Sunday, December 30, 2018

Altenew Academy Level 2 Final Project...

Hi! I am very happy to bring you my final project for the Altenew Educator Certification Program Level 2 today. I was very hesitant when the program was announced as I was sure that the competition was going to be fierce. But I decided to give a shot anyway. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I received the acceptance email! I have completed my 20 classes required for the certification. And I can truly say it has been a wonderful experience. I have learnt new techniques, revisited some old favourites and really developed as a crafter and cardmaker. Since AECP allows you to proceed at your own pace, there is very little stress.

For the final project for Level 2, my brief was to create a home decor project incorporating at least 5 different techniques and giving a step-by-step tutorial. I decided to create a tray and coaster set. This is the first time I have attempted using my stamping supplies with wood. So I definitely experimented and learnt as I went. I also created a set of cards using the same supplies and techniques.



I started with a wood base covered with veneer and some MDF coasters. These are raw materials left over from the time when I used to paint home decor products for sale. I used acrylic paints for my work then and wasn't sure if my stamps and inks were going to work as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the end result.

Here is a step-by-step tutorial of my process.



I used the Versafine Onyx Black ink for all my outline stamping. I also used the tips for using masking from Masking Unleased by Svitlana Shayevich. This class is invaluable if you are intimidated by masking. I stamped two floral clusters at both ends using the stamps from the beautiful Peony Bouquet stamp set.



I was a bit worried about getting a good impression with stamp blocks as I couldn't use the stamp positioner. But there was no issue. Here is the completed base.



I repeated the masking process when I stamped the layers of the flowers. The All About Layering 1 & All About Layering 2 classes were a big help here. I had found it very difficult to line up the layers of the Peony Bouquet flowers before this. Nicole Picadura's tips have really helped me master this set. Here is the completed base.



I used the Red Cosmos, Rose Petal and Warm & Cozy mini ink cube sets for my stamping. I diluted the Mocha ink and used it to darken the corners a bit. Here is a close up of the stamping. I love the beautiful texture that shows through the dye inks.



I also added some green colour to leaves.

Here is my final panel.



The final tray.



For the coasters, I started with bases that were 4 x 4 inches squares.

I covered them with some gesso that I tinted with Mocha ink.



Once the gesso was dry, I added some more streaks of brown with a paintbrush and the Mocha ink.



I stamped the images from the Peony Bouquet set with Versafine Onyx Black ink. Once the ink was dry, I stamped the layers with the same inks I had used for the base. I had one coaster on which I stamped the leaves and berries from the set. I used the Altenew markers for colouring these images.



Once all the stamping and colouring was done, I felt the coasters looked a bit flat. So I decided to darken the colour a bit. I also wanted to do a bit of ink blending on one side. I first covered the stamped images with masking fluid and allowed it to dry completely.



I used distress oxide ink and an ink blending sponge to add some more colour. The idea was to make the coasters match a bit more with the tray base.



I continued adding layers till I was happy with the shade. I also added some more, darker ink on the sides. I learnt this from Marika Rahtu in her class Beautiful Details. I used Espresso ink for this.



I allowed the inks to dry for some time. Definitely didn't want any smearing after putting in all the work! To finish, I buffed the coasters with dry tissue paper and simply used an erasure to rub away the masking fluid.



The set of 6 coasters.



I also made a set of 5 cards. I kept them one layer to go with rest of the decor pieces and used the same techniques that I used for the coasters.



I hope you liked my home decor projects and will try some of the techniques. I would love to hear from you. And I would definitely encourage you to try some of the Altenew Academy classes. They are really great!

Love,
Nandini

Friday, December 21, 2018

Special Card Set...

Hi! December is halfway through and we are almost at the end of the year! My DT obligations for the month are done. I have been playing with my supplies just for fun and really enjoying it. One of my friends requested a set of general cards. I decided to ink up some of my NBUS stamps. I pulled out the Everything Together by Simon Says Stamp and Happy Wishes by Wplus9 to create a set of 11 cards. I was actually aiming for 12 cards. But one got spoiled. 


Here are two more of my favourites.


I started by die cutting a bunch of white panels with a stitched rectangle die. I placed the sentiment from the Everything Together stamp set by Simon Says Stamp in my stamp positioner. I inked the stamp with three shades of the same colour. To make things easier, I used all the Altenew mini sets I have. Since these inks are arranged for layering, it is very easy to get ombre effects. Once all the sentiments were stamped, I arranged the stamps from the Happy Wishes set by Wplus9 at the top left corner and stamped. I just turned the card upside down to stamp on the other side. This set has lots of tiny stamps which make creating clusters very easy. Once all the stamping was done, I adhered the panels to matching card bases.

Here is another pair of cards.


And here are the rest of the cards.


 

   


I love the way these cards turned out. 

I used the Wplus9 Happy Wishes set which has been with me for a year or more.


Love,
Nandini

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

A Quick Card for the Season...

Hi! I am here today with a card that I made for a customer. This was a rush order and I had very little time. I think sometimes tight deadlines help you make better stuff because you don't have the time to agonize over every detail.


I started with a panel of white card stock that I die cut with a stitched rectangle die. I masked off the bottom portion of the card and blended some light blue distress ink. I splattered some white paint and allowed it to dry completely. The sentiment is from the A Tree For All Seasons set by Winnie & Walter. I cut the felt trees by hand and backed up each with scraps of thick card stock. I also cut strips out of some brown card stock and used them as the tree trunks. I arranged the trees on the card and then adhered them, popping up some with foam tape. To finish, I added some star sequins from my stash and adhered the completed panel to a light teal card base.

I hope you like this quick, CAS card. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Entering this card in the following challenges.

Use Your Stuff Challenge #341 - Christmas / Holidays:
I used the sentiment from the A Tree For All Seasons stamp set by Winnie & Walter which I won as part of  giveaway way back in 2014!

Dare2B Artzy December Challenge:


Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Winter Wonderland:

Allsorts Challenge Week 498 - Christmas Trees:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Create a Winter Scene:

CAS On Friday #148 - Make a Christmas Card #2:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas:

HLS December Christmas Challenge:

STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge:


Paru's Cardmaking Challenges - December 2018:


Love,
Nandini



Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Addicted to Stamps & More #322...

Hi! I can't believe we are almost at the end of the year! I am here today with the last challenge of the year for Addicted to Stamps & More.


I make a simple, masculine birthday card with my Zigs.


I started with a piece of ivory cardstock that I die cut with a stitched rectangle die. The 'Birthday' sentiment is from the Birthday stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps. This set is part of the new December release which is absolutely fantastic with loads of new stamps, Chipzeb and stencils. You can check out the entire release here. I mounted the stamp on my stamp positioner and inked it with my Zigs. I sprayed just once or twice and then stamped. Once the panel was dry I popped it up on some foam tape and mounted on a red card base.

Hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do check out the fabulous inspiration by rest of the DT here. Looking forward to seeing you in our gallery.

Love,
Nandini

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Addicted To Stamps & More #320...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Addicted To Stamps & More challenge blog. This week it is a beautiful collage.



I was very inspired by the bottom pic. I decided to go for a more sketchy look. Here is the card I created.


I took a top folding kraft card base and stamped the Gingham background stamp by Kaisercraft with Antique Linen distress oxide ink. I took a strip of watercolour paper and stamped one of the borders from the Lovely Borders 2 stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio. I coloured the images quickly with my Zigs. I trimmed the paper and adhered it to the card base with some foam tape. I stamped the sentiment on a dark brown paper with Versamark ink and heat embossed with vanilla EP. I trimmed the sentiment strip and mounted it with foam tape. To finish, I punched out two tiny flowers and adhered them to the sentiment strip after adding a small dot with a pink marker at the centre.

Here is a closer look.


Love how quickly this card came together and how charming it looks. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful. You can check out the Addicted To Stamps & More blog for more inspiration and also link up your entries there.

Love,
Nandini

Monday, November 26, 2018

Make My Monday Challenge #85...

Hi! Today the new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog. The theme this time is to use non-traditional Christmas colors in your creations. An easy and fun theme that everyone can participate in. Here is the card I made.


I started with a piece of watercolour paper and smooshed some yellow, orange and pink distress inks with an acrylic block. I added some ink splatters with the same inks and let the panel dry completely. I die cut the panel and stamped the sentiment from the Christmas Trimmings stamp set by Hero Arts. I popped up the panel on some foam tape and adhered it to a bright yellow card base. I die cut some snowflakes from white paper and adhered them to the card. To finish, I added some white half pearls.

Here is a closer look at the card.


This card came together very quickly and I love the end result. It is a bit like Holi meets Christmas actually!

Entering this card in the following challenge.

Aud Sentiments #217 - Christmas/Winter Sentiment

Love,
Nandini



Saturday, November 24, 2018

Altenew Academy Project #20...

Hi! I am finally at the end of the classes for the Altenew Educator Certification Program - Level 2. Beautiful Details by Marika Rahtu is the final class I need to complete. I went through the lessons a while ago. But it took me some time to actually complete my assignment. Part of the reason is that I am totally intimidated by Marika's amazing work. She is so talented and I am a huge fan of her work. She teaches many techniques for adding extra details to your cards that will really make them shine. I concentrated on the very first lesson that focuses on using your stamps to create artistic cards. Here is my card.


I started with a piece of watercolour paper. I used the second layer of the leaf stamp and inked it with yellow, dark pink and two shades of orange markers. These are the brush pens by Camlin which have very intense colours. I overlapped the leaf to create a flower. I drew the stem by hand with my Zigs. Once the stamping was done, I lightly distressed the panel with blue, yellow and green inks and added some water splatters. Here is a closer look at the stamping.


The sentiment is from the Painted Greetings set, stamped with black ink. I  trimmed the panel and added a mat of green paper. The mat is adhered directly to the orange card base. The panel is popped up on some foam tape. I added some jute cord towards to top as a finishing touch.

I hope you like my card. I look forward to hearing from you.

I am very excited that my classes for Level 2 are done. I am looking forward now to receiving my final assignment. I have really enjoyed the journey till now and look forward to the future.

Love,
Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #19...

Hi! I am almost at the end of the classes for the Altenew Educator Certification Program - Level 2. Today I am posting the cards I made as my assignment for Polychromatic, taught by Nina-Marie Trapani. She has an amazing eye for combining colours and I thoroughly enjoyed the class. I used the faux watercolour technique to create my stamped panel. I converted it into two cards.



I started with a piece of watercolour paper. I used the Daisy stamp set and my Zigs to stamp the blooms. The leaves are from the Mini Blossoms set. Here is a closer look at the panel.



I cut the panel in half to create two cards.



The sentiment is from the Fresh Freesia stamp set. 

Entering this card in the following challenges:


The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Confetti Challenge:




Love,
Nandini


Friday, November 23, 2018

Altenew Academy Project #18...

Hi! Today's card is my homework for the In The Mood For Color class by Stephanie Klauck, which is a part of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. This is a great class where we learn the different moods associated with different colours.

I wanted to challenge myself and made a card dominated by yellow, which is not a colour I use very often. Yellow denotes energy, cheer and optimism. So I decided to create a birthday card.


I started with a piece of yellow card base. I die cut two smaller panels, one out of the same yellow paper and the other out of watercolour plaid paper that I had created for another card. I inked the yellow panel with some Fossilized Amber distress ink. I stamped the sentiment from the Birthday Greetings stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I also created a background with the same stamp and Memento ink. This panel was popped up on foam tape and adhered to the card base. I stamped the large flower from the Free Freesia stamp set with Versamark ink on black cardstock and heat embossed with gold EP. I die cut it with the coordinating die and adhered it to the card.

To finish I added some tiny sequins from my stash.

Here is a closer look at the card.


I hope you liked my card. This style is quite different from my usual card making. I am very happy that doing the AECP has helped me expand my horizons.

Love,
Nandini


Monday, November 19, 2018

Altenew Academy Project #17...

Hi! I am almost at the end of the Altenew Educator Certification Program Level Two. I have really enjoyed my classes. Today's card combines lots of stuff that I picked up during this process.

Jennifer Rzasa, Debby Hughes, and Laura Bassen are three of my favourite crafters. So I was really looking forward to the Creative Watercolor Media class. And this class definitely didn't disappoint! I especially loved the idea of using reinkers as paints. I don't have any Altenew reinkers. So I used photo inks which are similar. Here is the card I created.



I started with a piece of watercolour paper. I used liquid masking fluid to draw a grid and then painted with yellow dye ink. Once the paper was dry, I added more masking fluid and used shades of blue and green to get a beautiful plaid pattern. I added some details with a very fine brush and dark blue and green dye ink.

While my plaid paper was drying, I took a scrap of yellow cardstock and stamped the outline and one layering image of the large bloom from the Peony Bouquet stamp set. I die cut it with the coordinating die. I stamped the leaves on watercolour paper and added drops of blue and green. I die cut the leaves with the coordinating dies as well.

I scored lines on a green card base. The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set. I stamped and heat embossed it with white EP. I die cut the plaid paper and arranged all the die cuts on the card base.

Here is a closer look at the card.




I hope you liked my take on pop art. Looking forward to hearing from you. Entering my card in the following challenges.

Creatalicious Challenge #151 - Anything Goes + Layer It Up:




I used the middle line. The Camlin dye inks are used are several years old, definitely more than 6 years.




Love,
Nandini