I recently finished all the Level 1 classes for AECP through Altenew Academy . The final challenge to finish and move to the next level was to create a card set as gift for a guy and a cards set as a gift for a lady. In this post I have 6 cards made for theGals version.I was asked to choose, three components for my cards from the classes. I chose Clean and Simple cards from the Clean And Simple Botiuque Cards class, using ink pads for water coloring from "Irresistible Inking Techniques class and adding shine to the cards from the "Let it Shine" class.
These cards were reallyquick and easy to make and yet, I think have so much impact. I went with a very non traditional Christmas colors. instead of a red Poinsettia, I went with a Pink one and mint green leaves. To start of with the cards it was very important to sketch out the layouts for each card. This is something I always do with all my stamp sets. I have two little notebooks. one I keep in my art room and one I carry everywhere go. You never know when an inspiration will find you. While it is easy to take a picture of an image, I also like to sketch it out on how I plan to use it later when I am making a card. I have used only the Festive Poinsettia stamp set to make this entire set of cards . I also used Bristol smooth paper to color as I watercolored the flowers using the ink pads. For the shine on the cards I used gold Embossing powder, Gold Foil cards stock and White Blizzard, Nuvo Glitter drops.
Tip: Creating multiple cards from the same stamp set always stretches your creativity juices!!
Ink Pads Used for Coloring:
Altenew Rubellite, Just Green and Sunkissed
I wanted all of these cards to be very simple just like the boutique cards, but I did not want to compromise on style and dimensions on them. the water coloring that I watercolored these flowers by just dropping the color on wet surface and letting the water do its magic. I also was not very particular to hit every edge of the flower and leaves as it add to the dimension of the flowers and leaves and gives them a natural and organic highlight and look.
Tip or a Thought : When making CAS cards it is always nice to add additional details without compromising on the Simplicity of the card.
Card No 1- This card is a 4 bar card, I love the size of a 4 bar card especially when you want your image to be the only focus on your card. I masked of the right edge using a 1/2 inch washi tape and then stamped the poinsettia image peeking from the corner. All the black out line flowers were colored exactly the same to keep them cohesive. The sentiment was stamped using Versafine Onyx black ink. to fish this card I added glitter drops using a paint brush on the flower and the leaves. This gave a bit of shimmer and gloss on the images.
Tip: Keep in mind when making CAS cards keeping it crisp and clean is a very integral part.
Card No 2: For this card I first embossed a stitched rectangle die in the center of the cards stock and then I masked of the inside edge of the rectangle and the stamped the poinsettia image using Versfine ink. I colored the image exactly the same way. This time I decided to add the sentiment using Gold Embossing powder right over the bottom part of the colored image. i adhered this panel on a side folding white note card and I was done.
Card No 3- I embossed a smaller rectangle die slightly above the center and stamped the sentiment using versatile black ink. i then stamped multiple poinsettia images around the the three edges of the card and colored them using the ink pad colors. I also added some novo glitter drops to the leaf for the shine and mounted this panel on to a side folding white note cards.
Card No 4- I stamped a the poinsettia image on the top corner of the card stock and colored it the same way. I drew in a black rectangle around the poinsettia image for some added intrest to an otherwise very simple card. I used a larger sentiment to break down some white spaces. This panel was then mounted on a side folding white notecard.
Card No 5- I stamped the poinsettia images all around the edge of the bristol yardstick and colored it using the ink pads. I die cut the word Joy from the Bold Alphabet die set on a gold mirror card stock. i added some foam adhesive to the back of the word Joy and adhered it in the center of the card leaving a little space between them. added additional sentiments on a strip of black card stock using white embossing powder. The sentiment reads " Wishing you joy this holiday season". I did not add any glitter drops on the flowers as I wanted the shine only on the word Joy. This card was then adhered to t a side folding white note card.
Card No 6- This card i know does not match the others in any way, but I kept the same image just to show a little variation and may be add an element of surprise in the gift box:). I stamped the poinsettia using embossing ink nd embossed it with gold embossing powder on a red cardstock. Gold on red is so striking!!! I stamped and embossed the sentiment with white on red and die cut using a rectangle die and foam adhered it to the center of the card .
That completed the set of cards and now it was time to package it. For that I used an old recycled plastic box (use a recycle element was one of the criteria for the final challenge), which was used for a stamp set that I had bought many years ago. I like to store all my stamps in a plastic sleeve as it occupies less space. Any way I had kept these boxes to use them later, and that well later is today:). I removed the label from the box and and wiped it clean .
To decorate the box I inserted a gold mirror cards stock cut to fit inside the box. On a piece of white card stock I stamped the sentiment from the Festive Poinsettia set and adhered it using a strong adhesive on top on the box. I also embossed the poinsettia flower in gold, colored it and die cut the imageI .I adhered the flower on the top of the box along side the sentiment. I put the cards and 6 gold envelopes inside the box. I shut the box on the top end and tied a rustic cord and some jingle bells with gold to finish of the gift box.
i hope you checked out the boy version of cards set I created in the previous post. Leave me a comment on your thoughts, I would love to know what you think. See you next time and until then keep spreading kindness and don't forget to shine!!!