TECHNIQUES FOR “THE LOVE OF COLOR” CLASSES-

The lessons in this class focused on the following techniques-

Repeated stamping to add ink and color

Coloring and shading using Copic markers

Coloring and shading using colored pencils

Coloring and shading using watercoloring

Glitter paper and shading with markers

Embossing using embossing powder to create an accent frame

LAYERED INKED COLORS

This card was created using a variety of pink ink cubes from Altenew and the large poppy stamp. The objective of the lesson was using a variety of inks to create a gradient of colors. I had to improvise using the resources that I had so I decided to begin with the lightest shade of pink ink, then a slightly darker ink cube and the last one is poppy pink. Every time I stamped the flower, it created an embossed edge. I also used several shades of green ink for the stem. I then added Altenew washi tape corner accent and a layered gold paper die cut hello. I like the clean and simple card that highlights the color variations using different ink colors.

Steps for the process I used to create the Poppy card.

NEXT CARD- COLORING AND SHADING USING COPIC MARKERS

This class focused on techniques to create shading for flower petals. I used a favorite stamp from Altenew that has large flower petals. I watched the video several times before I was ready to give it a go. I used several different shades of yellow Copic markers- cadmium yellow, lemon yellow and celadon green and new leaf green for the leaves and stems. I learned many new techniques and the shading of the petals really looked dimensional. I used Altenew wonky grid stencil to ink the background. A die cut sentiment, gold cording and black glaze ink dots finish the card.

SHADING AND BLENDING WATERCOLORED CARD

It was time to breakout the watercolor set that I have. I stamped the flower branch using the Altenew Sketchy Floral stamp set on watercolor paper. I selected this stamp set because of the large petals so I had room to paint and shade the petals. I used a wet paint brush to ‘paint’ each of the petals and twigs with water. I added the lightest watercolorcolor first, and continued to blend in darker shades of paint to continue to blend and shade. I used the same technique for the stems and leaves, I created a coordinating stamped sentiment with color cordinated green and melon colored banners. And of course a few colored Nuvo drop accents.

SHADING AND BLENDING USING COLORED PENCILS

The next card was to use colored pencils to layer each color and add shading and dimension to each flower petal. I stamped the daisy type flower from the Altenew Smile More stamp set. I used heavy weight white card stock and black pigment ink and my MISTI stamping platform. I stamped the larger flower first and then added in the remaining spaces the smaller version of the flower. Following the steps in the video, I used the lightest shade of yellow in my Prismacolor colored pencil set, then added the next darker pencil color starting at the top of the petal closest to the center of the flower. The petals now had shading and dimension. I used the same shading technique for the center of the flower using shades of brown and few spots of white for accent. I used the stitch edge die from My Favorite Things and a triple accent banner sentiment on a white card base. A few copper accent dots from Nuvo.

NEXT CARD- USING GLITTER, STAMPING AND COLORING TECHNIQUE

This card was creating a background that used glitter paper for stamping. I had in my paper collection a package of Micro Fine Glitter Paper in Cool Highlights from Krazy Kreations. I cut a piece larger than the inside of the rounded corner rectangle die from Altenew which was going to be the front of the card window frame. I selected a branch from the Leaf Canopy stamp set and black permanent ink. I used Tombow markers in shades of green and a blender marker after I finished coloring in the leaves. This last step was important to blend in all of the shades of ink. I let it set for awhile to dry while I worked on the rest of the card. I used the rounded rectangle corner die from Altenew to die cut a window from white card stock and then used a larger stitched edge die for the rest of the quarter sheet of white card stock. I stamped the “Thinking of You” sentiment in the bottom right corner using black ink. Before I put all of the pieces together I touched the inked leaves with a piece of scrap paper to help to dry the inked leaves. I used white glue to secure the glitter stamped paper to the card front and then I used foam tape behind the white paper frame. Simple but elegant card. I am glad I had this special paper in my collection!

BONUS AND LAST CARD- USING EMBOSSING GOLD POWDER AS AN ACCENT

This last card in the lesson was to create a visual accent and I created a gold embossed frame for the layered stamped Dahlia flower and leaves. I used a stacked set of square dies from Essential Squares by Ellen, This is a unique set and has many sizes but also cuts just a narrow frame. I used Versamark embossing ink and Egyptian gold embossing powder and heat set the gold frame. I used another square paper piece to ink dots using the gradient dot stencil using an Altenew ink cube. I added the stamped layered dahlia image and leaves to the dotted square using foam tape. The front of the card was a textured light melon colored paper. I stamped the sentiment and die cut the banner from My Favorite Things die. The gold accent frame added a visual accent piece to the card.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

Altenew Stamps- layered Dahlia flower and leaves, Canopy leaf branch, Charmed flower, Sketchy Floral, Forever Poppy, Smile More daisy, and a variety of Altenew sentiments from other stamp sets

Altenew Stencils– gradient dot and wonky grid

Altenew Ink Cubes– sunkissed yellow and orange, and pinks

Altenew Dies- hello script and rounded corner stacked rectangle set

Altenew– wide washi tape gold stripe

Tombow Markers- 133 Light Green, 173 Green, 192 Green, N00 Blender pen

Copic Markers– Y15 Cadmium Yellow, Y13 Lemon Yellow, YG25 Celadon Green, YG23 New Leaf

Colored Pencils– Prismacolor yellows and light brown

Watercolor Paints- Kuretake Gansai Tambi paint blocks

Dies- My Favorite Things stitched rectangle and word banners, Essential Squares by Ellen

Supplies– Nuvo drops, black glaze pen, gold embossing powder, Memento black ink, embossing ink, Krazy Kreations glitter paper, foam tape, MISTI stamping platform, Scor Pal score board, 3M large tape runner, May Arts gold twine, white card stock, Fiskars scissors, blending brushes, 3M foam tape

On to Level 3 Quick and Simple Cards Lesson. I selected this class as the course content focused on techniques to create cards that were ‘quick’to create. I of course added my own ‘spin’ to each card. I had to be creative when planning and completing the cards using the Altenew supplies that I had. I applied the techniques that Laurie shared in the videos and I am pleased with the lesson cards.

The card lesson objectives were-

1. Creating sentiment strips
2. Masking and stenciling’
3. Background stamping
4. Covering a card with stenciling
5. Masking and stencilng
6. Embossed / scored accent edges

LESSON ONE AND TWO COMBINED

This card combined Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 objectives. Lesson 1 focused how to stamp multiple sentiments using a stamping platform and grid lines. Lesson 2 focused on masked edges and inking a background using a stencil and a black and white stamped image with a colored accent image. I taped off the card edges using 1″ Post It Note paper tape, inked the Half Tone stencil with Firefly ink cube. I stamped the floral bunch from the Charmed stamp set using black Versamark ink and fussy cut the image. I stamped a single flower from the same stamp, colored the flower and leaf using Copic markers and fussy cut that as well, It needed a pop of color to compliment the inked background. I then used my MISTI stamping platform and spaced out three sentiments, black paper and white embossing powder. I then die cut each strip and also die cut the inked paper to fit the front of the A2 card. I added the sentiment strips and added it to a white card base. Finishing touch was adding black Glaze pen dots to the flowers.

CARD 3 CREATING A STAMPED BACKGROUND

This lesson focus was to create a backgroud using a large stamp and different colored ink to cover the quarter sheet of paper. I created my own background stamp using several different stamps from the Funky Flower set. I masked off diagonal stripes using 1/4″ Post It Paper to cover the paper. I used several large and small stamps from the Altenew Funky Flower set on small acrylic blocks. This allowed me to stamp using different colored ink cubes for the different Funky Flower stamps. I used Altenew ink cubes that were shades of yellow and orange for the smallest stamps. The stamps overlapped in some areas. When I removed the paper strips, the paper looked like it was made from one large stamp. Which was the goal of the lesson. I added a sentiment strip which was die cut, the stamped piece was also die cut and adhered to a A2 white card base. I will try this masking technique again.

CARD 4 BLENDED STENCILS/QUICK AND SIMPLE

This lesson video demonstrated inking a large floral stencil and then stamping inside each stencil opening to create additioinal visual interest. After several attempts of cutting my own stencils and researching my Altenew supplies I decided to use the same lesson objective using the Layered Medallion A and B stencil that I had. I selected a light medium colored beige piece of card stock like Laurie used in the video. I inked Layer A with Cotton Candy ink cube to cover the entire piece of card stock. Layer B stencil I used the Ruby Red ink cube which was a much darker color which would create a contrast to the first layer of ink. This second stencil added darker lines which were contrasting to the color of the card stock and first inked stencil. The stenciled piece reminded me of a mosiac tile with the contrasting colors. I die cut the stenciled piece using a stitched edge die. I inked a piece of white card stock to match the stenciled piece, stamped and embossed the sentiment. I did several at the same time using the technique from Lesson 1. I layered three die cut banners to the bottom of the card. This was another A2 card half sheet of paper with a left side scored fold.

CARD 5 MASKING AND STENCILING

Following the theme of quick and simple, Laurie demonstrated how to create a masked section of a card for visual interest. You could work on the rest of the card keeping the masked section clean. I used white cardstock to start with, masked a section using 1″ wide Post It tape and the Altenew Wonky Grid stencil. I inked the first layer with a light pink ink cube and a foam applicator handle. I used the next darker ink cube and move the stencil to the right which would create a new ink grid. Using the same ink and I moved the stencil down and over one set of lines. This now created a plaid inked image. I loved the background that I created using the same piece of paper, grid stencil, and ink cubes. I removed the Post It tape and then worked on the sentiment. I stamped the half tone Smile stamp with black ink and die cut it. I also die cut three other smiles from white paper and layered them to create a raised imag. I stamped on black paper the word just, inked a coordinating pink piece of paper for accent strips for the top and bottom of the white masked section. This helped to transition from the grid to the white section. I used tiny piece of foam tape to the layered smile die and tucked the just tag under the smile. This piece was glued to a A2 white card base. I added three stick on silver sequins to the top right hand corner of the card front for some bling. This lesson reminded me of how easy it is to create unique inked background papers. I am glad that I had the Altenew Wonky Grid stencil to use as it was a recent purchase.

CARD 6 EMBOSSED/RAISED BORDER

This is truly a clean and simple card layout with a single visual image. Laurie demonstrated how to create a raised outline using to create a border. I then used that concept and to create an embossed edge using the Altenew Rounded Rectangle die. I used a quarter sheet of white card stock, my Sizzix die cutting machine, a rubber embossing mat and the largest rounded rectangle die to run through my Sizzix. This set up created an embossed edge using the die. I really like the raised accent edge using this die, it was smaller than the paper as it was centered on the paper which allowed me to die cut the rest of the paper using my stitched edge die.

The Altenew poppy was stamped using Versamark ink and embossed with gold embossing powder. I painted the flower and stem using Altenew ink cubes using a watercolored blended look. I stamped and embossed the sentiment using the technique from Class 1. This was attached to a white A2 card base. Another technique that I will use again, especially that I figured out how to use a die for the embossed feature. I really liked this technique once I figured it out. A nice frame for the large painted poppy image.

SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES

Altenew Supplies

Rounded Rectangles Die Set

Layered Medallion A and B Stencil

Wonky Grid Stencil

Gradient Dot Stencil

Smile half tone stamp and die set

Charmed stamp set

Funky Flower stamp set

Poppy stamp set

Ink cubes- pink, yellow, orange, green

ADDITIONAL CRAFTING SUPPLIES

My Favorite Things dies

Cardstock-white, beige

Double sided tape and foam tape

White and gold embossing powder

Versamark embossing ink, Versafine black ink

Post It paper tape

Stick on sequins Park Lane from Joanns store

This lesson focused on the technique known as ‘masking’.  A stamped image is covered with a cut out of of the stamped image.  I used the sticky edge of a Post It Note.  I have also used masking paper for images that are very intricate and needed the entire image covered. For this card the most important part that needed to be masked was the top of the vase and the Post It note paper worked well for this card layout.

I used Altenew stamps from the Garden Silhouette set and coordinating dies.  My paper choices were white card stock for the card base, yellow pin dot paper for the card front and Cason watercolor paper for the tag. The twine bow is from a May Arts spool.  The hugs stamp used Versamark black ink.  The vase was stamped using Stormy Sky blue distress ink. The flower was  inked with  two shades of Altenew yellow ink cubes set and stem was colored with a green Tombow marker.

First step, was to ink and stamp the vase on  a piece of watercolor paper.  I stamped it again on a Post It note, die cut the vase and covered the stamped vase.  I colored the stem and flower, stamped it using my MISTI stamping platform.  I had to ink and repeat the stamping to get a darker image.   Next I die cut largest tag  from Sizzix set that included seven different tag sizes. The die cut image on the watercolor paper creates an embossed edge which adds visual interest to the card.  I stamped the hugs on the yellow dot paper, die cut it to fit the card front and was ready to assemble the card. I tied a twine bow to the top of the tag.

The last step after adding the dot paper was to attach the tag using double sided foam tape.  A clean and simple masked card.

Supplies

• Altenew Garden Silhouette stamp and coordinating die set
• Altenew yellow ink cubes
• Sixxiz Framelits tag die set
• Distress Stormy Sky blue ink
• Versamark black ink
• Tobow markers
• Pin dot printed yellow paper
• May Arts twine
• My Favorite Things stitched rectangle die
• White card stock
• 3M double sided foam tape
• MISTI stamping platform

On to this lesson which focused on the use of heat embossing when creating a  stamped card.  I used heat embossing when I stamped the double flower image.  I used the small double flower from the Forever and Always poppy set.  I stamped the double flower image over a quarter sheet of mixed media paper using Versamark ink and then heat embossed using Ranger silver embossing powder.

I painted the flowers using shades of Altenew ink cubes in light purple and pinks. When that was complete I used a scalloped curve My Favorite Things die for the bottom of the piece.  I added a piece of pink patterned paper to create the card front.  I then I die cut the card front using a stitched rectangle die from My Favorite Things. I stamped the sentiment from another Altenew stamp set in Versafine black ink.  I added a few glittery pink Nuvo dots for accents.

Supplies

• Altenew Always and Forever stamp set- smll double bud stamp
• Altenew stamp sentiment Hello Starshine
• Altenew ink cubes- purple and pink
• Ranger silver embossing powder
• Heat tool
• My Favorite Things die- curved scallop edge, stitched rectangle dies
• Versafine black ink pad
• Water barrel brush
• Nuvo glitter drops
• Fan brush
• 3M double sided tape
• MISTI stamping platform
• Scor-pal scoring tool

“Color Your Day” lesson focused on including color to a card.  I enjoy creating cards and other paper related projects that include that pop of color including even the smallest detail.  The topic of this lesson was focused on using colors so I reached for my  Copic alcohol markers.

I selected the Altenew Forevery Always stamp set and used the double poppy stems.  My paper selection was Neenah white card stock which works well with Copic markers.  I stamped the stems twice using black Memento ink and my MISTI stamping platform.  I varied the placment of the stems and was ready to color the stamped stems.  Starting with the lightest shade of orange for the buds and stems I colored in the images.  Then I blended and shaded moving to the mid range and darker colors to create depth in the images.

When I finished I used the gradient dot Altenew stencil and Altenew sunkissed ink cube and a blending brush to apply the ink.  I stamped an Altenew sentiment- Thinking of You- on white card stock, die cut the piece and inked the paper with the same ink I used on the stencil.

I created a window frame using  two different sizes of the stitched rectangle dies I had.  It was an A2 size to cover the front of the card.  I used liquid white glue to position the window frame onto the colored piece.   I assembled the card.  The word tag I popped it up using foam tape.  The last step that pulled it all together by adding dots to the open blooms using a black glaze pen.

What did I learn? Shading and blending add depth to the stamped poppy buds and focusing on a simple color palette.

Supplies

• Altenew Forever and Always poppy set
• Altenew dot gradient stencil
• Altenew Sunkissed ink cube
• Altenew sentiment
• Copic markers- YG07 Acid Green, YG13 Chartreuse Green, Eii Barely Beige, YR21 Cream, YR02 Light Orange
• Memento black ink
• Neenah Solar White card stock
• My Favorite Things- stitched rectangle dies in several sizes
• 3M foam tape and double sided tape
• White glue
• Black glaze pen
• Blender brush

Level 2 Beautiful Details Lesson took a bit of thinking and reviewing my collection of Altenew materials.  And watching the lesson videos again.  The Antique Rose stamp set has a matching stencil and masking option and the shape for the stencil is simple  and easy to outline.  I used a piece of heavy weight white card stock and inked the rose stencil using Altenew soft lilac ink cube. I moved the stencil around the paper to cover as much as I could cover rotating the stencil as I inked.  The ink color has a light gray shade to the purple inking.  Then I used a fine tip black marker pen from Faber Castell to outline each inked flower.

I die cut  matching light blue card stock for the background and the inked paper using several My Favorite Things stitched layered rectangle dies.  I added the black and white wide dotted Altenew washi tape to a strip of white paper and die cut that as well.  A stamped sentiment from Altenew “Just Because”, a black banner complete the trio of die cut banners.  I layered the pieces onto a A2 white card base.  When everything was in place, I added three raised black dots using glossy Nuvo drops.  That brought the three colors together- soft lilac ink, black and white.  The rose stamp from the set is a multi layered one and how I used it here looks very different than the stenciled on its own.  I included a card that I created for the lessons that I used the layered rose stamp on another card.

Supplies

• Altenew stencil small Antique Rose
• Altenew soft lilac ink cube
• Altenew black and white dot washi tape
• Altenew stamped sentiment
• Versamark black ink
• Stampin’ Up light blue paper
• My Favorite Things  stitched rectangle die and banner dies
• Nuvo drops- black glossy
• Faber Castelle fine tip black marker

On to the next class in Level 2 and the title is Polychromatic.  I watched the videos, took notes and watched the videos again.  I finally decided that the mono color layout was the technique that was the one that I found one that I had limited experience with.  I selected a large daisy like stamp from the Smile More stamp set.  I thought yellow would be a good happy color to use for the card layout.   The card stock is a light yellow from Stampin’ Up I had in my paper collection.  I cut the sheet in half so I had more space to stamp the flower and then select the part of the paper I liked the best.

Stamping was done using Versaclair Cheerful Yellow ink which versatile ink.  It is stays wet enough to emboss with and can be used as a dry ink.  I dusted the paper with my embossing buddy anti-static poweder first. I used my MISTI stamping platform, secured the stamp to the cover, inked the stamp.  I added clear embossing powder to the image, heat set it and then rotated the paper to stamp the next flower and emboss.

When I was finished I used my awesome set of Prismacolor pencils and the different shades of yellow that I had in my set.  I started with the lightest shade of yellow to color in the petals.  Then I used a slightly darker shades of yellow to begin the shading and coloring  of the petals.  I added a darker yellow for the center of the flower.  That worked the best without being too dark.

Once I was finished coloring I selected the part of the paper that came out the best as I need to die cut a piece for the card front.  The card layout was a horizontal one with a left fold.  I used a stitched edge die from My Favorite Things for the yellow paper and for the piece of striped vellum. I die cut the Altenew hello  from a light yellow card stock.  I have a embossing and die from Stampin’ Up that creates paper buttons.   I tiny hole punch allowed me to thread the jute string to tie a bow.  Some carefully placed white glue  for the hello die and then behind the die to glue the vellum to the card front.  I few tiny pieces of foam tape for the paper button.  Another class done!

Supplies

• Altenew Smile More flower stamp
• Altenew hello script die
• Prisma colored pencils- shades of yellow
• Versaclair Cheerful Yellow ink
• Clear embossing powder and a heat tool
• My Favorite Things stitched rectangle dies
• Stamapin’Up button embossed and die
• May Arts thin jute twine
• Embossing buddy
• Stampin’ Up yellow card stock
• Stiped vellum
• White card stock
• White craft glue
• 3M tape runner and foam tape

Next lesson is lesson four and the challenge is Creative Watercolor Media.  After watching the videos for the lesson and reviewing the Altenew stamps that I had and I was ready to start planning.  I selected  several liquid/ re-inks- twisted citron and tumbled glass , to paint with and a half sheet of Canson watercolor paper.   The stamp set is Leaf Canopy outline. The set also has solid stamps and I have the matching dies.  I used Versamark  ink and an embossing buddy anti-static powder before stamping the outline leaf branches. Next, I applied gold embossing powder and heat set the branches. I rotated the paper to stamp another part of the paper and heat emboss the branches again.

 I used a small bubble paint palette to drop in the liquid re-inkers and added some water to the inks. Next, I used a large flat paint brush to apply  water on the paper.  The first was very light as that was okay for the background.  Next, I added more inked color to the leaves and some of the ink puddled to create some contrast and shading.  I used a heat tool to dry and move some of the  ink around.  I used  a fan brush to splatter the diluted tumbled blue glass to the background.  Next I used a curved scallop edge die from My Favorite Things to cut the bottom of the piece and then trimmed it to the quarter sheet for a horizontal card front.

Almost finished- I cut a small piece of white cardstock and covered it with the gold  stripe  wide washi tape.  I attached it to the bottom of the card front and then adhered the painted piece to the rest of the card. I stamped  hugs on a left over piece and die cut it using s small rectangle  size  I added some gold thread behind the tag and a piece owf foam tape to adhere it to the bottom of the card.

What I learned? I enjoy watercoloring  and have used many different mediums to paint.  This was the firs time I used liquid re-inkers to paint with. I was able to add depth/shading to the leaves just by adding more ‘paint’  to the leaves.  A new option to paint with and I have a small collection of re-inkers.  That’s a good thing.

Supplies

• Altenew Leaf Canopy – outline stamp
• Altenew wide gold stripe washi tape
• Ranger distress liquid re-inkers- Twisted Citron and Tumbled Glass
• Gold embossing powder
• Versamark embossing ink
• Embossing powder buddy
• Versamark blsck ink
• My Favorite Things scallop curved die and stitched rectangle
• Wide flat paint brush, round paint brush and fan brush for spalattering
• Heat gun
• Stamping platform
• Fiskars paper cutter
• Score pal scoring board
• White card stock

On to the next Level 2 lesson and this technique is titled With a Twist.  The lesson videos shared many ideas to create unique backgrounds.  I wanted to try something new which was the inlaid technique of stamping and then die cutting the pieces, adding color and returning them to the background paper.  I selected the Altenew Ethereal  Beauty stamp set and coordinating dies. These flowers have a great outline stamp and would be easy to color/paint.  I used watercolor paper for the stamping using Archival black ink as I would be painting the flowers.  Then I die cut the stamped flowers.  Painted them with Zig markers in shades of yellow and light orange.  When dry I added black dots using my favorite pen- black Glaze pen.  I stenciled the background using the Altenew gradient dot stencil with a light organge ink cube from Altenew a foam blender to created the inked background.

Next I put the die cut flowers back in the original space and taped them in place on the back side of the paper.  I die cut the piece using a stitched edge rectangle from My Favorite Things. To keep with the organge color theme, I stamped the sentiment on to light orange paper and stitched die cut oval from My Favorite Things.  I assembled the card using foam tape and then added a few pieces for the back of the tag.

Supplies-

• Altenew Ehtereal Beauty stamps and die set
• Altenew stamped sentiment
• Altenew orange/yellow ink cubes
• Altenew gradient dot stencil
• Archival black ink
• Zig watercolor markers and water barrel brush
• Black glaze pen
• My Favorite Things stitched oval die and stitched rectangle die
• Canson watercolor paper
• 3M foam tape