Masculine Cards | Altenew AECP Final Challenge (Part 1)

Hello crafty friends,

I made it through all the fun courses for the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) Level 1. Now it’s time to post my final challenge project before moving on to Level 2.

This is part 1 of a 2-part assignment where I have created a set of 5 Masculine Cards combining a few techniques that I learnt in my level 1 courses.

Before we take a look at the projects, let me take a minute to talk about some of the ground rules for the assignment.

• Create a gift set to include 4-6 “His” and 4-6 “Her” cards and ensure the set has a cohesive theme

• Select 3 components from the Academy 1 courses to use in creating the final project

• Use upcycled materials, either as a card design element or in the final packaging, for the set

Even though the rules said that we could use 3 techniques, the classes had so many fun design ideas, tip and tricks, beautiful color combinations, that it was so difficult to pick just 3 of those ideas for my cards. Also, if you know my crafty style, you know that I am more of a floral girl. Creating masculine cards was definitely a challenge for me.

Listed below are some of the many lessons that I used to create these cards.

1. For The Guys : Like I mentioned, creating masculine cards was one of the most difficult challenges for me. So I had to go back to the basics and take help from Jennifer Rzasa who gave some amazing tips on creating masculine cards. I kept all of the cards simple and used some sort of geometric design as the primary design for all of the backgrounds. (Circle Quilt Cover Plate Die)

2. Easy Ink Blending : Once my primary design was set, it was then time to choose a color combination to match with this design. I used Lime Green, Teal and Brown colors, which was actually a suggestion given by my husband!

3. Easy Die Cutting : Now since I am using a cover plate die as the primary design for my card, I had to get innovative with this die and incorporate different ways of using the die.

4. Celebration Stencil Technique : I used the same Circle Quilt Cover Plate Die to create a stencil for my card backgrounds.

5. Let It Shine : If you know my crafting style, you will know that my cards are never complete without shine and sparkle. So including component of this lesson was a must. I had lots of shine and sparkle on all my masculine cards.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's take a look at the set of cards that I have created for this assignment and then I will talk about each card in detail.

You will notice that I kept the color and basic design of these cards same and used very limited products to create my cards.

I used the Circle Quilt Cover Plate Die as my primary design and worked my way around it.

I also used the same color combination for all of my cards. For all of the sentiments, I used the Flourishing Garden Stamp and Die Set.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's now take a closer look at each card.

Card #1

I started by using the Circle Quilt Die and running it through my die cutting machine with some Neenah Solar White 110lb Cardstock.

I then ink blended with the Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Inks in the shade Woodsy, Ocean and Pearfection to get this beautiful color blend.

I then adhered this ink blended die cut panel onto an A2 size white glitter cardstock by Your Paper Insider. The shine is very subtle, but when you take a closer look at the card, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Next, it's time to put a sentiment onto this beautiful card front. I used the big bold "Friend" sentiment from the Flourishing Garden Stamp and stamped it onto the Neenah Solar White cardstock using VersaFine Onyx Black Ink. I also stamped a little sub sentiment which says "You Brighten My Day".

I die cut the sentiment using the coordinating die. Now with most of my sentiment dies, I like to have some pop. I like to die cut the sentiment a couple of times to add dimension. If I don't have coordinating dies, I used foam tape for that pop!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card #2

For this card, I again die cut a panel of white card stock to create a stencil using the Circle Quilt Cover Die.

I began with adding color to my background panel. Instead of ink blending, I used the same colors of ink pads to add loose watercolor effect on the background.

Once this panel dried, I used my die cut stencil to add some added interest on our background. I kept moving around the stencil so that I could get an asymmetric pattern on my background.

Before adhering the sentiment, I chose to add some shine and sparkle to my background. I used some black and gold metallic watercolor and splattered it on this colored and stenciled background.

For my sentiment, I used the Bold Thanks Die Set with comes with a shadow layer. I die cut the word Thanks using black cardstock and used white for my shadow. I used the Spectrum Noir Glitter Brush Pen to add shine on my sentiment. I add a little sub sentiment which says "You are amazing" from the Flourishing Garden Stamp Set.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card #3

For this card, instead of die cutting the cover plate die, I decided to create a faux embossed look. So instead of having the panels sandwiched between the die cutting plates as I would normally do, this time I sandwiched the card stock and die between the flexible embossing mat and one cutting plate. This will give a faux embossed look instead of an entire die cut panel. This is also one fun way to use your cover plate dies instead of using embossing folders. (Tip - When using embossing folder or using dies to Faux Emboss, spray your cardstock with water to soften the fibers and prevent cracking of the paper)

I then added color to this panel by ink blending the same combinations of colors. I used the Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Inks in the shade Woodsy, Ocean and Pearfection to get this beautiful color blend.

Then I added some beautiful metallic watercolor splatter to this colorful background.

While my background was drying, I decided to work on my sentiment. I stamped the "Big Hugs" sentiment from the Flourishing Garden Stamp Set and die cut it using the coordinating dies. I used 2 more die cut pieces to add dimension to my sentiment. I then added a sub sentiment above the "Big Hugs"

To assemble out card, I decided to add a little more sparkle to this card front. I used a strip of Gold Cardstock and layered it over the ink blended background along with a strip of black cardstock, before adhering my sentiments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card #4

I was so happy with the Faux Embossed look, that I wanted to recreate that in my next card as well, but with an added element.

For card #4, I combined the techniques that I used in my previous projects.

I first die cut a white panel using the Circle Quilt Cover Die. To add sparkle here, I cut another panel using Gold Metallic Cardstock. I adhered the gold panel onto the white die cut panel. This gives a well needed dimension to our die cut window.

I then faux embossed a white panel and then ink blended just like I did in my previous card and added the same gold metallic watercolor splatters.

Now instead of covering the entire ink blended panel using the gold die cut window, I cut this die cut panel into half and placed it over the right half of the ink blended panel. The die cut window fits perfectly onto the faux embossed background pattern.

I then added the "Sending Love and Hugs" and "Friends" sentiment from the Flourishing Garden Stamp Set.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card #5

This final card is I think my favorite among all the 5 cards that I created for this challenge. Here I did some Die Cut Inlay.

Just like before, I die cut this beautiful die using white card panel. For the Inlay, I had saved all of the gold cardstock scraps that I were left from the gold panel that I used for Card #4.

I needed a solid background to inlay these tiny little pieces. So I took an A2 size panel and ink blended the entire panel using the Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Inks in the shade Woodsy, Ocean and Pearfection. I then added the metallic watercolor splatters on this ink blended background.

Once my panel dried, I adhered the die cut frame onto the background using some liquid glue. Next, it was time to adhere the little gold die cuts. This was a time consuming process, but a fun one. As I covered half the panel, my husband decided to pitch in and volunteered to inlay the little pieces for the rest of the panel. (He's an IT guy. Looking at him bring out his crafty side makes me feel so proud of him!!)

I then added the "Sending Happy" and "Greeting" sentiment from the Flourishing Garden Stamp Set.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was a closer look at all the 5 cards I created for this challenge. I must say, I am a lot more confident creating masculine cards after this, all thanks to the amazing lessons I learnt in my Level 1 course at the AECP.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The final part of this challenge was to use upcycled materials, either as a card design element or in the final packaging, for the set.

I had some acetate gift boxes that I received last christmas.

These are transparent boxes. So add some character to this plain box, I decided to use the remaining half of that Gold Die cut window panel that was left over from card #4. I stuck this gold die cut panel on the front of our window.

I added an ink blended panel behind the die cut frame, to add a base to this gold die cut window.

I added some gold string along the edge of this die cut element.

For the front of this gift box, I used my first card, which says "Friend, you brighten my day", which I thought was a perfect expression for the recipient.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had so much fun creating these cards and there was soo much I learnt as I was creating these.

Also, a big thank you to the creators at Altenew for all the wonderful classes and tips and tricks to create beautiful projects.

The Altenew Educator Certification Program is definitely a best opportunity to showcase my work and get in touch with all of the amazing crafters.

Thank you for being here with me today. Do check out fun pictures and videos of the project on my Instagram page (@rp_shutterbug). Also, tag me on Instagram with pictures of your projects.

SUPPLIES:

*NOTE:  Affiliate links may be used (at no additional cost to you) – thank you for your support!

Thanks for joining me!