AECP Level 2 Final Challenge - Part 1

 Hello friends!  I am so excited to FINALLY be posting my final challenge for Level 2 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program.  What does this mean?  I have now completed twenty courses for the Altenew Academy.  Level one consisted of ten courses and a final challenge, and level two included another ten courses and this final challenge.  

The requirements for the Level Two Challenge are as follows: 

• Select any 3 components from the Level 1 or 2 courses
• Explain the 3 components that you have chosen
• Share design tips (if any)
• Create 4 masculine cards with the following themes - Birthday, Love/Thinking of You, Anniversary, Encouragement
• Create an altered or up-cycled item
• Blog Post - Provide detailed step-by-step photo or YouTube tutorial, must have a minimum of 10 photos

Because this challenge was so involved, I am breaking this up into two posts (both long so please bear with me): one for the cards, and one for my altered/up-cycled item. 

I chose to focus on the following three courses:  Let it Shine, Celebration Stencil Techniques, and With a Twist.  I had a very difficult time choosing, because I enjoyed each and every course and have learned so many wonderful skills and techniques. 

For the components of Let it Shine, I incorporated heat embossing to add gloss or shine, and the use of metallic items (thread, washi tape, embossing) to take my cards to the next level. 

For the components of Celebration Stencil Techniques, I incorporated different embossing/ texture pastes to add dimension to my cards. 

For the components from With a Twist, I incorporated faux embossing using die-cuts and tone on tone stamping.  

Card One: 

 For my first card, I started with a panel of white card stock and I adhered my stencil down using some spray adhesive.  I mixed three shades of green ink to some Ranger Opaque Crackle Texture Paste and using a spatula, I spread a thin layer of the colored pastes over my stencil starting with the lightest color and moving to the darkest to produce a gradient effect.  Once I was satisfied with the layer of paste, I carefully peeled back the stencil and set the panel aside to dry.  This paste is a lot of fun because as it dries, it cracks and gives a unique texture to the background.  

I stamped the feathers in various shades of the Coffee Break family and I embossed the two smaller feathers using clear embossing powder to add another layer of dimension.  

To complete my card, I adhered my stenciled panel to a brown card base.  I embossed my sentiment on the same brown card stock and die-cut the sentiment strip into a flag.  Prior to adhering my elements, I looped some metallic gold thread around my fingers and placed it on the card stock with a glue dot.  I then attached my feather images and popped my sentiment strip up with foam tape. 

Tips:  

• If you have time, allow the embossing paste to dry naturally.  Do not use a heat tool.  This way the panel will not warp as much. 
• Using a heavier weight card stock with the embossing paste results in less warping. 
• Use a super-strong adhesive to adhere the stenciled panel to your card base or the edges may lift. 
• When embossing over an inked image, leave the stamp in your platform and line your card stock back up.  This will prevent having to line up your stamp again.
• Don't be afraid to mix and match your stamp sets!  It will open up a whole new world of possibilities. 

 Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Brown
• Neenah Crest 80# Card Stock:  Solar White
• Altenew Feathery Stencil
• Ranger Texture Paste:  Opaque Crackle
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Re-Inkers:  Frayed Leaf, Forest Glade, Evergreen
• Wow! Embossing Powder: Ultra Fine Detail Clear
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Altenew Golden Feather Stamps and Dies
• Altenew Happy Dreams Stamps and Dies
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Sand Dunes, Rocky Shores, Mocha, Espresso
• Altenew Metallic Thread:  Enchanted Gold
• Altenew Sentiment Strips 2 Stamp Set
• Stampin' Up Embossing Powder:  Gold
• The Greetery Slimline Dies
• Foam Tape

Card Two:

For my second card, I focused on the faux embossing using die-cuts technique.  I love this technique, as it gives your card the dimension and texture of having been embossed, but it is achieved by adhering die-cut images to your panel. 

I began by stamping a variety of the leaf images on white card stock and die-cutting them.  Are these leaves not the most beautiful, ever?!  I was truly blown away by how incredible these stamps are.  

I began arranging my die-cuts on a panel of white card stock, making sure to vary the direction and have them hanging over the edges so that they appeared random.   Once I was happy with the placement, I began adhering them down to the card stock.  I then trimmed off the over-hanging edges with my scissors and used the small pieces to fill in any large white spaces.  

I adhered my panel to a black card base.  I embossed my sentiment on a strip of black card stock in white and trimmed the edge at an angle.  I tied a loopy bow from black metallic thread and attached it to the card front with a glue dot.  Lastly, I popped up my sentiment strip with foam tape. 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Black, White
• Altenew Wild Ferns Stamps and Dies
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Limeade, Lime, Fresh Leaf
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Wow!  Embossing Powder:  Opaque Bright White
• Metallic Thread:  Black (purchased on Amazon)
• Foam Tape

Card Three:

For my third card, I adhered the Alphabet Stencil to a panel of Neenah Solar White with spray adhesive and taped it down to my work surface with painter's tape to prevent it from moving around.  I blended Distress Oxide Inks from lightest to darkest. Allowing the colors to blend.  I set my panel aside to dry.  

I stamped three balloons using the same distress oxide inks.  Once they were dry, I stamped them again with embossing ink and heat embossed them using ultra thick clear embossing powder and then used the coordinating die to cut them out. 

As I was getting ready to put the elements of my card together, I decided that it needed something more.  I pulled out my Bubble Wrap stencil and spread a thin layer of transparent gloss texture paste.  I gently removed the stencil and set the panel aside to dry.   

While waiting for it to dry, I embossed my sentiment on a strip of black card stock in white. I adhered black metallic thread to the back of each balloon.  I adhered my embossed panel to a black card base and adhered the balloons to the front of the card, and finally popped my sentiment strip up with foam tape. 

Tips:

• When using Distress Oxide Inks (or any inks really, but I found it especially true with the Oxides), be sure that your panel is completely dry before using a paste over it, otherwise the paste will pick up the tint of the ink.  
• I need to keep some Fray-Check on hand.  The Metallic Threads tend to unravel a good bit.  To combat this, I used a fairly liberal amount of clear liquid glue on the ends and twisted them.  I also used that glue to adhere the ends to the card front.  Find creative ways to use the supplies you  have on hand! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Black
• Neenah Crest 80# Card Stock:  Solar White
• Altenew Stencils:  The Alphabet, Bubble Wrap
• Altenew Mini Delight:  Birthday Love Stamps and Dies
• Distress Oxide Ink:  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon
• Ranger Texture Paste:  Transparent Gloss
• Ranger Embossing Powder:  Ultra Thick Clear
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Wow!  Embossing Powder:  Opaque Bright White
• Metallic Thread:  Black (Amazon)
• Foam Tape

Card Four:

I have to say that this card was the most frustrating for me to make, but it is my absolute favorite.  For this card, I focused on tone-on-tone stamping, with metallic elements, which created a really striking card. 

I began with a panel of gray card stock and stamped the largest leaf image.  I am so thankful that I used my stamping platform, as I really struggled to get a clean stamped image, even after conditioning my stamps.  I stamped the same image multiple times using ink the same shade as my card stock, until I was happy with it.  I moved my leaf stamp and repeated this process, followed by filling in the spaces with the smaller image.  

Once I was happy with the coverage of my panel, I heat embossed the outline image in gold.  I was not careful with my placement, as I was hoping for an abstract look.  I trimmed my panel down and set it aside. 

I added a strip of narrow gold washi tape to a panel of hunter green card stock and attached it to a white card base.  I then adhered my embossed panel to the right side of the green panel. 

I embossed my sentiment on a strip of green in gold and cut a strip of gray card stock.  I trimmed both of them at an angle and glued them together.  Before adhering them to the card front, I looped some gold metallic thread loosely around my fingers and adhered it to the card.  I then attached my sentiment strips.  Did I mention that I really love this card? 

Tip:

• Don't give up.  I almost did, and this card turned out to be amazing.  I just had to shift my perspective a bit. 
• When embossing the outline image over the solid images, don't freak out if your image isn't perfect.  Pull out an embossing pen (I use a Versamark pen) to fill in the areas where the lines may not be complete, add some embossing powder, and heat it up.  No one will be able to tell.  

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Stampin' Up Card Stock:  Gray Granite, Shades Spruce 
• Altenew Leaf Canopy Stamp Set
• Altenew Sentiment Strips Stsmp Set
• Stampin' Up Ink:  Gray Granite
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Stampin' Up Embossing Powder:  Gold
• Altenew Washi Tape:  Golden Edge
• Altenew Metallic Thread:  Enchanted Gold
• Versamark Pen

Thanks so much for hanging with me for this exceptionally long blog post!  I hope that something inspired you to try something new, or to dust off an old technique that you had forgotten about!  Happy stamping!