Beautiful Details - AECP Level 2

Good morning, Fellow Crafters! 

Today, I have two cards to show you from the Altenew Educator Certification Program: Beautiful Details, taught by Marika Rahtu. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Marika's course, Beautiful Details, particularly the first lesson. I was so inspired by what she did with a layered stamp that I immediately went into my craft room to create! I used the Altenew Peony Bouquet. This set contains two peonies with four layers, one large and one small. I created this card using the small peony layered stamp and a layered leaf.

For my first card, I placed my image on a stamping block and inked it up using my Stampin' Up! Write Marker, Almost Amethyst, on a panel of Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock and began stamping my image in a circular motion until the ink faded away. I kept inking the image and stamping from dark to light tones until I was satisfied with the results. I decided to add another color, so I wiped off my stamp and inked it up with another Write marker, Pixie Pink, and repeated the steps mentioned above.

When I was happy with my floral results, I took the small leaf layer stamp from the set, inked it up with Old Olive, and stamped around my florals to give it a little more interest. From there, I used a black fine point marker and just flickered away in areas that I thought it could use some more detail. 

I stamped my sentiment from Altenew Smile More, as I thought it expressed how I was feeling while creating this card. I also added another sentiment from the same set because, all through playing, not knowing what exactly I wanted to create, I remained positive that no matter the result, I was enjoying myself. To finish off the card, I added some champagne mist drops, which I applied with a thin paint brush. All in all, I am very happy with the end result. And for that, I will give myself a pat on the back! 

My second card is from Lesson 4 with Marika Rahtu. I will be using a no-line coloring technique on Vellum. I have always wanted to try no-line coloring, and it has always been a challenge for me. I have tried it before and was never satisfied with my results, as you were always able to see the lines. This lesson from Marika was truly inspiring!

For this card, I used the Altenew Dainty Sprig (retired). I started my card by stamping the image with Versamark Ink on a sheet of Vellum. I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder for a no-line coloring technique. When using this technique, you will not be able to actually see the lines so well, which is expected with clear embossing powder. 

Pro Tip: To achieve a visual image, place your vellum image over a white sheet of paper. 

Now that you can see the outline, you may begin to color. I began coloring with my Copic Markers first. I chose RV02 to shade the area to which I wanted to add a shadow and then added a darker shadow with RV04. When I finished with the markers, I pulled out my Prismacolor Pencils and began to add more detail with my darkest color first (Pink) and blended it out with my lightest (Blush Pink). I flipped my image around to see how it looked, and WOW! I was actually doing a no-line coloring card!

Next, I had to color the leaves. I followed the same technique and began coloring the same way that I mentioned above. First using my Copic Markers YG02 and finishing with YG04. I added more details with my Prismacolor Pencils, Apple Green and Chartreuse. I proceeded to the center of the flowers with Y02, Y04 and Prismacolor Pencils Spanish Orange and Canary Yellow and added some details to the center using Goldenrod.

After my image was colored and die-cut using the coordinating dies, I pulled out a panel of Neenah Solar White 80# and ran it through my Sizzix Big Shot Plus using Stampin' Up! Oldworld Embossing Folder. I adhered it to an A2-sized Neenah Solar White #110 card base. I had some frame scraps lying around, so I decided to use them for this card. From there, I placed the yellow frame directly on the panel with a slight tilt to the left, then placed the white frame on top slightly to the right. 

For the sentiment, I used Simon Says Stamps All About You. I stamped it using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, die-cut it out using the coordinating dies, and adhered it to the panel inside the frame with foam dots. Now it was time to place my focal image. Whenever I used vellum for a project, I always had issues with how to attach it to my project without seeing the glue. I learned, with so many other tips, that if you use glue dots behind a colored area, you won't see it! Therefore, I was able to attach my image to the panel, and I really did look closely afterward, and I did not see anything behind the flowers. Amazing! I finished off my card with three pink gems.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you enjoy my cards and are interested in seeing more, please click the Follow button on the right side of the page. I would greatly appreciate it.

CHALLENGE:

Altenew May Inspiration Challenge 

SSS Monday Challenge - Lots of Texture

SSS Wednesday Challenge - AG

MFT Card Cue Challenge - Flower Power

Word Art Wednesday - #649-650

Digichoosday - WK21

As you Like It Challenge - Dry, lots of texture 

Can You Handle the Pressure - AG

Crafters Cafe - #308