Level 1 AAEC Final Project-Feminine and Masculine Gift Sets

Good morning! I am so excited to share with you my Altenew Academy level one final project.  This has been a labor of love. I've had so much fun creating these gift sets. They were a lot of work but so worth it. I can't wait to give them as gifts during this social distancing that we are going through. 

I made a video showing one of the many new techniques I've learned while taking the classes as well as how to make the boxes pictured above.  This is my first ever video tutorial so I hope you enjoy it.  These boxes are so easy to make and so much fun. 

For my level one final project I was to make one set of feminine and masculine cards using three of the class techniques I've learned, as well as creating packaging for each set of cards and using something that's been recycled either on one of my cards or for the packaging.  Here is what I chose for my cards.

~Level 1/2 all about layering

~easy die cutting techniques

~Let it Shine

~recycled package paper to wrap my cards in like a gift

~handmade gift boxes

When I started these two sets I thought for sure the masculine set was going to be the tougher of the two, but it turned out to get the easiest and the quickest to get finished. For the first time the feminine cards to me an extra day to complete. 

For my masculine set of cards I chose to do embossing with die cuts. For all six of the cards I embossed a cover plate for the background. For this card I stamped the image on the background before embossing to ensure I'd get good coverage. I then went in with a water color brush and added ink from my ink pad to a few of the images.

For the first three I decided to use the Best Dad stamp set. I changed up the sentiments and images but kept the same colors and background techniques.

I love to add color to the backgrounds using a blending brush or mini ink blending foam and ink. It's a great way to get varying shades of the same color or you can blend several shades and get an ombre look. 

This cards was my husbands favorite. I used the glitter washi tape to ground my image and make a sort of "shelf" for it to sit on. I have to say this is one of my favorite new stamp sets. 

I then switched up the main images to those in the Layered Cupcake stamp set. I kept the embossed image on this card simple and added color by doing a direct to paper inking. I used two different ink pads and dragged them across white cardstock to get the light and dark blue pieces. This is a great way to get matching cardstock if you don't have any on hand. 

I kept the background white on this card as well and added all the color via the cupcakes, dark navy strip and sequins. I added clear embossing powder to the navy strip to give a bit more shine. 

My final masculine card was so much fun to make. I started with stamping the two background cupcakes and then die cutting out two gold ones. I did cut the gold ones down to fit better and not add to much bulk behind the main image. I wanted the front cupcake to really stand out so I embossed in antique gold embossing powder and then stamped the layers. 

I designed my feminine cards two at a time. I used my cover dies as stencils for this whole set. The video above has a tutorial showcasing this technique for you.  

These two cards both use the shutter cover die. After I used it to add some color to the second photo I cut it in half and added part to the bottom of this card.

For these cards I used two die cut cover dies. One in the white that I used to stencil and then one in the brushed gold cardstock. I used the gold hearts to fill in some of the spaces on the second card to give some additional dimention. 

I love how the thanks sentiment frames out the center of the card. I did direct to paper for the pink cardstock to help make the main panel "pop". I love the mono chromatic on the second card. Between the card base and the cover die it blends together nicely. I die cut the hello die four times and stacked them on top of each other to give it more height.

I inked up have of this panel and then added embossing ink and platinum ink to the other half and heat set it. I then added a pink strip to bring them together. I added just a couple of green leaves so I didn't overwhelm the rest of the card.  I kept the second card pretty simple in the colors. I added brushed gold paper behind my cover die panel and stamped my flower images in different shades of black. I added some antique gold to the flower using a water color brush and lightly brushing it on the petals. 

Here's a few closeup's of the cards and boxes. This was a really fun challenge.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!