With much excitement, awe, and humble gratitude, I was selected last winter to participate in in Altenew’s Educator Certification Program (AECP) (https://altenew.com/pages/aecp-participants). Over the past several months I have been taking various courses from Altenew Academy and learning so much in the process! As the final part of Level 1 of the program, participants are asked to create a final project. I’ll admit, this has been scaring me – so much so that I have been contemplating what to create for several months now, inspired by so much but admittedly a bit intimidated as to how I was going to put it all together!
That said, I finally settled on a direction to take the design of this card last week, and got busy last weekendÂ… only to start to dislike where it was going and setting the project aside for the week. Well, I finally got back in it yesterday and viola! A birthday card was born! I combined several of the design techniques and elements I learned in the courses into this final project, and the end result not only challenged me in its components but brought me joy to devise!
I wanted to do something clean and simple, yet make it unexpected by use of craft paper in place of the standard white. I used my versamark pen and a ruler to draw two parallel, diagonal lines across my main card panel, added embossing powder, then set it with my heat tool. I masked off the upper and lower portions of the main panel before going back in and stamping leaf detail with a stamp from the Ranunculus set in versamark, then embossing in white. I also added random dots with my white gel pen to make the area less bare. I then trimmed the panel down a quarter inch all the way around before mounting with foam tape on a plain white card base.
After stamping the main flower image and several leaves with Versamark on craft-colored cardstock, I got busy with my colored pencils, giving color gradation to the bloom. I then die cut the flower and leaves out with the matching die set, and after placing it on my background panel, decided it needed a little more oomph, so went back in with a white gelly roll pen to fill in the lines between the petals as well as added white embossing powder to the outer outline, setting with my heat tool. I popped the flower and one of the leaves up with foam tape for added dimension.
Thanks so much for viewing my project! I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in Level 1 of AECP and am excited to further draw inspiration from what I have already learned by applying it to all my future cardmaking!
Registered: May 7, 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 472
Mon, Sep 24, 2018 @ 9:50 AM
What an EXCELLENT write-up, Chrissy!! Your use of kraft card stock and color pencils are brilliant! I love every bit of details that you put into this design! The white in this card really stands out and it really is a showstopper! Thanks so much for entering your beautiful work in Altenew AECP assignment Gallery. Beautiful colors and design. Well done on your Level 1 Final Challenge!
------------------------------ My blog (Yes,Virginia...): https://virginialusblog.blogspot.com/ Altenew Card Design Team Member since Jan. 2017 Coordinator of Altenew Educators Certification Program
Registered: June 4, 2009 Location: Deatsville, Alabama Posts: 83747
Wed, Sep 26, 2018 @ 2:46 AM
Very pretty! I love that you did this on kraft and your flower is gorgeous!!! I am proud of you taking on this education project! I need to do something like that.
------------------------------ Nancy Williams - Hope your day is Spirit-filled and ink-filled (in that order)!DRS Designs-DT, Punchkateerforever, Dirty Dozen Alumni
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Creative Crew SU Design Team Alumni Demo Challenge Leader Splitcoast Challenge Host
Registered: February 8, 2004 Location: South of Oklahoma, North of DFW Airport = North Texas! Posts: 44446
Sun, Sep 30, 2018 @ 2:48 PM
Lovin' the white embossing atop the neutral kraft color, plus the color depth around the edges!
And thanks for your review of the Altenew educator program! That's been an interesting idea afloat for sure, and it's great to hear from a 'student' of their academy!
Wow! This is beautiful! What a cool thing to get to participate in Altenew’s Educator Certification Program! I am sure you learned a lot that you will use for a long time!
Registered: July 9, 2008 Location: Stars Fell on Alabama Posts: 75007
Tue, Oct 02, 2018 @ 5:26 AM
Your card is beautiful and I can tell you are happy you were involved in the program. Sounds like a lot of fun. You should get a top notch grade for this beauty.
------------------------------ My Blog---My Gallery---My PinterestI'm a Punchkateer! (Prez) FOREVERDirty Dozen Alumni2014 CAS Spring DT--- Inspiration Challenge Co- Hostess 12/02/17-12/28/19 Watercolor Wednesday Design Team Hebrews 13:2Brenda