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Stenciling without Stamping First

When I started on this card, I had a vague idea ruminating in my head, but I wasn't sure how to accomplish what I was thinking. It came to me during an Altenew AECP class entitled, Celebration Stencil Techniques, where I watched the instructor, Laurel Beard demonstrate several cool methods for using stencils in creative ways. I wanted to do likewise, so I decided to use the Altenew Magnolia Ballerina three-layer stencil without stamping the image first. I know, its not revolutionary or anything, lol, but I had seen a few cards that looked like they were colored that way because the look of the coloring was diffuse and I thought that would work well with ink blending. That was the plan...and it turned out exactly how I envisioned it. I was pleased with the results of using the stencil set in a non-traditional way. I blended Distress Oxide inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin and Candied Apple randomly on each of the three layers. Without the guidance of the stamp outline, I fel
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Inlaid Die Cut Technique

In my Altenew class, Easy Die Cutting Techniques, I picked up several interesting ways to work with die cuts that go beyond the typical approaches. One that really piqued my attention was the lesson on inlaid die cutting. I have been wanting to try designing a card with inlaid die cutting, but had not actually tried it. The instructor demonstrated several ways to use inlaid, but I thought I would start with the traditional way of doing it. So, I tried it in a very low-key way using Altenew's Fine Bouquet Die, which has a relatively small number of inlaid pieces.  NOTE:  In an effort to reduce lengthy instructions, I'm going to switch to a numbering format, and hopefully its easier on the eyes. Die cut the rose twice from white 80 lb. cardstock, and glue the two pieces together. Die cut the rose once using a coordinating piece of cardstock, I used cardstock that had a nice color gradient that reminded me of ink-blending. Glue that die cut to the rose die cut assembled earlier an
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A Little Shiny Hero Worship

I crafted this card for one of my homework submissions for the "Let It Shine" class towards my Level 1 Altenew Education Certification Program (AECP). I decided to start with layer D2 of the Altenew Climbing Clematis stamp set as a single bloom. I stamped four blooms horizontally using Versamark ink and heat embossed them in white.  Then I filled in the blank spaces around the blooms by ink blending Distress Oxide Kitsch Flamingo and Altenew Coral Bliss and sprayed just that area with water. I also sprayed it with a shimmer spray that I made myself by combining water and Ranger Perfect Pearls powder in white. That gave me a couple layers of shine - the shine of the heated white embossing powder and the homemade shimmer spray. Next,  I die cut Poppy Stamps Slim  Leafy Collage in red cardstock and glued it to the top of the card panel.  I selected a two sentiment stamps from among those that are part of the Climbing Clematis stamp set. I stamped the first part of the sentiment
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Geometric Design is a Winner for the Guys

Geometric Design Works for the Guys In making another card for the guys, I turned to a set of Altenew stencils that when used together create a distinctive geometric design. The Deco Diamonds Stencil Set are part of a two-step stencil set and I selected Gina K. Designs dye ink cubes in Turquoise Sea and Sea Glass in separate steps to produce the geometric pattern. I felt the two colors would work well together but present a contrast as well.  After stenciling I cut the panel down to 3.75" x 5.0". Then I cut silver glitter cardstock to 4.00" x 5.25 and adhered the stenciled panel to the glitter cardstock for a bright border.  Next, using Cricut Design Space, I selected a text phrase, and  added an  0.25 inches offset surrounding the text. I used the Cricut to cut the letters in black cardstock and the offset was cut from vellum. I adhered the die cut phrase to the vellum shadow layer  using glue behind the letters to avoid the glue showing  and then adhered both to the fr
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Layers, Layers and more Layers

Layers, Layers and More Layers! I truly enjoyed using layered stamps, layers of die cuts and an embossed card panel to obtain a multi-layered look with dimension.  After stamping the outline layer in Memento Black Tuxedo, I selected four coordinating shades of red and pink inks to use on this big beautiful Altenew Crown Bloom Stamp. I used Altenew Crisp Dye Inks in Ruby Red, Coral Berry, Cotton Candy and Pink Diamond one at a time for each layer.  I used a   Zig  Clean Color   marker to add yellow accents around the base and petals. Then,  I selected three green Altenew inks in Limeade, Grass Field and Green Leaf for stamping and coloring the huge leaf and detailed spray.  I dry embossed a 4.0 x 5.25 card panel of red cardstock from Recollections using Spellbinder's Botanical Diamond and then gently brushed over the embossing using Delicata's White Shimmer Metallic Ink directly to the paper, just adding a gentle shine to the raised pattern. I also cut a 5.5 x 4.25 card panel fr
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A City View is Perfect for a Guy!

  City View:  Perfect for a Guy! I really liked the Project Inspiration in Lesson Two of Altenew's course, For the Guys. Trying my hand at a card featuring a cityscape seemed like a good challenge and I thought the cityscape stencil would be a good theme for "a guy card". So I purchased the less expensive option of the stencil, to try creating a card without a flower in sight, LOL!! I attached the Altenew City Scenes stencil using painter's tape to a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock measuring 5.5 x 8.5, just above the bottom edge to create the look of a city skyline. I used the larger size of cardstock just to give myself some room to work out how the final card will frame the city scene. First, I dusted the cardstock with Pink and Main's anti-static powder tool. Then I generously and directly applied Versamark ink to the lower part of the stencil, sprinkled Nuvo embossing powder in Duchess Blue, and heated the powder until it melted, creating a very nice dar
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A Simple Card that Shines

Heat Embossing & Big Florals This extra large Altenew floral stamp has been a long time favorite of mine and was among my first Altenew stamps. I chose to heat emboss this stamp in white to achieve some subtle shine and contrast against the cardstock. I feel it worked out nicely, although the photo doesn't show it very well. After selecting a beautiful coral-red cardstock, I cut it down to 5.5. by 4.25 and dusted it with anti-static powder. Using my MISTI stamp platform, I stamped the Altenew Bouquet of Love using Versamark ink onto the card panel. I stamped several times to get a good coating on the cardstock, which the MISTI makes it easy to do without mistakes.. Once, I was satisfied with the amount of ink on the cardstock, I sprinkled white embossing powder over the card panel, brushed off extra powder using a paintbrush and used a heat gun to seal the embossing powder to obtain a nice sheen.  I set that aside, and used a scalloped edged Gina Marie Designs die, and cut out
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