Altenew Level 2 : Final Challenge Post

 Hello Hello crafty friends,

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

If anything AECP has taught me, is the joy and fun in this journey counts more than the final level crossing. Ofcourse it gives immense happiness to see your work being recognized and happiness to see your own growth whilst the journey, but every step takes you closer to your goal and to yourself and your own crafty adventures.

Interesting on all levels and lots of learning as we move forward. With that said, I am finally on the last step for AECP level 2 and here comes the fun and interesting challenge.

The final challenge requirements are as follows:

1) Chose any 3 classes as a base for the design components (level 1 and level 2 inclusive)

2) Create masculine card sets (Birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, Encouragement) and 1 Altered project. They don't need to coordinate as such but its open ended. 

3) The way of presentation and explanation.

Since this is going to be a long and photo heavy post, let's dive right in, beginning with the card projects.

Cards:

Some explanation (common for all Masculine projects I created):

I have tried to bring designs in a way, they don't feel just limited to certain color palette only for the masculine theme. The variations helps me reduce the monotony and also showcase, masculine doesn't mean boring with only blues or cool tones or browns.

Also, tried to create the variations using mutliple ways and products like (Stenciling, die cutting, bold sentiment dies, shaker cards, bold colors, washi tapes)--> These all create a visual interest and make them appear so very different than each other.

• Three components selected from any Level 1 or Level 2 classes : Clean and simple, for the guys and With a Twist - 

        These 3 fitted well into what I had planned in my mind related to my projects for this last            task. All the cards have 'clean and simple' element, but also 'with a twist' like a full panel         shaker or designing like a bouquet. I will explain more with clarity when we reach all                 projects one by one. 'For the guys' was mandatory element to be added since its all                masculine themed project.

• Design tips:

1. For clean and cimple creations, always always plan way ahead in your head and then on the paper (how the design should look like). It is called clean and simple for a reason. It should really be clean and crisp to showcase the design profoundly.
2. Sometimes, the layers in the shaker cards don't fit well with foam tape. To use it to max capacity and also to give the feel of shaker, it's always a good idea to make a full panel shaker and use up your old packagings.
3. Use the sentiment stamps in a unique way possible (like how I have used a horizontal sentiment, but using the stamping tool, made it semi circle and then stamped onto the final creation. It removes the monotony and is also makes the design catcthy.
4. Try to play with basic embellishments but in unique way, like I have used the metallic thread to hang my sentiment strip, it gives the look of a tag over bouquet and adds interest to the project.
5. Play with contrasting colors. The visual attention catches most of the design directly.
6. Small stamps and dies have a great usage if used repeatedly on the cards, but in a smart way! Try that and it won't ever disappoint.
7. In order to use big sentiment word dies, try to plan the spacing on rough sheet and then add them on washi tape, this will keep them joined and you can cut them number of times.

Lets check out the individual card details: 

1) Happy Anniversary-

Here, as you can see, I had played with the color contrast firstly. I decided to keep warm tones but to a minimal design 'CAS'. Still, I wanted to play a bit with word dies, small floral and leaf dies. Hence, I decided, I keep the focus of the design on the big word dies and make a HAPPY with it. Now, there were 2 options, to make it a shaker or bring some unique feature to it!

I decided to make it like an open window, non-shaker element. It still focusses on that HAPPY and happy anniversary, but a lot is goin on in the background with small floral and leaf dies. They are all subtle because my main area of the card has cold color and the other contrasting one hides in the background.

Added some foam tape in the bacground to elevate the sentiment word die panel. The play of natural shadows gives it a lot of depth and also interest.

Other details around the card:

Stamp : Sentiment strip stamp set.

Dies : Bold alphabet Dies, Branches and Berries Die set

Others: Foam tape, obsidian black pigment ink, orange cardstock, Acqualicious and Lagoon inks

Here are some more images :

2) Encouragement:

'With a twist' was my chosen technique here! Why, because firstly I try to avoid using foam tape as much as it doesn't go well in the mail and also, I have seen over the time, it's tackiness goes away. Since I was also using the bright and bold olive color, I decided to make it shine too!! Hence, all in all, the full panel shaker seemed the right choice. I added the frame to it over the top (just to bring the focal point on the center) and also to attach the big and bold sentiment 'you' to make it the focus in the whole design.

This shows even simple elements can elevate the design just by playing with colors, big sentiments and a simple frame die and shaker bits.

                                            

Other details around the card:

Die : Mega you die

Embossing folder: Waffled diamonds 3 D embossing folder

Others: Gold heat embossing powder, stamp packaging plastic, antique gold sequins, misty sage, mossy meadow and green opal inks, double sided adhesive tape, brushed copper metallic cardtsock.

Here are some more images :

                                                
                                                    

                                                    
                                                    

3) Thinking of You:

A play of cool, blue tones keeping in mind the sentiment and also masculine theme!! I just this leaves die set so much. I have created so many cards in the past as well with this. It is a good sized die, with lot of options to play around with it. You can use in multiple ways and one of them is here.

I have done a stenciling first on the die cut , using blue inks - play of some light and dark colors (desert night, ocean waves, dusk). Stripes in the stencils go so well with the masculine theme as well.

Before making any project, I draw my idea first, then write what all elements match the theme from my stash. Then I begin working and hence outcome is pleasing to me.

To give it a bouquet look, I tied silver metallic thread around it and also to my sentiment strip. The sentiment strip is handmade/handcut in this shape, after heat embossing the sentiment with white embossing ink. Added some neutral or white sequins on either side and wallah!

                                                    

Other details around the card:

Stencil and die : Just leaves die set, woven stencil

Others: Sequin, white embossing powder and ink, black cardstock, light blue cardstock, silver metallic thread

Here are some more images :

                                                
                                                    
                                                    

4) Birthday:

Sending you sweet birthday wishes showcase CAS + with a twist element truly. Black cardstock bases are my favorite to work with. Somehow they attarct me and I feel if taken and handled with care, they display sweet designs on them.

Here, the stamp is one the mini delight ones as cupcake. Hence, I decide it to be focus (with purple and cream hues on the cupcake). They shine better on black, goes well with masculine project's colors too. Shaker cards make it look interactive and fun too. When the deisgn is minimal, make it shaker and it brings the fun part.

The sentiment was not curvy and I was assesing how to make it work as whole design was bringing attention the circle center. Hence I tried many ways to curve it and disguise it well under the circle using the stamping tool. Came out well..phewww :D

                                                        

                                                        

Other details around the card:

Stamp : cupcake mini delight

Others: Gold heat embossing pwder, transparency sheet, shaker sprinkles filling, purple and yellow inks.

Here are some more images :

                                              

                                                   

                                                    

Upcycled/Altered item:

Here is the layered box I created using a seed box which was lying around. I had last year bought a peonies bulb, to sow in my garden and that box was so beautiful (The image is below), that I never tossed it in the bin.Who knew it will help me here and in this way I could transform it. Very happy how it turned out and also that I recycled something and made it so useful.

Now it can hold even a card, a small gift and I can share it with someone on their beutiful ocassion, without being shy that its an old seed box. Win win!!

The decoration is removable as it is stuck only with the ribbon (Which was on purpose), like a belly band on the ribbon closure!! Hence, the box can be used in multiple ways or if the recipient want, they can keep the decoration safe for later with them as memory keeping. Because ofcourse, it is a work of art! If not, they can keep the whole box in the display somewhere (As its a very sturdy material).

                                                

Other details around the box:

Dimensions of the box: 9 * 5.5 * 3 inches. 

Die : Nesting labels die

Stencils : Layered kaleidoscope stencil A and B, woven, sketched lines, halftone stencil.

Flowers: No Stamps used here- the flowers are recylced too (made using the Altenew packaging and also using Altenew double sided adhesive sheets back paper)

Copic Shades: V15, V12, V17, V01, V000, BV shades

Embellishments: Brown satin Ribbon, Sisal, Hot glue gun, Glue, transparency sheet, foam tape

Here are some more images :

                                                    

                                      

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                

In progress shots:

• How it started- Such a beautiful peony bulb/seed box!! right!! I am so glad it got used up like this. I have done some stenciling to make it not look like it was a seed box before. Also it was very plain surface so gave me lot of room to play and make it look fancy. Then, I decided to cut the top and use transparency sheet, this gives lot of interest + a peek into what's inside. Fun way to eleveate the design. As you can see, the box has a good width and hence can even fit in small gift, a card and small chocolate box too if needed. I still have that cut part from the top, which I can use for some other project later or can turn it into card background or foreground element.

                                                        

• In between progress shots- Here I was trying the color code for flowers and also to check how the arrangement should look like at last!!

                                                     

• Almost to the end- Here I decided to keep this as belly band, but still to attach it to the ribbon. It can then be used on something else later or can be used fully with the box on closed ribbon.

                                                    
As you (My fellow AECPians) already know, the pace of the course has changed a bit and now we have to take the classes, finish them untill Level 1 and 2 self paced, also do the challenge (already available here: https://altenew.com/apps/my/course/private/altenew_educator_certification_program_group?lesson=Level___Classes_417560 )

Hence, I had already seen the challenge and I was onto it myself (after I finished my Level 2 classes). Now, when I submit, all the classes homework of the Level 2 and the final challenge will be assessed together.

It was so fun to reach here, learn from all the past 20 classes (Level 1 and Level 2). I hope this blog post was worthwhile and it inspired you to do some creative adventure of your own.

Whilst I wait now for my assessment to be reviewed, my fingers are crossed! I am hopeful and excited at the same time. I cannot imagine I wrote finally the post for Level 2 final challenge. I am very happy with my course of actions untill now with this AECP learning journey. Indeed the best experience and super fun!!

Altenew not only just creates wonderful products but also beautiful classes to even use those products in super creative way. Also, it expands your own crteative horizon and helps to use the stash as well in a clever and smart way. 

I cannot wait to start Level 3 classes soon as I am already swooning over the line up of the educators there and the classes I have chosen. But that's only after this one comes with flying colors.

Wish me luck and I will see you soon with my new posts and new inspirations.

Have a good day!

Regards

Disha