You're cool, I'm not Lion

The Clean and Simple Boutique card class in the AECP program has been one of my favorites so far. This class showed so many amazing techniques of how to make a simple card special! My inspiration this week was creating a pattern background with stamps and embossing them. For this card I used the Altenew Geometric Menagerie stamp set. This set is so fun and versatile, and I felt the patterns and shapes would make an interesting background. I started by stamping the lion stamp in Versamark ink. I placed the first stamp center and then lined up the front paws to his tail in a diagonal pattern. This first section I sprinkled on hot pink embossing powder and heat set. 

Once this was cooled, I used a clear embossing powder bag, so the next embossing powder would only stick to the Versamark ink. I add the next set of lions and used a reflective metallic embossing powder by Lindy's. Having both reflective and opaque embossing powder gives the card some fun movement, texture and detail to this beautiful stamp. 

I then cut down my embossed panel to create a small border and added a matching hot pink paper. I stamped You're cool (and I'm not lion) to a 1" piece of vellum, wrapped and attached to the back of the panel. To complete this card, I added two stripes of hot pink paper to line the vellum, this helped tie the vellum to the card. 

I felt this needed a matching envelope, so I created one using my We R Memory Keepers envelope board with the same hot pink paper. This made for a perfectly matched card and envelope set!

                                                                                                

Whimsical Flowers with soft stenciled background

 

The Altenew Whimsical Flowers stamps are one of my favorites! These little cuties are the perfect topper for the AECP Celebration Stencil technique class. I really wanted these flowers to pop, so I decided to stencil over a dark background. I used a Hero Arts stencil over a dark purple paper and Distress ink in the color Picket Fence. This created a soft patterned background for my flowers to be the focal point. I stamped the Whimsical Flowers in Altenew's Crisp dye ink in Red Sunset, Lavender Fields and Green Valley inks. I used the matching die set to cut out my flowers and arranged them in a cluster. 

I didn't want my flower to float on my card so I added washi tape to the bottom of the card and a strip of glitter gold cardstock for a pop of sparkle. 

I finished off my card with a Hello stamped and heat embossed in fine white embossing powder. I think this technique is a great way to use stencils that are a bit "busy" and creating a soft background with them. I really loved how this card turned out! Stay well- Janet 

My Crafting Journey Begins

I'm so happy to announce my participation in the Altenew AECP program! I discovered the program listening to the Craft your Life Podcast. The same day I discovered the podcast, I submitted the paperwork to be considered for the AECP program. And today I'm excited to share my first project!

I decided to start with the All About Layering 3 class. I have a small but nice collection of Altenew products so I was excited to start with the basics. 

For this project I am using Altenew Vinatge Roses and the Build-a-flower Ranunculus set. 

I stamped these layered images using Altenew Crisp dye inks in Red Sunset, Lavender Fields and Green Valley. I knew I wanted to cluster these beautiful flowers, so I picked soft colors I felt worked well together. I embossed the background using a basket weave embossing folder and carefully made my arrangement of flowers. I finished off the card with the word Lovely that I had embossed with a metallic heat emboss powder and added some tiny gems for a pop of sparkle. 

I decided to use the Vintage Roses stamps for this very first project because it was the reason, I fell in love with Altenew products. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to become a better card maker, student and hopefully a teacher of everything I love about paper crafting.  Thank you for visiting today! Stay well - Janet

Classic Christmas cards

 

Sometimes the simplest cards are the most beautiful. Today I was inspired by a new Etsy shop (to Me) called Gecko Galz. This digi image is from the collage sheet called Santa Clause Lane 

https://tinyurl.com/3k34nvmy

I started by printing and collecting all my images. I then took out all my patterned paper packs and started matching images to paper. This is a really great scrap buster too. I layered my images in a complimentary color and designed with strips of paper. I then took out my Glimmer foil machine and made foiled sentiment banners. I added some Stickles for a little pop of glitter. I'm so please with the stack of cards I created stress free and quickly. I hope you'll check out the shop and fall in love like I did.

Window Santa

Hi everyone, happy Sunday! Today I created a project for Art Impressions challenge Cards to die for. Join the fun HERE.

So I used a few new Art Impressions items. The first is the Tropical Christmas set  which is super fun and has warm weather holiday imagery! The second was the new Snowflake dies these are cute little detailed snowflakes that will be a great addition to my die collection. On to the card....

I started by cutting a window from a Diamond Die set. I traced the two lower openings to cut my card base. I then traced another white piece of paper to stamp my image on. I only wanted Santa's face to show. I colored him in Copic markers, and stamped the sentiment in the set in Lady Bug Memento ink. I added a scrap piece of paper from my ever growing pile to the front cutting the spaces to show the inside of the card. I added a white piece to look like a shade to the top of the window.  I then cut some branches with the Darice branch and cut them up to put in the planter box. I added some red foiled paper dots and the snowflakes for a seasonal touch! I used the Craftin Desert Diva's Flag Banner dies  and the sentiment from AI Jingle set to finish this fun card off!  You would never know Santa is in flip flops until you opened the card!  Thanks for visiting!

You're Fin-tastic

Hello! So I made this card for the Pretty Paper Pretty Ribbons Linky Party. You can join the fun HERE.

I Used the PPPR Center Step Card file and cut it out with my Circuit Explore. I then Cut out the Blue Whale file but eliminated a few pieces to simplify it. So I gathered my pieces and started preparing them. I started by embossing the center panel with the Lifestyle Crafts waves embossing folder. I then  die cut waves with Craftin Desert Diva's Outdoor Landscape dies. 

I stamped my front banner with Your Next Stamp Fishy Fun stamp set and the side panels with Design by Ryn Water Effects 1. I added a little Copic color to the bottom belly go the whale and glued the piece together and added a goggly eye. I glued everything in place and popped my whale up on a dimentional! I hope you found this whaley fun!

House Mouse Summer Shower

I'm a huge House Mouse fan, so when I saw they are back from vacation I was so excited to start creating! Here is my project for their challenge "make a splash" it has to feature something with water. Join the fun HERE

So for this card I used the House Mouse image Summer Shower stamp. I colored using Copics. I layered this with Wonky Stitched dies by MFT and layered that on a piece of burgundy paper. I then cut some branches with a Darice die out of kraft card stock and distressed with Tea Dye ink. I added some satin ivory ribbon and a button for interest. I finished this sweet card off with some Clear Droplets by Pretty Pink Posh.   Thanks for visiting!!