Masking Unleashed...Altenew Educator Certification Program

As some of you may know quite a while ago I started the Altenew Educator Certification Program.... well I got a bit waylaid... I finished Level 1 and had all but one Level 2 assignment done and sort of lost the plot.

So today I got home early...work was slow so I allowed to go home a bit earlier than my rostered time... so decided to do a card... and I'd been re-watching the "Masking Unleashed" class.   This was a class with Svitlana Shayevich as tutor.   This was an awesome class, taking us from simply masking to more complex ways of masking... using both positive and negative masking.  I learnt a few good tips and tricks from this class...like if you cut your own masks it's a good idea to trim just inside the stamp lines, so that you don't get a halo around the stamping.

My  little card today used a variety different masking techniques.  It's a smaller then usual card being 3.5" x 4.75"

My first masking was some simple masking using some yellow post-it notes torn roughly to mask a space across the middle.  I then used some Vanilla Cream and blended it over the rest of the card. 

My next few steps involved stamping over the centre masked bit.  The stamp is from Nature Blossom.  Altenew has started making masks and stencils to go with their stamp sets so it makes masking easy.    I used the mask to cover the flower and stamped the leaves..  I then used the stencil/negative mask to add some blended inks over the leaves and then I stamped the layers from the stamps set. 

I then used the flower negative mask and used Coral Berry  and Vanilla Cream ink to blend over the flower before adding the stamped layers.   I stamped the sentiment and then used the masks to cover the flower and leaves.  I lost the leaves from the set, so cut some from post-it notes.  I used some Milk Chocolate ink to add splatters to the rest of the card.

The sentiment is from the Nature Blossom as well.   I was really pleased how all my masking turned out. 

So that's the last level 2 class done and dusted.  - Now to see how I got on.  I will have a final assignment to do. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have an awesome weekend.

AECP - Magical Markers Techniques.

I'm slowly getting to the end of my Level 2 classes.  Today I had a go at the Magical Markers Technique class.  I originally took this class some time ago, but only recently purchased some Altenew Markers.   The class was lead by Sara Naumann and it was all about Markers.  Not just using them to colour in with, but lots of incredible techniques for other ways to use your markers.    Each lesson gave different ideas and of course, Sara explained and demonstrated them beautifully.   I went through every lesson again and came up with a card that used several different ways to use my Markers,

So what did I do?  First off I used my ruler and the R217 Velvet marker to make the frame around my panel.  Next was to make the splatters. - How you ask?  Well it's quite easy.  Scribble some maker onto a craft sheet and spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol.  Quickly use a stippling brush to pick up and flick the colour onto the card.

I used the R217 Velvet, R705 Midnight Violet and some Black Copic marker.  Just love the misty look I achieved.

My final technique was again to scribble some of the markers onto the craft mat and spritz with the Isopropyl Alcohol and then taking some glossy card stock, smooshing it on the mat.  This give an amazing watercolour look.

I was very impressed with the idea of doing this for backgrounds.  My next step was to stamp a flower from the Wallpaper Art stamp set onto the pink piece.  (actually was the Velvet ink but the diluting with the IA makes it softer)  I added clear embossing over the stamping and carefully used the heat gun to set.  I fussy cut it out.

I added a leaf from the Wallpaper Arts set with some Industrial Diamond ink and a sentiment from the Leaf Canopy set.   I don't have a small Hello from Altenew so cut one from another die I have.  A few pink sequins and I called it a day.

I learnt so much from Sara and this class.  Alcohol Markers can be used for so many different techniques and ideas other than straight colouring.  This class was excellently presented and I can highly recommend it.

I am entering this into the Anything Goes challenge at The Flower Challenge.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  All visitors are welcome.  If you liked this post, feel free to leave me a comment.  

AECP - Impressive Heat Embossing.

I have been a bit slack at doing my Level 2 classes at the Altenew Academy - so yesterday and today I worked on Impressive Heat Embossing.  This awesome class was lead by Svetlana Marchenko and challenge you with ways to use Heat Embossing.  The classes covered a number of different ways to use Heat Embossing. I learnt a lot taking this class when I first did it back in 2017.  I spend some time over the weekend reacquainting myself with the class.

My first idea was to use layering on vellum and I decided to use my Peony Bouquet set.  I got this set back in 2016 when it came out and have to say it is very well used - so well used I struggled to see through the staining to line up my layers...

 

I tried so many times, then asked advice from the Facebook page - Altenew Fan Group... Tried out what was suggest but still had not success.  Think I'll have to purchase a new set!   However I will be trying out the technique I was using with a newer set in the near future.

So onto idea number two.  This was using a stencil to do some embossing.  I ended up doing a very simple embossing and then used embossing powder to make a die sentiment embellishment. 

 I started my blending Baby Pink and Firefly inks through the Floral Garden stencils.  Once it had dried I used the stencil and a Versamark pen to added some dots of Altenew Rose Gold embossing powder.   I die cut the Mega Hello die and added versamark all over it and sprinkled the Rose Gold powder twice to get a lovely smooth die cut element.    I finished with a sentiment from Versatile Vases set, stamped with Obsidian Black ink (best ink EVER!) 

I really enjoyed re doing the class this weekend.   Svetlana was an awesome tutor and showed us 6 great ways to use Heat embossing on our cards.  

Thanks for stopping by today...

AECP - Color Your Day

Today I am sharing a couple of cards I made as part of my Altenew Educators Certification Program -

I am working on my Level 2 program.  The class I am working on is called "Color Your Day".  This class was taken by Therese Calvird.  She is a fabulous tutor and this class was awesome. The class was designed to help you feel more confident using color in your projects.  You can be inspired by colours and that inspiration can come from literally everywhere.  Therese used some photos to give her inspiration in day one's class. 

I did some Pinterest searching to find colour combinations that inspired me.  Here's what I found

Blue and yellow became my inspiration

My first card used a Dark Navy base and then I made a bouquet using flowers and leaves from the "Adore You" set.  I coloured these with a combination of Altenew markers an Spectrum Noir markers. As I don't have the dies, I fussy cut the flowers and leaves before layering them together.  The sentiment is from "Fresh Freesia" set.  I added a frame drawn with a white gel pen and some white Nuvo drops.

I also made this card inspired by the blues and yellows.

This time I used a slightly lighter blue base.   I started by stamping the "Fresh Freesia" stamp onto some white card and coloured it with the markers.  I then fussy cut - time consuming as I used a craft knife so I could get it close to the stamped image.  I added it to the card and then white embossed the sentiment from the same set.  I cut a quick mask from computer paper and laid it over the flower, while I added the splatters of watered down silver acrylic paint.  I trimmed the image and added to a white card base.

I learn a lot from this class.  Colour inspiration is all around us.  Use of a colour wheel can also help with finding the colours that work together.  Therese also explain a formula that is a guide to a good combination for using colours together... 70 / 20 / 10.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

AECP - Beautiful Details...

Well my good intentions to get my level 2 accreditation done quickly this year have fallen by the wayside!  Life and other obligations seem to have side-tracked me.   I recently purchased some Altenew Academy classes which prompted me to review some of my older classes and get another class project done for the AECP.  I chose to review the "Beautiful Details" class lead by Marika Rahtu.  Marika is a beautiful colourist and her class was enlightening.  I learnt alot about different ways to use your stamps and colouring mediums.

I chose to CASE Marika's day two card.  The emphasis on this day was about detailed leaves.... She used Zig Markers to stamp and add detailing to the leaves from the "Beautiful Day" stamp set.   I took the outline leaves stamp and used a Gray marker to "paint" onto the stamp and add to some watercolour paper.  Next was using two other gray makers (Light Gray and Blue Gray) with a little water to add the detail.

The best tip from Marika was to ensure you worked in layers... and let the layers dry in between each one.  I really enjoyed doing this and love the darker blue gray layer.  It really popped.  These colours were quite different to the ones Marika used.

For my base card, I chose to use blues for my sponging

I used two different blues - Altenew Caribbean Sky and Persian Blue to sponge the card with a bit of an ombre look with more colour in the lower left hand side of the card.  I also added some splatter ith the Persian Blue ink.  I liked the blue as it tied nicely with the Blue Grey in the leaves.  I chose to use a sentiment from "More than Words" set at the top of the card, and like Marika noted, added a stripe of some bright blue card at the bottom to balance the card.   In order to have the focus on the detailed leaves I left the flower uncoloured.   Some blue and clear sequins finished the card.

Although I CASE's Marika's card, I feel that I added my own touch with my colour choices.  I will be using this idea again as it really produces an elegant card. 

Here's one last view of my card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your weekend is going to be crafty.  I'm enjoying my Saturdays as Rugby season has started and hubby heads out to watch the Senior team from his club play, giving me the afternoon to myself!

AECP - Polychromatic.

I've been working on my certification and revisited the class called Polychromatic.  This class was led by Nina-Marie Trapani and is all about colours.... Each lesson took us through different ways to use colour including using one colour only which is where I took my inspiration.

I used some purple card and stamped the flowers from the Engraved Flowers set a number of times in Hydrangea ink.  I then used Prismacolour pencils to added extra colour.  I stamped and die cut the Beautiful from the Simple Flowers set.  I did a inlaid die technique by die cutting the sentiment partially from the patterned piece and inlaying the white die cut.  Finished with some white Nuvo drops.

This class is one I keep revisiting as the ideas and techniques that Nina-Marie taught are so interesting and inspiring. 

And here is another card I made using some new Altenew dies and stamps.  I was inspired by the use of various tones of the same colours. 

To die cut the roses I started with white card stock and blended four pink inks onto them and then die cut the different elements of each rose. These were added to the base with dimensional tape.  I die cut the leaves from a textured green card and added behind the flowers.  The sentiment is from the More than Words set.   Added some Nuvo drops in a Pearl sheen to finish. 

Thanks for stopping by today...

AECP - Creative Watercolour Media

 

2019 is here and I'm really going to make an effort to get my AECP finish.... so off to a good start.  I took my inspiration today from Creative Watercolor Media... a class tutored by Jennifer Rzasa, Debby Hughes and Laura Bassen.  It's all about using Altenew sprays, reinkers and ink pads as a watercolour medium.  This is a super fun class that really encourage you to make the most of your Altenew supplies.   I don't have any Altenew sprays or reinkers but have a LOT of their cube ink pads.  22 sets of 4 colours!  And boy are these inks PERFECT for watercolouring....

I started with some Brockingford Cold Press 200gm watercolour paper and using my new Ruffled Flowers stamps and some Gold embossing powder I stamped the two outline stamps several times around my card.   I then smooshed the ink pads on to my small Altenew palette to make the "paint"  I used Hydrangea and Ultraviolet for the flowers and Green Field for the leaves.  I then took Vanilla ream and added a wash all over the card.  The sentiment is from More than Words stamp set.  Finished with a few Nuvo drop pearl dots.  I mounted onto a purple panel which is attached to my white card base.  

I really enjoyed using this technique and use it a lot to colour (paint) my stamps.  

I really am enjoying the latest goodies that arrived on Monday from Altenew.  A few more cards are in progress.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

Taking Time for ME....

Today I got to spend some time on my own as hubby went to watch his nephew play rugby... so I got into the craft room and had fun.... I had some cards I had to make....

First up, a new baby boy card for my niece

 I had a kit that I got many years ago but had never used.  It had this pretty paper that was my starting point.   I had the die cut circle on my desk.  The congrats sticker and ribbon came in the kit.  The little rocking horse is from a Penny Black set - again one of had for many years. 

Next up is a card for my Level 2 Altenew Educator Certification Program.  I got waylaid for a while and now am trying to catch up. .  Today I rewatched the Beyond Basics Backgrounds - taught by Lydia Evans.   An awesome class with lots of awesome ideas for up-ing your backgrounds.   I learnt so much from the class.  Lydia has such a fabulous way of teaching.  My card today is a CASE of Lydia's class using DIY stencil to create a background by die cutting and then sponge through the stencil before adding white embossed stamping,  My card is sponged in orange Altenew inks.  I used the matting panel to cut a stripe to emboss the sentiment

I used the Peony Bouquet stamp and die set. 
I am entering this card into the Anything Goes Challenge at The Flower Challenge.  

I also have been meaning for some time to get my Alcohol inks out.  I've been seeing some amazing backgrounds made with the inks and Yupo paper.    My inks are really old... nearly 8 years but I did get them to work.  I also added some spots of cooper foil to some of the spots

I also made a green coloured one as well.  I made up a Christmas card using a Poinsettia stamp.

The sentiment was heat embossed with a Kaisercraft sentiment.    I am entering this one into the August Essentials Challenge - using Alcohol inks

So all in all a good afternoon.  Thanks for sticking with me to the end. 

AECP Level 1 assignment.

I have now completed the first 10 courses on the AECP Level 1 so Virginia has set me an interesting and challenging assignment...I need to use three techniques learnt and make it a masculine card or a card for a teenager.   I've been thinking and thinking what to do....  And finally a idea came to me...

My three techniques come from Easy Ink Blending.... my softly blended ink through the stencil (this is very subtle in the background), For the Guys.... using geometric shapes and Let It Shine.....using some gold embossing.

I used Sea Shores blue inks for my stamping and ink blending.  The geometric stamps are from Sohcahtoa set and the sentiment is from Birthday Bash and all the embossing was with Ranger Gold powder.  I added a few black spots from the Birthday Bash set to add some extra texture.

I have really enjoyed the courses so far... onward to the next 10 classes in Level 2.  Thanks Altenew for this awesome program and letting me be involved. 

If you are interested in learning about some of the participants, including me, HERE

Entering this into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes 
So Suzy Stamps May/June challenge - Masculine

thanks for visiting today.  

AECP - Irreistable Inking Techniques.

I'm still off work with the bad cough and cold.... doctor has given me a note for the whole week off.   I've been feeling quite lethargic and have been staying in bed and doing lots of sleeping and reading.  But yesterday felt a bit better so did another card for my AECP classes.

I did the Irresistible Inking class and had so much fun.  Nicole took the class and made it so much fun.  It was so inspiring to see different ideas to use inks - from stamp layering, brayering, painting with the ink and stamp block inking.  

I chose to do a couple of techniques for my card.

I took a round stamping block and smooshed ink onto it and spritzed with water and "stamped" it onto some watercolour paper.  I then stamped my Beautiful Day stamp over the edge of the circle.  I then used some of the darkest ink to paint the rose before using the same ink to stamp layer 3 of the set.  Loved the way the shading work like this.   I was also inspired by Nicole's use of ribbon on her card.... something I haven't used for a while.  I cut this into a slightly smaller than usual card.

This is my final card for Level 1 and I now have my assignment.... a real challenge!  Too take 3 of the techniques from the 10 classes and combine on one card....

Well it's time to go finish getting the dinner on.  Hot chips are cooking for our mixed grill tonight.

AECP - Seasonal Scene Building....

Another class completed.... this time Seasonal Scene Building.  This one caused me serious challenges.... I don't own a single one of the stamps used in the class... so I had put my thinking cap on.  The class gave me lots of ideas to adapt.  - Using stamps and inks to make a background, use oversize scenes, masking a scene and window scene to name a few.   I chose to do a window scene.

I took the Winter Cardinal stamp and die to make my scene.  I did some sponging to make the sky and sun.  I die cut the branch and then used it in  the negative space to help line up the stamp in my MISTI to stamp.  I used the same technique to stamp the bird in green.   Added some flower sequins to finish off my scene.

What did I learn from this class?  Lots of good ideas about building a scene.  Using a window or frame really helps focus your eye on the scene.   I enjoy watching the scenes that Nicol created.  I now have some new stamps on my wish list! 

Dad got off this afternoon.  After 8 weeks it was hard to say goodbye...I will miss having him around. 

Thanks for stopping by.... got a few cards made  yesterday afternoon -   Tomorrow I will share my daughter's birthday card.  Today was her birthday.  We FB messenger video call her to say Happy Birthday and to watch Archer playing.  He came to the phone to say Hi to Pop and Nanny but was too busy to stay too long. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamped and Stencilled backgrounds

I have another couple of card for my AECP classes.... First a card for Celebration: Stencil Techniques.   I LOVED this class.  There was so much inspiration from Laurel Beard.  She is the funniest, happiest of tutors.  I really got so many great ideas.  I had so many ideas floating around in my head... but was very inspired by Laurel's use of inks to colour up embossing paste. 

My background was made by mixing embossing paste with Parrot ink.  I used Altenew Layered Medallion B stencil and spread the paste through it.  Once it dried I added it to a pale green layer and then onto the dark grey card.  I took the Parrot from the Parrot Paradise stamp set.  I used Zig Markers to colour the parrot and then fussy cut and used some 3M mounting tape to pop it up.    The sentiment was white embossed onto the grey card.    I learned so many great techniques to use with stencils in this class.  I can totally recommend it. 

And my second card is for Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - I chose the Stamped Background lesson and was totally inspired by both Jennifer Rzasa and Yana Smakula.  I have already shared this background but here it is again.

I learnt that even a CAS card can be full of beautiful colour.  Jennifer is a great tutor as well.  Each of the classes is inspiring and really good value for money. 

Two more cards ticked off - I'm having great fun doing  the AECP class. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Let it Shine....

I have been making A LOT of floral cards lately - with the amazing Altenew stamps and inks.  Last night I made this one for the Altenew Educator Certification - from the Let it Shine class

 I loved this class.  It is all about making your cards shine with use of embossing powder, foil, sparkle pens to paint with.  For my card I used the Altenew Peony Scroll for my main flower and the leaves and the smaller ones from Peony Bouquet.  I used Altenew Rose Gold Embossing powder to make my flowers and leave, then smooshed Altenew orange and green inks onto my block and used a Wink of Stella clear sparkle pen to watercolour them.  Boy does this make them shimmer and shine. I hand trimmed them all and arrange on the card.  I used some Freebie Shabby Chic paper for my background, die cut an oval with a Simon Says Stamp die.  I used the same Rose Gold powder to emboss the Hello from Flower Arrangement stamp set onto some heavy weight vellum and fussy cut.  I added the sentiment with some brown Altenew ink to continue the shabby chic look.

What inspired me with this class..... the reminder of how embossing can make your card really pop.  It's one of the first things I learnt as new stamper and even today, I still get that magical feeling when I watch the powder melt and shine.   It was very hard to chose just one technique from this class.... I really loved the use of double sided tape and foil to give your card shine but just couldn't incorporate this into my design.  That technique is one I really am going to use some time soon.  

Well, I had started this post at 9.15pm last night when suddenly we lost power.... It was a very stormy night... torrential rain and cyclone strength winds.  Lots of trees down and damage with roofs being blown off and windows blown in.   There are still parts of Auckland  with out power.  We got our back about 8.30 today - about an hour after we left for work!  So it was cold brekkie and no cuppa tea this morning. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

For the Guys

I  have been working on my Altenew Educator Certification this week.

I have been taking the For the Guys class.  Lots of great ideas for making cards for the men/boys in your life.   I love the ideas provided by Jennifer.  I was inspired by the geometric cards she did...

I used the Cube Builder stencil to make my background.  Love the geometric look it makes.  I added the fabulous sentiment from Birthday Bash Stamp set.  I die cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders die which I kept on the die cut and sponged with blue and green inks. 

This will be heading it's way to Perth for my son-in-law's birthday later this month. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Altenew Educator Certification Program....

I'm happy to say I have been accepted into the program... and finally (after about a month or so) managed to do a few of my assignments.   I found I had already taken 15 out of the 20 classes so I've been reviewing the classes I already have completed and made some cards.  Today I got 3 cards done... so here they are:

ALL ABOUT LAYERING 1

I used Painted Flowers for my card (from Lesson 4) and was inspired by how easy Nicole made the stamping of this layering set.   I chose a simple design to show case the layered flowers which I stamped in orange tones. 

ALL ABOUT LAYERING 2

For this class I chose to use Beautiful Day stamp set from Lesson 2.  I LOVE this flower set.  For this card I chose to make a few flowers in different colours.

 I die cut a trellis to add to the background and layered the stamped flowers and leaves around the bottom corner.  I don't have the sentiment dies from Altenew (on my wish list) so I added the Hello from Catherine Pooler.   This class is great, giving really awesome tips and hints for layering these stamps.  Plus Altenew inks make the choosing co-ordinating colours so easy. 

and my last card for today

EASY INK BLENDING TECHNIQUES

There are so many beautiful ways in the class to do ink blending.  I've done for a fairly simple ink blending with some Distress Oxide inks - Broken China and Cracked Pistachio to make a background to showcase the Adore You flowers

 

For my flowers I gold embossed a variety of flowers from the set and used some Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers to colour them in.  I hand cut around the flowers and layered them together.  I was inspired by the first lesson in the class.... doing some simple blending, stepping it up with two colours fading out to white to allow the sentiment to pop.  All the lessons in this class are so inspiring.   

I also did another card but not sure that is up to standard... so will looking at doing another one for the Clean and Simple Boutique cards.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I enjoyed my day stamping and happy to get a good start of my homework.