Hello. Today my blog post is my level 1 challenge for the Altenew Educator Certification Programme.
The specifications for the challenge were to design and make a his and her gift set of cards, with a gift box. The set should include one recycle element somewhere within the designs. There should be three components from the level 1 classes covered so far.
I decided to go for a theme of encouragement and appreciation. The three class components I focused on were
Let it shine – Adding shine to projects. Each card has some shine added to it. I made sure the shine on the masculine cards was more subtle than the feminine cards. I used a variety of mediums, gold ink, gold watercolour paint, metalic cardstock, glittercard, liquid pearls and sequins.
Irresistible inking – Stretching the use of ink pads. I love ink especially ink blending but this class made me use my inks in a different way.
Celebration stencil techniques – Getting the most out of stencils. I love stencils and was keen to add them to a majoriry of the cards I made.
As I created the cards I wanted to stay true to my style. Colouring, bright colours and inking are all important parts of the projects I created.
For the first two cards in the collection I used the Altenew stamp set wallpaper art. For the first card I painted the image using Altenew inks Forest Glade, Sea Breeze and Lavender Fields. I stamped the images on to Strathmore Bristol smooth card using Versafine black ink. I first stamped the flower, then masked it with masking paper and stamped over the top with the leaves. This gives a one layer card image. The image at the forefront needs to be stamped first. Once the ink was dry I watercoloured the image using the inks. I die cut the panel with a Heffy doodle stitched rectangle. I then added splatters to the background using the same inks and along with some gold. I selected the sentiment from the Altenew stamp set heartfelt sentiments. I used Altenew obsidian pigment ink to stamp then added some sequins for some extra sparkle and shine.
For the next card I stamped out the large floral image using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then fussy cut it out. I stamped the Altenew wood pallet background stamp on to a piece of white card using Tea Dye Distress Oxide ink. I then stamped the leaf images over the top using Altenew Forest Glade ink. I die cut the panel from this, using a stitched rectangle die from Heffy Doodle. I stamped the sentiment and banner which are also from the wood pallet stamp set in Altenew obsidian pigment ink. I attached the flower to the centre of the leaves using foam tape. I layered the panel on to a piece of purple cardstock and attached this to a white card base. I added some sequins from little things by Lucy’s cards for some sparkle.
To make this Thank You card I stamped out the images from the Altenew Perfectly Perfect stamp set using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then fussy cut them out. I took the Altenew feeling dotty stencil and used Altenew frayed leaf ink to blend up from a darker to a lighter shade. Using a blending brush use less pressure to give a lighter shade of one ink colour. I selected the sentiment from the Altenew stamp set Heartfelt Sentiments. I used Altenew obsidian pigment ink to stamp then added some white opal liquid pearls for some shine and cut a small strip of silver glitter card and adhered it to the bottom of the card.
For my next card I stamped out the images using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then fussy cut them out. I took the Altenew leaf burst stencil and used Altenew frayed leaf ink to blend up from a darker to a lighter shade near the edges. I added a little Mustard Seed Distress Oxide ink to the centre of the stencil for some contrast. I stamped the sentiment in Altenew Antique Gold pigment ink. This one is from the Focus On You Altenew set. I then went around the edges of the card in the same ink, rubbing the ink pad directly at an angle along the card. I added some sequins from little things by Lucy’s cards for some sparkle.
I love how the next card turned out. To create the background I used Distress Oxide inks in Dusty Concord and Picked Raspberry to blend inks from the edges to the centre of the card. I then took the feeling dotty stencil and blended over the top in the same colours each time leaving the centre of the card very light. Next I took some vellum and stamped the flower and leaf images from the Perfectly Perfect stamp set on the vellum using Wow embossing pad. I then covered the area in gold embossing powder and heat set with my heat gun. Once cooled I fussy cut the images. To adhere the to the card I run the images through my Xyron sticker maker and stuck them to the centre of the card. Again I stamped the sentiments in Antique Gold ink. I then went around the edges of the card in the same ink.
The next card is a bright rainbow of colour! I stamped out the images using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then cut them out using my scan n cut machine. I took the Altenew Watercolor Stripes stencil and blended on to my card using Distress Oxide inks working in a rainbow order. I added a black strip of card for the sentiment, which I white heat embossed. I adhered the images to the centre and added some sequins for sparkle.
I have a Thank You card up next. I used images from the Altenew Garden grow stamp set. I stamped out the images using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then cut them out using my scan n cut machine. I used the watercolor stripes stencil for the background. With a blending brush I added Altenew ink in Sea Breeze and Forest glade. Keeping the focus on the images I simply adhered them to the background, stamped the sentiment and added some white opal liquid pearls for some shine
For this card I stamped out the images using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then cut them out using my scan n cut machine. I took the Altenew feeling dotty stencil and used Altenew Tide Blue ink to blend up from a darker to a lighter shade.
I adhered the images towards the bottom of the card and added a strip of glitter card. To finish the card and add a more masculine feel i added some blue twine to the top of the card.
For this simple poppy card I used an Altenew gift set I got with a card making magazine. It is a layering set. I stamped the layers using Altenew inks Turquoise and Starlight for the blues and Frayed leaf for the leaves, along with Jet Black for the lines. To add shine I added the gold edging and gold splatters to the background.
To make the Fathers Day card I used the Garden Grow stamp set. I stamped out the images using Memento Tuxedo black ink on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and coloured them using Copic markers. I then cut the out using my scan n cut machine. Next I worked on the background, I stamped the Altenew wood pallet background stamp on to a piece of white card using Tea Dye Distress Oxide ink. I die cut a panel from this using a stitched rectangle die from Heffy Doodle and stamped the sentiment which is from the Altenew stamp set best Dad in Altenew black obsidian pigment ink. I adhered the imaged to the panel and used a Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen to the tools. I layered the panel on to a piece of gold cardstock and attached this to a white card base.
I recently watched a video by the inspirational Kristina Werner click here to see her video which inspired this card. I blended Salty Ocean and Dusty Concord Distress Oxide inks on to the background using a blending brush, then used stamps from the Altenew stamp set Perfectly Perfect to stamp in the same inks. I used my Misti stamping platform as the images needed double stamping to show up well. I inked half the stamp in one colour then did the same for the rest of the stamp, making sure to follow the similar colouring of the background ink I used Altenew inks Tide Blue and Deep Iris. To add shine I stamped the sentiment in Altenew Antique Gold pigment ink. I then went around the edges of the card in the same ink, rubbing the ink pad directly at an angle along the card. The further you tilt the pad, the deeper the line will become.
The lead burst card is simple and easy to make. The shine takes centre stage. To make this card I took the leaf burst stencil and attached it to a piece of white cardstock. I then covered the stencil with deco foil transfer gel using a palette knife and removed the stencil I then left it to dry for an hour. Once dry I placed a piece of deco foil over the stenciled area and placed it inside a piece of baking paper. I then run it through my laminater. Next I peeled away the foil to reveal the leaf pattern. I simply added a sentiment which I white heat embossed on to a strip of black card and then used a black pen to draw a double black border around the edge of the card.
The gift box was the area I focused on the recycle element. I took an old game box, covered it in some paper I had in my stash. Sticking the box to the back side of the paper and carefully cutting and sticking it using double sided tape which is nice and strong.
I then made a card front for the top which tied in with the cards in the set, adding shine and a large coloured floral image. I have never created a gift box before and am really happy with how it turned out.
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you like the cards. Take care for now.
Katrina
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