Level 2 Altenew Final Project

I can't believe the time is finally here and I'm at my final project for level 2 of the Altenew Educator program! I've learned so much and remembered old techniques I have forgotten. This has been an amazing journey over the last few months and I have loved every minute of it!!

My final challenge was to create 4 masculine cards with the themes of birthday, love/thinking of you, Anniversary and Encouragement + an altered item/up cycled project. I was also to choose three components from the classes in level 1 or 2 and use them on my cards. 

I chose:

Magical Marker Techniques~I used several different techniques. I used the smooching technique, and coloring in both images and rhinestones. 

Masking Unleashed~ Masking has always been a challenge for me so I knew I had to do so in this challenge.  I used masking stencils as well as creating my own from masking paper. 

Beyond Basic Backgrounds~ I used multiple colors on some backgrounds, markers to color in others and embossed. 

For the color palette I did use the inspiration challenge over at the Altenew Blog. I didn't use it on all the cards but it was a big influence for my projects. 

My first project is a birthday card. I really had fun making this one. I started out with the pile of presents stamp set and masking stencil to create the line of presents in different colors.  

I then took the radiant lines background stamp and colored in the lines with my artist markers B227, Y823 and Y514. I don't recommend doing this if you don't like staining your stamps. The markers will do this. 

I used the B227 and B204 to color in the strips you see at the bottom of the presents and B227 to color in the iridescent rhinestones so they matched my project. 

Here is a closer look at the dimension on this card. The bottom layer of blue cardstock was created using sea breeze ink pad and dragging it across the white cardstock. I love that I can get matching cardstock everytime!

My next card is my Love/Thinking of You card. I went with Love as my 25th Anniversary is coming up and I'm feeling all lovey dovey!!

For this card I used the shine like a diamond background stamp and did a gradient color scheme of sea breeze, turquoise and teal blue. They blended nicely and give a nice soft effect.

I used the large sentiment from Everything about you and then added the smaller sentiment over it. I added some colored rhinestones, again, using B227 marker.

I wanted to add just a bit more to the front so I took the heart stamp from the snapshot stamp set and stamped it in three different colors. 

The next card I created was the Encouragement card. This was was a lot of fun! I did a few different techniques on this one to give it more depth and texture. 

I started out with creating the background using the smooching technique. This has to be one of my new all time favorite things to do!!

 

You start by adding your color medium to a craft mat (in this case I used a glass mat). I used Altenew's artist markers for this.  I used markers B227, B201, B204 and Y514 (I added this later)

Next I added some alcohol to get the colors moving.

I took a sheet of packaging to pick up the colors and smooched them together a bit.

I then started smooching it onto my white card panel. Going back into the ink on my mat so I can repeat the steps (I did have to re-apply the alcohol to get the colors moving again)

Here is what my panel looked like when finished. I did go back in and use marker Y514 and Y823 to add some browns in. 

Here is my finished card. You can see the browns added into the background. It helps add a bit more depth to the panel. I then took Rustic background stamp and stamped it in embossing ink on the outer edges of my panel. 

I embossed it using platinum embossing powder. 

I used the sphere's and spirals stamp set to great the image. I masked it in sea breeze, orange cream and paper bag (the same colors as the markered background). I then cut the image out and adhered it to the bottom. I cut off the extra and added it to the upper left hand corner. 

Here is shows a better view of the embossing against the background. I love how the background had a cloud look. The embossing really helps it stand out. 

My final card is my Anniversary card. This one took a bit of thinking (when I asked my hubby he said it should have footballs and beer on it lol)  

I used the other half of the shine like a diamond background. I just can't let a good background go to waste! I added a strip of gold washi tape to the left hand edge and adhered down the background.

For the main focal point I used the largest of the rounded rectangle dies. I then added Y612 and Y514 to my media mat and added some alcohol. I then took the beehive image from Get well soon and stamped it in the marker ink onto my panel. I then stamped the main focal image and colored it in using my artist markers. 

I added a little bit of the brown under the image to help ground it. I didn't want it to look like it was just floating. I added a strip of cardstock colored in paper bag to the one side and used a corner rounder. All I needed after that was the sentiment and I was all done. 

For my final project I created an altered tag up cycling blue tissue paper from the scraproom kit box.  This picture shows what I started out with. 

My first step was to stamp the tag with the rustic linen background and paperbag ink. I used my misti to ensure I got good coverage on my tag. 

Here is what the tag looked like after being stamped. 

Unfortunately, I lost a few pictures and one of them was adding in the I stamped the tissue paper with teal blue ink just like I did the tag. I then tore the tissue paper and used matte gel under the paper and then over the paper to adhere it to the tag. I then added some paperbag ink to the tag by using a blending brush. 

Once I had the tag ready I stamped images from the Succulents stamp set in obsidian ink. I then used micro distress glaze to seal the tag so the ink and images wouldn't rub off. 

My next step is to stamp the large succulent image on white cardstock and color in the pot with Y

 and Y608. I then colored in the plant using G804, G935 and G825. 

I die cut the image out using the coordinating dies and my blossom die cut machine. Once it was cut out I added an unstamped piece of the blue tissue paper behind the image and using foam tape, I popped it up.

I added some natural trim ribbon with staples to the front of the tag. 

For the main sentiment I used the Label of love stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in obsidian ink and then trimmed it out of the paper. I then cut the image in half so I could place it on my tag.

I used a tiny attachher so the staples would be small and not stand out to much. I really wanted the stamping to be the main focus of my tag. 

I love the contrast between the darker tag and the brighter tissue paper and image. It really makes the main image "pop". 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Altenew Academy and hope to be able to go further into the third level and start teaching classes.  That is my ultimate goal so that I can share my love of paper crafting with others and help them see their true potential!!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!

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