Tag Archives | Altenew Academy
colorful-merry-with-trees

Freezer Paper Snowflakes

Hello! I have a great new tool for the craft studio to share today. You might think this is a kitchen item, but today it is working GREAT on a card or two! It’s Freezer paper…a little trick I learned in a recent class from Altenew.

For my cards, I first die cut some snowflakes out of the freezer paper. Then I ironed them onto the paper with a warm iron. Then I did a little ink blending with my new favorite blending tool.

Ink blended background on the right

I splattered the background with more ink, and some pearl watercolors. Then I carefully removed the snowflakes…and look at those beautiful white snowflakes left behind!

The “Merry” sentiment is die cut from glitter paper, and added along with a silver foil frame. What an awesome technique! Who would’ve thought to use freezer paper? I love this and think it might even work better than masking paper.

I have a quick video to show you on how to do this, watch below or on YouTube:

Of course, once I removed the snowflakes (cut from the freezer paper), I couldn’t let them go to waste! So I made a second card on Neenah Desert Storm paper. I was interested to see if I could get them to still iron-on to this second card. Did it work?…yes and no. Lol.

Most of them DID iron back on, but I had one problem snowflake. So what did I do?! I used a little liquid adhesive and Nuvo drops to help keep it stuck down!! Lol. There’s more than one way to make a card work.

I added some extra Nuvo drops and white gel pen to this one, to finish it off. Which one do you like better?

I’m often asked what supplies I use to make my cards and projects, so I’ve put together a list using affiliate links when possible. If you make a purchase with these links I may receive a small commission. These help me to keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much for your support!

I absolutely love these colors for a holiday card. Thanks for stopping by!

Comments { 1 }
!both-card-packages

Gift Card Set (for Her)

Hello! Today I have a fun gift card set with feminine cards and a gift card box to put it all together. (To see the masculine card set, go here.)

This is a part of my Altenew Level 1 FINAL project! I chose to highlight three techniques that I learned throughout all the Level 1 courses:
1) Ink Blending
2) Adding Sparkle & Shine
3) Stencil Techniques
I use one, two or all three techniques in different ways on each card. Here’s a look at all six cards:

For these cards I first chose a color theme that I would use throughout the project. This would give the cards a cohesive look in the end. The colors I chose were pink, yellow, and turquoise (with a few green accents). I chose those colors because they were the colors of Altenew inks that I had. Lol. But I do think they all worked well together.

I have a video of how I put these cards together, AND how to create the box to hold these six cards with envelopes. Watch it below or on YouTube:

I started by inking a bunch of backgrounds, using some of the techniques I learned in the Easy Ink Blending Techniques course at Altenew Academy. Then I stamped out a bunch of flowers, flower buds, and leaves using my Altenew Inks and a few others that fit the color scheme.

For the first card, I cut the Layered Snowflake Cover Die A in a gold glitter cardstock, and the Cover Die B in a white cardstock and layered them together. Then I added them to an inked background.

I added some beautiful flowers stamped in my color scheme. Then I heat embossed a white sentiment onto black cardstock and popped it up with foam tape. The yellow flower bud is popped up with foam tape, and the stem is glued down directly. The pink flower is also popped up with foam tape.

I really like how this card turned out. There is so much interest to it!

For my next card, I tried a technique that Carissa Wiley shared: to use two stacking circle dies to create a metallic frame. I created 3 circle frames and added them to my inked and splattered background.

Always believe something wonderful is about to happen

Then I added a turquoise bud in between the circles. I made sure to position the stem behind one of the circles. To me this feels like a big hug! And I love these colors together.

The next card uses some inking with Altenew pink inks, and then the Wavy Grid stencil inked on top. It creates a more subtle look for a stencil when you already have an ink blended background.

I spent quite some time arranging my flower on the bottom of this card. When I finally got the bouquet just right, I picked them all up with Glad Press-N-Seal and added liquid adhesive to the back. Then I pressed them back onto the card and allowed the glue to dry for a bit before removing the Press-N-Seal. This kept everything in place perfectly! Then I cut off the overhanging pieces to be flush with the card panel.

For the shine on this card, I heat embossed the sentiment in gold embossing powder and added gold AND clear iridescent sequins.

This next card uses a stencil TWICE…first I inked up the light green wreath with ink, then I re-positioned the stencil a little offset from the first one and added some glitter paste! Oh the sparkle this gives!

The background was a previously inked background and I love the buttery yellow with the green. I set this aside to dry for a while before adding the hello sentiment in the middle. Gems and Nuvo drops finish off this look, and I added some of the lightest pink Nuvo drops radiating out from the wreath.

My next card is a shaker card! I started off by stamping the vase and the sentiment onto some Altenew Pastel Dreams paper with Versamark ink. I heat embossed it in clear so it would not smudge. Then I carefully cut out the inside of the vase with an exacto knife.

I added some acetate to the opening using packaging that I save for just this purpose! It’s a great way to recycle! Then I positioned the flowers so that the stems were BEHIND the acetate (they look like they are really IN the vase). I added clear sequins to the vase and attached the entire card panel with foam tape. The video explains the process for making this shaker card…it was so easy and something you can definitely do yourself.

For my last card, I wanted to have a Thank You card in the mix, so I started off by using the plaid builder stencil. I inked it onto a pink background that I made earlier. Then I turned the stencil and inked it again using the turquoise ink…but I didn’t remove the stencil! Instead, I added a layer of Moonstone Glitter paste to add just the right amount of sparkle.

I stamped the grateful sentiment and fussy cut it out then added it with foam tape. I also added a turquoise flower and a leaf to finish off this card.

I hope you enjoyed a look at these six cards all ready to gift using inking, stencils and shine!

But wait! That’s not all…I also made the box to put them in!

Ready to gift

I made the box by first stamping using the Majestic Mistletoe stamp set from Altenew (I love this set!) and then turned it into the perfect size box to fit all six cards and six envelopes. For this tutorial, be sure to watch the video. I used recycled corrugated cardboard to make a band around the box that can be slipped on and off.

If you are interested in any of the products I used, here is the supply list.

I’m often asked what supplies I use to make my cards and projects, so I’ve put together a list using affiliate links when possible. If you make a purchase with these links I may receive a small commission. These help me to keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much for your support!

Thanks for stopping by today! If you didn’t see the masculine set of six card, check it out here. I really enjoyed putting these gift sets together!

Comments { 2 }
!his-card-packaging

Gift Card Set (for HIM)

Hello! I have a fun post today filled with masculine cards and a handmade box for gifting. This is perfect for this time of year or anytime you want a sweet handmade gift! I also have a more feminine gift card set…find it here.

This is a part of my Altenew Level 1 FINAL project! I chose to highlight three techniques that I learned throughout all the Level 1 courses:
1) Ink Blending
2) Adding Sparkle & Shine
3) Stencil Techniques
I use one, two or all three techniques in different ways on each card. Here’s a look at all six cards:

Here’s a look at all 6 cards!

I began choosing a color theme of Dark Blue, Green, and Gray and I started by ink blending some backgrounds and gathering some papers to support my theme. I have a video of all the cards, watch it here or on YouTube:

For my first card, I used the Altenew Layered Snowflakes Cover Die A cut with gray cardstock. I chose a dark blue and gray ink blended background I created and inlaid some of the snowflake stars with gold glitter paper (for the shine factor)! One of the tips in the ink blending course was to use a die cut sentiment in the same ink blended on the background. So I added the “HI” cut from the alpha dies in the same ink blended colors. I popped it up with white fun foam to set it apart.

The gold watercolor ink splattered on the background creates another element of shine.

For my second card, I started by taping off a square onto my card that I could ink blend an evening dusk scene. Then I stamped the sentiment “believe” with black ink and clear heat embossed over it. (I did this so the black ink wouldn’t smear.) Then I used the new star stencil to add some Glacier Paste in the color Quicksilver.

That Glacier Paste dries flat and shiny and really looks like foil! I added a sub-sentiment that I heat embossed in white on a black paper strip. I cut the panel down just a little to mat it all onto black paper and then onto the card base.

For the third card, I used a little trick taught by Carissa Wiley to create a frame using stacked die cut shapes. For this one, I cut glitter paper out of stacked rectangles to create a frame.

I stamped all the acorns using my color theme and stacked them onto some Altenew gray paper with birch trees. I fussy cut the grateful sentiment and popped it up with foam tape. I used a navy blue frame to finish it all off.

For the Fourth card, I used a die cut as a stencil…this is a great way to stretch your cover dies! This time I used the Snowflake Stars Cover die B as a stencil on this green inked background.

I added a sentiment, and a Copic colored Gray Fox. For the sparkle on this card, I sprinkled on some silver star sequins. This sentiment makes me smile!

This next card is like a moonlight stroll! I masked off the branch (from the Winter Cardinal set) and a circle die before inking on some dark blue inks and black ink with makeup brushes. I continued to add light layers, building up the color each time.

The moon has a glow around it!

Before I removed the masks, I added some splashes of water and gold watercolor. Once the masks were removed, I inked on some Weathered Wood Distress Oxide ink onto that moon to create the shadows. For extra shine, I used Stardust Stickles to add some ice to the branch…it sparkles in the moonlight!

The die cut Hello is cut in black and layered onto a gold die cut hello.

And finally…the last card features some die cut & layered evergreen trees, inked in green and splattered with metallic paint (both gold watercolor paint and Altenew metallic spray).

I used the cover plate die that I used earlier as a stencil! If you look closely, you might see the stars inked subtly on the background. I finished it off with a favorite sentiment of mine!

I have gathered together a list of all the supplies I used.

I’m often asked what supplies I use to make my cards and projects, so I’ve put together a list using affiliate links when possible. If you make a purchase with these links I may receive a small commission. These help me to keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much for your support!

I hope you enjoyed this gift set of cards. I packaged it all up in this handmade card box:

I created the tag using the Majestic Mistletoe stamp set. The corregated cardboard is recycled from packaging (that I’ve been saving because I loved it!) and the ribbon is also recycled from packaging…it was tied around a blanket. All I had to do was iron that ribbon and it looks good as new!

If you are interesting in making a gift card box, the instructions for the card box is in the beginning of my video for the feminine card set here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Comments { 2 }
all-four-cards

Metallix Gel to add Shine

Hello! Today I’m excited to bring you a variety of cards using Metallix Gel in five colors. I got these a while ago and finally found the perfect time to use them…as a part of my AECP Certification. I was inspired by Carissa Wiley in her “Let It Shine” class.

This Metallix Gel is the perfect product to shine on your cards! I tested out the colors on both black and white cardstock to see the differences the backgrounds make on the colors.

I combined these beautiful backgrounds with one of my new favorite Altenew Layering flowers to make some colorful cards! This first card is perfect for this time of year. I used the Mega Blessed die and heat embossed it multiple times in gold to get a metallic embellishment!

This was also a first time using some Altenew inks and I fell in LOVE!!

Look at those vibrant ink colors! (Love)

I really enjoyed making all these backgrounds and putting the cards together, and I made a video to show you some tricks I learned along the way. Watch it below, or on YouTube:

This Layering Flower set is just wow!

I’m often asked what supplies I use to make my cards and projects, so I’ve put together a list using affiliate links when possible. If you make a purchase with these links I may receive a small commission. These help me to keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much for your support!

Did I mention I took lots of pictures? Lol. The next card I used the Uppercase Alphabet dies to cut out some PEARLIZED paper for the sentiment. The pearl paper looks so cool with the black on black…check out the close up picture below to see it a little better.

Here’s all four cards I put together…they all shine in their own way. For the orange flowers I used Distress Oxides and I have to say, for this project I loved the vibrant inks from Altenew. I need to get myself some more of their inks!

A big thank you for stopping by today! I am excited to announce that this is my last course in Level 1 for AECP. I have my final exam and then on to Level 2!! Yay!

Comments { 1 }
poinsettia-card-2

First Holiday card of the Season!

Hello! Today I am sharing my first Christmas card of the season. Also, I have a confession to make. I don’t usually make Christmas cards to mail out. I know, I know…I’m a card maker that doesn’t make my own Christmas cards! Shocking. But I found that it stresses me out too much to make multiples during the busy time of year, so I just don’t.

But today I made a festive poinsettia card that turned out so fun! I was inspired by the Irresistible Inking Techniques class at Altenew Academy and I just had to try it!

Polka dots in the background make me happy!

This is an inking technique I HAVE tried before, but this time I got so much better results. The trick is to ink up your acrylic block, spritz it with water using a light mist spray bottle, then stamp it onto your background.

I tried this a number of times using a variety of paper to see what different results I would get. I tested out the number of times to spray the ink before stamping. I tried different colors and time to leave the acrylic block on the paper. And this is my FAVORITE one of the bunch.

To get this cool spotted look, I used 3 different colors of Altenew ink on my block: Rose Quartz, Puffy Heart, and Purple Wine at the bottom. (This gave me a sort of Ombre look when I stamped it.) I spritzed it with TWO spritzes of water from a light mist spray bottle. (one was not enough, three was too much for my paper). Then I stamped it down onto Neenah Solar White 80# cover cardstock. This surprised me that I preferred the Neenah for this technique over a watercolor cardstock!

I love a speckled poinsettia

I stamped the poinsettia stamp using Versafine Onyx black ink, then I added just a touch of colored pencil. Just enough to give some color, but still see the spots. It reminds me of a speckled poinsettia….I love those!

To finish off the card, I cut it down a bit to add a strip of gold glitter cardstock on the edge. Then I added the JOY die cut out of the glitter card.

I have a list of the supplies I used below, with affiliate links when possible. When you click using these links I may receive a small commission. This helps me keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I also added some Mercury Glass Stickles to the center of the poinsettia to give more glittery shine to the card. When it catches the light just right, it looks so pretty.

Thanks for stopping by!

Comments { 1 }