Altenew Educator Certification Program: Clean and Simple Boutique Cards

I’m participating in the Altenew Educator Certification Program and I’m taking a number of really fantastic classes.

I recently completed the Clean and Simple Boutique Cards class.  I created cards for each lesson and I’m supposed to pick my favorite to submit and share.

I’m going to share all the cards with you here today, but the one I’m submitting as my final class project uses a quick background technique that I really enjoyed doing.   Check it out:

 

I loved this technique.  You select one image and stamp it repeatedly to create your background and then watercolor parts of it in an imperfect way!  You know that I love to embrace the imperfections.

For this card I used Altenew’s Peony Bouquet stamp set.  (I’d say this is my favorite Altenew set, but the moment I pull another one off my shelf that becomes my favorite!)  I used the little branch of leaves.  I tried to pick the most unassuming stamp in the set.  I really liked this for a background image.

Then I took the Olive ink and my aqua painter and just scribbled some wet ink over each image.  The point is to be messy and don’t strive for perfect.  I can handle this!

I used a piece of pink scrap card stock for my sentiment in permanent black ink from the Altenew Painted Butterflies stamp set.  I liked the pop of color this gave the card.  I attached it all to a basic black card base and that is that.

Truly a clean and simple boutique card!

I liked that technique so much, I created a second card using a bud from the same Peony Bouquet set with the same sentiment and card layout.  I elected to color in only one bud with my alcohol markers.  So simple to do, yet I feel like the technique lends an elegance when you choose a smaller stamp in the set.

 

I shared a card with you earlier in the week showing you a boutique card technique using hand sketched details and a simple image and sentiment.  Here is that card using the Altenew Floral Shadow set.  I thought that set was made for the simply styling technique.  It really is a minimalist technique, but fun to create.  Here is that card:

 

I tried a second card using the same idea: A small stamped image without a lot of layering and a sentiment.  For this one, you can see I added a scoring detail at the bottom.  A little detail to add something extra.  Clean and simple with a detail that makes it stand out.  This uses a small Altenew set called Carved Rose.  I feel like I get a lot of detail with this simple little stamp set and a couple of fabulous colors.

 

Another technique for boutique cards was to keep the stamping to a minimum, but to add a foiling detail or a metallic detail.  I’ve been meaning to play with the foils that I bought and this was the perfect excuse!

Of course I also had to add some of that fabulous glitter washi tape along with it.  Again, I used the Peony Bouquet stamp set.  It’s just so pretty!  The sentiment is from the Altenew Amazing You stamp set.  I spritzed it with some Shimmer Mist as well.

I’m participating in this card in this week’s Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #136: Cabin Fever.  

 

I truly have cabin fever this winter.  Creating this bright card with the soft pink details just made me feel better!  I love peonies and I can’t wait until they start blooming!

 

My next card involved a Faux Letterpress embossing technique.  This one was ridiculously fun to play with and took a big of practice.  I shared some details with you a few days ago.  This used Altenew’s Script Word Dies.  I love these dies.  I don’t have to use any crazy plates or tools to get the paper out of the die after I run it through my Big Shot.  They are really high quality dies.

This technique requires time to play around with your die cutting machine to find the right combination of mats and plates to make an impression without creasing the rest of the paper.

I used a shimmer pigment ink and LOVED how pretty the inked, embossed sentiment turned out.  I added some color splattering with my markers just for color, then I added a white embossed sentiment from the Altenew Adore You set on black card stock.

I love the way sentiments look embossed in white on black card stock.  It’s so trendy right now and I can’t get enough.  It makes the sentiment stand out and I like the way it divides the card.  Next time I do this, I will leave out the color splatters.  I think it takes away from the beautiful embossed script word.

My final card uses a luxury paper and a truly fabulous background die: Watercolor Stripes Cover Die.

WOW!  I love the cover dies that Altenew carries.  You really don’t need to add a lot more to the card.

I used this with gold foil and attached it to Altenew’s Apple Red cardstock.  This is the prettiest red cardstock that I have!  It is actually the color of the leather sofa in my living room!

 

I felt like the color of the paper was so fabulous that I did not want to take away from it with any other color.

The image is stamped on white in permanent black and is from the Peony Spray stamp and die set.  You can see that I die cut that as well.  I added a tiny sentiment embossed in white on black from that same stamp set.  I love the sentiments in that set and this is my most used stamp set from Altenew.  The sentiments are fantastic.

 

I bought that cover die to create stencils and use for watercoloring imperfect stripes on card bases.  I also plan to use it with embossing paste.  But how fabulous does this look in gold?!

 

I loved this class and I will continue to create cards using these techniques.  I love clean and simple cards and the idea of creating boutique cards with some fun details using simple things from my craft stash is really appealing.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I would love to hear which card or little extra touch is your favorite!

I hope you find time to craft today!  Remember to embrace the imperfections!