Altenew ECP - Celebrations: Stencil Techniques

Hi there!  I am continuing on with my Altenew Educator Certification Program classes and today' project features Stencils.

I only have one Altenew Stencil in my collection, the Deco Wallpaper Stencil.  In addition to that, I also don't have any embossing paste so I did the next best thing and used Decofoil Transfer Gel which is like embossing paste except that it's made to be able to add foil to any paper or cardstock you might have.  Okay, I think this is a win-win for me given my love for gold.  But as much as I would have liked it to work perfectly, it did not the first time around so I'll tell you about the mistake I made after getting my background piece all foiled and ready to make a card with.

I decided I was going to die cut the panel as I normally do and when I did, all of the marks and scratches in my cutting plate left their impression on my foil!  Darn it all!  I've run it back through the Minc in an attempt to flatten it back out and it is better, but it will never look as good as it did when I first ran it through.  Again, this is one of those things that if I'm putting it out there with my name on it, I want it to be clean and it just isn't so I decided on a do-over this morning.  It doesn't look to bad in the smaller photo here, but when you enlarge it, you can sure see all the little cuts and nicks from the cutting plate.

While the Transfer Gel dries on my do-over, I decided to start working on my post.  My little girls (doggies) are laying in my bed this morning because all they did was whine at me and interrupt my work flow yesterday so I'm making them stay in bed this morning while I try to get a little work done.

Last weekend when my grandson was here, I was showing him how to do Ink Blending so I had the lovely pink and purple Ombré  background already done and I decided to put the transfer gel on to it to get a really gorgeous background.  The thought process was good, but I forgot about that one important detail. I needed to use a clean cutting plate to avoid the nicks and scratches.  I also ran the negative of the foil through with a piece of black toner paper just to show how you could use the negative if you wanted to.  This particular piece got bent during shipping, so I won't use it, but you sure could.

When you apply the Transfer Gel through your stencil, it's important to work fast, and to clean up as quickly as you can also.  If you let the paste dry on your stencil or tools, you will never get it off.  If this was something I was planning to use a lot, I'd definitely have to get a box of baby wipes to keep on hand.  My guest bath is next door to my studio, so I ran and threw the stencil into a sink of warm water which makes it really easy to get clean when you have a couple of minutes.  You should also wipe up your craft sheet and I like to give mine a thorough wipe down with Rubbing Alcohol which is what I also use to clean all of the glass in my studio and to clean my craft mat after playing with alcohol inks or doing ink blending or any of the other messy stuff that I like to do in the studio.

Additionally, one of the mistakes I made yesterday was to use blue Painters Tape and when I took it off the back of my panel, it took a lot of the paper with it.  I like the Yellow Frog Tape for Delicate surfaces and even with that, I stick it to the palm of my hand first before using it.  I've never had it tear anything which is why I started using it versus the blue painters tape.  It really tears up Bristol Paper. 

I taped the stencil to my paper on the back side and then taped that to my craft mat on the top right and lower left corners.  Using my largest Palette Knife from my set, I spread a nice even coat onto my already-die-cut panel.  See how smart I am?  I always try to learn something from my mistakes, even if it's just a better, faster, more efficient or easier way of doing something.

Once my Transfer Gel was dry (it becomes clear) Then I ran it through the Minc on Setting #3.  You can see here the difference between the two.

This is the one I tried to flatten but each time I ran it through the Minc, I'd lose some of the smoothness and shine.  It's still pretty, but I wanted to redo it for my class project.

I don't normally put so many photos in a post, but I was having a really hard time showing how smooth and dimensional the Transfer Gel goes on because it's reflecting the small pattern in the fabric of the top I'm wearing so I've even included one where I am holding it. Yeah, I know my nails don't look too good, but all the medicine I take really takes a toll on my nails and my skin.  My nails split long ways and across so I try to keep them short.  Nail polish seems to make it worse. It's just one of the side effects of so much medicine. That's one of the reasons I don't do videos.

Anyway, I'm putting in photos here at a variety of angles.  You'll have to let me know if you like more pictures or if you think one or two is sufficient.

Transfer Gel seems to be a similar consistency as Embossing/Texture Paste but I think it is a bit thinner although I don't know for sure.  It's really easy to get a nice thin coat on your project and doesn't take too long to dry.  In both cases here, I walked away and did other stuff while I let it dry for 20-30 minutes.

Because the foil is so shiny (and showy), I decided to keep the focal point clean and simple. I used a combination of Scotch 3D Foam Tape and Scrapbook Adhesives Thin 3D Foam Squares to adhere the floral images with previously stamped images from the Build-A-Flower Rose and the sentiment is from Beautiful Day Stamp Set.  I hope you've learned a little from my post about what did and did not work.  I've linked my supplies for your convenience (Affiliate Links may be used).

Altenew Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder Shop at: ALT	Altenew Beautiful Day Shop at: SSS | ALT	Altenew Build-A-Flower Rose Shop at: ALT	Altenew Crisp Ink Sweet Dreams Collection Shop at: ALT
Altenew Deco Wallpaper Stencil Shop at: ALT	Altenew Sweet Dreams Collection Shop at: ALT	Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	Decofoil Transfer Sheets Bulk Pack Shop at: SSS
Kokuyo Long Dot Runner Adhesive Shop at: SSS	Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet Shop at: SSS	Scotch 3M Foam Tape Shop at: SSS	Scrapbook Adhesives Thin 3D Foam Squares Shop at: SSS
Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Thermoweb Decofoil Transfer Gel Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS	Versamark Ink Shop at: SSS
Viva Decor Palette Knife Set Shop at: SSS	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS	WPLUS9 Gift Card Layers Designer Dies Shop at: SSS

AECP - Easy Ink Blending Techniques

Hello all!  I am so happy to say that I now have Unlimited Internet Access which means I can get back to doing what I love - learning new techniques and sharing projects with all of you here!  I feel so behind on everything, but I can at least work now without having to stop because I reached my data limit for the day!  There's nothing like having to stop when you have a good flow going.

Today's project is for the Easy Ink Blending Techniques Class which is part of my Altenew Educator Certification Program.  I love Ink Blending and I did a couple of layers of that with some stamping and paint splatter for today's card.

I actually made a card for this class already, but I felt the need to give it to someone right away and then remembered that I hadn't photographed it yet.  So it's a good thing I had some roses and leaves already stamped to pull a new project together. This project uses the Build-A-Flower Rose Bundle.  On the previous one I made, it was hard to see the ink blending, so it worked out okay to make a new one.  For the blue roses, I used Ocean Waves, Aqualicious, Teal Cave, Galactic Stream, Dusk and Desert Night in that order for the blue blooms.

I started today's project by ink blending on a piece of Canson Bristol Cardstock.  I like to use this because it is very easy to blend on and also because I like to add shimmer mist to everything, so it can take the water better than regular cardstock does.  I started every so gently in the center of the panel and worked my way out in a circular motion.  Next I blended Aqualicious in just the outside circular area to give a little more depth.  I always feel that ink blending adds another layer of depth to the card without actually adding another actual layer making it more expensive to mail, so love it.  I work on a large glass mat that is 24 x 18 so I have plenty of area to work in without getting ink everywhere.  When you start in the center, it really isn't an issue but if I was going all the way to the edge, I would have a piece of printer paper underneath.

In the class, Amy Lee did a technique where she did emboss resist and then added in some splatter and I like this look so I want to incorporate a bit of that into my piece.  I used Ocean Waves Re-Inker for the first layer of splatter.  Then I wanted to add a really bold color so I used Desert Night Re-Inker.  I just put one tiny drop of color onto an acrylic block, dip a long bristled brush into a bit of water and essentially remove all of the excess on the side of the water container, and that makes it fluid enough to create the spatter by tapping on the brush handle.  I used a Silver White Paintbrush is Size 4 for this.  Once I had the two colors of blue splatter, I heat set it and then mixed a bit of pearl white paint in a pretty thick mixture so that it would be a little more dimensional.  I heat set that and then die cut the front panel with a stitched rectangle die.  Of course, I added a layer of Shimmer Mist to the panel.

I heat set that layer as well before I added a sentiment from the same stamp set using Versamark with Antique Gold Embossing Powder.

Because I have been wanting to try Distress Micro Glaze, I put a layer of that on top of everything which makes it waterproof.  I don't feel it was nearly as effective as it is with Distress Oxide Inks, but you don't know if you don't try so I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to try it and I was right.  It didn't really add anything in this case either so it was a "no harm, no foul".

After putting together my floral arrangement, I wanted to add some bling so I added a few small pearls with a few sequins. The pearls are very hard to see but if you look for them near the sequins, you'll find them.  I have another project in mind using an ink blending technique that I love but haven't done for a while so I am hoping to find time to do that as I finish each of my classes.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I always appreciate it when you and especially when you take time to comment!

Altenew Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder Shop at: ALT	Altenew Build-A-Flower Rose Shop at: ALT	Altenew Crisp Ink Cool Summer Nights Collection Shop at: ALT	Altenew Crisp Ink Sweet Dreams Collection Shop at: ALT
Canson Bristol Paper Shop at: SSS	Carta Bella Spring Market Paper Pad Shop at: SSS	Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	Kokuyo Long Dot Runner Adhesive Shop at: SSS
Mini MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | ALT | GKD	Scotch 3M Foam Tape Shop at: SSS	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze Shop at: SSS
Tim Holtz Mini Round Ink Blending Tool Shop at: SSS	Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spritz Shop at: SSS	Versamark Ink Shop at: SSS	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS
WPLUS9 Gift Card Layers Designer Dies Shop at: SSS

Altenew Educator - All About Layering II

Hello again!  Today's project is for the Altenew Educator Certification Program - All About Layering II.  There's quite a few of the sets that were used in this class that I don't have, but I did have a few of them. For my class project I wanted to use a set that was not featured in either of the layering classes, Build-A-Flower Rose.  This particular set has six layers for the bloom and four layers for the leaves if you use them all.  I don't always use all the layers but I did today. These are the sets that were focused on for this class. 

Peony Bouquet

Beautiful Day

Remember This

Big World

Majestic Bloom

Painted Rose

Garden Hydrangea

Hibiscus Bouquet

Perennial Beauty

Garden Treasure

I have to tell you that I have a new favorite color combination in shades of blue today.  I used Ocean Waves, Aqualicious, Teal Cave, Galactic Stream, Dusk and Desert Night in that order for the blue blooms.  Half the fun of stamping is creating something in a color that might not exist in real life and I admit, that is something I really struggle with.  But I love how those blooms turned out!  I also stamped several of the leaves and a few other blooms and will put them aside for other cards.  

I'm getting ready to make a big batch of cards for someone who extended quite a kindness to me and I want to be sure to have lots of beautiful images to play with to make a set of cards for her.  It's a really big deal to me, but I can't go into any more detail for a few more weeks. Trust me, there will be pictures coming later.  I also have quite the collection of leaves as well but I haven't decided on a certain one yet for the blue blooms so I am planning to die cut a few more and play with a few more combinations of greens.  I haven't settled on one that I like yet for the blue blooms.

Anyway, my goal for today was to get a card made for this person specifically to send right away.  I used a combination of soft pinks and corals for this particular card.  The base layer is stamped in Frosty Pink, then Pink Pearl, followed by Coral Bliss, Coral Berry and Ruby Red for the last two layers.  The leaves on this card are done with Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Just Green and Hunter Green.

I seem to be on somewhat of a horizontal card kick lately, but I honestly just pick based on the layout of my design.  I keep pre-cut card stock for vertical and horizontal cards so I have either ready.   I just try to pick based on the designs rather than picking the card style and then doing the design.  I used a soft pink card stock to cut a background layer called a hemstitched rectangle from Spellbinders.  I like to use the various types of rectangles in my designs.  The card used a ton of foam tape as well.  I'm going to have to get more fun foam very soon because I have been using a lot of foam tape on the backs of card panels lately.

I knew that I wanted to use the Abraham Lincoln quote from Altenew's Sentiments and Quotes Stamp Set.  It is, after all, the perfect thing for this card.  I'm sending this card to an artist so I wanted it to be just right and in the end since I know that she loves sparkle and shine as much as I do, I wanted to add that touch of bling to the card.

I haven't been able to post as much because we don't have Broadband Internet but they are hopefully installing it on Wednesday and I won't be limited to a little each day. I'm not even able to do the affiliate supply links right now because it uses so much data.  So there's not picture supply list at the bottom but I have linked the Altenew products so if you click on the name it will take you to the store.  In addition to that you can always shop through my affiliate link in the right hand side bar.

I hope you enjoyed my project today and that it encourages you to try some of  the absolutely stunning layering stamps that Altenew creates.  I have several other projects to share with you from some of the other classes, but I have to have time and bandwidth to get them finished.  I have Easy Ink Blending Techniques and For the Guys coming up in the next few days.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I really appreciate it when you do.  Have a great day everyone!