Paper and Fiber Arts: Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 1 Challenge

Ink-Blended Sentiment Strip

Hello! Welcome to the final leg of the AECP Level One Challenge. This is Part Two. Part One can be found here. The Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) has a culminating challenge of making two card sets along with gift packaging. The cards or packaging need to include a recycled element. Here is a quick video showing how I crafted a wrapper for the eight feminine-leaning cards out of a piece of paper that was packaged around part of a box.

Video Tutorial for Gift Packaging

Each of the eight different cards was made with the Beautiful Day stamp set. I love this set because, in addition to having a stunning floral outline stamp, it is easy to create gorgeous multi-layered images. Multi-layered stamping is quick, yet very impressive looking. Some of the cards use different shades of the same color family of inks. Others use the same ink pad with one or two of the filler stamps. Each time a new layer is stamped, it darkens the ink underneath and creates a wonderful level of dimension.

Beautiful Day Stamps and PinkFresh Foiled Sentiments

In addition to the multi-layered stamp images, there are some smaller, airy filler images that I colored with a variety of media. The card pictured above has the smaller images colored with Altenew's alcohol markers. The large flowers are stamped with two of the four multi-layer stamps. The outline images on the card posted below are colored with a few Gelly Roll pens. That gives a bit of fun gloss to the card front.

It is easy to bring a bit of bling to cards through the use of sequins or other sparkly embellishments. For the card shown below, a thin piece of gold washi anchors the sentiment. My die-cutting machine recently broke after serving me well for many years. I found a package of gold and silver foiled die cuts in my stash and they were perfect to add an additional blingy component.

The floral images are stamped with three of the four multi-layer stamps

Some sentiments are substantial enough that they can float on a card with great effect. However, I think many sentiments need to have something to anchor them to the page or the layout of the card. The Sending You Sunshine card pictured below has a narrow piece of organza ribbon running across the card front. The ribbon is sheer so it adds interest to the card without obscuring the pretty floral images.

Sunshine Card using all four of the multi-layer stamp images

The image pictured below shows the cards in progress while being colored. Even though the colored images are very pretty, sometimes it is nice to have another layer on the card.

Alcohol Markers and Gel Pens Used on Stamped Images

The card front layered with a piece of vellum on top

The gatefold card offers another way to make a card a little more interesting. The picture showing the opening of the card (below) lets you peek inside to see a wider piece of gold washi tape.

Lastly, this card makes a simple yet lovely backdrop for the sentiment that truly says it all, love. The sentiment works well because it ties in some of the gold from the other cards and has a glittery outline. This was one of the last dies to make it through the die-cutting machine before it had to be retired. 😄