For the Girls Part 2

 Hello Crafty Friends! After completing all Academy 1 courses for the Altenew Educator Certified Program (AECP). Now the final challenge includes the following:

• Create a gift set that includes 4-6 "His" and 4-6 "Hers"
• Select 3 components from the Academy 1 courses to include for your final project
• Use upcycled material in the card design element or in the final packaging 

For the "Her" cards I decided to create a set of every-day cards. These can be used to say hello, I appreciate you, I love you, thank you etc. I incorporated multiple elements from the classes:

1. Easy Die Cutting Techniques:  I used dies to create and layer the flowers, cover die, and arch die.
2. Easy Ink Blending Techniques: I used a distress inks to blend and create an ombre effect on the flowers.
3. Clean and Simple Boutique:  I created the cards using a modern and minimal esthetic.
4. Let it Shine: I used sequins as well as pearlized vellum to add shine to the projects

Supplies:

• Altenew Japanese Anemone
• Watercolor lines cover die
• Stitch Circle scallop die
• Stitch arch die
• Sprigs die
• Tag die
• Distress Inks: Tattered Rose, Shaded lilac, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves, Pickled Raspberries
• Pearlized Vellum

For the first card I die cut the cover die, then die cut the flowers and used distress inks. Next I arranged the flowers, added the sentiment and embellishments

Tip: I added some pearlized vellum springs to add dimension and shine. I tucked these behind some of the flowers. 

For the next card I used the same cover die, and an arch die with watercolored paper. I then die cut, distress inked the flowers and adhered them onto the arched panel. I added the sentiment, sequins and sprigs. 

Tip: I liked learning that placing the sequins in groups of three is one way to approach adding shine.

For the next card I again die cut the flowers, distressed inked them and adhered the layers. I decided to use a scallop circle die in black to add a pop of color. I cut it to make the circles come off the page. I played with it for a while to find a composition that I liked. Then I added the sprigs and sentiment. I distress inked the sentiment and then added a watercolor background. 

Tip: When you have a soft color palette try adding a pop of a stronger color to drawn in attention

For the last card I was playing with various ideas, however I found this black frame that I had discarded into my scrap box and thought it might be interesting. Then I die cut, distress inked and adhered the flowers. I did all four included in the set but only used one so as not to overwhelm the composition. I added a tag die, sequins, sprig and sentiment. 

Tip: I like adding speckled white to add more interest. Sometimes I flicker a paint brush for this effect. This approach is fun but can be unpredictable. This time I decided to use a white pen to ensure a minimalist approach.

For the packaging I used a swath of dense silver wrapping material saved from something gifted to me. I search for some coordinating twine and wrapped it around the set. Voila!