Altenew Level 1 Final Challenge (Part 2 - Card Set for Him)
WARNING: This is a long post with lots of pictures, tips, and also a video. Sit back and enjoy with your beverage of choice! I detail the steps to make the cards below, alternatively you could just watch the video and see the steps. I would appreciate comments/thoughts with regards to this post and the video - I shall see it as a learning curve for further improvement!
This post shows how I made a Card Set for Him - this is for the Level 1 Final Challenge of Altenew Educators Certification Program (AECP), part 1. It would make an ideal Christmas gift.
The challenge specifications are to create one set of Masculine cards and one set of Feminine cards using at least three techniques picked up from AECP Level 1 Courses. This post only showcases the Masculine cards and the previous post showcased the Feminine cards. A recycled item should also be used in the packaging and/or as part of the cards.
The AECP Level 1 Techniques used:
Clean & Simple Boutique Cards
Easy Die Cutting Techniques
Easy Ink Blending
Let It Shine
Initially I was quite apprehensive with this task but when I started it and tried not to overthink it, I got into the swing of things and enjoyed the process. I try to detail all of the products I use for each card, though there is a list of generic craft products used in card making that I list at the end of this post.
Main product used for this card set is the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp. I also chose a set of colours from my stash of Altenew Crisp Dye Inks to coordinate all six cards in this set. I changed the colour slightly from the colours used for the Card Set for Her, essentially replacing the reds with blues.
Do watch the video below to see how I created these cards and the pakaging for this set of cards for Him - it will make a great Christmas gift.
Card #1: Masking & Stamping, You are Imperfectly Perfect
1. This card requires the use of a stamping platform (I use a MISTI Stamping tool).
2. Start card with a 110lbs Neenah Solar White Cardstock card panel measuring 4” by 5 1/4”, i.e. slightly smaller than an A2 card.
3. Attach the large stamp from the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp to stamping platform door.
4. To ink the cluster of dots on the stamp in different colours, tape off areas around the dot cluster to be inked, apply ink colour, remove tape or post it used and stamp onto card panel by close stamping platform door and press door lightly onto card for ink transfer. TIP: Tape off parts of stamp when inking stamp to ensure parts of the stamp that you do not want will stamp onto your project. A way to get more out of your stamps.
5. The ink colours of the dots used in this card are Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Gray Denim, Caribbean Sky, Sapphire, and Chamomile.
6. Continue inking and stamping until all dot clusters that would cover the card panel have been inked and stamped.
7. As the card panel is smaller than an A2 card, add a grey cardstock matt onto a side folding A2 card (measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”). Attach with double-sided tape and then attached stamped card panel as well. The card panel will have a thin grey frame from the grey cardstock matt and this will make the card panel pop.
8. The sentiment is from Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp as well. Stamp chosen sentiment onto a yellow cardstock (that matches the yellow of the Altenew Chamomile ink). As there is going to be heat embossing, prep card strip with anti-static powder, stamp with Versamark ink, sprinkle with silver embossing powder, and melt embossing powder with heat tool. TIP: If you do not have a cardstock colour that would match the ink used in your project, take the ink pad to a white cardstock, thus changing the cardstock colour to exactly what you need. You are creating your own coloured cardstock. Pretty cool!
9. Cut down yellow card to fit across the A2 card horizontally and attach to card front with foam tape for some dimension.
Card #2: Shaker Card & Emboss Resist, U Rock
1. Start with a Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper larger than and A2 size card. This card is perfect for ink blending.
2. Stamp large stamp from Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp on the card panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper with Versamark ink, sprinkle white embossing powder, and melt the embossing powder with heat tool. TIP: Prep card panel with anti-static powder to ensure no stray embossing powder sticks to card.
3. For the emboss resist technique use Distress Oxide inks, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, and Chipped Sapphire. Apply Distress Oxide inks with ink blending tool with domed foam for a good ink blend. The embossed dots will resist the ink. TIP: White embossed areas with a dry cloth so excess ink is removed and the white is bright and constrasting on the ink blended panel.
4. Mark the middle of the card panels. TIP: To find the mid point, draw two diagonal lines with a pencil from top left corner to bottom right corner and from top right corner to bottom left corner and the where these lines intersect, is the middle of the card panel.
5. Place smallest die from Altenew Rounded Rectangles in the middle of the inked panel and die cut.
6. Cut out a larger yellow card to be placed behind the aperture. This will be the background of the shaker element. Stamp the large stamp from Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp on the yellow card with Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Gray Denim. Also use leaf die from Altenew Just Leaves die set and emboss yellow card. This will make the shaker background interesting.
7. Now to assemble the shaker card. Every shaker needs a transparent front to hold in the shaker embellishments. TIP: Use plastic packaging or transparency film, which can be obtained at a lower price point than acetate. I use transparency film - got a box of this at a thrift shop and it’s going to last me for a very long time.
8. Cut the transparency film to a size that is bigger than the die cut rectangle of the Altenew Rounded Rectangles and adhere with sticky tape at the back of the card panel against the die cut aperture.
9. The next step is to double up foam tape and adhere to back of card panel with the shaker aperture. This is to provide some height/depth to accommodate the shaker embellishment. The side of the foam tape will be sticky and will ‘trap’ some of the embellishments. TIP: Tap the sides of the foam tape on the inside of the shaker shaper with anti-static powder to remove the stickiness.
10. Add chosen shaker embellishment, Altenew Antique Gold Sequins onto the transparency film which is a space cordoned off by the foam tape. TIP: Able to add more shaker embellishments if added to surface with foam tape rather than the flat surface, i.e. tip shaker embellishments onto the transparency or acetate used for the shaker front.
11. Then place side folding A2 card base to shaker panel covered with foam tape. TIP: To allow wiggle/adjustment window, apply liquid glue onto foam tape. Press firmly allowing time for the panels to adhere firmly.
12. Turn over adhered card pieces and shake card to see the shaker element of the card at work!
13. Pick sentiment from Altenew Label Love Stamp Set. Stamp sentiment on white card with Versafine Smokey Grey, sprinkle clear embossing powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool. Cut sentiment strip, back with three layers of card strips so it is sturdy and offset adhere to bronze card strip before adhering card front with liquid glue across the shaker window.
Card #3:Stamping and Die Cutting, Hello
1. Start card with a 110lbs Neenah Solar White Cardstock card panel measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”.
2. Use the long stamp with dots from the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp and stamp vertically on card panel with Altenew Crisp Dye Inks Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Chamomile, Marigold, and Gray Denim. TIP: Using a stamping platform allows you to double stamp, especially light colours like Chamomile and Caribbean Sky. It also allows for variation of colour shades when required, e.g. when doing layered stamping.
3. Trim stamped card panel to 4” by 5 1/4”.
4. Create an A2 side folding card (measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”) from orange cardstock using a Scor-Pal and bone folder as well as a guillotine.
5. Adhere stamped card panel onto orange card base with double-sided tape. TIP: Remove the backing strip from the double-sided tape partially to create tabs that can be held on to when adhering card panel to card base.
6. Die cut the sentiment, Altenew Fancy Hello Die three times and adhere together with liquid glue. Adhere ‘hello’ die cut to card front.
7. The sub-sentiment, ‘how are you?’ is from the Altenew Hello and Hugs Stamp Set.
8. Stamp sentiment on blue cardstock with Embossing Ink Pad, sprinkle Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool. Cut down sentiment to a strip. Adhere a foam tape to back of sentiment strip for some dimension and adhere to card front, below the ‘hello’.
Card #4: Stamping, Die Cutting & Paper Piecing, For You
1. Start card with a 110lbs Neenah Solar White Cardstock card panel measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”.
2. Use the long stamp with dots from the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp and stamp horizontally on card panel with Altenew Crisp Dye Inks Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, Chamomile, Marigold, and Gray Denim. TIP: Using a stamping platform allows you to double stamp, especially light colours like Chamomile and Caribbean Sky. It also allows for variation of colour shades when required, e.g. when doing layered stamping.
3. Then cut the stamped card panel vertically with a guillotine at width about 5/8”, which is about the width of each strip of dots.
4. Adhere the strips of stamped cards onto a blank card panel which is about 60gsm (so a thin card). When adhering the card strips, offset the card strips so the colours are not aligned.
5. Cut panel down to 4” by 5 1/4”.
6. For a frame of orange on the card base that matched the orange of the dots on the card panel, take the Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Marigold and apply directly to the edges of the white A2 side folding (measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”) card base.
7. Adhere cut down panel from #4 to card base front with double-sided tape.
8. Die cut the sentiment, Altenew Fancy For You Die three times, once with Altenew Celestial Paper Pack and twice with white scrap card. Adhere them together with liquid glue and attach ‘for you’ die cut to card front.
9. The sub-sentiment, ‘awesome friend’ is from the Altenew Hello and Hugs Stamp Set.
10. Stamp sentiment on orange cardstock with Embossing Ink Pad, sprinkle Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool. Cut down sentiment to a strip. Adhere a foam tape to back of sentiment strip for some dimension and adhere to card front, below the ‘for you’.
Card #5: Inking, Die Cutting and Paper Piecing, Hey
1. Take a 110lbs Neenah Solar White Cardstock, and cut into 1/4” strips, vertically.
2. Take the ink pads to the strips to the 1/4” strips of card to get a darker shade of the colours. Use Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Sapphire, Persian Blue, Caribbean Sky, Chamomile, Marigold, and Gray Denim.
3. Then adhere the inked card strips onto a blank card panel (backed with an adhesive sheet) which is about 60gsm (so a thin card). Adhere coloured card strips in colour order per your preference.
4. Cut panel down to 4” by 5 1/4”.
5. Use Altenew Pure White Ink Spray for ink splatter on the background of inked card strips. This mimics the dots of the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp.
6. Die cut the alphabets ‘h’, ‘e’, and ‘y’ to spell ‘hey’ with Altenew Bold Alphabet Die Set, at least three times for dimension.
7. The sub-sentiment, ‘Let’s Celebrate’ is from the Altenew Sentiment Strips 2 Stamp Set.
8. Stamp sentiment on black cardstock with Embossing Ink Pad, sprinkle Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool. Cut down sentiment to a strip. Adhere a few card strips to the back of sentiment strip for some dimension and adhere to card front, below the ‘hey’.
9. As the card panel is smaller than an A2 card (see #4), add a grey cardstock matt onto a side folding A2 card (measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”). Attach with double-sided tape and then attached stamped card panel as well. The card panel will have a thin grey frame from the grey cardstock matt and this will make the card panel pop.
Card #6: Emboss Resist, Paper Piecing & Die Cutting, Happy
1. Take a 110lbs Neenah Solar White Cardstock, and use the long stamp with dots from the Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp and stamp vertically on card panel with Versamark ink, sprinkle white embossing powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool until the entire card panel is covered.
2. Then cut the card panel into strips, the width of the stamp dots strip, about 5/8”. Take the ink pads to the strips and use and ink blending brush for Chamomile and Persian Blue as well. Use Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Sapphire, Persian Blue, Caribbean Sky, Chamomile, and Gray Denim as well as Distress Oxide Chipped Sapphire. TIP: Applying ink to the card in different way such as, ink pad direct to card and applied with a blending brush will get a variation of shades. So you get more from you ink pads.
3. Cover thin card (about 60gsm) with double-sided adhesive sheet. When adhering the card strips, offset the card strips so the colours are not aligned.
4. Cut panel down to 4” by 5 1/4”.
6. Die cut the alphabets from Altenew Fine Alphabet Die Set to spell ‘happy’ at least three times for dimension in iridescent white cardstock.
7. The sub-sentiment, ‘Sending you sweet birthday wishes’ is from the ALTENEW Sentiment Strips Stamp. Replace the ‘sweet’ with the ‘happy’ in the sentiment. So tape off the ‘sweet’ when inking the stamp, and remove tape before stamping onto card.
8. Stamp sub-sentiment on black cardstock with Versamark ink, sprinkle white embossing powder and melt embossing powder with heat tool. Cut down sentiment to a strip. Adhere a few card strips to the back of sentiment strip for some dimension and adhere to card front, above and below the ‘happy’.
9. As the card panel is smaller than an A2 card (see #4), attach to middle of side folding A2 card (measuring 4 1/4” by 5 1/2”). Attach with double-sided tape and then attached stamped card panel as well.
Packaging for the Gift Card Set for Him
This packaging is from a product that I had purchased. Pre-pandemic, there was a local stationery shop that would provide these A6 boxes and allow you to fill it with a variety of A6 card for a set price. I used to love going into this shop to get a variety of cardstock…paper therapy!
2. To customise this plastic box, make a belly band. Cut a strip of card measuring 3 1/8” by 10”. Stamped the strip using the large stamp with dot clusters from Altenew Dots and Boxes Stamp with Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Gray Denim.
3. Then score the card strip at 1 1/8”, 2 1/2”, 7 1/2”, and 8 7/8” using a bone folder and a scoring board. Fold card strip at the scored lines, adhere some double-sided tape strategically and adhere belly band across the middle of the box cover.
5. The sentiment on the front of the box is from Altenew Label Love. Ink a white cardstock strip with Altenew Crisp Dye Inks Chamomile, Marigold, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Sapphire, and Gray Dennim. Use the ink pad direct to paper technique for a darker pigment of the colours use. Liberally applied anti-static powder to the inked card strip. Stamp sentiment with Versamark ink, sprinkle with clear embossing powder, and melt embossing powder with heat too. Cut out sentiment and adhere to belly band on the front of the box with double-sided tape.
If you are still reading this post, thank you for taking the time and hope it has been an informative and interesting post.
Other Products Used:
ALTENEW Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder
ALTENEW Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder
Art Glitter Liquid Glue with fine metal tip
Thank you for stopping by and do leave a comment if you have query or if you just want to say hi. Have a lovely day.