Today is a super exciting day for me. I started these lessons in 2018 and for many other commitments I couldn’t finish this. When I was given the final challenge, at first, I was kind of worried about making male cards because I struggle with that so I had my son to choose some colors, stamps and dies and at the end he loved the final results. Goal achieved!
So for my project I made a His & Her Card Set Encouragement Cards and I created a gift box with plenty of room for envelopes and cards with many layers and dimension, those are the ones that love the most.
For this challenge I have selected 3 components from all the classes taken. Here they are:
• Easy Die Cutting Techniques: I love dimension and to create many layers on my cards, I believe this makes a card more glamorous and interesting. That being said by stamping and die cutting an image or images you can create clusters and pop up some of them using foam tape. This way you can also create a focal point on your card. TIP: Adding frames helps me getting different levels between my florals and die cut elements. Also, by using different elements like threads, vellum and even embellishments you can create more layers.
• Let It Shine: I love gold, glitter and shine so almost in every single card that I make I have to add a bit of shine. By heat embossing your die cut elements with any embossing glitter you can add that pop of sparkle. Also using gold cardstock or a specialty paper like glitter cardstock, with your die cut sentiments, is a great way to add shine and glitter to your projects. I can’t resist the look of gold heat embossed images on my cards so I use this technique quite a lot. Sequins and glitter glue are also another easy way to make your backgrounds shine. TIP: Use a glue pen to add foil accents to your cards, it’s the easiest and fastest way for using foil on your projects and it adds lots of shine.
• Celebration Stencil Techniques: Stencils are such an awesome way to create easy backgrounds and they are very inexperienced. My favorite way of using an stencil is by applying embossing ink and then heat embossing it. Don’t forget to use anti static powder before heat embossing and always heat emboss from the back of your panel! TIP: By rotating your stencil you can have a different look and if you use a different medium every time you rotate the stencil, you definitely take your background to a next level. Also, if you have an intricate stencil you can use Prixie spray to hold the stencil in place.
Masculine Card Set Encouragement Cards + Gift Box
I’m going to start with the masculine set. This was a really challenge for me, but I like challenges. I started by choosing inks, colors of cardstock, stamps and dies. I had my son helping me with this! I really needed a male perspective. So, I had Galactic Stream, Teal Cave, Cloudy Sky and Misty Morning ink colors as my palette color combination. Additionally, I added a navy blue and I thought the best color for adding shine was a metallic embossing powder so I used Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder and the navy blue and platinum embossing powder matched the palette color combination perfectly! I tried to combine elements like dies, frames, stencil and cardstocks throughout the four cards I made, having the same palette combination but being unique at the same time.
In addition to the the four cards I made a gift box using a dark teal cardstock that matched my palette combination. I decorated it using the same stencil, dies, frames and colors to maintain the same look as the cards.
On the front part of the box, I adhered two pieces of cardstock previously colored using the Altenew Deco Wallpaper Stencil and ink colors like Teal Cave, Cloudy Sky and Misty Morning. Also, I added this rectangle frame that I die cut out of three different colored cardstocks using the Altenew Fine Frames Rectangles Dies. On top I placed the Hope die cut that was heat embossed using Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder. Finally, I added a piece of ribbon to close the box.
To create this box I watched a video tutorial but I changed the measurements so A2 cards can fit. I used a 12×12 cardstock that was cut at 9” x 8 5/8” for the main body. On the longest side I scored at 6” and 7”. On the short side I scored at 1”-2”-6 5/8”-7 5/8”. On picture #1 you can see the piece of cardstock cut and scored. Then, on picture #2 you see what parts were cut out. I used a corner punch to round some borders, just like you see on picture #3. Last picture #4 shows how the main body looks once it’s been folded and glued. Additionally, you will need to cut a 12” x 4 1/2 piece of cardstock to create the flap and score it at 5 1/4 and 6 1/4. Then, you can glue this flap on the inside of the box.
Supplies:
- Fine Frames Rectangle Dies
- Mega Hope Die
- Mega Greetings 4 Stamp Set
- Script Words 2 Die Set
- Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set
- Deco Wallpaper Stencil
- Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine
- Mini Blossom Die Cutting Plates
- Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder
- Sweet Dreams Mini Cube Set
- Tranquility Mini Cube Set
- Strathmore Bristol Smooth Pad
- Life Changing Blender Brushes
- Navy Cardstock
- Sea Shore Gradient Cardstock Set
- Neenah Crest Solar White folded note cards
- Foam tape
- Glue
- Double Sided Tape
On my first card, I applied Galactic Stream, Teal Cave, Cloudy Sky and Misty Morning color inks to a Strathmore Bristol Smooth A2 panel using the Life Changing Blender Brushes. I added splatters of water and wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Once it was dry I placed the Deco Wallpaper Stencil on top and applied embossing ink, then I heat embossed from behind using Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder.
Also, I die cut the Mega Hope Die out of white and navy cardstock. On the white hope die cut I applied embossing ink and Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder to heat emboss it. Then, I glued the navy hope die cut at the back to create a shadow and make it pop up from the background. I placed the Mega Hope on top of my panel as well as the sentiments, that were heat embossed on navy cardstock using again the platinum embossing powder. I added foam tape to the sentiment strips for more dimension.
The next card has a similar background like my first card, but on this one I stamped the Altenew Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set and heat embossed it with Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder. A white folded note card was adhered at the back of this background.
Next, I die cut the fabulous word die from Script Words 2 Die Set using white and navy cardstock. On the white fabulous die cut I applied embossing ink and Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder to heat emboss it. Then, I glued the navy fabulous die cut at the back to create a shadow and make it pop up from the background. Finally, I added the fabulous die cut on top of my background as well as the sentiment, that was heat embossed on navy cardstock with platinum embossing powder. My sentiment is from Altenew Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set.
In the following card I had so much fun creating this frame and intercalating the colors. I used the Altenew Fine Frames Rectangle Dies to die cut three different colors of cardstock: Navy, Emerald and Mountain Mist. I arranged each frame on top of the same frame rectangle die and applied double sided tape, that way I was able to take the frame out of the frame rectangle die with no problems. I removed the release paper of the tape and adhered the frames to a white panel.
After trimming down the excess from the frames I die cut the fabulous word die and heat embossed it with Altenew Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder. Finally, I adhered a shadow to the back of the fabulous die cut out of navy cardstock. I thought this card didn’t need a sentiment, it looks very masculine and no more elements were needed.
For my final card, I placed the Deco Wallpapers Stencil on top of a Strathmore Bristol Smooth A2 panel and applied Aqualicious and Cloudy Sky ink colors using the Life Changing Blender Brushes. I adhered a white folded note card at the back. Then, on top I placed another frame created using the Altenew Fine Frames Rectangle Dies. Also, I added a Mega Hope die cut that was heat embossed with Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder and a sentiment from Mega Greetings 4 Stamp Set.
Feminine Card Set Encouragement Cards + Gift Box
Now let’s see the feminine set that I have created. I made four cards and a gift box. For the palette color combination I decided to used Midnight Violet, Deep Iris, Soft Lilac and Caribbean Sky ink colors. My best match for adding shine was Gold and I used gold cardstock, gold embossing powder and antique gold sequins.
This is how I decorated my gift box. I gold heat embossed the outline part of these flower and leaves from the Build-a-Flower: Anemone Stamp Set through the whole box. I used a stamping block that way I could easily move around the whole panel.
I die cut the Sweet Friend die out of gold cardstock and added on top of the flap. Additionally, I placed some leaves and one flower around the frame using glue and foam tape for more dimension.
Finally, I added a gold ribbon to keep the box closed.
To color the flowers and leaves I used Altenew Watercolor Brushes: Midnight Violet, Turquoise, Desert Night, Lime, Limeade and Moss. To add color to the backgrounds I used Altenew mini inks: Midnight Violet, Deep Iris, Soft Lilac and Caribbean Sky. I applied the inks using the Life Changing Blender Brushes.
I stamped all leaves and flowers onto a watercolor panel using an embossing pad and then I heat embossed them using a gold embossing powder. I used my MISTI to make the stamping process faster and to make enough flowers and leaves for all cards.
I added color using the Altenew Watercolor Brushes and a watercolor brush to add water and move the ink around. Once the images were dry I added splatters of water.
I die cut all images using the matching dies.
Supplies:
- Script Words 2 Die Set
- Sweet Friend Die
- Build-a-Flower: Anemone Stamp Set and Dies
- Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set
- Deco Wallpaper Stencil
- Shades of Purple Mini Cube Set
- Glacier Cave Mini Cube Set
- White and Gold embossing powder
- Antique Gold Sequins
- Watercolor Brush Markers – Tropical Fiesta
- Watercolor Brush Markers – Spring Garden
- Watercolor Paper Pad
- Life Changing Blender Brushes
- Navy Cardstock
- Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine
- Mini Blossom Die Cutting Plates
- Foam tape
- Glue
- Double Sided Tape
On my first card, I used an A2 navy card base behind a white panel. On top of this panel I placed two flowers and some leaves using glue and foam tape. This way I created three layers on this card.
To add a touch of shine I die cut the fabulous word die from the Altenew Script Words 2 Die Set out of gold cardstock and put it on top of the cluster created with the flowers and leaves. Finally, I added some Altenew Antique Gold Sequins. On this picture you can see the three layers created on this cluster.
On my next card, I placed the Altenew Deco Wallpaper Stencil on top of a navy cardstock. I used washi tape to keep the stencil in place. Then, I applied embossing ink but I didn’t want to cover the whole panel (I like this look) and i used gold embossing powder to heat emboss from behind using a heat tool. This was my way of adding shine to my card.
At the bottom of the panel I created another cluster with the flowers and leaves and several layers were made. Finally, I ink up a piece of cardstock using Deep Iris ink and once it was dry I gold heat embossed the sentiment. I trimmed down the sentiment to a strip and placed it on top of the flower cluster using glue. If you want you can use gold thread around the cluster.
With the help of the Life Changing Blender Brushes I applied ink to this A2 panel. On two corners of the panel I used Midnight Violet and Soft Lilac inks. Then, in the center of the panel I applied Caribbean Sky ink. When my panel was dry, I gold heat embossed my sentiment in the middle of my background.
Finally, I added the flowers and leaves on each corner where I applied the Midnight Violet and Soft Lilac inks using glue and foam tape.
On my last card, I applied Midnight Violet, Deep Iris and Soft Lilac inks, applying the darker colors at the center of the panel. When my panel was dry, I white heat embossed this background using Altenew Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set. I die cut the Sweet Friend die out of gold cardstock and added on top of the background.
After adding the flowers and leaves I gold heat embossed the sentiment from the Altenew Build-a-Flower: Anemone Stamp Set over navy cardstock. I placed it on top of the frame and added a few Altenew Antique Gold Sequins.
I enjoyed so much this final project and I hope you can get some inspiration from the cards I made. Have a wonderful day!
Karen