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!!!

Rain or Shine

Good morning! I am here to share my very first creation for the new design team I was just accepted to!! I am super excited to be a part of this amazing crafty space and the amazing ladies who share every challenge!!  

My Time To Craft

This weeks challenge is to Here Comes The Rain. Any image with rain or an umbrella. 

I really enjoyed making this card. I pulled out an older stamp set and new papers I haven't had the chance to use yet. They were made for this challenge!!

Here's a closer look at my colored image and layering. I added some dimension behind the couple and then added some jewels to bling in up a bit. 

Now it's your turn!! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Easter Blessings

Over on Facebook I'm part of a group called The Scraproom.  Every month they have new challenges and since I'm home I have tons of time to craft and play lol.

This layout is based on their Freaky Fast Friday template. They give you a few different measurements for patterned paper and then you move them around until you find the perfect layout for you. Then you add your photo/photos, title and embellishments. 

Here is what I came up with. I used a kit I received that I just really didn't care for. I honestly didn't know if I was ever going to use it so when I found this old Easter pic of my mom, aunts and uncles it was perfect. 

I did some stenciling on the right hand side of the page just to break up the white space. I used the paper embellishments and decided not to add any others. 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!

HOHOHO

Yup, you read that right! I made a Christmas card today for a challenge over at the Christmas Card Throwdown.  I was looking for some fun things to craft other than my academy classes and this challenge looked fun!! What better than a color challenge! So fun and I pulled out stamps/dies I haven't used yet. Even better!!!

I went with a more traditional background. I love all things peppermint so it was fitting to pull out this background stamp. I love how it stamps. I haven't used it yet and now I can't wait to make other cards in different colors. 

How fitting that it just so happened to snow today. Yup, snow. Illinois goes through all four seasons in a day A LOT!!

I stamped the hat and beard three times and stacked them to give a bit of dimension to the sentiment area.  I love adding dimension. I've even started adding it into my scrapbooks. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Pure Bliss

I have been going through old photos and came across this one of me when I was four years old. It's amazing how much pure joy in a child's smile can make your day brighter. As I got older my Grandma would always tell me to real smile. Seeing this picture I can see why she'd say that. 

I used the challenge over at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog to jump start my layout. The only thing you needed was floral. I did some mixed media on this layout. I made a video but unfortunately I can't figure out how to get it from my phone to YouTube. 

I started off adding white gesso to the base cardstock. I then took some paints and brushed them onto the cardstock and used my heat gun to set it. I then added the two floral strips of cardstock. I cut some additional flowers out of the blue background floral paper and adhered them under my photo. 

I added some embellishing in the upper left hand corner as I felt the page had just a tad to much white space left. I wasn't to sure about the pumpkin at first but I think it finished off the cluster. 

Here's a closer look at the bottom photo cluster. I love the saying on the strip. I did put adhesive foam under the photo to give a bit more dimension. Before I could even use the photo I had to mount it on white cardstock in order to keep it sturdy. It came out of an magnetic album and the paper tore from the back. 

Another look at the embellishing I did. I Think the pure bliss is perfect for this layout. I seem so happy and ready to have fun. The last thing I added was some paint splatters. 

Here's a closer look at the two paints I used. I had a lot of fun just painting it on over the white gesso.  Next time though I think I'll use the clear gesso so it doesn't change the color of my white cardstock. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Birthday

While sitting here thinking how different this Easter has been to previous years I thought I should get a card made for my son's upcoming birthday at the end of the month.  I can't believe he's going to be 18 and I'll have no more littles.  

I chose the challenge over at "Just Us Girls" for this card. I enjoyed doing it as I don't usually stray from the standard A2 size cards. 

I made a 5x10 sized square card and used the largest stitched square die from The Stamps of Life to create the sentiment piece. To create the matching card base and Happy sentiment I used the direct to paper technique. This is a great way to get matching cardstock every time.

I stamped the mountains of the base and then stamped them two more times and cut them out. The top layer is popped up to give added dimension. 

Not sure if your seeing a theme here...but I love adding dimension where ever I can.  I cut the happy out twice from white cardstock and adhered the three layers together. This saves on dimensional dots and uses up any left over cardstock that you'd end up throwing away.

Here's one last look at all the different layers. I only used one sheet of cardstock to create this card and all I threw away were the scraps. 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Remember This

Hi all, I'm back with the third and final challenge for the SG Scrap Squad Facebook group. I had so much fun today creating the three layouts. You can see the other two layouts HERE and HERE. I hope you'll take a minute and check them out.

My final layout is all about my mom's rose from her funeral arrangement. They were simply stunning. I didn't realize that at the site they have the family member's take one from the arrangement if they'd like. I'm so glad I did.  Some beautiful to remember the day instead of just the sadness.

The challenge was to use a rainbow of colors and to choose how you wanted your layout to go. I chose circles and added my rainbow around the outer edges. 

I started off by stamping the circles in jet black ink using swirly frames from Stampin' Up! I just recently got this set and thought it worked great with the two large paper circles I cut out.

I used a paper punch to punch flowers from a rainbow of colors and then cut them in half. Each flower had one color on each side so I was able to stretch the punched flowers further. I used some dimensional foam under the large picture to give some extra dimension to the layout. 

I added some green punched corner pieces to help make the photos pop a bit more. The punches I've had forever and just don't seem to use them anymore. This was the perfect layout to pull some out and get punching. 

Here I have a close up of the "rainbow" of flowers around my circle. I am loving how this turned out. I used some epoxy word and heart stickers that I've had on hand for the title and some embellishing. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Beautiful Happiness

When I was on self quarantine the last two weeks of March 2020 I was able to watch my yard come alive. Sitting in my craft room looking out at my front yard I couldn't believe that the tree had started turning red and the grass was green (I seriously didn't go anywhere). So I had to take a look at the back and my little tree and lilac bushes were starting to sprout as well.

This is amazing to see as we go through this rough time and are stuck in our homes. The beauty of what is outside still captivates me and shows that everything is new again.

This layout was inspired by another challenge over at SG Scrap Squad on Facebook. This time we have several things to choose from in an this or that fashion. I used the same papers from my first layout you can see HERE since it was already out on my craft table. 

I used all patterned paper and stamped the pink paper with a raindrop stamp to give a little dimension to the background. 

I used my Altenew halftone hearts nesting dies to create the hearts on the page, also from the patterned paper. I stacked a few and added some twine under to give a little more whimsy.

For my title to chose this large foam beautiful and left it white so it would stand out from all the patterned paper colors. I added a wood happy (I forgot I had the other element with happiness in it) and added a few epoxy dots. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Love Happy Memories

I was able to get these cute photos of our dog Louise. She just stood there staring at me looking all cute so I, of course, took full advantage of the situation!  Our other two dogs never sit long enough or stay still long enough to get a really cute picture.

I used a layout challenge from the SG Scrap Squad on Facebook. I love being a part of this group. They are having virtual crops all through April to help keep us up beat. This is the first challenge of the weekend.

I had a lot of fun with the bright colors of the papers and I couldn't help but use the bright aqua blue for the background. It just screams Spring.  I did have a bit of difficulty with the patterned part. It took three tries to get it right. 

I enjoyed making the little clusters of embellishments with just using the 12x12 sticker sheet that came with the paper pack. I didn't really care for the sentiment that was on the tag so I pop dotted the memories sticker over it and added the happy.

I used a thin pink washi to make the title placement. I was originally not going to put a title up there but felt it was a little bare with just the bird. I dug through my stash and found this cute love epoxy sticker. 

Thanks for stopping by!!