Tuesday, May 25, 2021

AECP - Easy Ink Blending

 Hello!!

Today I'm sharing some cards that I made for the Altenew Easy Ink Blending Class.  This class is a great introduction into ink blending and gives great tips for improving your ink blending technique.

Ink Resist:

My first card includes an ink resist.  The stamped image is heat embossed and then ink blending was done over the image.  I used the Altenew Paint-A-Flower Sunflower Stamp Set and heat embossed it in white onto some smooth white cardstock.  Fuchsia Dye Ink was blended over the sunflower image before I die cut it using an oval die from my stash.  I also die cut the same oval from white cardstock two more times and glued the layers together to add dimension.

 

To create a background with a little extra interest I trimmed down a piece of black cardstock to 4 x 5/14 and heat embossed the branch image from the Mini Branch stamp set.  I used Altenew Crystal Clear Embossing powder to create a tone on tone effect. I adhered my sunflowers onto the panel and then adhered both onto a pink cardbase. 


 

My sentiment is the Fancy Hello Die and it was the finishing touch to my card.  I created an ombre effect by ink blending some fuchsia ink onto the white cardstock die cut and used a lighter hand as I blended upwards.  My sentiment was initially feeling lost on the floral image.  I die cut two small branches from the Branches and Berries Die Set and adhered them to the back of the "Hello".  The addition of the branches helped it stand out a bit more.


 

Faux Watercoloring:

I think this second card is my favorite one! I just love how it came out.

I actually started with the background panel on this one.  I used the Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die.  This die is really cool because it doesn't cut the cardstock but debosses the swirl design onto it.  I then ink blended Fuchsia Ink (are you sensing a theme with the fuchsia?? LoL) onto the panel focusing on the outer edges.  The dotted design kind of soaks up the ink and it creates a very cool effect.


 

Next I stamped two of the images from the Perfectly Perfect Stamp Set with a permanent black ink.  I softly ink blended the flower images using Fuchsia and Baby Pink Dye Ink and the leaves in Shadow Creek.  I then used the same colors as well as some Chamomile Ink to add some dimension to my florals by creating a watercolor effect.  I adhered my flowers with foam squares.


 

The sentiments were heat embossed in white onto black cardstock and die cut using the Featured Sentiments Die Set.  The sentiments are from the stamp set and were adhered with liquid glue.  To finish I adhered the panel to a black cardbase.


 

I really love how both cards came out but the second is my favorite for sure!

Thank you so much for coming by today.  Remember to check out the Easy Ink Blending Class on the Altenew Website if you need help with your ink blending.

Jen





Friday, May 21, 2021

Pinkfresh Studio - Folk Hummingbird

 Hello friends!

Bird images have been very popular lately in the cardmaking world!  So I decided to pick up the Pinkfresh Studio Folk Hummingbird Stamp Set and make my own bird card.



I started out by stamping the bird and large floral cluster in Versamark Ink and heat embossing them in gold embossing powder.  I used a smooth white cardstock.  I colored the images using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and then fussy cut everything out. 

I wanted to create a soft background for my card.  I began by ink blending Ballet Slippers and Soft Lilac onto smooth white cardstock.  I focused the ballet slippers on the top and bottom and the soft lilac toward the middle.  I die cut the panel with the Folk Dance Die and adhered it to a white cardbase.


 

For my sentiment I heat embossed the "Good Vibes" from the stamp set.  I used a gold embossing powder.  I die cut the sentiment with a scalloped circle die from my stash and backed it with a slightly larger circle cut from gold mirror cardstock.

To assemble my card I adhered my images with foam squares and then added my sentiment with liquid glue.  The finishing touch was some of my favorite jewels!


 

I hope you enjoyed my lovely bird card!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog! 

Jen



Wednesday, May 19, 2021

AECP - Easy Die Cutting Techniques

 

 Hello Friends!

I hope your week is starting off nicely! Are you ready for another set of cards from my fun Altenew Educators Certification Program (AECP) journey?? 

I'm excited to share two cards today that were inspired by a fun Altenew Class called "Easy Die Cutting Techniques".  This class is taught by the lovely Yana Smakula!! She's so talented and it was really fun to learn from such a well known crafter in the industry!

Negative Die Cutting:

My first card is a clean and simple design! I started out by cutting some different shades of pink and yellow cardstock from stash into 1/4 inch strips.  I adhered the strips in a pattern onto some white copy paper  (cut to 4 1/2 x 5 1/2) in a diagonal fashion.  Once the panel was covered I trimmed off the over hanging strips and trimmed the whole panel down to 4 x 5 1/4.  The colorful eye candy of a panel was adhered to a pink cardbase.



 

Next, I trimmed a piece of pink cardstock down to 3 1/2 by 5 1/4.  I took one one of the solid flower dies from the Craft-a-Flower Cistus Set and die cut it twice from my pink panel.  This panel was adhered to the striped background with foam squares. 

I next ink blended sunray, snapdragon, pink pearl and coral bliss dye ink onto some white smooth cardstock.  I used this panel to die cut some of the small flower shapes from the Cistus Set (actually part of the larger cistus but kind of looked like a daisy to me) and also stamped my sentiment onto it.  I used the Featured Sentiments Die Set to cut out my sentiment before adhering it to my card with foam squares.  I finished up my card by adhering the small flowers and adhering a pink rhinestone to each center.

Using a Die Cut as a Stencil:

For my second card I started out by die cutting the Stacked Diamonds Cover Die from some thick white cardstock.  I used the die to softly ink blend a portion of the design onto some smooth white cardstock.  I used the color pale mauve.  I also used a stitched rectangle die to die cut the panel.  



 

Next, I stamped the Mini Delight - Bold Bloom Stamp Set in a black safe for alcohol markers ink.  I used my purple wine, rose quartz, puffy heart, mountain mist, and volcano lake markers to color the images.  I used the coordinating die to cut out the flower clusters and adhered them to my ink blended panel with liquid glue.

I wanted to pull in more of the Stacked Diamond Design so I die cut the cover panel again from silver mirror cardstock.  I cut a portion of the die cut and adhered it to a purple cardbase.  

I used some craft foam and double sided tape to pop up my ink blended panel onto my cardbase.  Lastly, I stamped a sentiment from the Sweet Flowers Stamp Set onto some purple cardstock with Obsidian Black Ink.  The sentiment was die cut from a small stitched rectangle die from my stash and adhered with foam squares.  For a little sparkle I added some crystal sequins.

I hope you enjoyed today's cards! Remember if any of these classes interest you they are open to anyone not just AECP Participants!  Go to the Altenew Website for more information.

Thanks again!

Jen




Friday, May 14, 2021

AECP - All About Layering 2

 Hello and thank you for stopping by today!

I recently finished up another class for the Altenew Educators Certification Program (AECP). The class is called All About Layering 2 and it teaches you even more tips and tricks about Altenew layering stamps.

Today I have 3 cards to share with you.  The first card features the Altenew Build-A-Flower: Coneflower Layering Stamp Set.

 

I am sucker for anything daisy so I was really drawn to this set.  I stamped out both flower images starting with the outline images using Milk Chocolate Ink.  The layers were stamped using the Shades of Purple Ink family (the first 3 shades), Almond Butter, Hazelnut, Grass Fields and Mountain Pine ink.  I used the coordinating dies to cut out the flowers.

My background panel was created by embossing the large flower die over a white cardstock sheet cut to 4 x 5 1/4 and ink blending it with Soft Lilac ink.  I stamped the sentiment "Your Kindness warms my heart" with Deep Iris ink onto white cardstock and back it with a piece of silver mirror cardstock.

I adhered my background with some strong double sided tape onto a white cardbase after wrapping the lowest portion with piece of ribbon from my stash.  I adhered my sentiment with the same tape and my flowers were adhered with liquid glue and foam squares.  The card was finished with some glitter glue on the cones of the flowers.

Next up is the Dream Big Stamp Set. 




 

This set features a sweet little butterfly image.  I started by stamping out the butterfly with a black ink from stash. I then stamped the layers of the butterfly wings with Marigold and Chamomile Ink before cutting it out with the coordinating die.

I also stamped out a few flower images from the Beautiful Day Stamp Set and colored them using colors from the Sunshine Valley Garden Artist Markers Set. I used the coordinating dies to cut out the images.

One of my favorite relaxing things to do is to make easy watercolor panels.  This is exactly what I did for my background panel.  I used some glitter watercolors from my stash.  Once the panel was dry I die cut a circle from the Circular Elements Die Set and also used a stitched rectangle die to add detail.  I adhered the panel to some white cardstock with foam tape and stamped the "Dream Big" sentiment from the stamp set in the center of my circle with some black ink.

I arranged and glued the flowers and butterfly to my card front. The final touch was some clear bobbles from my stash.  The panels were adhered onto a pink card base.

One more card today! I also created a card using the Sweet Flowers Stamp Set. 




I was very excited to play with this set because it has a large floral cluster.  I stamped the outline of the flowers with Almond Butter ink to give softer look.  For the petals I used Sunray and Snapdragon ink and for the stems I used Lime and Frayed Leaf.  I colored in the smaller flower clusters with my alcohol markers as they are just outline stamps.  I used the Orange Cream, Sunkissed, Firebrick, Parrot and Bamboo markers.  The images all have coordinating dies.

I did some more easy watercoloring with the same glittery watercolors (just different colors) to create my background.  Once the panel was dry I die cut the Halftone Cover Die.  I chose to leave most of the little dots in the die because I thought it looked cool!  I did pop out the circles along the edge for more interest.  I cut the panel down to 2 1/2 x 5 1/2 and adhered it to left side of a white cardbase with strong double sided tape.  

My flower images were adhered with foam squares.  I stamped the "You are so Sweet" sentiment with black ink.  I finished the card with some pearl bobbles from my stash.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have an awesome day!

Jen =)



Thursday, May 13, 2021

Meant to Bee

 Happy Thursday Friends!!

I hope your week was amazing and you're looking forward to a fun weekend ahead.

Today's card features a fun stamp set from Sunny Studio Stamps called "Just Bee-cause".  This set has a cute beehive, 2 little bumblebees and several puny sentiments.


 

I started my card by die cutting the Frilly Frames Eyelet Lace die from white cardstock.  Jennnifer McGuire gave me the idea to add some stitching to this panel and we all know that you listen when Jennifer McGuire gives ideas LOL.  I added some stitching with pink and yellow DMC embroidery thread.  The thread has 6 strands and I split that in half to be sure I wouldn't rip my cardstock.

I stamped out the two bees and the beehive from the set and colored them in with my alcohol markers.  I fussy cut out the images as I did not have the coordinating dies for the set.

The stitched panel was adhered to a pink cardbase with a strong double sided tape.  I adhered my colored images with foam squares.


 

The "We are meant to" sentiment was heat embossed in white onto some black cardstock and was die cut from a sentiment die from my stash.  I used the "Loopy Letters" die set to die cut the word "bee" from black carstock two times.  The layers were glued together with liquid glue to add dimension and to make sure the sentiment really stood out from my stitched background.

I finished off my card with some glossy accents on the bee's wings and some "Clay Flower Confetti".

This card is so very sweet and I love how it came out.  I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Jen

Sunday, May 9, 2021

AECP - For the Guys!


Hello friends! Welcome back to my blog! 

Today I am sharing cards from my most recent Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) Course.  This was a course called "For the Guys".  Let me tell you that it was a struggle for me because I really missed my flower stamps LOL! Regardless, it is good to know that I now know how to create cards for the males in my life!

Again, this class is open to anyone (not just AECP participants) and you will learn some techniques and card styles that lend themselves well to cards for guys or boys!

My first card features the Altenew Whimsical Herringbone Stamp Set and some watercolor techniques.  I watercolored the heat embossed image on some watercolor paper.  After it was dry I trimmed my panel down and popped it up with some craft foam before adhering it to my cardbase.  Next, I die cut the "Hang in There" die twice from black cardstock and glued them together for dimension.  I heat embossed the top layer with clear embossing powder to give a glossy effect.  I finished off the card by adhering the sentiment and a thin silver frame to my watercolored panel.


 




 

 

My second card was inspired bymy nephew Zayn who is turning two years old very soon.  I started by ink blending the Bubble Wrap Stencil with the Cool Summer Nights Ink family onto some smooth white cardstock.  I die cut the panel before using an alphabet die set to cut out the letters of his name.  I also die cut his name from some green cardstock and several other times from white cardstock.  I wanted this card to have lots of dimension so I stacked and glue the layers together.  The "Z" was made into an interactive springy element with the help of some craft wire.  Because this card is for a two year old I added silly faces to all the letters with gelly pens.  My card was finished off with a heat embossed "Celebrate" Sentiment from the Altenew Celebrate Today Stamp Set.



 

My last card was inspired by pop culture style.  I started by penciling some guidlines for myself onto white cardstock.  I then stamped the Shades of Friendship Stamp Set in multiple colors (dusk, lime, heartbeat, ocean wave) to form a block focal point.  I used my paper trimmer to cut out the large square image and added some foam to the back before adhering it to a black cardbase.  Next, I die cut the sentiment "Hugs" (from Simple Greetings Die Set) and the shadow from multiple colors of cardstock.  This was a great project for using up some scraps!  I googled "Andy Warhol" to get ideas on color combinations which was very helpful.  I adhered the hugs onto my blocks in a diagonal orientation.  Lastly I heat embossed the sentiment "Sending you warm hugs" from the Heartfelt Sentiments Stamp Set.



 

These cards definitely challenged my creativity but it is good to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones sometimes!  I look forward to returning to my pretty flowers the very next time I craft LOL!!!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Jen

Saturday, May 1, 2021

AECP - All About Layering 1



 Hello friends!

I am so excited to share that I have begun my journey toward becoming an Altenew Certified Educator! Today I am sharing a few cards from my first class "All About Layering 1".  This is a great class for those who want to get more comfortable with Altenew layering stamps.  This class is available to any crafter not just those in the program.  The most valuable lesson I learned from this class was to first get comfortable using the stamp set by following the layering guides. Once you're comfortable you can change things up and make it your own!  This class teaches you how to do both!

My first card features the Altenew Beautiful Day layering stamp set.  


 


The flowers were stamped using the cool summer night ink family. The leaves were stamped with Altenew lime and frayed leaf and an olive ink from my stash.  I cut out the flower images and popped them up with foam tape before adhering them over the stamped leaf images.  To make the stamens of the flowers more bold I went over them with a black gelly pen.  I finished the card by heat embossing a sentiment from the stamp set and adding some jewels.



 

For my second card I chose the Peony Bouquet Stamp Set.  



 


This set is well loved among Altenew Fans and I needed to know what all the fuss was about.  Let's just say I'm sold lol.  I started out by creating a background panel with the smaller flower images and one of the leaf images.  I used the martian terrain ink family and also lime and frayed leaf ink.  Using the same ink colors I stamped the large peony. I backed my cut out large peony image with the Altenew Frilly Frames die which I cut from some gold mirror cardstock. I finished my card with sentiments from my stash.


 

My last card also features the Peony Bouquet Stamp Set and I chose some colors outside of my pink flower comfort zone.  



 

I used a combination of the martian terrain and delectable delights ink families.  I added some gold heat embossing to the leaves for added interest.  I adhered my floral cluster using press n’ seal onto a background I made using beautiful green and gold mirror cardstocks.  I absolutely love shimmer so I added some gold shimmer to my peony.  


 

I finished the card with the Simply Friend sentiment, a sub-sentiment from the Daffodil Paint a Flower Stamp Set and some white sequins.

I am excited about how the cards came out and all the tips I learned! I’ve got more fun classes coming up and I look forward to sharing my journey with you!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Jen




Back to Top