For this Card I choose JGaultier’s June Altenew challenge. He choose to use Lapis Lazuli and Coffee Break to present a male card. For the background I used the Coffee Break colours, Sand Dunes, Rocky Shore, and Mocha. I smudged each colour onto my craft mat, dropped a small amount of water on the same mat and then took some old plastic wrap dipped it into the water then into the ink colour and transferred the colour to the card top. I did this with each colour separately until I covered most of the top in a circle pattern. Then I put this aside to air dry and worked on the flower.

With the Incredible stamp set I took the small flower and the half flower, using a stamp positioner, stamped them onto a separate paper with Ultramarine Blue then stamped over with Versa Mark ink covered with Clear Embossing powder and heat set them. Now comes the best part, painting the flowers, don’t forget the practice one so mistakes can be on it. I played each colour onto my craft mat and a separate puddle of water, took my paint brush dipped into water, then into the iceberg and painted each leaf separately I did not look for even coverage and I heat dried before doing using Eastern Sky. With Eastern Sky I dipped into water then flicked feathered lines for each petal going from the centre of the flower towards the centre of the petal giving an appearance of veins, then heat dried. Next came the Ultramarine Blue and going over or beside the Eastern Sky for the added dimension to the flowers, I finished off the flowers with the stamens coated with Espresso. I choose the long leaf from Stargazer build a flower, stamping with the Iceberg then Eastern Sky for the second layer. For the leaf I choose not to use a third layer. After I die cut the flowers and leaf I layered them over the toper making a triangle. The full flower was raised with some fun foam and I put-on some Hai clear sequins. I forgot to put a wood grain layered edge on my card dragged the edges with Eastern Sky to give a wooded look. I love this card and thing the outline gives it a stunning appearance.

SUPPLIES

Card Stock Neena Solar White #110

card measurements are Base 5 1/4 x 4. Topper 5 x 3 3/4

Stamps Altenew Build a flower Incredible and Stargazer

Inks. Altenew Lapis Lazuli and Coffee Break

Sequins HAI mixed clear droplets

This is a simple beautiful garden of flowers, from the Begonia Build a Flower stamp and die set.

One stamp and two different colour palettes, how pretty they look together. First I choose the colours I wanted and then started to stamp the layers.The first colours I used was from the Warm Spring colours starting with the outline in black, then Buttercream, Warm Sunshine, Coral Berry, and finally Ruby Red. Notice how each colour gives another layer of depth to the flower and how you can stop at any layer or skip a layer and change the look of the flower. For the second flower I used Cherry Blossom colour set and started the same way going through each colour. By using Altenew layering stamps you get perfect layers each time, I always do a practice sheet as well as the sheet I will put my stamps on for die cutting. I do this for two reasons the first so I am sure I have lined up the stamps correctly and the second so I know my colours are going to work together. This is not a big problem if you are using a colour set but is if you are using independent colours.

The leaves I did with Frayed Leaf and Forest Glade, I felt the darker colours would be too close to the same shades in the flower and would not give the dimension I was looking for.

All that is left is to figure out how to place your flowers and leaves on the topper. I placed them where I wanted them to go put some painters tape on them to hold everything in place then flipped the design over and placed crafters tape on the back of each flower and leaf holding them together. Next remove the painters tape from the front and place the flowers onto the card top. Cut off any over hanging edgers and place onto the card. Finish with a sentiment strip and some bling if you wish. I left mine bling free.

SUPPLIES

Altenew

Build a Flower.      Begonia

Inks.                         Warm Spring, Cherry Blossom, and Green Fields with Permanent Black

Stamp Platform

Be Creative Tape

 

 

 

 

I think this is a fun and quick way to use your Washi Tape. I have this Altenew Washi Tape and put onto a card to get a good look at the pattern, I like what I saw and as I was doing another card I kept thinking of what the Washi would look like if I painted it, so I did.  The leaves are done with  Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades inks use as water colour paints, the flowers with Butter Cream and Warm Sunshine, and some old inexpensive water colour paint. To finish off the card  I used the Hugs script, triple layered it in black, then put on a few Dollar Store Sequins I have in my stash and called it finished. To put the topper onto the card I used some score tape and Art Glitter Glue because the Washi will not allow the score tape to set on it.

SUPPLIES

Card Stock,   Neena Solar White #110.  card is 5 1/2 x 4 1/4  the topper is 5 1/4 x 4.

Inks.  Altenew   Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Buttercream, Warm Sunshine.

Die.    Altenew  Hello and Hugs

 

 

 

Today’s stamp is a Hellebore flower, grown in zone 5 -8b, with 20 different species. Also this plant although very pretty is very poisonous.

Today I used the Altenew Sea Shore ink set. Including the centres, there are six layers to this flower and three layers to the buds.  As with all layering stamps you must practice first so that you know where to place each layer. I always practice on good quality Cardstock, Neena #110 solar white.  The reason for this is I always have flowers ready if I need a special card, or as I gather them I can put together a bouquet for a card.

For this card I stamped directly onto the Cardstock, so took the time to place the stamps where I felt they should go then started stamping. This way I have a vision of how I want to showcase my flowers.

I use a stamp positioner so I can get accurate layers as I line them up. Layer one is Mountain Mist, next I take layer two, line it up and stamp with Volcano Lake, stamp then move onto Layer three, Lagoon, and finally Emerald for the dark shadows. The flower part is finished and now onto the centres using Buttercream, then Coral Berry for the dots.

Next came the buds. First I made a post it note mask for my flower, then stamped the buds where I wanted them. All the buds started with Mountain Mist, then Volcano Lake. For two buds I finished with Lagoon, the other three were finished with Emerald. This creates interest and different depth to the buds.

To finish the card I stamped the leaves using two different leaves from the set. The colours were Sweet Leaf and Just Green. One set had both layers and other had the third layer using only Just Green.

For the Sentiment I stamped hello with Azurite Blue, then used my hello die, cut it twice in white Cardstock with double sided tape and then the top layer with an alcohol ink background card in greens, then layer it over the blue so the blue is a shadow. I finished to card off with sequins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clematises are so beautiful, I have one that climbs our front deck and have had it for years. Here in the colder climates they are very hard to grow and keep year after year. Mine is very special because it died and we did not replace it but somehow there was a Shute under the deck, so about 4 years later it starts growing again. Wonderful how God works in our lives.

My stamps and inks are Altenew Climbing Clematis and shades of purple inks for layering.  Some wink of Stella, and Creative Expressions Thanks Shadow Die. My card stock is Solar White Neena #110, 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 The grey glitter card stock is cut to leave a narrow trim from the base and the final layer is 5 1/4 x 4.

Layering the stamps on this flower are easier than others because you follow the petal pattern for each flower step you are doing. Start with Soft Lilac, Lavender Field, your deeper accents are Deep Iris finally Midnight Violet. My centres were Butter Cream, Orange Soda from Hero Arts and Coral Berry and Ruby red. The Leaves are done in Forest Glades and Evergreen.

First I stamped the flowers on my 5 1/4 by 4  size card base. I masked off the flowers as I place the leaves around it, and then I fussy cut one Clematis out and foam taped it onto the composition. After everything was in place I used Wink of Stella for a couple of leaves and the centre of the raised flower.

The Thanks was cut out on a soft pink card stock and the thanks shadow on  gray glitter Cardstock. I added some pink and gold sequins to the card and called it finished

 

This picture is  a generational stamping technique described below. I just finished the card below and my Lilly arrived so I did some generational stamping on some 49th and Market paper. Loved how it turned out so had to show it off.

For Always stay awesome this is how to  do this.

This lesson is about generational layering, taught by Nicole Picadura. Generational stamping is using one ink pad and getting multiple shades to get dimension on your card. The stamp set I used is Altenew Bellflower with Memento Tuxedo Black.

I used Michael’s #110 card stock, my card base is 5 1/4″ x 4″ and the topper is 5″ x 3 3/4″

Before starting to layer onto your card  practice layering your stamps according to the instructions that come with the flower onto scrap paper. This gives a more realistic and tidy look to your flowers.

To start we need a piece of scrap paper, old printer paper is just fine. I used the B stamps starting with B1, stamping it on the black ink, then stamping it on the scrap paper 3 times, and then onto the card base.  I covered the card with the stamps, using the same steps. Next I used B2 and inked it up and stamped on the scrap paper twice then onto the bottom layer. Next was B3 and again inking the stamp and stamping onto the scrap paper once then onto the image. At this point you can see the detail, and our last stamp B4 was inked then put onto the stamp image.

B5 and B6 are attached to the bottom of the flower, using 3rd and 1st generational stamping. I did put one bud on my card because it needed a space to be used up.

On a separate Cardstock I used the Misty Morning ink sets and stamped the same stamp set using Dew Drops, Teal Cove, Aqualicious, then Galactic Stream. For the leaves, Sweet Leaf and Just Green. I then placed it over one of the flowers,  raising it with foam tape The sentiment is from Delicate Flower Bed, always Stay AWESOME.

To finish off the card I took some dot stamps from another set and used Sweet Leaf and placed them around some flowers for added depth and my bling from HAI mixed clear droplets.

 

Shine Bright is a layering and masking card, the colours used were momento black, Altenew ruby red and coral berry, a generic green for the leaves, and Hero Arts Butter Bar and Pumpkin Pie. Finished with Spectrum Noir clear shimmer and PL5 ink for dots. I use what I have on hand as I build my stash of everything cards and paper. Altenew build a flower Hellebore.

The first thing I learnt was the value of practicing before committing to card stock. The reason for this is to see the how your placement is looking. Sometimes it is off a bit and looks ok, but then you have that perfect placement and it looks great, like you want the flower to look. First I stamped the outline  in black on the large flower, then ruby red for the colour. When I stamped the flower is also stamped and cut out a mask from post it note paper and placed it over the flower. next came the smaller flowers coming from behind the large one. By placing the flower where you want it over the mask you put it behind that flower. This gives depth and a pleasing look to your bouquet. I then removed the mask, placed the stems and leaves, applied the centres with the yellows. The dots were done with Spectrum Noir PL5 Then I shimmered the black outlines and placed the sentiment.

You do have to be careful that you don’t use the post is note to often when wet. Let it dry before going onto another card or it bleeds through and you have to do some creative masking.

Wow we have made it through the cold spell (-40) and came out smiling. What do you do in such cold weather, plug into Creativations 2020. I think I toured so much, saw the new products coming out this year. Most of all watch videos and learnt new techniques that could be used with what I have for supplies. Don’t forget most new products and techniques can often be used with what we have on hand.

Today I am showing you an Altenew Layering Stamp making a simple, beautiful card with only a couple of the layers. The card I chose is from the Build a Flower Fuchsia Stamp set. When choosing the flowers and colours I used some previously used typing paper to practice what I wanted to do with my design. We waste less card stock that way.

I Choose to use layers 3 & 4 on the large flower, using 4 first, stamping it randomly around the card leaving space of other flowers. Layer 4 is black, then layer #3 Coral Berry. After that I used the 2nd bud layer using Lavender Field.

Next I choose layers 3 & 4 of the small bud, again #4 in black and then for a pop of colour I used Ruby Red for #3.  I placed a single stem on some of flowers in black and a dark and light green for the leaves.

I did leave a few layers black only, it leaves such a delicate, uncluttered look on the card.

For the final touch I raised my sentiment before placing it on the card.

I hope you enjoyed the class today. Stay warm and comfortable.

Dianne

Basic Brayering

Today I thought I would do some basic one colour brayering, two different ways. The advantage of brayering is you can make a water colour look for a background that will match one of the focal points of your design. Because the colours match it will give good flow and continuity with your design.

Finished card for this method of inking.

The first background I did was direct to paper coverage over the edges of the base. This gives a darker trim for the focal point of your design. It is the same colour but more concentrated and because the centre is covered we don’t need to colour it. Don’t forget to ink the edges of the card for a frame, with your ink pad. The frame keeps the design on the paper so it does not look like it is falling off.

First, the brayer I used looks like miniature paint roller, made with a hard plastic roller. I placed my ink onto a craft sheet and spritzed with water. The more water the lighter the colour. After the ink is ready, roll into the ink, one direction only, not back and forth. Pick the brayer up off the paper and return to where you started, then roll through again, until the roller is filled, then roll onto the paper, repeat until you are happy with the background.You can roll in different directions to get desired coverage. Remember white or negative space is good. I also put direct to paper with my ink pad around the edges, it gives a nice frame for the picture, which is the same colour but more concentrated. A simple but beautiful technique. Have fun, post some pictures so I can see your work as well.

 

This is such a beautiful card a lesson from Altenew Academy, todays lesson was learning to add a dark colour to your flower. I choose Distress Inks, Abandon Coral, Fired Brick, and Ground Expresso for my flower. For the leaves, Hero Arts, Feather, Teal Topaz, and again Ground Expresso.                                                                                                                      Altenew’s Build a Flower, Camellia Japonica and my sentiment is from Delicate Flower Bed.

First I layered my flower with Abandon Coral, then Fired Brick. These two were easy to layer for me, but my Ground Expresso took a little more time to find the correct placement. I made a mask for the flower and took the smaller leaves and positioned them over the mask so it looked like the leaves were coming from under the flower. My leaves were stamped with Hero Arts, Feather and Teal Topaz, then Ground Expresso. The sentiment was done in Ground Expresso.

Finishing Touches were matching bling to Teal Topaz and a matching ribbon. I edged the card with Abandon Coral, backed it with fun foam and placed it on my card base. I tried hard to keep everything in threes so the card is pleasing to the eye.