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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ALTENEW: COLOR YOUR DAY, FINAL PROJECT

I couldn't wait to take this class to find out how to use color.  I know, it sounds easy but it can be quite challenging.  The instructor talked about using a color wheel and how it helped her.  

For this first card, I learned about the 70 / 20 / 10 rule.  I used this rule of using light grey (70%), medium grey (20%) and purple (10%) ink color.  It really balances the card and also draws focus at the same time.

Here's how I made them:

• Using the solid triangle image from the Sohcahtoa stamp set, I stamped it on a piece of cardstock, carefully lining up the corners and using alternating light and darker grey colors.
• I stamped the flower image from Build-A-Flower Cora Louise Peony stamp set multiple times in purple and grey and the leaves in green.
• I die cut out the flowers and leaves.
• Next I stamped the sentiments using Versafine onyx ink.

For the second card, picking two colors that go together is easy but picking three colors that look good and is cohesive is made easier using a color wheel.  I used blue, purple and a golden yellow to create this card.

• First I stamped the fox and balloon image from the super cute Hug Me stamp set on masking paper and then cut it out and placed it on a piece of cardstock.
• I then placed a cloud stencil over the masked image and used a blending brush with blue ink to create the background.
• After peeling off the masking paper, I used alcohol markers to color in my fox and the balloons in varying shades of purple.
• To highlight the clouds, I pulled out my trusty quickie glue pen and prisma glitter to outline the top portion of each cloud.

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