Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 1 Challenge

Hello everyone!

I hope you're ready for a picture intensive post today! I've been working on my Altenew Educator Level 1 completion.

My challenge was to create a set of 6 encouragement cards featuring 3 components from the classes in Level 1. The challenge was to also include the packaging for this gift set. Each card could vary a bit, but the overall theme should be similar for all of the cards.

When I need to complete a larger project, I really like to jot down ideas, techniques, potential supplies and sketches. I thought I would show a glimpse of my project sheet, since it's a major part of my process.

The class lessons I decided to use in my project were Adding Details to Ink Blending from Easy Ink Blending, Painting from Ink Pads from Irresistible Inking Techniques, and various ideas from Let it Shine (glitter, embellishments, metallic paper.

First, here's a glance at my take on painting with ink pads. Here's a look at my supplies for the watercoloring component. 

I used dye inks (Papertrey Ink ink pads used here, but any dye ink, like Altenew's Crisp inks would work great for this technique) I wanted vibrant, cheerful leaves so I used Green Parakeet, Limeade Ice, Hawaiian Shores, and Tropical Teal. When using ink pads as the source of watercolor "paint", you'll need a palette that you can directly stamp the ink pads onto. I like to use a larger clear block. I also show a fine paint brush here and my stamped image. I stamped the leaves onto a cotton paper using a black archival ink.

Tip: When getting many components ready for a larger project, be sure to do a run through to make sure you are happy with the supplies. The first watercolor paper I chose caused the ink to wick and bleed too much, so I found a different type of watercolor paper in my stash.

Here's a video of my watercoloring:

I painted several of the larger and smaller leaves from Leaf Canopy using the technique shown in the video so that I could make many different layouts.

Next up, my take on Easy Ink Blending. I loved this class since ink blending is one of my favorite techniques. I loved the idea of taking a regular blended background and adding details to take it to the next level. Instead of using just my blending sponge for the circles, I did a take on a bokeh technique and made my own circle stencils.

Here are the supplies I used for my background blending.

I used Distress Oxides- Ripe Persimmon and Dried Marigold and a white pigment ink (PTI Fresh Snow). I used blender handles and sponges. For the bokeh technique, I used post-it note paper and several circle punches.

Tip: When ink blending, especially when using Distress Oxide inks, be sure to anchor your paper with a scrap piece of paper. This keeps your fingers ink-free and also keeps your project oil free!

Here's a video of my background blending and bokeh making.

For the other backgrounds, I changed up how much of the Dried Marigold and Ripe Persimmon I added. I also changed up the overall pattern of application (blending diagonal lines, smaller clusters, rounded edges, that sort of thing).

Now, here's a look at some of the items I found for my "shine" elements that I used - metallic copper cardstock (used on each card), green rhinestones, clear sequins, copper glitter and Nuvo drops.

Now that I've reviewed how I painted my leaves, how I made my backgrounds and the shine elements, let's get onto the cards! I went with the theme of Encouragement because so many Altenew sets have wonderful words of encouragement.

I wanted all the cards to coordinate, while each still being unique.

The first card uses several of the smaller leaves. I covered much of the background. I cut out 3 of the stamped "Beautiful" from the Simple Flowers set and layered them. The "You're So" was stamped onto black card stock and embossed in white. The additional shine element was a combination of Nuvo drops and glitter. I added the Nuvo drops and used it like regular glue and added the glitter while it was still wet. I did this so my glitter droplets would be slightly raised.

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For this card, I thought it would be fun to combine sentiments from a few sets to make a bigger sentiment. I used Crafty Friends and Leaf Canopy. The shine element this time is green rhinestones.

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For my next card, I used a sentiment from Adore You. I love this sentiment because it can be used for so much- encouragement (as I've used it here), sympathy, thinking of you, or even a celebration,

My shine elements are once again green rhinestones. However, I also wanted to jazz up the sentiment, so I applied some copper glitter to some cardstock and added that as a thin accent strip

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For the next card, I used the same sentiment as above from Adore You, but I decided to build it up by pairing it with this "cheer up" from Painted Greetings. The shine element this time is clear sequins.

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 My next card is a slightly different layout from many of the others. I decided to feature only one leaf cluster and place it in the centre. The sentiment is from Adore You and once again I used sequins as my shine element.

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For my final card, I wanted some extra dimension. I stamped this sentiment from Leaf Canopy on some white cardstock and adhered that with foam tape. I also popped up all of the leaf images with foam tape. My shine element here is a bit more subtle- I used the clear Nuvo drops. I like that they look like little water droplets.

The final part to my challenge was to present the set of cards in some sort of packaging. I decided to make a simple box with a vellum window. These types of boxes are super easy to make. For the box base, I made it 6-3/4 x 8 and scored each side 1 inch in. I cut slits into the score lines so that I had corner flaps. The lid is made using the same basic premise, except I made it a touch bigger- 6-7/8 x 8-1/8, again scoring each side 1 inch in. I cut out the window using a craft knife. I stamped several of the smaller leaf images from Leaf Canopy with Versamark and embossed it with white embossing powder and adhered the window on the inside of the lid (make sure to make the window panel larger than the window cut out so you have enough of a border to easily add your adhesive)

 Here's a shot from above, I like that you only catch a glimpse of the inside top card. I really like the frosty look the vellum adds. The box colors were chosen to coordinate with the inks I used for the leaf watercoloring.

 Here's a little glimpse inside:

And lastly, when making a set of cards to give away, you need to include envelopes. To make the envelopes just that little bit more special, I stamped the outline leaf on each one. Little details like this really add to the packaged gift feel.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into my process, the videos of my coloring and blending techniques and the projects.

Supplies (affiliate links used when available):

Stamps: Simple Flowers, Leaf Canopy, Crafty Friends, Adore You, Painted Greetings (Altenew)

Ink: Jet Black archival ink, Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon (Ranger), Fresh Snow, Green Parakeet, Limeade Ice, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal (Papertrey Ink), Versamark

Paper: White, Copper Metallic, Black, Cotton paper, Green Parakeet, Tropical Teal, Vellum