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!

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!

AECP Level 3 - Runway Inspired Card Making

Hey there, crafting friends!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play today.  This post officially kicks off level 3 of AECP for me.  I have five courses to complete and then my final assignment will be to host a live class.  More about the class at a later date - today’s focus is on completing my first level 3 course, Runway Inspired Card Making.  This class was AMAZING and so much fun.  The content focused on getting inspiration for card designs from current runway fashions.  I started by making the decision to make three cards for the class - one female design, one male design, and one bridal design.  Bridal fashion wasn’t a focus of the course but I thought it would be fun to make a wedding card based on current fashion trends.  That decision made, I performed my research of current fashion trends and decided upon three styles to inspire my card designs.

Card 1 - Female 2024 Fashion Trend: Roses

According to Vogue, one of the leading fashion trends for women is rose prints.  I saw multiple rose print dresses that were stunning, but this one from Alexander McQueen truly stood out to me:

I loved the large rose and petals, and the A-line style.  I wanted my card design to have a large rose(s) and lots of petals.  However, I didn’t want to use a red rose.  I wanted to be different and chose two shades of pink instead.  Here’s my card inspired by this dress:

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Ambridge Rose Layering Stencil Set
  
• Altenew Happy Flowers Stamp Set - for the sentiment
  
• Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks: Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• White A2 card base
• 4”x5.25” black card panel
• Brutus Monroe Alabaster Pigment Ink
• Pink and green glitter gel pens
• Taylored Expressions Bits & Pieces Black Rhinestones

Here’s how I made it:

• Made three triangle cuts (top of black card panel, left & right sides) to mimic a neckline and waistline.
• Stenciled the base part of the roses with Spun Sugar Oxide Ink.  I chose this because I knew that the light shade of pink oxide ink on the black card stock would give the flower base the look of a sheer material, which is a way to add the illusion of texture to the card.
• Stenciled the second part of the roses with Victorian Velvet Oxide Ink.
• Stenciled the stem and base leaves with Mowed Lawn Oxide Ink and then added little touches of Rustic Wilderness Oxide Ink to add light shadows.
• Randomly stenciled leaves over the rest of the card panel with Mowed Lawn and Rustic Wilderness.
• Outlined the flowers and leaves with pink and green glitter gel pens to add some sparkle.
• Adhered card panel to base with double sided foam tape.
• Stamped sentiment onto black card stock scrap with Alabaster ink; once dry, adhered to card with double sided foam tape.
• Glued a black rhinestone where each notched triangle is located on the card.

I am extremely happy with how this card came out!  I think it’s a good likeness of the dress.

Card 2 - Male 2024 Fashion Trend: Patterned Cuffs

I have to admit that my research on male fashion trends was quite . . . interesting to say the least!  I didn’t see a lot that really spoke to me or that I could wear.  That said, I’ve always been a huge fan of patterned cuffs on a shirt.  You know, like the kind that the character Cam usually wore on Modern Family.  I own a lot these shirts and am a always drawn to shirts from designed Robert Graham; so I chose a Robert Graham style as an inspiration for this card:

I decided to go a little more bold with mine:

Here’s what I used:

• Altenew Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder
  
• Altenew Painted Rainbow Outline Stamp Set
  
• Altenew Uplifting Sentiments Bundle
  
• Artistry by Altenew Alcohol Markers
• A2 sized navy card base
• 4”x5.25” medium blue card panel
• 6”x5.25” white shimmer card panel
• Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ink
• Brutus Monroe Clear Embossing Ink
• Brutus Monroe Raven Embossing Powder
• 3 white buttons

Here’s how I made it:

• Embossed the medium blue card panel with the Organic Linen embossing folder.
• Scored the white shimmer panel at 2” and used a stamp from Painted Rainbow to stamp the design with clear embossing ink to make the cuff design; added Raven embossing powder and heat set.
• Colored the cuff with alcohol markers; adhered the cuff panel to the medium blue panel so that the embossed cuff was in front of it and the remainder of that panel was behind it.  Used craft glue on the backside and double sided foam tape at the top of the cuff to give it a flared look.
• Attached card panel to card base with double sided tape.
• Stamped sentiment with Alabaster ink onto a strip of navy card stock; cut it outh with coordinating die; adhered to card with double sided foam tape.
• Attached 3 buttons tomthe left side of the cuff with craft glue.

I think that this card definitely gives the vibe of a shirt sleeve with a flared patterned cuff.  I’d wear it!

Card 3 - Bridal 2024 Fashion Trend: Floral Applique

Vogue was once again my go to source - this time for bridal fashion.  The trend that I decided to mimic is floral applique on the dress.  It’s such a pretty design element and one that I knew I could accomodate.  Here’s the pic of the actual gown that inspired my card:

I wanted to make a wedding card so that I could finally use the Enchanted Beginnings set.  Here’s a pic of my card:

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Enchanted Beginnings Bundle
  
• Altenew Folk Art Flowers Die Set
• Altenew Vintage Roses Stamp Set - for the sentiment
  
• Black A2 card base
• 4”x5.25” gold foil card panel
• White shimmer card panel
• Vellum
• Poece of white organza ( I cut apart an oragnza bag)
• Brutus Monroe Embossing Ink
• Brutus Monroe Raven Embossing Powder
• Nuvo Shimmer Glitter Gloss Pen
• Pearl gems

Here’s how I made it:

• Embossed the white shimmer card panel with the Enchanted Beginnings folder; colered the groom with Grey Shadow ink; decided on placement of couple on card; fussy cut the couple.
• Cut piece of organza to cover the train of the wedding dress and glued it down along the edges to the dress.
• Die cut nine flowers using die from Folk Art Flowers and vellum; adhered flowers to dress with craft glue; adhered pearls to center of flowers with craft glue.
• Used Nuvo Shimmer pen to add sparkle to top portion of dress and the applique flowers.
• Stamped sentiment onto gold foil card panel with clear embossing ink; added raven embossing powder; heat set it.
• Adhered couple to the card panel with double sided foam tape.
• Adhered panel to card base with double sided tape.

I think this card is gorgeous - and I’d be proud to give it to a couple as a gift!

That wraps up this entry on my Runway Inspired Card Making class.  This was by far my favorite AECP course!  I’ll be starting the next course and will have another post soon.  Until next time . . . be well!

AECP Level 2 - Magical Marker Techniques

Welcome back to Paper Play, crafty friends!

I appreciate you stopping by today.  This post is all about various ways to use alcohol markers aside from traditional coloring, which was the focus of the AECP Level 2 course Magical Marker Techniques.  Most of us reach for our alcohol markers to color in a stamped image; however, there are many different ways that you can use them.  This course provided 6 lessons - each focusing on a different technique.  I chose two techniques to incorporate into my project for the class - using alcohol markers and spritzes of alcohol to color on metal and using alcohol markers on vellum.  This class was a lot of fun for me since I love to color, and I always enjoy trying out a new technique or two.

My project for the course features: a die cut dahlia that is made from layers of metal tape on top of white card stock and then colored with three shades of pink alcohol markers and spritzed with rubing alcohol; stem and leaves die cut from vellum and colored with green alcohol markers; a background made using a stencil and grit paste mixed with a little Lunar Paste; and a sentiment band with embossing.

Here’s what I used to make it:

• Altenew Build-A-Garden: Dear Dahlias Stamp & Die Set
  
• Altenew Inline Leaves Die Set
  
• Altenew Trellis Stencil
  
• Altenew One Friend Stamp Set
  
• Altenew Artist Alcohol Markers: Frosty Pink, Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Olive
• Ranger Tim Holtz Grit Paste - Opaque
• Ranger Simon Hurley Lunar Paste - Slippery When Wet
• Sizzix Clear Embossing Ink
• Ranger Black Embossing Powder
• 1 A2 white card base
• 1 4”x5.25” pink card panel
• 1 3.75”x5” white card panel
• Vellum
• Clear Drip Drops

Here’s how I made it:

• Created white card base, cut pink panel, ran Frosty Pink marker around the edges of both, and adhered panel to base with double sided tape.
• Created white card panel and taped it down to craft surface with post-it tape.
• Placed stencil over card panel and secured with post-it tape.
• Mixed a little grit paste with a small amount of lunar paste, which created a rose gold/light gold colored paste; spead paste evenly over the stencil, removed tape, and set panel aside to dry.
• Adhered metal tape (the type used in HVAC system assembly & repair, purchased on Amazon) onto small piece of white card stock, aligned dahlia dies, and ran through my die cut machine.
• Colored dahlia flower die cuts with the pink markers, starting with lightest and ending with darkest, and spritzed with rubbing alcohol.
• The rubbing alcohol interacts with the alcohol ink and creates a mottle effect.

• Once dry, assembled the petals into the flower using craft glue.
• Used leaf die and cut set from vellum; colored each side of cut vellum with the green markers, starting with lightest and ending with darkest.
• Cut a sentiment banner from vellum, dusted piece with baking powder, and stamped the sentiment with clear embossing ink; sprinkled black embossing powder over the ink, tapped off excess, and set with heat tool.
• Assembled pieces onto card panel and adhered that panel to the card with double sided foam tape.
• Adhered three clear drip drops with craft glue

This dahlia is gorgeous!  I love the varying shades of pink and way that the rubbing alcohol gave the petals a mottled look, especially versus the vellum colored leaves and stenciled background.  The card also has lots of texture and depth.  Overall, I am super happy with this card and look forward to giving it to a deserving friend.

That wraps up today’s post.  I hope that you learned something new about alcohol markers and ink and that it has inspired you to try creating something on your own.  Thanks for spending some time with me today.  Until next time . . . be well!