AECP Level 1 Final Challenge Part 2: A Set of Feminine Cards

Assignment

For this set of cards I chose three courses from Level 1: All About Layering 1 & 2; Irresistible Ink Techniques and Let it Shine. I love the colors in the sunrise and often use them in my cards. This set was no exception; I focused on peach, pink and yellow. My plan was to use the Peony Bouquet Stamp Set for the entire series, but after making only three cards, my peony disappeared from my desktop. I have kittens who are constantly getting into stuff in my craft room…nothing is sacred! Anyway I was in a time crunch so I stuck with the same colors. The card base used for each is the same as in the masculine set, Simon Says Stamp Fog card stock.

Card Number One

For my first card I was eager to get going with Irresistible Inking Techniques (Sara Nauman, lesson 1). She did some stamp layering, using the outline and then one of the detail stamps. I wanted to step it up just a little and have the outline heat embossed, so I first stamped the detail stamp with Peach Perfect, then did the outline with Dark Chocolate, followed by a wipe of an antistatic agent and VersaMark ink. Next I applied clear embossing powder and heat set it. I did the outline AFTER the detail stamp because, when possible, I try to not stamp over embossing, as the ink does not get absorbed and can smear on the now-finished image! Then I masked the flower and stamped and heat embossed a couple leaves. The sentiment came from the You Are Everything Sentiment Stamp Set. I stamped this with Dark Chocolate and applied clear heat embossing over it, as I had done for the flower outline and leaves. For the background I added spatters of watered down Perfect Peach, Cotton Candy and Mango Smoothie inks. My very last step was to apply some beautiful Altenew Satin Gold Sequins, so I could “Let it Shine!”. Finally I mounted this panel on matte gold card stock and adhered this to my same card stock base I used for this entire Final Challenge.

Card Number Two

My second card is similar to the first, but instead of stamping the sentiment I die cut it from Altenew’s Fancy Hello. Then I ink blended it with Peach Perfect, Mango Smoothie and a bit of Cotton Candy. Once the ink dried completely, I pressed the sentiment into my VersaMark stamp pad and rubbed it around, trying to ensure it would be very sticky. I heat set clear embossing powder on it, and repeated this perhaps five times, until I got a thick shiny coating on it. I love how it turned out!

Card Number Three

For this card I was excited to again return to Irresistible Inking Techniques. I started with touching Peach Perfect ink to my acrylic block and instead of spraying this with water, I used Altenew Ink Spray Iridescent! I then stamped my cardstock panel with this acrylic block and allowed this to dry. While waiting, I made the sentiment, using the same technique as in card two, this time using gold embossing powder. I also stamped another piece of cardstock with Altenew’s Rustic Linen background stamp and Pink Diamond Ink. I stamped the outline of the peony bud and the berries from the Peony bouquet, and gold heat embossed these also. Next I put inks to my glass media mat and spritzed them with water and water colored the flowers, berries and leaves. I even stepped out of my comfort zone of Peach Perfect and Pink Diamond and added a little Rubellite or Razzleberry! The flowers were too pale without that addition. Like Sara Nauman in Irresistible Inking Techniques, I edged the panel with pink diamond. Finally I assembled my card and added Satin Gold sequins. I love this card!!

Card Number Four

The next technique I was excited to try was using my new brayer with water-misted ink on my glass media mat. I experimented with this all afternoon, creating many backgrounds of many different colors. I ended up using one made with Cotton Candy. After I was unable to find my out line peony stamp, I switched to Garden Treasure. I stamped and gold heat embossed the outlines of the flowers and leaves (the leaves were from the Peony Bouquet set) and proceeded to faux water color this panel also. I think I used Buttercream and Blush for the left flower. For the leaves I used Minty Mint and a darker green whose name I don’t remember. Ditto for the second flower. Lesson learned; be meticulous about taking notes or photos. Later I spattered the panel with diluted Minty Mint. I used a Sakura Gelly Roll black Glaze pen to add dimension to the anthers. I love how the Wow Razzleberry embossing powder added sparkle and shine to my Fancy Thanks die cut! I mounted the panel on gold cardstock , then onto the brayered panel and then onto the SSS Fog card stock base.

Card Number Five

I almost chose to stop at four cards but thought I would try this. It employs Let it Shine in that I started with gold foil. I used the Golden Days hot foil plate and the coordinating stencils so I could layer using my Cherry Blossom collection, Fresh Lemon and Minty Mint inks. When finished ink blending, I carefully fussy cut the image, traced it onto some scrap cardstock and cut this to match. Then I adhered the two together. The edges of this stack were white and detracted from the beauty, so I used Altenew’s Metallic Watercolors and loved the result! Since the card was quickly becoming more and more layers, I added another layer to the part of my gold foil card stock–the part that would otherwise be dangling. I used the Dotted Swiss Debossing Cover Die to add texture to my Pink Diamond ink blended background and envelope liner.

Finally, I adhered the flower onto the background, then onto gold mirror cardstock and finally onto the SSS Fog cardstock. I carefully added the sentiment with part of the “k” and “s” being thicker. This will prevent the end of the sentiment from getting pushed down and bent or broken.

This ended up my favorite card and made me happy my stamp disappeared, as I otherwise wouldn’t have made this one!

Packaging

I am a knitter and recycle small boxes for gifting hand knit socks. I chose a box, carefully measured it and marked from where to cut the window. Next I cut a “window frame,” stamped it and adhered it to the outside top of the box.

Next I generously applied an antistatic agent to heat-resistant acetate, and used Versamark Ink to stamp the prepped surface. I applied gold embossing powder and heat set it. I made sure the inside surface was clean before I glued it to the underside of the lid. Once the glue was dry I layered up foam tape, dropped some Satin Gold sequins in the center and covered this with another sheet of acetate. I then covered it with a blank sheet of card stock.

Click here to see Part 1, the Masculine Card Set!

What do you think? Do you have a favorite? Please add in the comments below.