Altenew Educator - Level I Final Challenge

Hello everyone!  Today I am back with a more detailed tutorial of how I created today's card for my AECP Level I Class Final Project Assignment.  The three techniques I decided to use are Easy Die Cutting Techniques, All About Layering, and Let it Shine and although I'm pretty sure I had the Let it Shine part down pat already it is always great to see additional ideas and inspiration.

As you know if you're a regular visitor to my blog, I have been playing around a lot with alcohol inks and also regular Reinkers with 91% Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Blending Solution.  By this time I have many lovely backgrounds to use on cards and on most of them I have used my Minc to add foiling after they dry for that extra sparkle and shine that I love so much.  I had one that was particularly beautiful and large enough to make a 5 x 7 card, which I only do when making something for a special person or occasion such as a wedding or that type of thing.  This particular occasion is my daughter's 38th Birthday.

Sterling Silver Rose

Sterling Silver Rose

I started with a beautiful purple & rose alcohol inked blended background as my starting point for the flowers I wanted to put on it.  The Build-A-Flower Rose is an absolutely beautiful set that comes with dies and I love the finished product, but I needed more colors than I had in a single color family because there are 6 layers for the roses and 4 for the leaves, so I had to improvise.  Let it be said that a Misti or other stamp positioning tool is a must for this set.  I tried roses in several colors as I was initially planning to try to recreate Sterling Silver Roses which are a pale, kind of mauve-y purple and my daughter's favorite.  None of the colors seemed right and I even mixed in inks from other companies trying to achieve the look I was going for so I changed directions and went with a pink rose, which meant I also had to select a different background.  No problem, I had a favorite one in pink tones so I went ahead. 

I really wanted a more vibrant pink for my base color rather than Rose Quartz or Pink Diamond would have been for my pink roses, so I used Bubblegum Pink from Gina K Designs as my first layer on these roses.  The rest of the colors I used were all Altenew Crisp Ink colors from the Cherry Blossom and Rose Petals Mini Cube Collections.  Layer 2 was done in Pinkalicious, Layer 3 was done in Rubellite, Layer 4 in Razzleberry, and Layer 5 in Purple Wine.  This combination was exactly what I was looking for.  I did not stamp the 6th layer from this set.  It is very small and hard to see where it goes, so I didn't want to mess up all my work by putting it in the wrong place.

Now that I finally had the colors I was looking for I could stamp out the leaves in the Green Fields Collection of Crisp Inks Inks using Frayed Leaf for Layer 1, Forest Glades for Layer two and Evergreen for layers 3 and 4.  I stamped multiples of these so I could have some for the additional blooms I had stamped in an attempt to get a perfect match to the background.  I just tuck them into the stamp pocket for future use if I need to pull a card together quickly.

Now that I had all of my elements, it was time to decide what greeting to use and I also knew I wanted to use a frame for this card so I chose the Sweet Friend Stamp and Die Bundle which has a frame die with a coordinating stamp for it.  I took a piece of gold foiled cardstock and die cut the frame out of it.  I stamped the frame with the coordinating stamp using Versamark and Antique Gold Embossing Powder.  Now this does get a bit tricky because the foil wants to curl up so I ended up double stamping it to make sure I didn't have any gaps in the design.  To do this, you have to use the negative pieces as a placeholder and add a dot of adhesive on the back of each piece to hold it in place while you stamp.

At this point, things went horribly wrong!  As soon as I tried to die cut the frame out of the background, I realized I had forgotten one important thing. You cannot die cut the 144 lb. Yupo with any type of intricate die.  If it isn't a basic shape like a square or rectangle, there is no way. Not in any die cut machine - not even the Gemini Die Cutting Machine. The 74 lb Yupo cuts beautifully, but not so much with the heavy weight.  All it did was stretch out and warp my Yupo leaving it unusable.  I decided I needed to walk away for a little while but I also realized I would have to try to recreate the background in those same shades using the lighter weight Yupo or Glossy Cardstock.

The thing about alcohol inks for me, is that it's more "playtime" than actual work time because you will never get two backgrounds that look the same. I don't keep track of the colors I use because even using the same colors you will still get different looks. It's kind of like watercolor in that you can't make duplicates.  I didn't have a clue what colors I had used to get the background, but I was willing to play around for a while.  I finally had to shred the other background so it wouldn't sit there taunting me, ha ha.  It did go through my shredder with no problem - but not my Gemini or Cuttlebug.  After about an hour I came back to create a new background in similar colors.  It's not nearly as lovely as the other one, but it's the closest I could get.  I also ran this through my Minc Machine to get some of the gold veins although most of them are covered up with the other elements of the card.

My card is 6.75 inches by 4.75 inches and will fit perfectly into a 5 x 7 envelope.  I don't have one the right color, but I can definitely make one using my Scor-Pal.   To get  a card this size that is vertical in orientation, I cut two panels of the plum cardstock  - one at 7.25 inches by 4.75 and the other at 6.75 by 4.75.  I scored the longer piece at the ½ inch mark and folding it over, creased it well which leaves a little flap.   Then I put a piece of 1/4 inch score tape on that flap, then and adhered the front to the back.  I was very careful when doing this but you can trim away any uneven edges if needed. I had to cut about ⅛ inch from the back to have the front just a tiny bit longer.  I learned this nifty little trick from Yana Smakula.

I used a frame die from Spellbinders (due to the larger size card) to die cut the frame which also cuts a center panel in a rectangular shape.  I added little dots of Multi Medium Matte all around the frame working quickly, then set it carefully into place on my plum cardbase.  I lined it up with the card base creating the frame all the way around.

Slightly sideways view so you can see the inside the card with
the white panel and the embossed detail on the interior frame.  

Then I die cut the center piece from the marbled and foiled lightweight Yupo cardstock.  You can cut a rectangle from the heavyweight Yupo, but nothing with any detail at all.  Using a piece of fun foam, I added the center panel with Score tape on both sides of the fun foam to keep it in place.  I used the white negative piece from the additional frame I had cut from white cardstock to heat emboss my sentiment which came from the Build-A-Flower Sakura Blossom.  I inlaid that into the frame and taped it together on the back side with a bit of micro pore tape.  I like using this in this type of situation because it's very flat and doesn't add bulk.  I also added the positive white frame to the heat embossed foiled frame to make it a little bit sturdier.  Then I laid the blooms, leaves and the framed sentiment on the cardbase until I had a design that was pleasing to my eye.  I really struggle to do arrangements that are not from left to right.  It's the obvious choice for those of us who read English because we read from left to right.  So I challenged myself to do one that started on the right and went to the left.

Once I had my design, I used a piece of Press N Seal over the top and rubbing it into place, then picked up all of the elements and flipped it over so I could put adhesive on the back side.  Then I flipped it over again and carefully set it into place, rotating as needed before actually putting it on there.  Because the Press 'N Seal is semi-transparent, it's a great way to see the the layout to make sure you have it lined up the same.  Once you lay it down, press everything into place walk away for a few moments to let it set.  When you come back, gently pull the Press 'N Seal away from itself.  The top pieces will probably be loose, but you can hold them in place as you are peeling the film back, then add foam tape or adhesive under them and put them in place.  Fold the used piece of Press 'N Seal in half and save it for the next time around.  I use the same piece over and over until it loses it tackiness.

Anytime I use a darker cardstock, I die cut a panel of white cardstock to put on the interior of the card for my message or in case I want to add a greeting there.
The 2nd to largest die in the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics A set is perfect for the inside of the card.

Once I got this card finished and nearly completed this post, I decided it needed a special touch since it is for my daughter after all.  She loves shiny and sparkly things also. A quick layer of Tonic Nuvo Shimmer Pen and a few gems did the trick. In case I haven't mentioned it before, I love to use Flat Backed Swarovski Crystals in the colors Crystal and Aurora Borealis in the 12 and 16 millimeter sizes.  I watch for a sale and buy a few packages at a time.  I don't use them for every card and it takes so few to make a big impact on a card. For the smaller size, there are 50 in a package and for the larger size there are 40 in a package.  A small package goes a long way.  If you did big crystals, they would just be gaudy and ugly, but these small ones give you a whole lot of bang for your buck.

I am late getting this card done but she asked me to make something that I haven't completed yet and I want to give it all to her at the same time.  So I better skedaddle off and clean up the rest of my "Craftermath" so I can finish that project as well.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  I've linked the supplies I've used below for your convenience (Affiliate Links used).

Altenew Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder Shop at: ALT	Altenew Build-A-Flower Sakura Blossom Shop at: SSS | ALT	Altenew Cherry Blossom Mini Cube Collection Shop at: ALT	Altenew Green Fields Mini Cube Collection Shop at: SSS | ALT
Altenew Green Fields Reinkers Shop at: ALT	Altenew Rose Petal Mini Cube Collection Shop at: ALT	Altenew Sweet Friend Bundle Shop at: SSS | ALT	Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS
Gemini Full Size Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	Heidi Swap Minc Machine Shop at: SSS	Kokuyo Long Dot Runner Adhesive Shop at: SSS	Marvy Jewel Picker Shop at: SSS
Mini MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | ALT | GKD	MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | ALT | GKD	Press 'N Seal Shop at: SSS	Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS
Scor-Pal Scoring Board Shop at: SSS	Scor-Tape 1/4th inch Shop at: PTI | SSS	Scotch 3M Foam Tape Shop at: SSS	Spellbinders Matting Basics 5 x 7 Set A Shop at: SSS | SPB
Spellbinders Renaissance Labels 52 Shop at: SPB	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Tonic 6 Inch Personal Trimmer Shop at: SSS	Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pen Shop at: SSS
Versamark Ink Shop at: SSS	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS

Keeping Christmas

Hello everyone.  I hope this finds you well as you hop along today to see all of the beautiful Christmas Cards we have in store for you today.

Kelly Lunceford

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater

Julee Tilman

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Rachel Bergfeld

Vicki Finger (You are here)

Normally I make multiples of a single design for the hop but I am still very busy getting re-established with my doctors from when we lived here before.  Since it's been 8½ years, everybody wants new tests, new x-rays and all my previous records from Oklahoma.  It is a never ending stream of appointments right now which I hope gets finished soon.  It's exhausting!  

This month I wanted to use a holiday favorite from Gina K Designs, Merry & Bright.  This was a Stamp TV Kit last year but is now available as an individual stamp set and it also has a coordinating die set.  I know it doesn't look that special in this pictures, but wait until you see the others.  

If you've read any of my blog posts from the last month or so, you know that I have been having a blast playing with Alcohol Inks and Yupo Paper (Plastic Paper) or Glossy Cardstock.  I have the new thicker #144 Yupo Paper, the regular thickness Yupo Paper.  I love the thickness of the thicker Yupo, but it's more expensive and doesn't die cut words well at all, in any die cutting machine.  You can cut a stitched rectangle with no problem, but anything more intricate than that and it will not cut completely through.  So because of that, I wouldn't spend the money for it again unless I was planning to use it for something that I wouldn't be die cutting.  

This week I was working on a special gift for someone and making a set of thank you cards for her.  Once you start playing with Alcohol Inks, it is hard to quit.  I made several backgrounds about a month ago when my grandson was here and have used many of them in making that set of cards.  This background is one of the many I still have left.  It has a combination of pinks and greens and when it was dry enough I ran it through my Minc Machine with Gold Decofoil from Thermoweb.  I still haven't experimented enough with either to predict how much foil will be on it when it comes out of the Minc but this is my version of living dangerously.  I don't like to give up much control, so this is about as close as I like to get.   

I wanted to pull colors from the background for the stamping of the flowers and leaves, so I used Fresh Asparagus, and Innocent Pink for the base with Dusty Rose for the 2nd layer.  I used my Mini Misti so I could double stamp everything.  For the sentiment, I stamped it with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Embossing Powder, heat set it and then did a second layer for the really bold gold look.  I love the styles and fonts of this sentiment.  I also used the Gina K Designs Decorative Dies to cut out the sentiment and then began assembling my card.  I stamped extra layers of each of the flowers so that I could stack them up on foam squares at varying heights for a super dimensional look. Some Pieces have three thicknesses of foam while others have only one or two.  The larger bloom is three stacked on top of each other and I also die cut an extra label and glued it to the bottom of that so it would be nice and sturdy and then popped it up on foam tape as well. 

Once I had the card assembled, I decided I want to pull a little bit of gold from the label into my arrangement and so I die cut the centers from Gold Foiled Cardstock and adhered them to the blooms with Ranger Multi Medium Matte.  Check out how spectacular this looks when the light hits it!  I love this looks of granite with gold veins running through it.  

Sometimes, you can get a bit more foil than you want, so I was playing around and hit it with some 91% Rubbing Alcohol to soften it a bit and then you can dab it away with a soft cloth.  I salvaged several backgrounds that I was planning to toss by trying this.  One key thing I think for the foil to work in the way I want it to, is to use Glossy Cardstock for this and let it be completely dry before you run it through the Minc.  This also helps to flatten out the piece that gets pretty saturated, even using Rubbing Alcohol instead of Alcohol Ink Blending Solution.  I also want to get some 99% Rubbing Alcohol to try, but 70% doesn't work nearly as well.  Like I said, its all just a theory at this point.  Because I have a hard time stopping when I'm using the alcohol inks, I had tried several different techniques and papers.  The glossy cardstock also die cuts well.  The pack I have I got several years ago from Stampin' Up so I'm going to have to find some soon.  

In case you decide you want to try this, here's a few tips /precautions for you if you decide to try this out.  I have mostly white furniture in my studio, even my extra task chairs are white, so I covered the back and the seat of each of them with a tall kitchen trash bag.  I'm still using the original ones.  The slide off, so you have to pull them back up occasionally.  They don't look too pretty, but they keep the surface clean.  I also have several craft mats to work on and I'm working with Card 5 x 7 pieces of cardstock at the most.  If you wanted to work on a larger piece, I would put several craft mats together to go underneath or else work outside.  

Go to Sally Beauty Supply, Walmart or order off Amazon, but be sure to have vinyl or rubber gloves.  These stain as well so when you change color families, change your gloves.  I just re-ordered more gloves and two boxes of 100 gloves ran me about $12.00 on Amazon.  I couldn't find the kind with powder to make them slide on and off easily, so I'll have to tell you later how I like them.  I'll finish what I have on hand first.  Be sure to get some of the thicker ones.  I think mine are 4 ml.  

I have a glass top on all of my actual work surfaces, and this helps because alcohol inks definitely stain.  I also get one of my husband's old T-Shirts and put that on instead of my regular clothes for the same reason - your clothes will stain if  they come in contact with any of the alcohol inks.  While Rubbing Alcohol will take out most ball point inks from your clothes, I didn't want to find out the hard way that it doesn't work with alcohol ink.  The inks are very highly pigmented and I doubt this laundry tip would work.  I also made my grandson wear one of Papa's old T-Shirts as well.  

Don't touch anything with your gloves on except the paper you are working with.  For example, don't dash off to the kitchen with your gloves on.  Take time to remove them or you might find traces of ink left on towels, cabinets, or counter tops.  I haven't done this but I did get a splatter or ink on the front of one of my work station.  Thankfully, it came off with a bit of rubbing alcohol.  Also, just in case you don't know it, rubbing alcohol is a fantastic household cleaner and is cheaper than most things.  When I worked in a Jewelry store about 25 years ago, we used it to keep the glass clean.  As you can imagine, all glass cases meant a lot of cleaning and wiping down all the time.  That was one of the many reasons I chose glass for my studio furniture tops.  It's easy to clean and rubbing alcohol is economical.  The 70% Rubbing Alcohol works best for mirrors and fixtures, but it doesn't work well on windows, at all.  I wipe every other hard/non-porous surface down with it, bathroom fixtures, toilets, etc. and you get rid of germs at the same time. You CANNOT use it on anything painted or it will ruin the surface.  (Consider this a disclaimer).

I'm sorry I don't have more Christmas specific projects or tips for you this time.  I am hoping life will slow down soon and get back to something that resembles normal.  I am getting to spend a lot of time with my daughter and grandkids which I am definitely enjoying.  I'm hoping to go to lunch with one of them next week after I have recuperated from all of the running I'm having to do this week.  

We'll all be back next month with more projects to share with you.  See you on the 25th!  I've linked the supplies I've used below for your convenience (Affiliate Links used).

Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	Gemini Full Size Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	GKD Bubblegum Pink Ink Shop at: SSS | GKD	GKD Decorative Label Dies Shop at: GKD	GKD Fresh Asparagus Ink Shop at: SSS | GKD
GKD Innocent Pink Ink Shop at: SSS | GKD	GKD Merry & Bright Dies Shop at: GKD	GKD Merry & Bright Stamp Set Shop at: GKD	Heidi Swap Minc Machine Shop at: SSS
Kokuyo Long Dot Runner Adhesive Shop at: SSS	Mini MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | ALT | GKD	PTI Stamper's Select White Cardstock Shop at: PTI	Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS
Scotch 3M Foam Tape Shop at: SSS	SSS Antique Gold Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Thermoweb Decofoil Sheets - Gold Value Pack Shop at: SSS | GKD
Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS	WPLUS9 Gift Card Layers Designer Dies Shop at: SSS	Yupo Paper Shop at: SSS