ALTENEW: POLYCHROMATIC, FINAL PROJECT

I couldn't wait to work on this class!  What is polychromatic, you may ask?  Simply put, it means two or more colors.  This class taught me how to use multiple colors on a white background and alternatively use multiple shades of color to create a background.  Here are the two cards that I created:

Congrats card:

• I used a flower image from the Peony Bouquet stamp set along with some yellow cardstock and warm sunshine dye ink.
• I randomly stamped a small floral image from this stamp in a very similar shade of the yellow cardstock.
• I die-cut the Congrats word out of white glitter paper and then again out of the stamped yellow cardstock.
• I embossed the sentiment in white embossing powder and then added some white sequins.

Sending Birthday Hugs:

• I used the balloon stamp from the Birthday Greetings stamp set and multiple dye-inks: limeade, warm sunshine, ruby red, caribbean sky, baby pink and sapphire
• In the class, I learned about warm and cool colors and that the placement of these color is important.
• A HINT that we learned in class was to use the 'highlight' stamp that comes from this set to add some shine to the balloons.  Stamping the image in VersaMark and then heated it up with clear embossing powder gives the balloons a nice shimmer!
• I die-cut the word hugs out of the balloon cardstock and then out 3 more times in white cardstock.  This allowed me to 'raise up' the word from the rest of the card.
• I stamped and embossed with white embossing powder the 'sending birthday' sentiment onto purple cardstock and adhered it with 3D foam tape.
• HINT: use a white gel pen to draw in the balloon strings and a coordinating color to draw in the dotted lines on the edges of the card.

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ALTENEW: MAGIC MARKER TECHNIQUES, FINAL PROJECT

I enjoyed this class because I got to break out my alcohol markers and do some coloring!  I created two different cards using my markers and lots of other techniques.  Using markers is a fantastic and fun way to add color to your stamped images.  They're another perfect tool for blending colors and creating shadows and shading easily.  Here's how I made them...

Thank You card:

• With a piece of vellum, I randomly stamped and embossed the leaf stamp from Lush Garden.  On the backside, I used Alpine Green Blend alcohol marker.  From the front, it looks like stained glass.  And then I backed it with green cardstock.
• I stamped, colored and die cut two floral images from this same stamp set.
• I used the same color marker to draw to border around the green cardstock/vellum piece that I placed in the center of the card.
• I used a thank you stamp and first + second generation stamped it as a secondary border next to the marker lines.  HINT: instead of stamping the words with the same intensity ink, I stamped the words and then stamped them again (without re-inking) to provide some interest.

Way Too Sweet card: 

• I created a soft background, using baby pink and warm sunshine dye-inks, on a confetti stencil.
• I then stamped and die cut multiple images from the Way Too Sweet stamp set.
• I colored the images with various colors of alcohol markers, making sure to add some shadows to each cupcake and ice cream scoop.
• HINT: to add interest on the colored images, use a white gel pen to create shine and/or use a quickie glue pen+prisma glitter for sparkle

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ALTENEW: IN THE MOOD FOR COLOR, FINAL PROJECT

I'm feeling happy today and enjoyed some crafty studio time creating these cards that are bright and cheery!  For this Altenew class, In The Mood For Color, we learned how colors are often tied to our mood.  Here are my cards and how I made them. For each card, I used the colors of the rainbow because it makes me happy. Altenew has a dye-ink bundle called Rainbow Prism that I used as inspiration.

You Are Awesome 

• Cut 12 1/2" strips of varying shades of yellow-red and adhere directly to fit a 5.25"x4.5" card front
• Cut a piece of vellum to 4.75"x3" and stamp the sentiment using VersaMark and gold embossing powder and wrap with a thin coordinating ribbon
• I used the Painted Butterflies stamp set (which I couldn't wait to use because it is so pretty and fanciful).  I stamped three butterflies in varying shades of pink, yellow and orange and used 3D foam tape to stick them to the vellum.
• HINT: to adhere the vellum to the card front, I strategically glued them to the vellum hiding the adhesive behind the stamped images.

Shine Bright 

• I prepared the card front by ink blending with Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade distress oxide inks.  HINT: I use Tim Holtz Distress White Heavystock cardstock for all my ink blending projects.  It is super easy to blend distress oxides or distress inks on because of how smooth it is.
• Side note: I accidentally knocked over my spray bottle and tiny water droplets got onto the card front.  This was a happy accident.  The Distress White Heavystock cardstock + oxide inks are perfect for water because of how the oxide inks react to water and gives the cardstock a watery texture.
• Using the Dangling Light Bulb stamp set, I stamped a separate piece of cardstock and used VersaMark and gold embossing powder to give it some shine.
• I die cut the light bulb image out of the prepared card front and then added a few extra butterflies and sequins to decorate the card.
• To give the card more shine, I added a piece of gold glitter cardstock for the card background.

Happy Birthday 

• I wanted to incorporate a shaker front to this card because sequins are so fun to use!
• I stamped and cut out the cute fox with balloons to create a mask in preparation for the next step.
• Next, I created my rainbow background with the inks from the Rainbow Prism dye ink set (mentioned above) using a stencil and sponge daubers.
• After peeling off the masked fox, I used alcohol blending markers to color in his balloons with the same colors of the rainbow.
• I placed the card front into a thin plastic sleeve (to create a pocket for my embellishments) and then stamped Happy Birthday next to the fox.  HINT: use StazOn ink for stamping on plastic.  I had to stamp the words twice onto the plastic to get a crisp, clean look but this ink works perfectly and dries fairly quickly.
• After adding in the embellishments, I folded over the open end of the plastic to seal it up and then adhered it to my card base.

I love how colorful and cheery these cards turned out!!

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ALTENEW: CREATIVE WATERCOLOR MEDIA, FINAL PROJECT

This next class from Altenew made me feel like a kid again!  I always loved watercoloring, although as I've gotten older, I really enjoy creating crisp and clean images and painting, coloring inside the lines.  This class reminded me that it's okay to get a little messy and still make fun, free-flowing designs.

Sending Birthday Hugs card:

• I used Altenew's In The Woodland stamp set.  This set comes with two large floral images and various sentiments.
• Using one of the large floral images, I stamped it three times with VersaMark and clear embossing powder to cover an A2 sized watercolor paper.  HINT: use the smooth side of the watercolor paper to ensure a smooth stamped image.  ANOTHER HINT:  brush the entire cardstock with cornstarch so that the embossing powder doesn't stick to where you don't want it to.
• After heating the images up, I sprayed the entire surface with water.  It's ok to be somewhat generous with the water so that the ink moves around freely on the surface.
• I used Altenew's Crisp Dye Inks (orange cream, warm sunshine and parrot) and smooshed the ink pads onto my glass desk surface.  Then I sprayed the ink with water and used a wet brush to strategically place the different colors onto the paper.
• I felt that the more water that was on the surface, the easier it was for the ink to move around and blend together.  Set aside after lightly patting and heat drying it.
• For the sentiments, I stamped sending hugs on black cardstock with VersaMark and white embossing powder, heating to dry it.  And then die-cut the word hugs in white cardstock.

Just a Note card:  I enjoyed creating this card because it is clean and simple and the watercoloring stayed within the lines.  

• I used the Wonderland stamp set and created a simple design using the largest floral image.
• I used a similar technique mentioned above but with the following supplies:
• Versamark
• Silver embossing powder
• Altenew die re-inkers: Caribbean Sky, Sapphire, Just Green
• I finished the card with silver cardstock on the card base to tie in the silver outline and words of the design.

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ALTENEW: IMPRESSIVE HEAT EMBOSSING, FINAL PROJECT

I love heat embossing and couldn't wait to create some cards using this technique.

For the following two cards, I used heat embossing to use as an outline for watercoloring & I used heat embossing on an ink blended background.  I love how they both came out so beautifully!    Here's how I made them.

Just for You card:

• Using the Inky Bouquet Floral stamp set, I stamped the main image in VersaMark and then sprinkled it with gold embossing powder.   I heat set the powder to create a nice outlined image for me to color.
• I used watercolor inks to color in the image and then die-cut the image out.  HINT: apply a little bit of water to the image before applying the different colors.  It helps the colors move around on your paper easier.  It lends to the watercolor effect if the colors aren't so purposefully placed.
• Using some Pearl Pink shimmer paint, water and a brush, I created a splatter effect for the die-cut image to sit upon.
• Then I stamped a simple sentiment using a grey ink pad.

Thank You Card:

• I first created an ink blended background, using distress oxide inks (Spiced Marmalade/Mustard Seed).
• After I was satisfied with the color blending, I spritzed it with water using a spray bottle to create some water droplets.
• I patted off the bigger droplets and then further dried it using my heat gun.  HINT: You want to make sure that this ink blended background is completely dry otherwise when it comes to the step of adding embossing powder, it will stick everywhere!  ANOTHER HINT: brush the entire surface with cornstarch using a brush.  This will ensure the embossing powder only sticks to where you stamp in VersaMark ink.
• I used the same stamp set from the card above and stamped the image in opposing corners to leave room for the die-cut "thanks" sentiment.  I used white embossing powder to make the images pop against the colored background.
• I then die-cut the word "thanks", first out of white cardstock and then gold cardstock and used puffy tape underneath.
• To tie in more gold and white, I used a striped piece of cardstock to tie the card all together.
• Then added gold glittery gems.

Super fun class and super fun cards to make!!  Thank you Altenew!!

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