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. 

• Ink Blending Brush - Large
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• Mini Delight: Mini Pattern Power Stamp & Die Set
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• Obsidian Pigment Ink
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• Angled Mosaic 3D Embossing Folder
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• Boho Arrow
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• Linear Crossroads Die
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• Sweet Sentiments Die Set
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• Sweet Sentiments Hot Foil Plate Set
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• Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder
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• Essential Sentiments Die Set
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• Essential Sentiments Hot Foil Plate
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• Double-sided Adhesive Sheets (10 sheets/set)
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• Deck Planks 3D Embossing Folder
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• Sequins - Antique Gold
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• Spring & Summer Watercolor Marker Bundle
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