Sea of Dreams - Gecko Galz July 2024 Design Team Projects

Hello, friends!

Today is my day to share my design team projects for Gecko Galz.  What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Sea of Dreams"?  Thoughts of beautiful fish sailing through the sea?  Perhaps mermaids frolicking under the waves?  July's theme for Gecko Galz Challenge was Sea of Dreams and I created some projects that were inspired by it.

My first project is this underwater motif created with a cardboard base.  I stacked several layers of cardboard, each layer slightly smaller than the previous one, to form the base.  Each layer was glued with craft glue to the next.  I then took some embossing paste mixed with some ochre ink and painted the base.  I sized the Gecko Glaz background pic from the Oceans Blue set, printed it out, glued it to a piece of cardboard, and then applied some Prima Marketing 3D Gloss Gel to it.  This medium helps create dimensional texture on the print.  The print was attached to the back of the base with both glue and stick pins to ensure that it stays in place.  I printed out some ephemera, also applied some 3D Gloss Gel to them, glued a stick pen on back, and pushed the pin into the base.  I also put a dab of glue at the base to help secure the pin.  Last step was adhering a sentiment and some pearl gems.

The next project is my favorite.  I'm calling it a porthole card.  I created the card base by taking my largest circle die and placing onto an A2 card base.  I made sure that the top lip of the die was placed just over the fold of the card base before running it through my die cut machine.  The result was a circular card base that flips up to open.  I then made a circular frame out of white card stock using my largest circle die and the next one down to cut it out.  I applied some Ranger Tim Holtz Grit Paste around the frame.  Once dry, I sprayed it with some Tim Holtz Bronze Mica Spray, and then splattered it with some Brutus Monroe Peakcock Chroma Mist and Tim Holtz DDistress Rusty Hinge Spay to add some patina ageing to it.  Next, I chose my image from the Oceans Blue set, sized it, and printed it out.  I applied a coat of the 3D Gloss Gel and, once dry, cut out he image with my largest circle die.  I also cut a piece of acetate using the same die.  A sentiment was applied and then I put it together: background image was glued to the card base, the acetate was adhered using double sided foam tape strips, and the frame was also adhered with double sided foam tape strips.  I am so happy with the result - it truly looks like an old rusting porthole window.  And what a view when you look outside!

My third project is a fun A2 sized card.  I sized the image from the Fish Camp set, printed it, and applied a coat of 3D Gloss Gel to it.  I then sized the image of the swimmer from the Sweet Summer Days set, printed it, fussy cut the swimmer, and applied 3D Gloss Gel.  I glued the swimmer to the underwater scene and attached that card panel to an A2 navy blue card base.  I used an A2 frame die to cut a navy blue frame and attached it to the card with double sided foam tape strips.  The last step was glue down the sentiment.

My final project is a very whimsical 5x7 card.  I sized the image of the swim cap gal from the Sweet Summer Days set, printed it, and fussy cut it.  Embossing paste was applied to a wooden square (I turned it to use it in a diamond shape) and then painted with Rainstorm metallic acrylic paint from Perfect Paints.  The bubbles around the swimmer were made with a die and a medium shade of blue card stock.  I glued the bubble cut out down to the wooden diamond and filled in the bubbles with X-Small Glass Bead Gel from Perfect Paints.  I let this piece dry and then attached the swim cap gal with craft glue.  This was attached to a piece of white card stock that I water-colored with ochre ink.  The card panel was attached to an aqua card panel, and that panel attached to white 5x7 card base.  I used a darker aqua acrylic marker to outline the image on the white card stock, adhered a witty sentiment, pearl gems, and clear acrylic bubbles.  Such a fun card to share with someone who marches to her own tune!

I hope that you enjoyed learning more about these projects and the process to create them.  Thanks for spending some time here with me today.  Until next time . . . be well!  

BPM/IBFS - A Sequined Background!

Hi, friends!

I hope that everyone is having a great summer!  Mine has been great so far.  I've been able to enjoy some time off while also keeping up with my crafting time.  Speaking of summer, today's card is a celebration of it featuring another one of the Rick St. Dennis bear stamps.  Who doesn't love spending some time at the beach?  A little fun in the sun is good for the soul - even if you're a bear!  My inspiration for the card was a picture of the bear on the beach being given to say hello to a friend.  What sets this card apart from others is that the card panel background is completely made up of sequins.  It was the first time that I've tried this and I am really happy with the results.  What do you think?

Here's what I used to create it:

• Beach Costume Bear by Rick St Dennis Line Art Rubber Stamp
• Special Day CLEAR Sentiments Flowers Stamp Set designed by Pam Bray 
• A2 Kraft card base
• 3.25" x 5" Light Turquoise card panel
• 2.5" x 4" White card panel
• Sequins . . . lots and lots of sequins!

 Here's how I made it:

• Adhered turquoise card panel to card base with double sided tape and stamped the sentiment at the top.
• Stamped the bear onto the smaller white card panel and colored it with alcohol markers, pastel gel pens, and glitter gels pens.
• Starting at the bottom of the card, glued sequins down to the card base and worked my way up to the top: used cream, brown, and gold sequins for the sand and rocks; turquoise sequins for the ocean; light blue sequins for the sky; silver sequins for a couple of clouds; and yellow sequins for the sun.
• Adhered the smaller panel to the card; angled the smaller panel to give it a more relaxed, whimsical feel.

I love how the sequined backgrounds almost mimics a mosaic type of look!  It's also nice that some of them are a little more flat and others are a little more shiny to break it up.  I am definitely going to try this technique again!

That's it for this post.  I hope that you continue to enjoy your summer.

Until next time . . . be well!

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!

BPM/IBFS - A Bearable Birthday!

Hello, friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  Do you ever find yourself needing a quick birthday card and not having the right one in your stash?  It's nice to be able to fall back on something to help save you time when that happens - and that's the focus of today's post.  Blank Page Muse has a great digital download kit, It's Your Party, that will all will you to create a really nice handmade card.  It has a variety of papers, ephemera, greetings, and more.  I chose a paper that I really liked and paired it with one of Rick St. Dennis' adorable bear stamps.  The result is a card that is certain to make someone smile!

Here's what I used to create it:

• It's Your Party Birthday Printable Papers, Bookmarks Ephemera for Junk Journals Cardmaking and more designed by Pam Bray Designs
• Birthday Bear with Cupcake Hat Line Art Rubber Stamp by Rick St Dennis 
• Special Day CLEAR Sentiments Flowers Stamp Set designed by Pam Bray
• A2 sized Light Purple Card Base
• Rainbow Colored Gems
• Glossy Accents Clear Dimensional Medium
• Hampton Art Wobbler Action Spring
  

 Here's how I made it:

• Used the printer app for my printer to reduce the size of the digital background paper for the card (3.75" x 5") and printed it.
• Adhered printed panel to card base with double sided tape, stamped the sentiment, and applied Glossy Accents to the balloons on the panel to give them texture and make them shine.  TIP: use a heat tool on low or a hair dryer to speed up the drying time of the glossy accents!
  

• Stamped the bear onto white card stock; colored the image with a mix of alcohol markers, pastel gel pens, and glitter gel pens; fussy cut the image.
• Adhered the bear to the card with a Wobbler Action Spring, which gives the bear some motion when tapped.
• Placed two rows of rainbow gems under the sentiment.

Such a quick way to make a colorful and fun birthday card!

I hope you enjoyed this post and my tips for making a beautiful card in no time at all.  Let me know what you think!  I'll be sharing another card featuring a Rick St. Dennis bear in my next post.  Stay tuned!

Until then . . . be well!
 

AECP Level 3 - Elements of Floral Composition

Hi, friends!  Welcome back to Paper Play.

It’s been really hot and humid in New England this past week, so it was the perfect time to stay indoors in the air conditioning and get crafty!  I took the opportunity to finish my 4th AECP Level 3 class, Elements of Floral Composition.  Jaycee Gaspar taught this very informative course on all of the elements of composition, including: color, value, line, shape, form, texture and space.  Jaycee did an amazing job with breaking it all down and showing exmples of taking each component into your design.

I chose to focus on color, value, line, and space with the project that I created.

Time to Celebrate

I really enjoy ink blending florals and knew that I wanted my main project to incorporate it.  I also knew that I wanted to have lots of depth to play around with space and would use die cut florals to achieve it.  I decided to go with the Altenew Flowering Dogwood Layering Die Set because it checked the boxes and is my favorite layering die set.  I adhered to the 60/30/10 color ratio focusing on pink, white, and green.  As you can see, there are light hues with the pinks, and darker hues with the greens (value).  I used darker shades to emphasize the natural lines of the flowers and leaves, and also added a light white line next to the embossed lines to help give the, direction.  Lastly, I used several flowers and layered them across a wide swath of card to to best utilize space and not have a ton of white space.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Caft-a-Flower Flowering Dogwood Layering Die Set
  
• Altenew Lovely Camellias Outline Stamp Set (sentiment)
• Altenew Fresh Dye Inks: Blush and Rouge
• Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Green Fileds and Hunter Green
• Altenew Artist Markers: Pink Cloud, Swamp Green, Evergreen
• Altenew Jet Black Ink Spray
• Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen
• Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones
• A2 white card base

Here’s how I made it:

• Used a black ink pad to outline the card base
• Die cut all leaves and florals using white card stock
• Blended the florals with Blush ink first and then Rouge

• Used the Pink Cloud marker to add depth to the embossed lines on the petals

• Added light white lines along the embossed lines to give direction

• Colored the leaves with Green Fields and then Hunter Green inks; used the Swamp Green marker to deepen the embossed lines of the leaves

• Colored floral centers with Swamp Green marker and then added center dots with the Evergreen marker
• Assembled the flowers; used the white gel pen to add some shading in the flower centers

• Before glueing down to card, arranged leaves and flowers to decide where to stamp sentiment; stamped sentiment, masked it, and add splashes of black ink to card base
• Once black splashes were dry, adhered leaves down with craft glue; adhered flowers with double sided foam tape to create further dimension

• Glued down three black rhinestones

Here’s a closeup of a flower to show how the light white lines help to further define with the direction of the petals:

This was a really fun card to make and I believe that it provides a great example of what I learned in this class.  I feel more confident with my florals since I know understand more of the theory behind composition and arranging.  Thanks, Jaycee, for another amazing course with Altenew!

Thar wraps up this post.  Thanks for spending some time with me today on Paper Play.  Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS - Dream, Inspire, Grow

Hello, friends!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play today.  My first card for June was all about self love and doing what is good for your soul.  Today's project is along the same thought and features the words: DREAM, INSPIRE, and GROW.  An important reminder for everyone that we are never too old to dream, incapable of inspiring, or without the ability to grow.  I love that Blank Page Muse used these words in a stamp set for an art doll.  Art dolls have an interesting history in that they were made as a piece of art rather than as a toy for a child, and their purpose was to communicate or express a message.  Sometimes they may have lacked arms, legs, or both; sometimes they were made with different mediums/materials.  The one included in this stamp set is a great visual representation of the words included with it.  I share it with you today to hopefully inspire you, my dear crafting friends.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Whatever is Good DREAMER Art Doll 1
• Steampunk Romance: Digital Printable Papers for Journals, Cards, ATCs
• Blocks Pattern Stencil 
• Distress Oxide Inks: Salty Ocean, Spun Sugar, Lost Shadow
• A2 black card base
• White card panel - 4" X 5.25"

Here's how I made it:

• Blended blocks from the stencil onto the card panel in an alternating pattern with the oxide inks; stamped circular patterns down the left & right hand sides with black ink.
  
• Stamped the art doll and sentiments onto a scrap piece of paper from the Steampunk Romance kit.
• Colored the art doll with alcohol markers, glitter gel pens, and metallic gel pens.
• Adhered doll and sentiments to card with double sided foam tape.
• Spritzed the card panel with some tea stain spray to add some grunge.
• Adhered the panel to the card base and glued on three rhinestone gems.

 

A very easy card to make!  It has a very pop art look and feel to it, and is fun & whimsical.

I hope that you enjoyed learning a bit more art dolls and how I created this card!

Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS Rainbow Soul

Hi, friends!

It's June . . . which also means that it is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.  As a gay person, it's important for me to celebrate Pride in remembrance of all of those who came before me in addition to those of us who make up this wonderfully diverse community today.  While I make a lot of vintage and traditional style cards, it's also fun for me to push the boundaries and create in styles that I don't always work with.  That's exactly what I did for today's share.  I wanted to make a pop art style card that has a message for everyone - whether gay or straight, male or female, liberal or conservative - and that message is to do what makes your soul feel good.  Embrace your uniqueness; love every ounce of yourself.  I titled it Rainbow Souls since the yes are the window to the soul.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Large Eye Macro
• Whatever is Good DREAMER Art Doll 1
• Brutus Monroe Aqua Pigments - Creamy (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet) 
• Distress Oxide Ink - Lost Shadow
• Glitter Gel Pens - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet
  
• A2 white card base
• Black card panel - 4" X 5.25"
  
• White card panel - 3.75" X 5"

Here's how I made it:

• Stamped the eye onto the white card panel with black ink; also stamped it onto making paper to create a mask.
• Applied mask to eye; splattered Brutus Monroe Creamy Aqua Pigments around the eye and dried with a heat tool.
• Removed the mask and colored the pupil with the glitter gel pens in a rainbow pattern; lightly blended Lost Shadow oxide ink over the image to soften the colors.
• Stamped the sentiment with embossing ink, applied black embossing powder, and heat set it.
  
• Adhered card panel to center of black card panel.
• Adhered combined card panel to card base.
• Applied three rhinestone gems with craft glue.

 

It's a simple but fun card with a really beautiful message.  Let's celebrate it every day!

Thanks for spending some time with me on Paper Play today.

Until next time . . . be well!

BPM/IBFS Wild Berry Thanks

Hey there, crafty friends!

I hope the month of May is going well for you!  I had alluded in my prior post that the project for this post would be using a scrap from that card as the focal point.  I hate to see beautiful pieces of paper go to waste, especially if they are in good condition, and knew that I'd either: use the circular scrap from the berries background or end up keeping it in a bin of scraps.  So . . . let's put it to use!

The design that I had in mind was to use the circular scrap in the middle of a stamped version of the same image and align it so that it naturally fits in.  I'd frame it to add further dimension and end up with a really nice card.

Here's what I used to make it:

• Wild Berries Background Coloring Art Rubber Stamp
• Vellum
• Acetate
• Black card stock
• White A2 card base

 Here's how I made it:

• Stamped the Wild Berries background stamp onto a piece of vellum with black ink and colored in the berries with a blue alcohol marker.
• Adhered the stamped & colored vellum to a piece of white card stock.
  
• Added double sided foam tape to the Wild Berries circular scrap, aligned it with the stamped & colored image, and adhered it to the panel.
• Adhered the panel to the A2 card base.
  
• Cut an A2 sized frame from black card stock, colored over it with a metallic silver glitter marker, put double sided foam tape on the back of it, and adhered it to the card.
  
• Colored a scrap piece of white paper with the metallic silver glitter marker, glued a sentiment onto it, and glued it down to my card.

 I loved that I was able to create a really pretty card and use so many scraps at the same time!  It was very easy to align the scrap with the stamped image, and the frame & use of foam tape really helps it stand out.

Thanks for spending some time with me here on the blog today.  I have some really fun projects planned for June and I look forward to sharing them with you!

Until next time . . . be well!

AECP Level 3 - Creative Coloring with Erum: Advanced Techniques

Hi there, my crafty friends!

Welcome back to Paper Play.  Today’s post is focused on coloring and the AECP Level 3 course that I just finished, Creative Coloring with Erum: Advanced Techniques.  It focused on ways to expand how we color elements for cards and went over several different techniques focusing on everything from flower petals to backgrounds.  I made three cards for the class - one that utilized a splatter watercolor technique to color my floral elements, one that used watercoloring to create a wood-like background to add texture to the card, and one that focused on using alcohol markers to add additional details to the petals and leaves of a layered stamped floral.  Let’s take a look at each of them!

Card 1 - Love Deeply; Live Fully

This card is my favorite of the three made for the class.  Notice the watercolor splatters on the flower petals and leaves that add detail and a much lighter look to the images.  I decided to continue the splattered effect and add both silver and white splatters of ink to the background.  I love the whimsical feel of the splatters; it makes the card feel more light and artsy.  Plus, it’s really not that hard to achieve such a beautiful effect.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Garden Delights Stamp Set
  
• Altenew One Go: Loving Sentiments Stamp Set
  
• Altenew Fresh Dye Inks: Indigo Skies, Crystal Violet, Alpine Aster
• Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Fresh Leaf, Shadow Creek
• Altenew Inks Sprays: Antique Silver and White
• Silver Metallic Pigment Ink
• Taylored Expressions Drip Drops
• A2 Navy Card Base
• 4”x5.25” Gray Linen Card Panel
• White card stock for stamping
• Scrap of Navy card stock for sentiment
• White embossing powder

Here’s how I made it:

• Stamped three flowers onto one piece of white card stock and several leaves onto another using clear embossing ink; added white embossing powder and set with a heat tool.
• Lightly misted my card stock with water, pressed ink cubes onto glass craft mat, sprayed each color with some water, and used a watercolor brush to add splatters of each color to the flowers.
• Used the brush to gently move some of the color and distribute it onto each petal; dried with my heat tool.
• Used the brush to add additional drops of splatter and darken the centers of the flowers; dried with my heat tool.
• Repeated this process until I was happy with how they looked.
• Repeated the above process for the piece of card stock stamped with the leaves.
• Fussy cut all of the flowers and leaves.
• Used the Antique Silver and White Ink Sprays (unscrewed the caps and used the spray pump) to add background splatter to gray card panel.
• Stamped sentiment onto scrap of Navy card stock using Silver metallic pigment ink.
• Once card panel was dry, decided on placement of leaves and flowers; adhered them down using craft glue, double sided foam tape, or a combination of the two to adhere down card elements; adhered card panel to base with double sided tape.

I am really proud of how this card turned out and think it may be one of the nicest ones that I have made to date.  Looking at it just makes me smile!

Card 2 - This is Your Time to Sparkle

There’s something about a faux wood background on a card that really draws my eye to it.  I enjoy working with real wood to make decorations and collages, which likely has a lot to do with it.  However, with cards I usually use an embossing folder to create the detail and then just need to ink blend it.  That’s what intrigued me about trying the technique to make such a background with watercolors.  I was a little intimidated to try it - but am super happy with the result.  I found that adding layers of color and drying in between each layer really helped bring the background to life.  Also, think if your wood is going to have knots in it or be super smooth; if adding knots, don’t pre-plan where they will be.  Rather, let the brush and watercolor let you know where to place the knot.  I know that may sound a little crazy - but it’s not!  The brush and ink and will natrually start to show the darkened areas where a knot might live, and your intuition will confirm it.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Stencil Art: Charming Delight
  
• Altenew Inline Leaves Die Set
  
• Altenew Sparkle Bright Stamp Set (for the sentiment)
  
• Altenew Delectable Delights Crisp Dye Inks
• Altenew Enchanted Garden Crisp Dye Inks
• Altenew Golden Sunset Crisp Dye Inks
• Altenew Shadow Creek and Breen Opal Crisp Dye Inks
• A2 white card base
• Scrap of white card stock for stenciling flowers
• 4”x5.25” watercolor card panel
• Vellum
• Brutus Monroe Gilded Embossing Powder
• Taylored Expressions Drip Drops
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Pen

Here’s how I made it:

• Watercolored the wood background on the watercolor panel using the Delectable Delights (light to dark shades of brown) ink smooshed onto glass craft surface and sprayed with water; spritzed card panel with water to use the wet-on-wet method od watercoloring; started with the lightest and gradually worked my way up to the darker; used long up and down strokes with the watercolor brush, adding light and dark where I felt it was needed; dried with heat tool between layers of color.

• Set the panel aside to let it finish drying.
• Followed directions on stencils and created each flower using the Enchanted Garden and Golden Sunset ink sets; fussy cut each flower and set aside.
• Ink blended Shadow Creek and Green Opal inks onto piece of vellum; dried with heat tool; rn through die cut machine with Inline Leaf die; used vellum to give it a lighter effect against the wood background.
• Decided on placement of sentiment by playing around with leaves and flower layout; once decided, stamped first part of sentiment onto wood card panel with black ink and then the word sparkle with clear embossing ink; added Gilded embossing powder and heat set it.
• Adhered leaves with craft glue and flowers with double sided foam tape; glued down drip drops; adhered panel to card base with double sided tape.
• Used Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Pen to add glitter to the flowers for some extra sparkle.

What do you think of the wood panel?  I think it looks really good and provides a beautiful backdrop for the vine and flowers draping down it.  I can see this being a part of a fence and the vine of flowers growing up the back side and draping down the front side.

Card 3 - I Miss You

I think of this card as being my Gatsby Hibiscus.  Can’t you see it sitting on a table in the Hamptons at a party hosted by Jay as Nick and Daisy look on?  Of course, I think of it as such because of the very art deco feel of the design with the black and gold colors and partial frame around the card panel.  That was my inspiration for this card - showcase the grand hibiscus in an oppulent way - and what better time of opulence was there than the art deco period?  That is why I also decided to adorn the panel with shiny rhinestone gems of varying sizes.  The hibiscus was a perfect layering stamp to use to add additional details with alcohol markers given the large petals

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Hibiscus Motif Layering Stamp Bundle
  
• Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Cotton Candy, Coral Berry, Fresh Leaf, Shadow Creek, Citrus Burst
• Altenew Artisty Alcohol Markers: Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Pink Cloud, Frayed Leaf, Forrest Glades, Icy Lemonade
• Altenew Gem Sparkles Crystal Clear
• Delicata Golden Glitz Pigment Ink
• Black A2 card base
• 4”x5.25” vellum panel
• 3.75”x5” black card panel
• White card stock to stamp flower
• Black card stock to stamp frame
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Pen

Here’s how I made it:

• Stamped hibiscus outline first following the layering guide; let the flower dry.
• Stamped the frame pieces onto black card stock with gold pigment ink and set aside to dry.
• Adhered vellum panel to black card base with double sided tape, and then adhered the black card panel to the vellum; used a gold metallic marker to run around the visible vellum, thereby coloring it gold while also getting a gold outline on the black card panel.
• Added detail to the hibiscus petals with the Coral Berry and Ruby Red markers by making upward flicking motions on the petals; glazed over the petals with the Pink cCoud marker, which helps to further blend the color together and soften the darker areas a bit; added some additional shading to the leaves and stem with Frayed Leaf and Forrest Glade inks and then glazed them with the Icy Lemonade marker.
• Die cut the flower and set aside.
• Die cut the frame pieces and set aside.
• Decided on placement of card elements; once decided, chose where to stamp the sentiment and stamped it with Golden Glitz ink.
• Adhered flower to card with craft glue; adhered frame pieces with double sided foam tape to add dimension; glued down rhinestones.
• Added some glitter to the flower with a Nuvo Shimmer Glitter pen.

I’m really happy with how pretty this card turned out!  It’s very grand, lavish, and beautiful . . . and very Hampton-ish.  Perhaps Ina Garten needs a dinner party invitation?!

That wraps up my post on my third AECP Level 3 class.  I hope that you enjoyed reading more about my creative process and inspirations.  Until next time . . . be well!

AECP Level 3 - Cards in Motion

Hey there, friends!

I just finished my second AECP Level 3 class, Cards in Motion, which focused on cards with movement.  The class was a lot of fun!  The most popular type of such a card seems to be the shaker card,  where there is a window with some form of filling inside that moves and makes noise when you shake the card.  I like shaker cards but usually associate them more with cards for kids, which is why the shaker card that I made for the class was to welcome a new baby.  Other popular types include spinners and pop-ups.  I made one of each of them as well.  My favorite type is definitely the pop-up card, and I think that the Altenew set that I used for mine worked perfectly.

Card 1 - Welcome Baby Shaker Card

As I previously mentioned, I usually associate shaker cards with cards for kids.  I know that there are plenty of adults who enjoy them and would likely disagree with me!  That said, I knew that the shaker that I made would have a children’s theme, and what better theme than one of welcoming a new bundle of joy?  Altenew’s Baby Shower stamp set was the perfect choice for this.  My design included two circular shaker windows - one large and one small - in which the characters are stamped.  It’s a pretty clean and simple design overall and, in this case, I think less is more.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Baby Shower Stamp
  
• Alcohol Markers
• Glitter Gel Pens
• A mix of colored sequins that I had on hand (not sure of the brand)
• Concord & 9th Yellow Enamel Dots

Here’s how I made it:

• Cut a 4”x5.25” yellow card panel and adhered it to an A2 white card base.
• Cut two  3.75”x5” white card panels; on one panel, used two nested circle dies, one smaller than the other, and cut circles in the upper left hand and lower right hand corners of the panel,; stanped balloons and strings in the other two corners; colored the balloons with alcohol markers; stamped the sentiment with embossing ink, and heat embossed it with black embossing powder.
• Using the panel with the two circles cut from it, aligned the other white panel behind it, decided on best placement of stamped images inside of each circle (I wanted two characters in each); stamped the characters, colored them with alcohol markers and glitter gels pens.
• Cut a 3.75”x5” piece of acetate and glued it to the back of the panel with the circles cut out.
• Mounted double sided foam tape on the backside of the panel with the circles cut out: put tape around the circles and pieces of tape around the sides of the panel.
• Put some of the sequins on top of the stamped images and then adhered the panel with the double sided foam tape on top of that panel.
• Adhered the combined card panel to the card base with double sided tape and added three yellow enamel dots with glue.

This is such a cute and fun card, and it’s certain to make the mom who receives it smile!

Card 2 - Thinking of You Spinner Card

I really wanted to attempt a spinner card with a rotating wreath on it after watching the class video.  I thought it would be a really pretty and fun way to add motion to a card for an adult.  I looked through my stash of Altenew products and new that the Blooms of Friendship Stamp and Die set would be the perfect choice for it.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Blooms of Friendship Outline Stamp and Die Set (received in a kit for another class)
• Altenew Trellis Stencil
  
• Altenew Vanilla Cream and Hazelnut Crisp Dye Inks
• Altenew Crystal Clear Gem Sparkles
• Alcohol markers
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Gloss Pen

Here’s how I made it:

• Cut a 4”x5.25” white card panel and stenciled it with the Trellis stencil in an ombre pattern using Hazelnut and Vanilla Cream inks; adhered the panel to an A2 white card base with double sided tape.
• Stamped selected florals on a heavy white card stockand colored them with alcohol markers; cut them out with the coordinating dies.  Note that you want to use a heavier card stock for this since you will be grasping itmor tugging at it to make it spin.  You don’t want to use a lightweight card stock that could easily rip.
• Determined the best size of nesting circle dies to use for the spinner mechanism (based on size of card panel and how many floral images I plan to use).  I chose one that I thought would work the best and then the next size down from it.  I then cut four rings with the dies from a heavyweight card stock.
• Adhered one ring onto the stenciled card panel with craft glue.  Lined the inside of the ring with double sided foam tape strips.  I suggest using a thick foam tape to ensure that the wreath easily glides around it.  You may also double up the strips if they are thinner.
• Arranged floral die cuts around a ring with craft glue; adhered the other two rings to the back of it using craft glue.
• Placed the floral wreath around the double sided foam tape on the card base and ensured that it’s a good fit; once happy with the fit, placed pieces of double sided foam tape (three or four cut squares that will fit) inside of the center of the circle.
• Determined the appopriate size of circle to put in the center of the wreath and cut one out of a piece of scrap paper.  I chose to use cream based on my color palette.  Stamped the sentiment onto the circle.
• Placed the circle onto the double sided foam tape in the center of the wreath.  Turned the wreath to make sure that it spins correctly.
• Painted flowers with the Nuvo shimmer pennand adhered gems.

The result is a beautiful floral wreath card that has the added benefit of spinning around.  The florals are so pretty and the spinning adds a touch of whimsy to it.  Who wouldn’t enjoy that?!?

Card Three - Love You Pop Up

I love a good pop up card!  They’re so fun and add an element of surprise when you open it.  I have to admit that I actually planned this card around a certain stamp and die set.  I purchased the set well after choosing this course for Level 3 and knew that I would use it as one of my cards.  This set just screams pop up card to me!

Here’s what I used:

• Craft Your Life Project Kit: Loving You
  
• Alcohol markers
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Gloss Pen
• Rabbit Hole Designs White Enamel Dots

Here’s how I made it:

• Cut a 4”x5.25” light blue card panel and embossed it with the Loving You Embossing Folder; adhered it to an A2 white card base; colored the flowers with the Nuvo Shimmer Pen.
• Stamped the Love and You stamps onto white card stock with black ink; colored the images with alcohol markers; cut them out with coordinating dies.
• Took a second A2 card base and cut the pop up mechanism along the spine.  I measured a quarter inch on each side of the midpoint of the spine and then made cuts with my scissors.
• Pushed the cut pop up mechanism forward so that it was sticking out from the card base; adhered double sided tape to the base and inserted it into the first card base.
• Placed double sided foam tape on the back of the Love die cut and adhered it to the front of the card.  I decided to place it at an angle for a touch of whimsy.
• Glued the You die cut to the pop up mechanism on the inside of the card.
• Cut a piece of pink card stock to fit on the inside of the card below the You pop up and adhered it down with double sided tape.  This step is completely optional - only did it add a little more color to the inside.
• Glued three white enamel dots to the front of the card.

I absolutely adore this card!  I think it’s really beautiful and a truly fun way to let someone know how you feel.

That’s it for Cards in Motion!  Three fun cards that all have some form of movement to them. I haven’t done a lot of cards like this previously . . . .but see more in my future!

Thanks for spending some time with me here on Paper Play.  Stay tuned for a post on another course soon!

Until next time . . . be well!