AECP Level 3 - Mission: Inspiration

Hello, friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  Today's post is a little bittersweet because it's all about my last AECP course, Mission: Inspiration.  This class focused on using social media and other sources for inspiration for your cards and how to organize such sources. It's also the first time that I've done a card layout sketch.  I'm not a fan of card sketches - I prefer to just dive in, start creating my card, and let my intuition guide me.  While the class didn't change my mind about that, I can see where it can be a useful tool to capture ideas in a journal of ideas.

The source of inspiration for my project was a piece of art that I had recently seen on Instagram.  Here's a screenshot of it:

As you know from prior posts, I'm a huge fan of the vintage style.  Additionally, I'm a fan of the Art Deco style as well.  I have long been fascinated by the "Roaring 20's" and the history of the era.  I think it all started when I did a project on Prohibition for my 8th grade history class.  It only grew as I read classics of American literature like The Great Gatsby and Babbit.  I have created other projects inspired by this time period and style, and the above pic just called out to me as soon as I saw it.  I don't keep a written journal of ideas and, instead, take screenshots to keep in photos on my phone.  I took a screenshot of this one as soon as I saw it, and I knew immediately that Altenew's Deco Cover Die Set and Streamlined Spring Die Set would be used to create my card.  Here's the card inspired by the artwork that I created:

I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I was able to bring in the gold and black colors, the teal/peacock from her fashion and hair, and the scalloped shaped florals that are so very art deco.  I also made sure that there was a lot of depth in the card by using lots of line scoring, double stacked die cuts, and foam tape.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Altenew Deco Cover Die Set
  
• Altenew Streamlined Sprig Die Set
  
• Altenew Deco Greetings Stamp Set
  
• Altenew Antique Gold Metallic Ink Spray
  
• Altenew White Gel Pen
• Altenew Gold Gel Pen
• Brutus Monroe Peacock Chroma Mist
• Brutus Monroe Gold Acrylic Bubbles
• Nuvo Gold Metallic Marker
• White A2 card base
• White card stock for die cutting
• Black card stock for die cutting

Here's how I made it:

• Used the largest Deco Cover die and black card stock to cut out the frame; adhered the frame to the card base with craft glue.
• Scored the inside piece cut from the Deco Cover Die at each 1/16 measurement on my scoreboard (i.e. each line on the scoreboard); doing so adds some depth to the piece.

• Sprayed some Antique Gold Ink spray onto my palette and sprayed some water to dilute it a bit, misted the scored die cut with some water, and then used a paint brush to apply a coat of gold to it; doing so gives it a lighter touch of gold while still allowing the black to come through.
• Once dry, put double sided foam tape strips on the back of the die cut, aligned it with the card base, and adhered it.
• Sprayed the white card stock for die cuts with the Peacock Chroma mist and let it dry.
• Die cut the flowers and leaves (1 of each for each position on the sprig die and 4 extra of the large flower) from peacock-colored card stock, and two of the sprig dies from black card stock.
• Scored lines at 1/16 on each of the four extra flowers to add more depth and make them stand out from the sprig die cuts.

• Used the gold gel pen to add some color to the inside of the scored lines on the flower and used the white gel pen to add some highlights to the spaces between the lines; doing so softens the color, adds another element of gold, and differentiates these flowers from the one sprig.
• Adhered a flower into each of the four inside corners with craft glue; add them at an angle to have the scored lines go in a different direction than the scored lines on the card panel. 
• Glued the two black sprig die cuts together and colored the top one with the gold metallic marker; the stacked die cuts add more depth to the sprig.
• Glued the flowers and leaves to the back of the sprig, adhered double sided foam tape strips to the back of it, and placed it on the card.
• Stamped the sentiment, ran some black ink around the sides of the sentiment, and glued it in place.
• Glued down three gold acrylic bubbles.

I really like my interpretation of the image.  The card has varying degrees of depth and color in the art deco style.  I can picture this image hanging on a wall in Gatsby's mansion as a fabulous party is underway!

I hope that you enjoyed learning about my inspiration and creative process!  My next step in this AECP journey, should this project be accepted, will be to create my course for a live session.  I already have a couple of ideas swirling around and look forward to fleshing them out.

Thanks again for stopping by.  Until next time . . . be well!