For the Guys Part 1

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 "His" 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. For the Guys: I used geometric patterns and a cool color palette
2. Easy Die Cutting Techniques:  I used dies to create all the geometric shapes including circles, hexagons. heart and arch.
3. Easy Ink Blending Techniques: I used a distress inks to blend and create an ombre effect
4. Clean and Simple Boutique:  I created the cards using a modern and minimal esthetic.
5. Stenciling: I incorporated the use of a stencil to the heart card and then used ink blending

Supplies:

• Altenew Dotted Pinwheel Stamp
• Live in the Moment Stamp & Die
  
• Stitch Circle die
• Stitch arch die
• Stich hexagon die
• Heart stencil
• Wonky stitched frame
• Distress Inks: Mermaid lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Speckled egg and Antique Linen
• White Embossing Powder

For the heart card I used a stencil to blend distress inks. Then I used white embossing powder with the pinwheel stamp. Then I die cut the clock and layered it together. I used a sentiment from the Live in the moment set and used the flowers of the same set to help frame the card

Tip: I used a black felt tip pen to create random splatter dots to add more effect.

For the next card I ink blended again and die cut an arch. I used the pinwheel stamp for the background and die cut the clock. I used the flower to frame the card but then re-stamped them on another paper and cut them. I layered it on top to add more dimension. Then I adhered the hello die.

Tip: If you look at this picture, you may notice that the inking on the flower turned out a little messy. I used the layering technique to cover this up as well as add dimension!

I used the distress inks to blend in, the pinwheel stamp and die cut circles. I adhered the circles, randomly placed flowers, and added the sentiment. 

Tip: I made the circles different sizes to add more effect to the card. 

For the last card I used distress inks to blend out, then stamp the pinwheel stamp, cut it with the hexagon die and placed these as I thought might look best. Die cut the clock, added the flower and sentiment. 

 

Tip: Rather than coloring each hexagon separately, I colored a panel first. This makes it easier to stamp.

For the packaging, I used a piece of paper bag material that was used to package groceries. I tied a coordinating twine around the packaging (that I myself received wrapped around a gift) and used a sprig from a plant in my front yard.