ACEP LEVEL 1 FINAL CHALLENGE

 HELLO, I'm BAAAACK...! I took a leap of faith by challenging myself creatively. I chose to participate in Altenew Educator Certification program (AECP)! I completed all Level 1 courses (applause). In order to move on to Level 2, I must conquer the Level 1 Final Challenge! This entails creating a gift set of "His" and "Her" cards while incorporating components I learned from the courses. Each set of cards will be packaged in a beautiful DIY container (I will share the details). 

    The cards needed to be cohesive. I brainstormed for several days on my themes. I kept post-it-notes in my car, at work, by my bed and in my purse. My best ideas sneak up on me at the strangest times and places. One must be prepared! 

I decided the themes as follows: diamond (shape) and use of tissue papers (upcycle). I chose 'diamond' because the geometric shape is versatile (can use for HIM and HER) and is timeless. I also used a set of colors as the theme design (HIS - gold, black, white; HER - silver, pink, gray, white).

Along the way, I will share techniques I learned from the following courses: 

    * Clean and Simple Boutique Cards

    * Let It Shine

    * Easy Die Cutting Technique

    * Irresistible Inking Technique

And how I incorporate them into the cards. LET'S BEGIN.....

I was inspired by Altenew's concept of 'Zero-Waste' dies. For all the "HIS" cards, I use every components of the 'Diamond Frame Die' (the frames, the negative pieces - solid rhomboid, and the scraps/excesses around the cut-outs). 

HIS CARD #1

For this card,  I utilized the die-cut frames from 'Diamond Frame' die set. I adhered the four frames to green tissue paper (saved from a bouquet of flowers given to me by my lovely husband). I trimmed the excess off. They were assembled as shown above. I used the fifth frame as the focal point to draw ones eyes to the center of the design anchored by the sediment.

(TIP: cut up the thin frame die-cut to "frame" the sediment )

How the courses that inspired this card: 

    Clean and Simple Boutique - use of "specialty" paper (green tissue papers)

    Let It Shine - use of mirror-reflective cardstock and 1/8" adhesive tape with gold gilded embossing powder to frame the design

HIS CARD #2

I cut a 3" strip of black card stock and two 1/8" strips of gold mirrored cardstock. I, then, die-cut the 'Diamond Frame' die three times and utilized only the negatives pieces. 

The negative pieces were scored for textures. 

(score the negative pieces)

I die-cut a smaller diamond frame. The negative piece was adhered to the middle diamond on the card base with foam tape for dimension. Over-hangs were trimmed from the top and bottom of the card. 

( TIP: use a damp soft cloth to remove adhesives and finger prints for added SHINE )

How the courses inspired this card: 

    Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - score lines for textures

    Easy Die-Cutting Technique - use of negative die cuts from the 'Diamond Frame'

    Let It Shine - gold metallic cardstock

    

    

HIS CARD #3

I created a scenic card using the negative pieces of the 'Diamond Frame' as mountains.

A circle die was placed at the top third of an A2 card panel to create an opening. This acts as a "window" to the scenic scene of sunrise. The sunrise was created by ink blending on a second A2 card panel (underneath).

( TIP: Neenah Solar White 80lb is best for blending)

I die cut a circular frame multiple times and adhered together with glue to create a dimensional frame around the scene.

A Copic multiliner pen was used to hand-draw a bird in flight for interest.

How the courses inspired this card: 

Easy Die Cutting - used a "negative die cut" (circular frame) over inked cardstock as a "window", used multiple layers of die-cut instead of foam tapes for dimension

Easy Ink Blending - created a basic scenic ink-blended background

Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - use of micropens for hand-drawing

    

HIS CARD #4

I trimmed a gold mirrored cardstock to A2 size. A black cardstock was trimmed 1/8" smaller on all sides. I die cut three diamonds from 'Diamond Frame' die. To create the larger diamonds, I cut the outside of the negative spaces. I provided a video below for better explanation.

Prior to assembly of the card as shown above, I splattered gold acrylic paint on the black card stock. 

( TIP: acrylic paint is water soluble, therefore water can be added to thin the paint for splatters )

I arranged the die-cuts where I want them to be and marked the positions with a pencil. Then the pieces were adhered to the card base. 

How the courses inspired the card:

Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - gold splatters for interest

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For HER cards, in keeping with the diamond theme, I will share how various shapes can be constructed with diamonds. 

HER CARD #1

The 'Diamond Frame', along with silver cardstock, was used to create three thin frames. Each frame was adhered to pink tissue papers (repurposed items from past gifts) and the excesses were removed by trimming. The three pink diamonds were arranged to create a 'heart.' I created the flowers using 'Bitty Bloom 3D' die set. They are the crowning glory of this card!

( TIP: use odd number of flowers and arrange the leaves in triangular shape to give a more natural look )

HER CARD #2

The 'Mega Greeting 2' stamps ( words: happy, anniversary) were stamped with soft gray ink on a white A2 card base. The large text creates a bold statement. A circular frame die was used to create two "silver ring bands" using mirrored silver cardstock. The negative piece from the 'Diamond Frame' die was snipped to create a diamond stone for one of the bands. 

( TIP: when taking photos, prop the card to reduce the reflection of light on metallic cardstock )

How the courses inspired this card:

Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - large text can create a beautiful bold background

HER CARD #3 

A watercolor paper was trimmed to 4" x 5.25". I used two acrylic blocks (2.75" x 4.25", 1" x 1") for stamping. For the larger acrylic block, I swiped 3 different shades of pink (light, med, dark) onto the block, misted with water, then stamped onto the paper. It created a lovely ombre effect.

With the smaller block, I swiped the darker shade of pink and stamped on to the watercolor paper (DID NOT mist with water). I wanted to add texture, therefore used the 'Organic Linen' embossing folder as a stamp with the med shade of pink.  

I die-cut one of the 'Leaf Clusters' with two shades of gray. I offset the lightest leaf to create a shadow. Three small diamond frames (cut from silver glitter cardstock) were adhered as shown. Altenew metallic silver thread was placed under the sediment for interest. 

( TIP: position the large acrylic block in the center of the paper then place masking tape/low-tack tape around the block. This helps one to align the acrylic block when stamping and control the water flows )

How the courses inspired the card:

Irresistible Inking Technique - incorporated stamp block inking and embossing folder as a stamp

HER CARD #4

Four thin diamond frames were die-cut from silver glitter cardstock. A custom stamp was created by attaching one of the dies from 'Bitty Bloom 3D' die set onto 1"x1" acrylic block with glue dot. Dark pink ink was applied to the pink tissue papers using the DIY stamp. For added interest, the corner of the ink pad was stamped directly to the tissue papers. 

Each of the four diamond frames was glued to the stamped tissue papers. The solid frames were arranged to create "wings" for the butterfly. The body of the butterfly was cut from an ombre ink blended cardstock. 

( TIP: the wings can be bend for added depth )

How the courses inspired the card:

Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - use of glitter to antennas for pizzazz

Irresistible Inking Technique - use of direct-to-paper ink stamping technique; created a DIY stamp with die

Easy Ink Blending - color gradient ink blending

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Now that my two card sets are complete..... 

               HIS CARDS

                                              HER CARDS

...... it's time to unveil the CUSTOM PACKAGING!

I repurposed a couple of cardboard boxes used for mail delivery. First, I disassembled the boxes to lay flat. Then, I coated each one with gesso (black for HIS and white for HER). I made a custom stamp to decorate the boxes. In keeping with the theme, I created a diamond shape stamp. I placed the 'Diamond Frame' die on a sheet of EZ mounting foam. Using an exacto knife, I carefully trimmed away the foam while maintaining the blade along the die's edges. I mounted the foam stamp onto a wooden block. Metallic inks (gold for HIS and silver for HER) along with the stamp were used to decorate the boxes. Using the wooden block, I encountered difficulties in keeping the stamped images aligned. I wasn't happy with the end results. Therefore, I recoated the boxes and used the custom foam stamp on acrylic block instead. I used mesh ribbons (gold for HIS and pink for HER) as the finishing touches. 

( TIP: you will make mistakes....know it's just add beautiful imperfections to your creations. GIVE YOURSELF GRACE! )