Altenew Educators Certification Program. Level 2 Final Challenge part 2

 Good morning from a rainy Michigan, we had storms last night and lots of rain so it's a bit cooler this morning - I just hope it stays that way.

I'm back today with part 2 of my AECP level 2 challenge. For this I needed to make an altered /upcycled project. I decided to do something that all us crafters use. Whether gifting cards or sending them envelopes are usually required. We put lots of effort and love into making the card but often send it with a plain white or colored envelope.

 As I did for part one I have chosen 3 techniques on this project too. Monochrome for the inside of the envelope from the Polychromatic class, layering from the All  About Layering Class and masking from Masking Unleashed. I love the layered stamp look, I don't do many monochrome designs and masking has opened a whole new designing world for me so that's why I chose these.

I have used Build a Flower Wild Rose (which is the latest build a flower set) with the Envelope Liner die set to upcycle some plain white envelopes.

I decorated 6 envelopes which turned into a mammoth stamping session each envelope has 52 individual stamping components!

I started with the liner, I die cut this from yellow cardstock for all 6 envelopes.

I then chose an ink collection that was same tone as the card stock so I could achieve a monochrome look. using my MISTI, I stamped the roses on to this.

I did initially start with all 4 inks from the Golden Sunset collection. I didn't use the solid stamp layer as the cardstock was the correct color for this, which meant I didn't need the lightest ink. I continued stamping all layers until I has 6 flowers and their layers on each liner.

Setting these to one side I made my masks for the outside of the envelope. I wanted to keep a white section for where the address would be written so I cut a piece of masking paper 3x2in and placed this on the envelope. I then stamped the flower and leaf outline a number of times on to the same masking paper and fussy cut these ready to use.

Now to decorate my envelopes - I started by stamping an outline flower in the darkest ink and placed one of my masks over this. I wanted this to be my top image so masking helps me achieve this - other stamped images will appear to be behind this. I continued stamping the outlines, leaves, small bunch of flowers and a little sprig that is also included with the set. masking elements as I went.

Then the magic of layering started to come to life when I removed the mask off the leaves and stamped their layers followed by the gorgeous roses.

After stamping the first envelope I did change my mind about the color of the small bunch of flowers and stamped these in black.

Next I turned the envelope over and repeated the masking and stamping process on the back. I also colored the small bunches and little sprigs, both back and front with fine line markers.

The Envelope Liner die set comes with word dies too so I chose 'for you' from these and die cut this into the flap of the envelope.

The address section mask was removed on all the envelopes. This masking technique is known as reverse masking - Where a section of the base color (white in this case) doesn't get any ink on it.

Because I had stamped all around and on to the mask it is quite impactful when it's removed.

The last part of my project was to add the liner. I folded the flap section on the embossed line which the die scores and slipped the liner in to the envelope. 

I decided to use an inverted corner punch on the liner flap for 2 reasons, 1 so the corners didn't show when envelope was closed and 2 because I felt it looked more professional.

Making sure I added glue to all the small parts of the die cut letters I adhered the 2 flap sections together. 

I love the way the words allow the yellow liner to show through.

I wanted to demonstrate with this project that you don't need a ton of craft products to make something pretty. I used a six pack of envelopes, some cardstock, one stamp set, a die set and inks for this.

I am going to make matching cards for these and gift them to a friend so I wrapped them up with a nice big bow!

Oh also waste from the envelope masks is so pretty too - I have kept these and may use them on another project - recycle never throw away!

 I said at the start this is part 2 of my challenge if you missed part one you can find it here.

Thank you for taking time to read my post, if this has inspired you to decorate your own envelopes please tag me on Instagram as I would love to see your creations!

Altenew products I used:

Envelope Liner Die Set Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Golden Sunset Crisp Dye Inks Mini Cube Set Purchase From: ALW	Build a Flower Wild Rose Stamp and Die set Purchase From: ALW	Green Fields Crisp Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Purchase From: ALW
All About Layering 1 Purchase From: ALW	Polychromatic Purchase From: ALW	Masking Unleashed Purchase From: ALW	MISTI Original Purchase From: ALW

Altenew Educators Certification Program - Masking Unleashed

 Good afternoon! boy is it hot and humid here! We are melting and there is no let up in the forecast! 

I'm here today with my submissions for my final ACEP level 2 class I am so excited that this level is finished! The class today is Masking Unleashed taught by Svitlana Shayevich. I do use masking often to arrange the scenes on my cards but I have never thought of masking negatively which is what I did with this card:

I cut a piece of Neenah Solar white 5.5in x 4in and a piece of freezer paper the same size
I die cut a circle from the freezer paper and laid it over the card. Using my baby easy press I ironed these together. The freezer paper has a plastic side which melts when heated. This seals it onto the cardstock so it doesn't move and it makes a waterproof seal.
Next I stamped flowers from Crown Bloom and Tree Peony in waterproof ink, the crown bloom flower was masked so I could add the others. I watercolored these, making sure to paint the whole circle, and left it to dry.
While they were drying I matted an A2 card base with fuchsia card and cut 'wonderful' from the same card.
Once dry I used my heat tool to reheat and gently remove the freezer paper. This left me with my painted image in a perfect circle.
I trimmed this down to 4x5.5in and added it to my card with foam tape. I positioned my die cut sentiment so I could add my stamped words around it. These were stamped in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear powder.
Finally a few clear drops finished my design.

My second card uses masks to arrange flowers, or any image, with depth and on top of each other.

To make an arrangement for flowers for your cards there is a couple of ways to achieve it. You could stamp and die cut the flowers but this would give some dimension. If you want your images flat you have to mask the flowers off.

Had I just stamped these flowers without masking this is what it would look like:

All the parts of the flowers in the back overlay the front ones, so the stems of the buds are on the petals of the peonies and the leaves just look a mess!

So I stamped the images on masking paper and fussy cut these first. when making masks it's important to but inside the stamped lines or you can be left with white spaces around your flowers.

Once I had my masks I started stamping the outline images of my flowers on Neenah solar white card stock.

I started with the top peony - I wanted this in the foreground. I placed a mask over this and stamped the second peony and masked this off. Next the buds and 2 leaves (one at either side of the main flowers) were stamped and then masked. Finally I stamped the last 2 leaves. I then reversed my stamping with the colored layers, so I started with the last 2 leaves once these were done I unmasked the 2nd set of leaves and the flower buds. In reality I didn't need to mask the buds but I did. Once the leaves and buds were colored with the layered images I unmasked the bottom peony, stamped this and repeated with the top peony.

To make up my card I matted an A2 card base with purple cardstock added my image and stamped Thank you in bottom corner. A few clear drops just balanced the design.

Thanks for stopping by. My next step is to complete my level 2 challenge - I'm excited to see what this will be!

Altenew products I used:

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Coverstock Purchase From: SSS | AZN | ALW	Crown Bloom Stamp and Die Bundle Purchase From: ALW	Peony Bouquet Stamp Set Purchase From: ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Jet Black Purchase From: SSS | ALW
Crystal Clear Embossing Powder Purchase From: ALW	Crisp Dye inks - Sugar Plum Oval Set Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Artist Watercolor brushes bundle Purchase From: ALW	Build A Flower - Tree Peony Purchase From: SSS | ALW
Heartfelt Sentiments Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Forest Glades Purchase From: SSS | ALW	Crisp Dye Ink - Frayed Leaf Purchase From: ALW	Artists Watercolor 24 Pan set Purchase From: ALW
Embossing Ink Purchase From: ALW