Altenew Educator Certification Program – Level Two Challenge

First, I would like to share with you all of the supplies you will need to complete this project. I used the Positive Vibes and Floral Frame stamp sets.  I only used sentiments from the Floral Frame set.  The inks I used are from the Rock Collection family:  Limestone, Silver Stone, and Pure Graphite and from the Green Fields family:  Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades.  I also used the Limestone re-inker to color my Embossing Paste.  I used the Trellis stencil with dry embossing, ink blending, and embossing paste. I used the Antique Silver metallic spray and Rock Collection enamel dots to add delicate embellishment. 

For this first card, I used one of my trellis embossed backgrounds.  First I splattered the background with the Antique Silver metallic spray by applying a small amount to a stamp block and tapping a paintbrush onto the block.  That will give you small sprays onto your card front. If you add a lot of the spray to your brush you can get bigger splatters.  For this card, I really wanted a light splatter. I stamped and die-cut one of the images and applied the image to the card using foam tape.  Just using foam tape gives you dimension and can change the look of the card.  I used enamel dots from the rock collection family and stamped “Hello” in Pure Graphite ink.  The Rock Collection family has become one of my absolute favorites and a go-to for me.  It works for both masculine and feminine cards.  

Anniversary

I used my second dry embossed card front for this card.   I used the die to cut the front panel of the card.  Once the front was die-cut I used more of the metallic spray to splatter onto the card front.  I stamped the sentiment “With Love” using Pure Graphite ink.  I added my enamel dots before covering the back of the panel with foam tape.  I then inlaid my floral die-cut in the space I previously cut.  I absolutely love the look of inlaid die-cutting.  It adds so much to a card and is such a simple technique. 

Encouragement

When making cards with the same stencil, I find it crucial to plan how you are going to use the stencil.  For this set of cards, I started with the dry embossing, went to ink blending, and finally the embossing paste.  By doing it in this order, I don’t have to worry about cleaning your stencil in between cards. 

This card I started by laying my stencil onto my card front and taping the sides.  I like to tape the back of the cardstock.  That way you don’t have to worry about lines on your card front.  I then used the AMAZING Altenew Blending Brush (Large) to blend on Limestone ink.  This also is at the top of my favorite inks list.   I then splattered the Antique Silver metallic spray onto the front.  I used the outline stamped in Pure Graphite as my main image.  I then chose an encouraging sentiment from the Positive Vibes set.  I chose three of the Pure Graphite enameld dots to embellish my card front.  

This card I used the trellis stencil with embossing paste colored with the Limestone re-inker.  I wish I had not used so much paste and had more of a distressed look to this card.  In the end, I was still super happy with the outcome. I added tiny splatters of Antique Silver onto the card front.  This card was not one that was needed, so it is a “bonus” card.  Who doesn’t need a “Thank You” card?  I stamped, die-cut the floral image and then applied foam tape to the back.  I used some more of the Rock Collection enamel dots and stamped my sentiment with Pure Graphite.   I really like the look of staming on the embossing paste.  I feel it added to the distressed look.  

Birthday

For my final card I created a birthday card.  I wanted to show you don’t need to have “Happy Birthday” to use it as a birthday card.  Look at your stamps in a new way and see how you can stretch your sentiments.  I love the simplicity of this card.  The floral image takes center stage!  I stamped the floral image onto the cardstock.  Since it was stamped directly onto the paper, I cut a mask from printer paper to place over my image while I used my Antique Silver spray to add delicate splatters.  I then stamped my sentiment in Pure Graphite ink and finished my card with Rock Collection enamel dots. 

I really wanted to create a beautiful way to package my cards.  I decided to use a muslin bag.  The bags are 5×7.  I do wish I had ordered them in 8×10 size.  I was not able to fit the envelopes into the bag with my cards.  In this case I would put the cards in one and the envelopes in another bag.  They could be tied together with a piece of twine to create the perfect gift.  

I was super happy with how the inks worked on the muslin bags.  I did not see any stippling of the inks on the fabric.  In a later photo you will see a little stippling, however, this came from me ironing the bag.  Make sure if you are going to recreate this project to iron your bags before you stamp.  I used the same floral image from Positive Vibes in the same inks so the cards and bags coordinated well.  

For one final touch, I added the outline of the floral image to the envelope.  I was going to use Pure Graphite, but decided to go with Limestone to make it easier to write over when using your envelope.

Components from Altenew Academy Classes: 

Thinking of You:  (Hello) All About Layering, Clean & Simple Boutique Cards, For The Guys, Celebration – Stencil Techniques and Color Your Day

(Thank You):  All About Layering, Clean & Simple Boutique Cards, For The Guys, Celebration – Stencil Techniques

Anniversary:  All About Layering, Clean & Simple Boutique Cards, For The Guys, Celebration – Stencil Techniques, Color Your Day, and Beyond Basic Backgrounds

Encouragement: Clean & Simple Boutique Cards, For The Guys, Celebration – Stencil Techniques, Easy Ink Blending, and Polychromatic (Monochromatic)

Birthday:  All About Layering, Clean & Simple Boutique Cards, For The Guys, and Color Your Day

I thought of including the class Let It Shine, but I didn’t feel they were shiny enough!  Even though I used the Antique Silver Metallic Spray, it didn’t give off any shimmer and shine in the tiny splatters I used.  

I have a problem when creativity strikes with stopping!  I’m sure many of you can relate to this problem.  Here is the second set of cards I created.  I wanted to show you the difference inks can make.  The other supplies were all the same, just used Red Cosmos instead of Rock Collection. There is also one other difference, the Thank You card in this set is a shaker!

Altered Project

I really wanted to make a project to decorate my office that had pictures of my husband.  I love looking at him, but that is a different conversation for another day!  I started with four wood blanks my step-father was kind enough to cut down for me.  He cut them down to 4×4 with rounded corners.  We had some scrap wood in the shed and I hated to see it go to waste.  

The first step was to prepare the surface with gesso.  

Once the gesso had dried, I moved onto painting the squares.  I used by Summer Haze satin paint by Martha Stewart.  I’m not sure if it is still available because I purchased it on clearance years ago. 

The next step is the best step!  Start altering!!  For this I finally pulled out my beautiful Altenew Mixed Media inks in Red Cosmos and Green Fields color families.