AECP Final Challenge – Level 1

I loved having this project to challenge me for the final portion of my Level 1 Altenew Educator Program. The task was to create a masculine set and feminine set of cards along with packaging. The cards in each set had to coordinate and had to have coordinating packaging. The twist: I had to use one recycled item. I chose to do it on my packaging and as extra layers for the backs of some of my card pieces.

Before crafting, I wanted to have a clear view of what I had planned to make. I looked at all the Altenew products I had and sat with a sketch pad and started brainstorming. Below is a photo of my thought process:

To begin, I chose these components from my Level 1 classes: “Let It Shine”, “Clean and Simple Boutique Cards”, and “Celebration Stencil” cards. I thought by choosing these, I could have versatility in my cards. For “Let It Shine”, I used metallic foiled paper, sequins, embossing powder, and glitter washi tape. In order to use parts of the “Clean and Simple Boutique Cards”, I looked to my faux letterpress Altenew embossing folders, stamped backgrounds, and simple styling. The “Celebration Stencil” technique is one that challenged me the most with using dies as stencils and creating a background stamp using a stencil and embossing paste. Because it is messy, embossing paste is not always my go-to, but I really enjoyed crafting with it! Now, let’s get into the cards!

Masculine sets are generally harder for me to create in that I keep a lot of feminine products on hand, and not too many masculine ones. After this challenge, I realized, I definitely need to expand my masculine collection. Let’s get into the details of each card and the packaging!

In creating this cute card, I chose the “Thanks, Dad” layering mini stamp set to create a background on kraft cardstock. I stamped the bowties in the base layer using Altenew Crisp Dye Inks in Cloudy Sky. Then, I stamped the shadowing layer in Nimbus. I added gray-blue glitter paper strips under my embossed sentiment, which used the Altenew Label Love stamp set. I added this kraft panel to a stormy sky card base to finish the look.

Next, I used the Altenew Trellis Stencil and embossing powder to create this nifty metallic, shiny background. A tip is to tape down your stencil and use a workable fixative to keep your cardstock in place while you rub ink over it. It makes it so much easier! I started with the navy blue panel, placed the stencil over the paper, then I rubbed Versamark Ink over it using a domed blending brush. Next, I added the silver embossing powder and heat set it. I finished this card off by adding a garden green cardstock strip about 3/4 down the panel. Then, I stamped the sentiment on the kraft die cut circle using the Altenew Cross Stitch Flower Stamp set. Finally, I mounted this on a gray card base. I liked how this turned out to be a nice, simple card using shiny elements.

This cute card was used by taking the negative from the die cut piece and using this as a stencil. Using dies as stencils challenge me a lot! A big tip for this card to get all the panels lined up correctly is to trace the opening before rubbing the ink over it. I started with a kraft card base. Next, I traced the bottom of the cupcake using the negative from the Altenew Layered Cupcake set. After that, I traced the cupcake again onto navy cardstock. I die cut the cupcake from the navy cardstock too, so that the stamped and embossed imaged is inlaid on the card. Once I rubbed the Versamark Ink through the negative die stencil, I added silver embossing powder and heat set it until it dried. Next I stamped the sentiment onto kraft cardstock using the Layered Cupcake Stamp set. I cut around the arch of the sentiment and used dimensional foam tape to make it pop on the card panel. I added some sequins to finish off that shine!

I love huge full moons. That’s probably why fall is my favorite time of year because the moons are massive! I knew immediately the Altenew To the Moon stamp set would be included in this challenge. I absolutely love how this card turned out using the Altenew Calligraphy Maze Stencil and Nuvo Blue Metallic Embellishment Mousse too. I added extra interest by adding the trees down at the bottom. Initially, I had not planned on adding those trees; however, as we all know when we craft, there will be some happy accidents – I channeled my inner Bob Ross! As a tip for my next time making this card, I will use lighter strokes and more of the workable fixative to get it in place before using the palette knife to add the mousse. I stamped the moon using the To the Moon stamp set and began the lightest layer of ink with Altenew Silver Lake ink. The second layer I used Altenew Gray Denim ink and finished the third layer with Altenew Cloudy Night ink. Next, I die cut the moon using the coordinating die set. After that, I stamped the sentiment on a small block of white cardstock and popped it up on the card panel using foam dots. Finally, I stamped and die cut the trees and added those to the bottom corner of it and glued the card panel to a white card base. I positioned the trees and the sentiment so that the spill over of the mousse would be covered. This turned out to be a really pretty card!

For the last card in this set, I used the sentiment from Altenew Label Love stamp set and the mountains and trees from the Altenew Once Upon a Time stamp set. These mountains and trees are perfect for any masculine card. I had been doing the mountains in browns, but I wanted to switch it up to stay consistent with my gray, navy, dark green, and kraft colors. First, I took a small stormy blue-gray rectangle measuring 3 1/2 inches by 4 inches. I knew the mountains would cover up the rest and didn’t want the bulk from the embossing folder down at the very bottom. Altenew has a gorgeous 3D Cloudy Day embossing folder that was used on this small panel. Next, I stamped the mountains on gray cardstock using Altenew Charcoal Suit ink. Then, using the Altenew Essentials Watercolor set, I dipped a very wet brush in the black watercolor paint. I dabbed a little of the excess off and only painted on the parts where shadows would go. I repeated this until I got the exact darkness I wanted for these mountains. I die cut these using the coordinating Altenew Once Upon a Time die set. Then adding thinner foam tape, I placed the mountains near the bottom of the card leaving space for a sentiment and some trees. I stamped the trees on the same gray cardstock using Altenew Evergreen Ink. Next, using the Once Upon a Time die set, I cut out 6 of the trees. After that, I placed them around the mountains with some in front and some in the back. The sentiment was stamped on kraft cardstock using the Label Love stamp set and Altenew Dusk Night ink. This card is simple and serene.

Another challenge for Level 1 was to create packaging and use one recycled item. The recycled item could have been on the cards or used for the packaging. I dug through my scraps and used some old acetate for the window. I also used the box from some of my favorite breakfast squares. I cut the box in half. I left one side slightly wider on purpose and scored a thin strip to create a connecting flap. I cut each top and bottom flap in half. This made it a good fit for the five cards with envelopes. In order to make the box cohesive with the cards, I used the same color combos of green, gray, and navy. This box was really simple to make one I cut out all the paper pieces. I added another moon, but used the smaller die cut circle. I stamped more trees and die cut those to put on the box. This made it look as if the box was a card too. I love how it turned out! Below are photos for the feminine box made following the same steps. The only difference was the paper color and adding the stamped roses.

I made the feminine box to look similar to the cards I made too. The general theme for the feminine cards was pink, black, and gold. For these roses, I used Altenew Vintage Roses Stamp and Die set. On the third layer, I added a little bit of Delicata Gold Ink to give a shimmer to the roses. Now, let’s get into the feminine cards!

I loved the black, gold, and pinks on these cards. I really enjoyed making these and stretching my imagination to make it all combine well together. The box matched well with it too. I was very pleased at using different products on this challenge. Let’s look at the first one that has lots of shine.

This cute card was simple and brought on the shine by using gold foiled cardstock. I started with a white card base and then cut a black card stock panel. Next, I used the Altenew Modern Birthday Faux Letterpress embossing folder with gold foil cardstock. Then, I cut around the circle created by the embossing folder. I traced the outline of the embossed sentiment and then cut those circles out to stack behind the embossed piece. After gluing this to the black panel, I started stamping the flowers and leaves using the Altenew Vintage Roses stamp and die set. I stamped these with Altenew Blush ink, Altenew Rouge ink, and Altenew Coral Bliss ink. The leaves were stamped in Altenew Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, and Evergreen. After die cutting the flowers and leaves, I used foam dimensional dots to frame these around the gold sentiment. I also added a few pearls to finish it off. It brought on the shine. Let’s get to the next card!

I wanted to add more shine throughout my cards. For this next one, I created my own background paper using the Altenew Mini Blossoms stamp set. The flowers were stamped with Versamark ink, then I added gold embossing powder over it. After I heat set it, I left the card to dry for a bit. After drying and cooling, I stamped the center of the flower on each one using Versamark Ink. Then, I added cream embossing powder and heat set these to complete the flowers. Next, using the Altenew Baroque Frame Embossing folder, I embossed the image on pink paper. Then, I rubbed Altenew Permanent Black Ink over the frame to give it a vintage look and to accent the frame. I stamped the sentiment using the Altenew Fancy Greetings stamp set. I completed the look by using a few iridescent pink gems. This card was very quick and easy to make. I will definitely use this method for other cards and change up the colors.

This next card featured shiny elements and was a clean and simple boutique card. Another very easy, but beautiful card to make. I started with a black card base, then layered it with a gold foil panel. Next, I used a white panel and embossed it using the Altenew Ranunculus embossing folder. I glued a heavyweight cardstock panel behind the embossed panel to make it sturdier. If you love a deep 3D image, this embossing folder is absolutely exquisite! The grooves are so deep and detailed. I wanted to add color to it, so I used a domed blending brush and rubbed Altenew Rouge Ink over it. For the center of the flower and the berries around the edges, these were lightly rubbed with Altenew Coral Bliss ink. Using another domed blending brush, I rubbed Altenew Forest Glades ink over the leaves. When I purchased the Altenew Kind Reminders stamp and die set, I saw the sweet little sentiment, “God’s plans are better than your dreams”. I fell in love with it and had a moment of thankfulness for God’s plans, provision, ability to craft, and just being able to have a relationship with Him. I’m so thankful Altenew had this stamp included on this set. I will be using it many times! I added a small black mat behind the sentiment, then popped it up using foam dimensional dots. I completed the card by adding a few pink iridescent sequins sprinkled on the card. So simple, but so beautiful. This card could easily be changed for a small happy birthday stamp or with the Altenew “Sending Hugs” sentiment from the Fancy Greetings stamp set.

Anything cheetah print, I’m definitely a fan! Originally, I had planned to use the Altenew Cheetah Print stencil for my background using gold embossing paste. The more I thought about it, I realized it would be gorgeous using the Delicata Gold ink. I used a workable fixative and tape to hold down the stencil. Then, I went over it with the ink using a domed blending brush. I went over it about three times to make the gold really visible. I cut a black cardstock panel and glued it to a white card base. Next, I glued the cheetah panel to the front of this card. After that, I cut a strip of pink cardstock, the length of the cheetah panel, and glued it down. I punched out a black 2″ circle and popped it up using foam dimensional dots leaving enough space for the “Thank You” sentiment from the on the end of the pink strip. I used two of the extra vintage roses and leaves I had left over from my other card and glued those on top of the black circle. I placed a few of the pink iridescent sequins on the card to complete it. This card used elements from all three lessons – Let It Shine, Simple Boutique, and Celebration Stencil. The cheetah print goes really well with the vintage roses. This background could be changed with any stencil too! The format gives a lot of flexibility to mix it up.

As much as I love cheetah print, anything argyle (diamond shaped) or plaid, I will hands down buy it! This gorgeous stamp set is from the Altenew Pattern Play: Diamond Background stamp. It comes with a separate solid stamp in order to add color to the diamonds. This is a splendid idea! Thank you Altenew for another versatile stamp! I started by stamping the background with Altenew Permanent Black ink. This creates the outline. Then, I took the small solid fill stamp and inked every other row using the black ink until I completed it to the bottom of the pink panel. I added glitter washi tape to the middle of the panel to gauge where I should stamp the leaves. I stamped the leaves using the Altenew Vintage Flowers stamp set in these Altenew inks: Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, and Evergreen. I stamped the leaves four times.

Then, using the Altenew Vintage Flowers, I stamped the flower on a white scrap cardstock piece using Blush, Rouge, and Coral Bliss inks. I punched out the flower using a 2″ circle punch. I punched out four more circles and glued those to the back of the stamped circle. This creates dimension and sturdiness to those small pieces. After that, I stamped the “Sending Hugs” stamp from the Altenew Fancy Greetings set on a white scrap. I cut it out in a rectangle and then used a banner punch to create the V on the edge of the sentiment. Adding foam dimensional dots, I placed this towards the bottom half of the card. I completed it with a few small pearls. I added this to a white card base. This same card could be recreated with different backgrounds, sentiments, and flowers. I’m already thinking about the possibilities! However, I’m especially fond of the argyle print on this card.

Out of all the cards, this one was probably my favorite. Below are more photos of all the cards created for the feminine set and the masculine set. Let me know what you think in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by my blog!