AECP:: Level 1 Final Project

I'm so excited to share my final project for Level 1 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I've enjoyed all the classes in Level 1, learned new skills, was introduced and reintroduced to timeless techniques and created favorite cards...and now I have taken all the knowledge and created two card sets! 

My coursework for the final project includes the following criteria:

1. Select any 3 components from the classes in Level 1

2. Create two sets of cards... a "His" and a "Hers", to include coordinating gift packaging.

3. Cards need to be a cohesive set for various occasions

4. Incorporate a recycled element, either on the cards or packaging

To create a cohesive card set for both male and female recipients, I planned each card around a sentiment strip and each set had a similar color scheme. Each type of card within the sets also had a similar layout too. I used used mainly deep and bright blues, greens and yellows for the masculine set, then shades of pink, green and yellow for the feminine set. I started with the more difficult of the two cards, first creating the masculine card and then the feminine card. I also had to be really creative, as my current Altenew stash isn't really geared to masculine card-making. I hope that my cards will showcase that you don't need "masculine" sets to create masculine cards. The three classes that I used to inspire the majority of the cards were For The Guys, Let it Shine and All About Layering One and Two, although, truth be told, I used elements from all the classes in my card sets!

Let's start with the packaging! I created two open-faced boxes from a shoebox (the recycled element). 

1. I cut the top of the shoebox from the base, and then cut the top in half, forming the base for two open-faced card holders.

2. I unfolded the lip of the box, and traced each side onto the other to create a ledge 4.5 inches from the outer edge. This allowed a bit of wiggle room for my A2 cards and envelopes to fix width wise. I was careful to only score the inside of the box where the cardboard would be folded. I also trimmed the top of the cardboard to be 5.5 inches. 

3. I then folded my cut and score lines to create the open-faced card holders!

4. The final step was to spray paint the cardboard a matte black. I could have also covered each holder with scrapbook paper or wrapping paper, but I had neither on hand.

To hold the cards and envelopes, I wrapped each set with a sheer ribbon just like I would a holiday package.

I'll next showcase each type of card within the set, and let you know which class inspired me and what I learned! Please watch the video at the end of my post, as it showcases photos of each of the cards individually with a close-up as well!

Card One: Galaxy

The For The Guys class showcased creating galaxy cards. Just as the instructor said, you really do have to have faith in your creating, as the galaxy panels really do look messy until the final layer is done. As mentioned above, I started with the masculine card, with traditional galaxy colors. I used splatters of water, white and silver paint. Then, I pulled out brighter colors and created a feminine version of a galaxy card. I did learn that patience also plays a big key in creating galaxy cards as well...let the ink dry, let the water splatters dry, and let the paint dry.

Altenew products featured: Paint-A-Flower Carnation Outline as well as various Altenew Ink Cube sets

Card Two: Pop-Art

I used another fun technique taught in For The Guys this the second set of cards, the Andy Warhol Pop-Art technique focusing on blocks of color with bold images! I love how this set turned out for both the masculine and feminine. I used the direct ink to paper technique as well, where you rub your ink pad onto the cardstock to create a custom colored cardstock. The feminine version of this card set uses tone-on-tone inking to achieve the different colors of ink. I simply inked and stamped the layered stamp a few times in my MISTI tool to create a darker shades of leaves and portions of the tulip petals. I also pulled out foil on the feminine card...using iridescent foil with heat embossing ink and powder, and the detailed layer stamp, as taught in the Let it Shine class. Each card was also detailed with a black pen.

Altenew products featured: Modern Deer Stamp Set, Tulip Stamp Set, Sentiment Strips Stamp Set as well as various Altenew Ink Cube sets

Card Three: Custom Simple Layered Backgrounds

The All About Layering classes re-introduced me to the fun technique of creating a custom background, as well as understanding that you can achieve a beautiful look using only a few select stamps of a layered stamp set...you don't have to stamp every layer! Once again, I used the pink/green/yellow palette for the feminine card and a blue/green combination for the masculine card. I have a quick photo tutorial of how to create a custom background.

1. Pull out a favorite Altenew stamp set, ink, and a card panel or card base cut to A2 size (4.25x5.5 inches)

2. With the largest of the stamps, start stamping on the outside of the edges of the card. Leave enough space for the images to breathe.

3. Stamp the next largest stamp, beginning to fill in areas toward the middle and next to the edges. If your main image was a flower, make sure you stamp the leaves next to the flowers for a complete look. 

4. Continue to fill in the card front with your fourth largest stamp, I chose not to overlap my images, but you certainly can create a fun look with overlapping images too!

5. Stamp a select few flowers and leaves. Either choose the largest flower image and the smallest, or smaller flowers and leaves to stamp. Try to stamp where your color groupings end in odd numbers. Fill in gaps with the smallest stamps in the stamp set.

6. To create an organic look, splatter paint or ink!

Altenew products featured: Hibiscus Bouquet Stamp Set, Beautiful Day Stamp Set, Peony Bouquet Stamp Set, Sentiment Strips Stamp Set, as well as various Altenew Ink Cube sets

Card Four: Textured Die-Cuts

This card duo was influenced by the Let it Shine and Easy Die Cutting Techniques classes. I learned to conquer my fear of glitter from Let it Shine by using glitter paper, and how easy it is to die cut various products (other than cardstock) in the Easy Die Cutting Techniques class. Both classes taught me how a clean and simple card can be brought up a notch by an unexpected color or texture, such as glitter, or burlap! For the feminine card, I also used the technique again taught in All About Layering about not using all of the layered stamps included in the set. I used only three of the four stamps to create a flower. I also kept the masculine card bold and bright, choosing not to use any layers of the layered stamp, only the solid image, as taught in All About Layering.

Altenew products featured: Beautiful Day Stamp Set, Peony Bouquet Stamp Set, Climber Flowers Die Set, Painted Greetings Stamp Set as well as various Altenew Ink Cube sets

Card Five: Embellished Stencil

I used tips from Let it Shine and Celebrations Stencils Techniques Class for this next set of cards. Both classes really had me reach out of my comfort zone and I searched my crafty stash for products to use with a stencil. I used a glitter glaze as the top layer of the inked wreath on my feminine card, and gold stencil paste for the final layer on my masculine card. I really let the inks blend together when working with the stencil, and loved the reaction of the embellishment on top of the ink. I really need to pull out some shiny material more often, as I love the extra finishing touch that they give to a card. I learned that a little bit of shine can go a long way too, of which I most appreciate being a clean and simple card-maker. To tie these cards with the overall set I again used the same color scheme and added splatters.

Altenew products featured: Wonderful Wreath Stencil, Sentiment Strips Stamp Set as well as various Altenew Ink Cube sets

The following photographs showcase the five feminine cards together and the five masculine cards together. I used colors, the treatment of the sentiments, splatters and a similar design to create two cohesive sets that work together but work as a set when given individually as well.

Please also enjoy my video below as well, as it showcases the individual cards and close-up detail shots as well.

I'm excited to move on to the second level, I look forward to your feedback on this final project for Level 1. It's been an amazing journey so far!

Affiliate links are used, I appreciate your support!

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Altenew Glacier Caves Crisp Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Sentiment Strips Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Wonderful Wreath Stencil Shop at: Altenew	Royal Gold IzInk by Seth Apter Shop at: CPD
Titanium IzInk by Seth Apter Shop at: CPD	After Dark IzInk by Seth Apter Shop at: CPD	Altenew Hibiscus Bouquet Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Modern Deer Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew
Altenew Tulip Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Climber Flowers Die Set Shop at: Altenew