AECP - With A Twist

For this card I did some stamping and some heat embossing.  I loved this technique that was taught in my With A Twist class at the Altenew Academy.  I'm trying to get my Level 2 done but life has gotten in the way so many times over this past year.  Hopefully, things have calmed down enough I can devote time to my classes.

First, I stamped the images from the Wild Ferns stamp set onto light green cardstock using Highland Heather ink.  Then, I stamped the next layer in VersaMark and heart embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. I added the embossed layer to cardstock that matched the color ink, placed my sentiments over a background of Vellum and attached it to the card front.  For the finishing touch, I added a couple of rhinestones.

Stamp(s):  Wild Ferns (Altenew); Simple Strips-Friendship (Taylored Expressions)
Ink(s):  Jet Black (Altenew); Highland Heather (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock:  Highland Heather, Soft Sea Foam, Vellum, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Dies:  Simple Strips Die (Taylored Expressions)
Other:  Rhinestone Gems

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

AECP - Yellow is the Color for Roses

Yellow roses were my mother's favorite so I made a trio of pretty yellow roses for this lesson in the In the Mood for Color class.  I kept the design very simple.

Each rose was stamped using a different combination of yellow.  I stamped each outline using Jet Black ink.  I masked the one rose so I could put two of them close together. 

After completing the panel with the roses, I cut a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock to fit behind and clued the two together.  It gave a little bit of color to the card but kept the focus on the flowers.

The sentiment is from the Simple Flowers stamp set from Altenew.  For the finishing touch, I stamped the little dotted image all the front.  I decided not to add any other embellishments.

Stamp(s):  Bold Blossom, Simple Flowers (Altenew); Everything Is Rosy (Stampin' Up!)
Ink(s):  Butter Cream, Citrus Burst, Fresh Lemon, Maple Yellow, Honey Drizzle, Caramel Truffle, Jet Black (Altenew)
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss (Stampin' Up!)

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

AECP - The Color Red

Over the next few days, I'm going to be sharing with you all the cards I've made for my Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 2 classes.  I've had a fun week learning more about color and different ways to use it.

Today's color was red so I combined Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink with Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink.  I used the Leaf Canopy stamp set from Altenew and this is the end result.

I stamped the solid leaf image onto Mixed Media Paper using Candied Apple distress oxide ink and spritzed it with water.  Then, once dry, I stamped the outline leaf image on the solid image using Fired Brick distress oxide ink.

Stamp(s):  Leaf Canopy (Altenew)
Distress Oxide Ink(s):  Candied Apple, Fired Brick
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)
Other:  Arctic White Ultra-Fine Embossing Powder; Clear Raindrops (Studio Katia)

For the sentiment, I white embossed it on black and added it to the center between the leaf branches.  For the finishing touch, I added some clear raindrops.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

AECP Beyond Basic Backgrounds Lesson 5

This was such a fun technique to use to make this background.  Lydia called it water bleaching and I love the look you create.  Using my blending brushes to apply the different ink colors, I used one of the layers in the Build-A-Flower:  Hyacinth stamp set to make the pattern.  I sponged water on the stamp and pressed it down on the watercolor paper and continued to do so all over the paper.  You can see where the water lifted the ink off the paper and left a subtle image behind.

The Distress Oxide inks I used for the background are Candied Apple, Worn Lipstick and Wild Honey.  It sure makes that thinking of you cut from Blackberry Bliss cardstock really stand out.  I make a lot of thinking of you cards and I really like this die from Altenew.  For the finishing touch, I added some rhinestones.

When looking for a challenge to join, I came across the Just Us Girls Challenge and it was a perfect match.  If you'd like to join the challenge, click the image below. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

AECP - Beyond Basic Backgrounds Lesson 3

This lesson was all about foiling without a laminator.  Last week I spend some time creating different backgrounds and this leafy background is one of them.  It was perfect to add a frame of foil to and it qualifies for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge..

This way of foiling is done using Sticky Strip.  I added the sticky strips around the card, then laid the foil onto and carefully rubbed it so the foil would adhere to the sticky strip.  It is an easy way to add foil to your projects. 

The technique of adding foil accents using bonding powder was the one I wanted to share but, alas, I didn't have any bonding powder so it's on order and once it arrives, I'll share a project using it to add the foil.

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Altenw Educator Certification Program Level 2

The next lesson in the Beyond Basic Backgrounds class is all about Perfect Spacing.  Lydia showed an easy way to make a grid on your cardstock to get just the right spacing.  Using that technique and Altenew's Simple Flowers stamp set, this is the background I came up with for this masculine birthday card.

This was such a fun card to make.  Next time I make a background like it again, I'll be sure to share more photos with you.  A visual of how I made the background.  I took time out from making wedding invitations for my granddaughter to get this one done and now I have to get busy again.  I've only got a little over a week to finish them up and I only have 320 hearts to cut out.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 2

Today I'm sharing a card made for the next level of my certification process in the Altenew Educator Certification Program.  The first lesson from the Beyond Basic Backgrounds was how to make your own DIY stencil.  I really enjoyed this technique.

I used the Build-A-Flower:  Poppy stamp and die set.  I cut out several images then, placed the stencil on my card base and sponged some color on it.  After adding color, I heated embossed the outline layer in white.  Using the cutouts from the stencil I made as masks, I added some spatters of color to break up the white of the card base.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and was heated embossed in white and color sponged over it.  The inks I used are from the Lapis Lazuli set and they are Iceberg, Eastern Sky, Ultramarine and Azurite.  They are a wonderful set of blues.

I added a layer of vellum under the sentiment.  For the finishing touch, I added a few silver sequins.

I had planned to add more photos of my work in progress but due to technical difficulties, that just did not happen.  Hopefully, when I share my next class project, I'll have better luck.

Thanks for visiting today.  I look forward to seeing you again at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha

Irresistible Inking Techniques Class with Altenew

It has been a fun, busy week working on my classes for my Level 1 Altenew Educator Certification.  Today I'm sharing the card I made for the last class of Level 1.  It's all about Irresistible Inking Techniques.  I used the ink block stamping technique for the background for the primrose.

To start, I covered my clear block with Vanilla Cream ink, spritzed it with water and stamped it on white cardstock.  The block is scalloped so I cut around the scallops so as to frame the flower.  Then, I stamped the flower from the Delicate Primrose stamp set by Altenew using black ink.  As I didn't use watercolor paper, I had to limit the amount of water I used to color the image.  The flower is done with Coral Berry and the leaves are Forest Glades.

After masking the flower and leaves, I added some splatters around the image.  For the finishing touch I add a few pink enamel dots.

Thanks for visiting today.  I look forward to seeing you again at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha   

Easy Die Cutting Techniques Class with Altenew

Here I am again today sharing a card I made for an assignment Altenew Educator Certification Program.  This class was Easy Die Cutting Techniques.

The products used for today's card are the Simple Flowers stamp and die sets from Altenew.  The inks used for the flowers are Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch and Pool Party by Stampin' Up!  For the leaves and flower stems I used Firefly from Altenew and Soft Suede from Stampin' Up!

First I stamped the flower then cut them out.  I added the stems before die-cutting.  The white layer was then embossed using the Subtle Dynamic Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up!  I attached it to the turquoise card base and added the flowers back to the spots where they were cut.  I used foam tape to pop them up.  The leaves where stamped and die-cut them glued down to the embossed layer.

The sentiment was heat embossed using Black Embossing Powder and added to the front using foam tape.  For the finishing touch, I added some Crystal Clear Droplets.

Here is a close up that shows off the embossing done with the Subtle  Embossing Folder.  It gives just a hint of texture.

Thanks for visiting today.  I look forward to seeing you again at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha 

AECP Celebrations: Stencil Techniques

Today finds me sharing a card I made for one of my classes in the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  With all that has happened in the past six months, I had to take a short break from classes.  Now that I'm mostly settled into my new home, it's time to get back to it.  This card was for the Celebrations:  Stencil Techniques class.

I started with a piece of black cardstock and used modeling paste and the Wavy Grid Stencil from Altenew to make the background.  Once the paste had dried, I added all the pretty flowers.  They were stamped and die-cut using the Delicate Primrose stamp set and dies.  All the product I used is listed below the photo.

Stamp Sets:  Delicate Primrose, Build-A-Flower:  Poppy - sentiment (Altenew)

Inks:  Frosty Pink, Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Buttercream, Fresh Lemon, Maple Yellow, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Soft Lilac, Deep Iris, Midnight Violet, Firefly, Grass Field, Shadow Creek, Jet Black (Altenew); VersaMark

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube, Oreo (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Delicate Primrose Die (Altenew)

Other:  Wavy Grid Stencil (Altenew); Light Modeling Paste (Liquitex); White Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Thanks for visiting today and I look forward to seeing you again soon at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha

AECP - Let It Shine

As promised, I'm back today to share the card I made for my Let It Shine class in the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  I love adding shine and sparkle to my cards.  For this design I used heat embossing and shimmer pen to add the shine.

For my flower image, I stamped the image from the Mother's Love stamp set from Altenew onto a piece of watercolor paper and stamped it with VersaMark.  I covered it with Copper embossing powder and heat set it.  It made a pretty outline for the water-coloring.  The colors I used to watercolor the image and background are Persian Blue and Coral Berry inks from Altenew.  I think they look so pretty together.  Then, I die cut it using the Labels Collection Framelits Dies by Stampin' Up!

To finish the card, I a 1" strip of Scor-Tape down the left side of a piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock.  After I peeled the protective layer off, I added Enchanted Gold Embossing Powder by Ranger and set it with the heat tool.  I attached it to a card base of Sugar Cube cardstock using Art Glitter Glue.  The patterned paper and second piece of Elegant Eggplant were both cut using the Labels Collection Framelits Dies.  To the Elegant Eggplant label I went around the edge with a Clear Wink of Stella Brush which gave it a very nice shimmer.  For the finishing touch, I added three Pearl Basic Jewels from Stampin' Up!

At first, I wasn't going to add a sentiment but decided that I couldn't have too many birthday cards, right?  I used a sentiment from the Another Year Older stamp set from Taylored Expressions.

And, that, as they say, is that.  Well, at least for today.  Thanks for visiting today and I look forward to seeing you again soon at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha

AECP - For The Guys

Today I'm back to share the card I made for my For The Guys class in the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  I loved the city skyline silhouette that the instructor did using the Galaxy Technique.  So, this is somewhat of a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of her card.  I used a different cityline and insted of gold foil, I used copper foil cardstock.  I've not done may galaxies.  I think this is like my third one and it's by far, the best one I've done.  It was fun create and I'm still cleaning up little flecks of white from my crafting area.  I did get a wee bit messy.

I didn't have a stamp or die of a city skyline so, I found a free image online, printed it onto white cardstock and traced it onto the back of the galaxy background and did some fussy cutting.  I love the way it turned out.  I didn't add a sentiment, as I'm not sure what occasion I'll use it for but sometimes I don't add one and just write a note or stamp one on the inside of the card.

Inks:  Maple Yellow, Persian Blue (Altenew)

Distress Oxide Inks:  Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Fired Brick, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions); Copper Foil (Stampin' Up!)

Other:  Picket Fence Distress Paint (Tim Holtz)

Tomorrow I'll share my next class project with you.  Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe.

Marsha

AECP - Easy Ink Blending Techniques

Today finds me sharing another card I made for my Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  This one was all about Easy Ink Blending Techniques.  While I have done my share of ink blending, it was nice to go back over and to get some fresh perspective on blending.

The Build-A-Flower: Cattleya stamp set from Altenew is quickly becoming a favorite.  These orchids are so lovely.  To start, I took a piece of Taylored Expressions Sugar Cube cardstock cut to 4-1/4" by 5-1/2" and blended Altenew Buttercream ink around the edges leaving an oval in the center.  Next, I stamped my sentiment from the Colorful Seasons stamp set by Stampin' Up! in Jet Black ink.  I added a few splatters before adding my flowers.

Then, it was on to making those beautiful orchids.  I used the blues from Altenew's Secret Garden set of mini ink cubes for the flowers.  The leaves were done using Altenew's green mini ink cubes from the Floral Ink Set.  I didn't have a darker green in Altenew colors so used Garden Green from Stampin' Up!  For the flower centers I used Altenew's Buttercream ink.from the Sunflower Field mini cube ink set.  Once stamped, I cut them out using the Build-A-Flower: Cattleya Die.  I attached them directly to the card front rather than adding dimension.  This layer was attached to an A2 card base that measures 4-1/4" by 5-1/2".  The finishing touch was adding a few sequins.  I love how those orchids pop against that pretty yellow.

Stamp Sets:  Build-A-Flower: Cattleya (Altenew); Colorful Seasons - sentiment (Stampin' Up!)

Inks:  Buttercream, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Frayed Leaf Forest Glades, Jet Black, Maple Yellow (Altenew); Garden Green (Stampin' Up!)

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Build-A-Flower: Cattleya Die (Altenew)

Other:  Sequins

Now it's on to my next class.  Hope you all have a grand day,

Marsha

Altenew Educator Certification Program - All About Layering 2

Today I'm back with another card I made for my second class in the Altenew Educator Certification Program.  This time I used the Bold Blossom by Altenew stamp set.  It's a very pretty rose stamp set with coordinating dies.  It's one of my favorites.

After stamping and cutting the rose and leaves out, I placed the images on the card where I wanted them and used some post-it tape to hold it all together.  That way I could lift the whole thing without it falling apart.  I glued the bits and pieces together on the backside and added foam tape to pop it up.  Before replacing it, I took some Jet Black ink, added a little water and did a wee bit of splattering to the layer.  I must admit that I nearly forgot a sentiment but pulled this one out of the drawer and heat embossed it using black embossing powder.

It's basically another clean and simple card but I tend to go that way when I'm making my cards.  To the Mint Macron card base, I added a layer of Mossy Meadow cardstock and placed the stamped layer on top of that.  I really like the lighter card base and I think the bit of dark green makes that top layer stand out much better.

Stamp Sets:  Bold Blossom (Altenew); Secret Garden Collage - sentiment (TPC Studio)

Ink:  Jet Black (Altenew); VersaMark

Distress Ink:  Crushed Olive (Tim Holtz)

Distress Oxide Inks:  Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Frayed Burlap, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Mint Macaron, Mossy Meadow (Stampin' Up!); Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Dies:  Bold Blossom Die (Altenew)

Other:  Black Embossing Powder (Ranger); Jewels

Now it's on to my next class.  Stay tuned as I'll share that class project with you when it's all done.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Altenew Educator Certification Program - All About Layering 1

Exciting news to share!  Recently I applied for and was accepted into the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP).  I'm looking forward to learning more about my craft from all the great instructors teaching these classes.

The first class I took is the All About Layering 1 Class.  It gave many good points on how to layer with the Altenew stamps.  For my card, I used the Build-A-Flower:  Morning Glory Stamp and Die set.  These sets are wonderful as they come with the stamp and the die.  It was the first time I've used the Altenew Crisp Dye Inks and I love them!  As you can see, the colors are vivid and cover well.

The card is a very simple one as it is all about stamping the various layers of the morning glory images.  To the card base I added a layer of black cardstock and placed my stamped layer on top of that.   

Stamp Sets:  Build-A-Flower:  Morning Glory, Painted Encouragement (Altenew)

Inks:  Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Sweet Leaf, Just Green, Jet Black (Altenew)

Cardstock:  Oreo, Sugar Cube (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Clear Wink of Stella Brush

In future, I'll be sharing more of the cards I make for the various classes I'm taking for certification.  I can't wait to share them all with you.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha