I have been a rubber stamper and card maker for over 20 years.  I enjoy teaching classes and sharing with friends in my  studio space at home.  With the current health pandemic and staying at home, I was searching for a new way to learn new ideas and techniques while at home. I discovered the call out to participate in the Aletnew Educator’s Academy.  I have used Altenew stamps for a long time, especially their beautiful flowers and leaves.  So this was the right time to learn new ideas and techniques right from home. Perfect!  I recently was accepted to the Altenew Educator’s Academy AECP  and belong to Group 17.  I was excited to be accepted. 

• Lesson 1 focused on techniques for layering  so I had to search my Altenew stamp collection and the inks I would use.  The only layered stamp set I have is the Leaf Canopy  set.  I have used this stamp many, many times for many different occasions and love its simplicity and diversity.

• The Leaf Canopy set includes two solid leaf sprigs and two outline matching sprigs.  I selected two different shades of Ranger distress green ink-mowed lawn and shabby shutters to add shading to the stamped leaves. I selected Versamark black ink for the outline stamps
  

• Now it was time to practice.  Using the smaller outline stamp, I tried a few on Neenah white cardstock using the black ink. Then I inked  the leaf  which I had on an acrylic block using the shabby shutters light green ink. Aligning the solid image to fit inside outline image. Practice was helpful to create a good  image.  As I was practicing I was planning the layout for the final card homework.

• My final stamped image for the used the smaller leaf sprig.  I stamped the outline with the black ink five times on Neenah white cardstock so the images trailed off the sides of the  quarter piece of paper.   Then stamped first with the light green ink and again with the  same ink to create a more solid image.  Then ink spattered with a fan brush to add visual interest  to the white paper.

• I stamped the Just Because sentiment from Altenew on white paper, trimmed to size and lightly inked with green ink. I like to add visual interest and added a gold thread bundle to the back of the word tag.

• I die cut the stamped cardstock using a stitched edge die from My Favorite Things and used my favorite tape runner to add double sided tape and glued it to my card front to create the A2 card. I added some clear Wink of Stella to the leaves for  a subtle shine.

• I added  foam tape to the word tag and then adhered the gold thread to the sticky foam and added it to the card front.  I like the simplicity of the card and how it can be used for multiple occasions just by using different sentiments.

• Supplies-  Altenew Leaf Canopy stamps, Altenew sentiment, My Favorite Things stitched die cut, Distress green inks, Versamark black ink, Neenah white card stock, Wink of Stella clear pen,  foam tape, Scotch brand tape runner, gold thread, fan brush, acrylic blocks, mini spray bottle for water