I chose to watercolor through the stencil for this homework assignment.  I chose the smaller floral arrangement and got out my Altenew Watercolor Markers.  Once I used the stencils and got the colors layered and where I wanted them, I took the watercolor ink and added a light wash around the image and then finished with fine splatters after the image was dry.  Die cut and layered with the Ornate Nesting Dies and finished with a gold foiled image, gems from my stash and a light stencil of Fine Tulle on the card base.

This was a great class and gave me new ideas for how to use my stencils and reminded me of techniques that I had forgotten.

  

Which one was your favorite technique that I tried? 

I share product links (and some are affiliate links which means I will receive a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of our card adventures! 














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Thursday, January 11, 2024

It's a GIRL

Today, I am going to share a couple of things I made as a baby gift for a neighbor and friend.  One thing I always like to do as a gift for a baby shower is to create thank you cards for the family to send after the shower.  It has always been well received so in addition to a gift containing our favorite baby books I am making thank you cards.  Here is a look at the thank you card.  I am IN LOVE with it.


I created this card with ALL Pinkfresh Studio products.

Favorite Things Sentiments press plate and accompanying dies

Ornate Trellis press plate

Nothing but the Best stamp set, stencils and die.

Essentials: Diagonal stitched rectangles die

Pinkfresh inks: Ballet Slipper, Cherry Blossom, Sage and Eucalyptus

Spellbinders black BetterPress ink


I started by stamping the floral image in Versamark on Linen Vellum from my massive amount of hoarded cardstock.  Then I ink blended over the stencils to create this soft image. I concentrated the ink in the center to create some subtle shading.  I die cut the image and set it aside while I worked on the background.  The background was created by using the Ornate Trellis press plate with Ballet Slipper ink.  It was my first time using the BetterPress system.  That was fun and really creates a nice image.  I then used the Favorite Things Sentiment - thank you with the BetterPress system and finished by die cutting the image. The last step before putting everything together was to die cut the background with the largest die in the Diagonal stitched rectangles set.

I finished creating this card by using foam adhesive to the back of the background and placing this on a white card base.  Next up liquid glue to the back of the vellum floral image and finally creating a slightly thicker sentiment by adding another layer to the back.

GORGEOUS card in my opinion!  I do absolutely love it.

Closer look at the card


 And finally, my card to the lucky couple.

This is my second ever slimline card and BOTH utilized Pinkfresh
products:

Essentials: Slim Stitched Scallop Rectangles die

Diamond Motif Stencil

Kaitlin Alphabet

Best Wishes stamp set, die and stencils

same inks as above

First step was to using the largest die of the slim rectangles to create my base pieces for the card.  I took a white card base and did a light ink blending just around the edges.  Then using the same colors, I stenciled an ombre of the light to dark pink and light to dark green across the inner layer created by the die.  Then to assemble the base layers I mounted the outer frame and the inner stenciled layer on foam adhesive and the inner frame is just glued directly to the card base.

I stamped the Best wishes floral images (all on one stamp) to vellum in Versamark and again heat embossed in white.  And just like the Thank You cards I ink blended using the stencils for soft florals.  I used the matching die to cut out the florals.  This particular die cuts the floral into four pieces.  I took those four pieces and adhered them with liquid glue across the front of the panel.  Using the alphabet set I cut the letters twice out of white cardstock and cut the shadow out of pink shimmer cardstock. All the letters were then placed on the panel with foam adhesive to create additional dimension.  This was created as a card but with the thought that it could also be framed.

What do you think?



 



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Tuesday, January 9, 2024

AECP - Level 2 Final - 4 Masculine Cards

 I am enjoying the learning process while I am on this crafting journey. I have really improved my skills and am progressing through the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  I just completed my final project for Academy 2. For my final assignment I was tasked with making four masculine cards covering the themes below using techniques I learned throughout my courses. I was also tasked with making an altered item that I covered in a previous post.

  • Birthday
    • For the Guys
    • Let It Shine
    • Easy Die Cutting

  • Encouragement
    • Let It Shine
    • Easy Die Cutting

  • Love/Thinking of You
    • For the Guys
    • Creative Watercoloring

  • Anniversary
    • Creative Watercoloring
    • For the Guys
    • With a Twist

BIRTHDAY CARD:

For the birthday card I used techniques from Easy Die Cutting - lining up and cutting the geometric image, stamping and die cutting the sentiment.  Let It Shine - foiled sentiment Celebrate, heat embossed one of the layers (the gold) of the geometric image, used gold cardstock for the bottom layer and added gold sequins.  And finally, For the Guys - I chose a geometric pattern (both in the stamped and heat embossed image and the dry embossed background).

I love the final result of this card.  The first thing I did was to decide on the colors I wanted to use - I knew I wanted it to be bold and dramatic and very "masculine"

The hardest part of this card was to figure out how to use the stamp to create the geometric image - you needed to stamp and then rotate the image about 120 degrees and then stamp in the next color.

I used the Angled Mosaic embossing folder on black cardstock and it is a great background for the geometric pattern in the Mini Pattern Power stamp.  I stamped the image in a dark teal blue, black and Versamark Embossing Ink which I then heat embossed in Gold.  Added the sentiment and a few sequins and layered it all on gold cardstock and put all the layers onto a white card base.


ENCOURAGEMENT CARD:

For the encouragement card I used the sentiment: hugs, Sending Love which utilized elements from Easy Die Cutting and Let It Shine.  The sentiment was layered on the Linear Die cut out of Navy Shimmer cardstock.  The colors I chose Navy, Gold and Green and this was an element pointed out by the For the Guys class - for each card I used what I felt were masculine colors.

For the fun colorful element of this card I used alcohol inks on vellum.  Mounted the vellum on double sided adhesive in order to stick it to the white cardstock and not be able to visualize the adhesive behind the vellum.  Both of the sentiments were mounted on foam tape for additional dimension.

I think this card also has elements from the Clean and Simple class utilizing just a few colors and leaving plenty of white space.





THINKING OF YOU
I used the Boho Arrow set for this card.  The first step was to revisit my Creative Watercoloring class and begin to wet some watercolor paper and start dropping color in with watercolor paints and Lindy's Magicals.  I kept layering the colors until I achieved a look I was happy with.  Once the panel dried, I heat embossed the image in black.  Then I took the same colors that I had layered onto the panel and watercolored in the "feather images". I used a Wink of Stella glitter pen to color in the baubles.  The finishing touches for this card was to heat emboss the sentiment and add some black rhinestones I found in my stash. 
I do like how the watercolored panel turned out.  Love the colors.


ANNIVERSARY CARD
This is actually my FAVORITE card that I created for this final.  I definitely think this card counts as a With a Twist.  When I first saw this stamp set in someone's reel and I thought - OOOH I would like to see that tree stamp set.  Imagine my surprise when I realized it was the Boho Arrow set.   To me this looked exactly like a tree line path in a park and so that is the scene I created for this card.   Again, I used green and gold for my masculine colors and gold embossing for my Let It Shine technique.  The background of the green layer is embossed using Deck Planks embossing folder.  The sentiments and the image were stamped in Versamark and embossed in gold.  In order to retain the "walk in the park" look I trimmed the edges off of the arrow image.  Then using the Altenew
watercolor markers I colored the trees and lamps in.  I used a little gold metallic paint to create a little halo of light around the lamps.

I used a strip of cardstock that I had trimmed off of a card in a class I took.  It was embossed with the Angled Mosaic folder and then gilded with metallic flakes.  I think it was the perfect touch.  All the layers were mounted onto gold cardstock and then onto the dark green card base.

This wraps up AECP Level 2.  IF/WHEN these are approved then I can move on to Level 3 with the ultimate goal of finishing and becoming an Altenew Educator.

Please leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite.

Thanks.

Affiliate links below for the products I used are provided for you at no cost to you. 





















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