AECP Level 2 Complete!

 Good morning, friends!  I am so excited to be able to share with you that I have passed Level 2 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program!  What a journey this has been! 

What does this mean, you ask?  I have now completed 20 courses through the Altenew Academy.  Each course contains 4 - 6 lessons with various techniques around a central focus, such as using stencils, embossing, die-cutting.  They are geared toward taking your card-making up a notch (or a few).  I can't even begin to tell you just how much I have learned, not to mention how I have enjoyed each and every one of the classes. 

Oh, and did I mention that to pass each level, there is a final challenge that must be completed?  Let's not forget those!  I honestly feel that the final challenges were instrumental in forcing me outside of my comfort zone!  

A brief look-back at some of the projects submitted so far (titles will link to the original blog post):

Level 1:

My first course submission - Clean and Simple Boutique Cards

All About Layering 2

 

Seasonal Scene Building

And of course, the Level 1 Final Challenge

Level 2:

With a Twist (One of my ABSOLUTE favorite courses!)

Polychromatic

Masking Unleashed

And lastly, the Level 2 Final Challenge:  Part 1 and Part 2

Now, it is time to move on to Level 3.  I have to complete 5 more courses and then a Final Challenge!  I can't wait to see where the last step of this journey takes me!  

Thank you all for your support, kind words, and encouragement!  Special thanks to Erum Tasneem (@glitternswirls) for guiding me through, and to my amazing friend Kim (@canterburycarddesigns) for allowing me to bounce ideas off of her and continually encouraging me!  

Xoxoxo, 

Kim

 

AECP Family Instagram Hop - Our Favorite AECP Class

 Good morning, crafty friends!  Today, I am so honored to be participating in an Instagram Hop for the AECP Family.  We are celebrating all of the wonderful things we have learned during our AECP journey! 

For my card, I focused on the last class I took, which happens to be my favorite so far - With A Twist.  I decided to create a shaker card that shakes all the way through!  

Because I knew that I had to die-cut two exact panels  using multiple dies, I started by creating a template out of copy paper.  I laid down some lines with a ruler and pencil, and determined the placement of my letters. I then die-cut the word "hello" out of the copy paper using the Altenew Bold Alphabet Die Set. 

Using low-tack tape, I adhered my template to my top card panel. Placed the dies inside of the die-cuts and cut my word out of the panel.   I repeated this process with the top flap of my card base. 

I adhered a piece of acetate behind the top card panel using super sticky adhesive to be sure that the acetate stays put.  I also adhered a piece of polka dot paper from the Altenew Verdant Walk Paper Pack to the inside of my card base.  

I set the panel and card base aside and got to work stamping and die-cutting my floral images. I stamped a few flowers using the Altenew Springtime Azalea stamps and dies, and a whole lot of leaves, as I knew I wanted some pretty beefy clusters for the front of my card.   Once I had them all die-cut, I arranged them on my card panel, and once I was pleased with them, began adhering them.  I trimmed off any overhanging pieces, and then used them to fill in any place in the cluster that I felt needed more. 

I them went to work on the back side of my card.  Using foam tape, I created a barrier around the words and filled it in with sequins.  I laid another sheet of acetate over the top of the foam tape to seal the sequins in.  I filled in the rest of the panel with foam tape so that it would lay on the card panel evenly, added super sticky tape over the acetate, and lined the panel up on top of my card base. 

To finish my card, I glued in the center pieces of the "o" and the "e" that I had so carefully saved.  I adhered some Nuvo Drops, and added an embossed sentiment strip.  

Honestly, the photos don't do this card justice.  I looked at it and thought "I can't believe I just did that!"  It was a lot of work, but the end result was so worth it!

**Giveaway**

Make sure to head over to Instagram and find my post (@kim.kreates) that has the same photo that is at the top of this post!  Altenew has been incredibly generous and is providing (4) $25 gift certificates to the store.   While you are there, follow the links in the post and hop over to the other participant's pages and leave them some love! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Don't forget to hop along on IG!  You will be sure to find so much inspiration!  

Xoxo, Kim

Color and Texture Workshop with Colleen Balija

Happy Saturday, crafty friends!  It is gray and rainy here today, so I did something that I have never done.  I participated in a virtual workshop with Colleen Balija, Altenew Certified Educator.  It was a wonderful way to spend the morning and connect with other ladies who share a passion for crafting.  The topic of the workshop was Color and Texture and oh boy, was it fun! 

Colleen had sent us some pre-work that included creating or finding a pre-made color/mood board.  I had to Google the term, as I had no idea what that was.  

I started looking at stock photos until I found one that caught my eye, and then using Coolor, I created my board.  

This color palette is so far out of my comfort zone, but I had to use it as the colors called to me.  Once I had my color board, I went about identifying the colors that I would use.  I  found that I didn't have the orange inks that I wanted to use, but I did have alcohol markers, so I worked around that.  

She also had us stamp, color and die-cut our focal images ahead of time, along with preparing our card bases and panels.  This allowed us to move through the projects relatively quickly.  

I had prepared enough focal images for three cards.  I only completed two during the workshop, but because I had all of the supplies out, I whipped out the third card shortly after.  

For the first card, we smooshed our inks onto our crafting mat and added water.  We then laid our panel directly down onto the ink and allowed it to absorb the color.  When the panel was dry, we dry embossed it to add texture and then added some paint splatters.  Because I didn't have any abstract embossing folders, I used the Garden Trellis die to emboss it.   I wasn't totally in love with my panel as I felt the ink was too concentrated in places and the texture is not nearly as pronounced as with an embossing folder. However, when I added my floral images and sentiment, it all came together.   I finished it up by adding some enamel dots that I made using Nuvo Drops.

For the second card, we used Saran Wrap to apply ink to our card panel.  I can't believe that I have never tried this technique.  It might be my new favorite.  For this, I used liquid watercolors in yellow and orange.  I just added a drop of each to my craft mat, added water and picked it up with the saran wrap.  I then dabbed it on to my panel.  When I was happy with the background, I dry embossed it using the Burlap die.  Unfortunately, it really doesn't show well in the photos.  I sprayed some Antique Gold Metallic Spray and splattered some black liquid watercolors to my panel and then heat set it so that it would dry.  After adding my focal images, which I colored with Altenew Artist Markers, and sentiment, I finished up with some enamel dots. 

For the last card, I used the same technique as the second card; however this time, I used the Enchanting Vines 3D Embossing Folder.  I added my focal images and my sentiment (which I used my alcohol markers to get an ombre effect) and then added some black rhinestones. 

I really enjoyed this workshop!  I learned several new techniques and ways of using supplies that I have on hand.  One of my favorite learnings was pulling together the color board and then identifying what colors to use. 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Arches 300gsm/140# Cold Press Watercolor Paper
• Spectrum Noir Premium Ultra Smooth Card Stock: White
• Altenew Stamps and Dies:  You Are Amazing, Scalloped Ornaments, BAF:  Cornflower
• Altenew Dies:  Garden Trellis, Burlap Texture, Waterbrush Hello
• Simon Says Stamp Hello Die
• Altenew Enchanting Vines 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Wisteria, Hydrangea, Deep Irish, Ultramarine
• Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black
• Altenew Artist Markers:  Y817, Y608, Y514, Y513, Y207, Y316, Y106, C004, R826, R823. C006, R801, G446, G425, G515, G503
• Pink Fresh Liquid Watercolors:  Orange, Yellow, Black
• Altenew Metallic Spray:  Antique Gold
• Stampin' Up Shimmer Paint:  White
• Nuvo Drops

Colleen, thank you so much for putting on this wonderful workshop.  I learned so much and am looking forward to using these techniques again and again!  Happy stamping! 

With a Twist - AECP Level 2

 Good morning!  I am so happy we made it to Friday.  For a moment or two, I wasn't sure it would happen!  It has been a doozie of a week, and I have never been more thankful for a creative outlet that allows me to relax. 

Today, I am sharing my third project for Level 2 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program.   This course was With a Twist and it focused on adding an interesting spin on tried and true techniques.  I had a very difficult time choosing which lesson to focus on, as they were all so much fun, but in the end, the final lesson was my favorite.

In this lesson, Therese focused on Faux Embossing using die-cuts and I absolutely loved this technique.  You will see in the close up photos that the card appears to be embossed; however it is not. 

To start, I stamped my image multiple times (8 to be precise) and then colored them in using alcohol markers.   While I used the same colors for each flower, I tried to vary the amount of shading and highlights in them to add some interest.  Once I had them all colored in, I die-cut the images and set them aside.  

Using a panel of the same card stock - something Therese stressed multiple times, as the whites need to be the same shade - I determined where I wanted my sentiment to be and I stamped it twice.  I then began laying my images out on my card panel to determine where I wanted them to go.  

I wanted it to appear random, so I made sure that the images hung off the edge of the panel.  I only used seven of the eight images that I had stamped and die-cut, so I have one left over for another project.  Once I was satisfied with the placement, I began adhering them down.  For this, I used a Tombow Adhesive Runner, as I wanted to be sure that they laid nice and flat.  Once they were all attached, I trimmed off any of the overhang using my scissors, but I didn't scrap those pieces. I used them to fill in areas where I felt there was too much white space, again trimming off any overhanging pieces.

Once I was happy with my panel, I adhered it to my card base.  I decided not to add any embellishments as the background is quite busy, and I didn't feel that it needed anymore.  While this card was definitely a labor of love, it was relatively simple to achieve this beautiful look.  I really love this card and I know that I will use this technique over and over! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Spectrum Noir Premium Ultra Smooth Card Stock:  White
• Altenew Whimsical Flowers Arrangement Stamps and Die
• Altenew Artist Markers:  R217, R206, R301, R400, G935, G915, G825, G804, Y207, Y106, C004
• Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black
• Tombow Adhesive Runner

Thanks so much for popping in!  I hope that you saw something that inspires you to create!  Have a fantastic weekend and happy stamping!  

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!

Fabulous Card Class with Neha: Tulip Hello Card

 Good morning.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of participating in a class hosted by one of the fabulous Altenew Certified Educators, Neha Aggarwal.  

I was really excited about this class, because Neha was demonstrating how to make 5 different cards, using one embossing folder.  It happened to be an embossing folder that I own, but hadn't used. 

When Altenew released the Tulips 3D Embossing Folder, I knew I had to have it, but I just hadn't quite figured out how to use it.   Now you see why I was so excited about this class!   I have only managed to make one card from the four techniques taught, but am looking forward to the rest! 

For this card, I embossed the Tulips on a card panel.  I then added my ink directly to the panel on the debossed side.   I started using Arctic ink, but found it a bit too gray for what I wanted, so I added Iceberg over the top of it.  I struggled to get the ink smooth, but I decided to leave it looking a bit grungy (after several attempts), as I liked the variation. 

 I used the Altenew Waterbrush Hello die to cut my sentiment in black.  I also cut the sentiment out of fun foam and layered the black sentiment on the fun foam.  I added a strip of silver glitter tape across the front of the panel. 

I layered my panel on a black card base and attached my sentiment.  I kept it very simple, but I just love it! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Black
• Stampin' Up Whisper White Card Stock
• Altenew 3D Embossing Folder:  Tulips
• Altenew Waterbrus Hello Die
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Arctic, Iceberg
• Altenew Silver Glitter Tape
• Fun Foam

A huge thank you to Neha for the wonderful class!  I am so excited to use all the new techniques that you taught!  

Thanks for popping in!  Happy stamping!