Donna T Crafting: AECP Level 1 - Final Challenge Part 2

Welcome back to part 2 of my Final Challenge for Level 1 of AECP - Feminine Cards. As stated in part 1, we were challenged to make a gift set of cards with packaging and this time, they should be feminine.

For this challenge, I utilized some of these techniques:

Layering - I layered some of my images after cutting them out. I also used a layering stencil for all my flowers.
Clean and Simple Boutique Cards - I utilized some specialty Luxury paper and I also made an anniversary card that was very clean and simple.
Let it Shine - I utilized shimmer and sparkle, used embellishments and used metallic paper.

Let's take a look at my process and my overall project I made.

I started with the Altenew Sunshine Blossoms & Courageous You Bundle, using the Sunshine Blossoms 3D embossing folder, I created 4 panels. I then took the Courageous You stencil set and began stenciling the flowers and the leaves using various colors. You can see I made sure to mask off openings anywhere close to where I was stenciling as I have a habit of getting carried away and getting ink where it does not belong. At this point, I did not know which ones I would be cutting out and which ones would stay on the white panel.

On one of my flowers, I got a little heavy handed with the darker color (at least in my opinion), so I decided to add some Cross My Heart Solar Paste on top of that color using a foam blending tool. This lightened up that color and added some shine.

I then went through and added some Nuvo drops and Stickles to the center area of the flowers. I did this in several different patterns. For one flower, I lightly touched each raised area with copper Nuvo drops.

Another technique I learned today from this. I added my drops too heavily and they were running together, so I decided to just cover the center with one large drop (or glob). After letting it dry, it came out wonderful as the drops settled into the embossing and made a pattern on their own.

I laid out the 4 panels and started thinking about how I wanted to use the flowers and if any would just be a card by itself. As you can see, I did one red flower. I thought I might use it in my set, but ended up not, but did create a bonus card which I will show at the end. Let me show you what I ended up doing.

My first card was simple and clean. I took the panel, cut it down to 4 x 5 1/4", added to a rose gold card base. I then stamped a Happy Anniversary sentiment using embossing ink on black cardstock. I added Alabaster (white) powder and heat embossed. I added this across the middle. Added 3 jewels in a triangle (odd numbers are more eye pleasing) and this card was done.

For the rest of the cards, I fussy cut the flowers from the base.

Next, I took a piece of 6x6 paper from the Altenew Wildflower 6x6 Paper Pad and cut it to 4 x 5 1/4". I thought the colors in this paper really complemented my flower colors. I picked a large flower for my bottom left corner and a smaller flower to come in from the top right. I put these on foam tape. I picked a foiled sentiment I had already in my stash to put on foam on the bottom right. Then I again added 3 small jewels around the flowers. Card #2 - done!

For the 3rd card, I fussy cut the flowers, but left these 2 together. I used an exacto knife to cut out 2 small white areas between the two flowers. I then took a card base I had in my stash from one of my previous cards in this series. It was where I had picked up left over ink and let it dry. I think it looks beautiful as a watercolor background for this card. I cut this to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2", added the flowers, another foiled sentiment from my stash and 5 round embellishments.

For the last of these cards, I took some card stock and ink blended a background, going from light to dark across the card stock. I then took a geometric stencil from my stash and added Cross My Heart Solar paste. Once this was dry, it created a very pretty background. This was cut to 4 x 5 1/4" I added my flower to the bottom left corner and put a foiled sentiment in the top right (both on foam tape). This panel was put on an orchid color A2 card base. For my embellishments, I used some shiny hearts in various sizes.

For my packaging, I really wanted to do something similar to what I did in part 1. So, I took the left over paper from the Wildflower pad and cut it in half (I had cut 2" off, so this gave me 2 1" strips). I again added red liner tape in back and then velcro in the front for a way to open and close. I created one more flower using the embossing folder and stencils and again tried my Nuvo drops in a "glob" that dried with dimension. I attached this to the front of the closer and I have a very pretty band for my cards.

Now, I still have my leftover red flower. So, I found a stenciled background I had made in the Stenciling course. It was made using Scrapbook.com's Cloud Whip and Altenew's Mango Smoothie Ink cube. I cut this down to 4 x 5 1/4". I then cut some leaves from the Altenew Leaf Essentials Die Set. I added a little dark green onto my leaves to add a little more color. I then put my flower in the bottom right on foam and the leaves underneath glued down. I found a layered "For You" die in my stash and cut it from 2 colors of red card stock and the top layer from some red mirror cardstock. After adhering this down, I added 3 red jewels for a little more shine!

And here are the final cards that I made for this. I love how they came out and I love that there is a bonus, unexpected card to include as well......you always have to have that one-off thing.