Beyond Basic Backgrounds - AECP Level 2

 Hello crafty friends!  I hope you are having a fabulous Monday.  After a ridiculously busy weekend of replacing fences on the farm, I was so looking forward to a relaxing day off crafting!  Today, I am sharing my project from the first of my AECP Level 2 courses - Beyond Basic Backgrounds.  I loved this course so much, as we learned several ways to create amazing backgrounds, and many of them used the supplies that we have on hand,  

For my project, I focused on lesson one - using a die to create a stencil.  I used the incredibly beautiful Peony Bouquet stamps and dies from Altenew.  I didn’t have any sets in my stash that had a smaller image that I could use repeatedly to make the background, and I love this set, so I went with it,  

Using the smallest floral die, I cut it repeatedly from a panel of heavy card stock to create a stencil.  I then, placed a panel of card stock behind my stencil and using the Shades of Purple color family and my ink blending tool, I created an ombré effect.  I began at the top with Midnight Violet, followed by Deep Iris, Lavender Fields, and Soft Lilac.  I removed my stencil and set my panel aside to dry.  The great thing is, the stencil can be used again!

Once my panel was dry, using the matching stamp, I stamped the image repeatedly over the stenciled  flowers using Versamark Ink, and heat embossed in white.   I heat embossed the sentiment from  the new Folk Art stamp set in white on a strip of black card stock.  I created a loopy bow from the gorgeous Altenew Metallic Thread and tucked it behind my sentiment, which I adhered to my card panel with foam tape.  To finish it off, I added a handful of clear sequins to give it a little sparkle. 

I am so pleased with the soft, subtle look of this background and how the card came together! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock: White, Black
• Stampin’ Up Card Stock; Whisper White
• Altenew Peony Bouquet Stamps and Dies
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink: Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris, and Midnight Violet
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Wow! Embossing Powder: Opaque Bright White
• Altenew Metallic Thread: Silver
• Simon Says Stamp Sequins: Clear
• Foam Tape

As always, thank you for stopping by!  Happy stamping!