Assignment:
I chose to start with the Masculine set as I have a lot of experience making feminine cards, but relatively limited experience in making masculine cards. This really made this quite the challenge. I also had to make each card differently, but have the set cohesive. I had a little difficulty in determining which sets in my stash were masculine, so I went with thinking, “If it’s not clearly feminine, then I can use it.” This is how I came to use the Altenew Leaf Mix Die Set. Clearly the Easy Die Cutting Techniques course would be indicated, I also went with techniques from both Celebration Stencil Techniques and Boutique Cards. I like the colors used in my masculine card for Level 1, so I went with similar colors. As I hadn’t recorded the colors for those cards, I consulted my new swatch book and chose Arctic, Sea Breeze, and Minty Mint. I consult this swatch book and highly recommend people create one of their inventory. I received more colors today and will add them to this book.
Card Number One
For my first card I went with the obvious, inlaid die cutting, from Easy Die Cutting lesson 5. To begin I ink blended a background. Next, I created stamps by die-cutting crafters’ foam, and adhered these to laminated card stock, then used adhesive strips to mount each onto an acrylic block. I used my three above colors and stamped several leaves, masking occasionally to add a 3-D look.
Next, I die cut a single leaf from this panel, and adhered the panel to a card base. I stacked the die cut on a few more matching die cuts and placed it back in my panel, replaced the negative spaces to their appropriate spots.
Card Number Two
For my second card I chose faux letterpress, as demonstrated in Boutique Cards, lesson 4 and also in Easy Die Cutting lessons 4 & 6. I cut and stacked the indicated dies, adhering vellum to the TOP of the die. This side yields the mirror image but is smoother, making it easier to get ink onto it. Clearly this wouldn’t work with a sentiment; one would have to adhere the vellum to the bottom of the stack.
I added spatters of the Arctic ink and water (Boutique Cards lesson 3), then edged the panel with the Minty Mint and adhered the finished panel to the card base.
Card Number Three
For my third card I chose to make a stencil (from Easy Die Cutting Techniques lesson 2) and used this stencil to Stamp with Stencils, a technique from lesson 3 of Celebration Stencil Techniques. My first step was to select dies from this set, place them on acetate and run it through my die cutter. This created the stencil onto which I would then smudge my ink pads.
Once the ink was dry I used the same stencil, but turned it over so the images would be slightly different. Then I ink blended thru the stencil.
I edged the panel with Minty Mint ink, then adhered the panel with foam tape to the card base.
Card Number Four
For my fourth card I employed the third lesson from Easy Die Cutting Techniques (Negative Die Cutting) and took it one step more, by also using the negative small bits. To start with I ink blended a panel, planned the placement of the sentiment and die cuts. I stamped the sentiment (from the Craft Your Life Never Stop Dreaming set) with Dark Chocolate ink, and applied an anti-static agent, then stamped again, using VersaMark, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set it.
Next, I taped the dies to the panel and the cutting plate and ran it thru my die cutting machine, carefully keeping all the little negative pieces. I then cut an identical panel and adhered the two panels to give the negative added dimension. Before adhering to my card base, I edged this “stack” with Sea Breeze ink. I then placed the die cuts in place while I glued the tiny negative single-layer-die-cut pieces in place, occasionally removing the die cut to be sure It didn’t get glued into place. Finally, I removed the die cuts permanently.
Card Number Five
On my fifth card I made a stencil and ink blended with Arctic in all the spaces. I then popped in the die cuts and ink blended thru them with the Minty Mint and the Sea Breeze. These colors are a bit muted, as they’re applied over the Arctic ink.
Card Number Six
For my sixth card I die cut several images from the set, and rubbed each on different inks, sometimes obtaining a variegated look. I then rubbed/pressed each onto my VersaMark pad and covered them with clear embossing powder and heat set this. I did several layers of the heat embossing, making each piece appear like an enameled piece of jewelry; very dimensional and shiny!
Packaging
I cut a window from an old, used Altenew Craft-Your-Life box, and covered and lined it. I used cardstock I had stamped with the stamps I made from the dies. I heat embossed one of the stamped images on acetate and used this for the window. Sounds simple. Truth is that it took me almost all day!!
Added Bonus:
I wanted to add a finishing touch for each card and chose Altenew’s Envelope Liner Die to cut several liners, and used the stamps I created for my first card. These envelopes with their liners can be seen in the final photo(s) of each card.
Click here to see Part 2, the Feminine Set