I decided to participate in the Altenew Scrapbook Sketch Challenge #10 for this month. The sketch looked like fun to try and the designer samples were stunning!
I just finished taking two more classes. One was on background stamps and one was on single layer cards. The single layer card class was packed full of tips and things that I can’t wait to try. I used a couple of the techniques on this scrapbook page. I kept it to mostly a single layer with the addition of some letters for the title and some glitter paper for a frame around the photo.
Stamping Imperfection Altenew Scrapbook Challenge 10
I decided to go for some soft colors on this one. Isn’t this stamp pretty? It is Altenew’s Extra Special stamp set with a coordinating die. This was meant to be a Mother’s Day stamp set, but it has so many other sentiments packed into it that it can be used for several occasions. I’ve used it here for an Easter layout. I used to create scavenger hunts for my kids so they had to find clues around the house and the yard and solve the riddles together to find the next clue and eventually, the Easter Basket! (For the record, my daughter is still the same height and my son towers over her. 13 years makes a big difference!)
I’ve used a 12 x 12″ piece of white cardstock for my background. I started by stamping the 4 large floral images in different Altenew Inks. I used my large MISTI making this a very easy task. I then layered on the next two stamp layers in lighter coordinating colors and then I added some details with my Altenew Artist Markers, my Sharpie fine point brush pen and a white gel pen.
This 12 x 12″ MISTI was so worth the money! I have been a scrapbooker since I was a child. My scrapbooks have evolved over time to the point where I prefer to create my own backgrounds and page elements from all the tools in my stash. This MISTI makes lining things up and stamping multiple images a breeze. (I waited for a sale because it has a hefty price tag!)
You can see that I’m lining up the second layer stamp on the blue outline stamp.
One of the things that Altenew has perfected is their layering stamps. Nobody does a floral multistep stamp set like Altenew. You can see how nicely this lines up! With the MISTI, I can just line it up, clean it off and move it to the next one without a lot of fuss.
I completed all my images and then added some details with my markers. The Altenew Artist Markers coordinate with their ink pad colors just beautifully.
One of the things that I’ve been doing more of thanks to the classes that I’ve been taking is adding those little details with markers or colored pencils after I’ve done my stamping.
One of the details that I’ve added here is a drop shadow using my lightest gray marker. I’ve lined the left edges and the bottoms on the right with a light gray line around the outside of the flowers. It shows up best along the blue flowers. I can’t believe how much more dimension this gives the image on the paper. I’ll be adding that detail and experimenting with darker grays in the future more often.
Here, I’ve masked all 4 images so that I could add a subtle background with my Altenew Grid stencil. I’ve used Inkadinkado stamping mask paper. At first I stamped the image on the masking paper and then realized that wasn’t necessary because there is a coordinating die for this image. You can see the top two masks aren’t stamped, but they are there! This is a lightly tacky paper that lifts easily off the image when you are done blending your ink on. I used Altenew’s Dew Drops ink with the Ranger blending tool. I tried to keep the center darker and lighten as I moved out to create the curved flow to mimic the sketch for this challenge.
Here is the sketch:
While the sketch shows 5 small photos, I chose to use one in the center. I wanted to mimic the shape of the layout. I didn’t notice the color dots on the sketch until I was almost done. I’ve somehow managed to use most of the colors anyway since I was making an Easter layout!
After I finished stenciling my background, I removed the masks. I saved the masks with my stamp set. They can be used several more times. I then trimmed down my photo and added a sparkly blue frame that I created with some glitter paper from Simon Says Stamps and my Altenew Fine Frames Rectangles Die.
You can see the lines of the frames in the glitter paper. I chose not to cut them apart. I really liked the wide frame with the subtle lines all around it. I added a couple of small sentiments around the photo from the Extra Special stamp set in Altenew’s permanent black ink. Again, with the MISTI it was easy to line these up just where I wanted them. I added a few sequins with Glossy Accents in the center. Then I spritzed it with some shimmer mist and finally, I added some silver perfect pearls splashed on with a paint brush.
The title is from Altenew’s Our Family Scrapbook Kit.
In the end, this scrapbook page makes me happy. The kids look happy and excited in the picture and the florals with the subtle stenciled background add just the spring colors that you don’t see in the picture! (I’m still wondering why my daughter is wearing her winter coat and my son is outside in just a long sleeved shirt. Little boys!)
I love making scrapbook pages and one of my favorite details to add is a stenciled background. I love stencils and I’ve mentioned this before. I just think they are so cost effective and you can do so much with them. Altenew has a beautiful selection of stencils. They just released a whole new set of stencils in their July release. I can’t wait to get them! The bundle is on sale today.
Altenew also has a wonderful assortment of background stamps and cover dies that would serve the same purpose as a stenciled background. I tend to grab a stencil before a background stamp because they are so easy to use. I can line them up and move them around to create the flow or shape that I’m looking for like you see on this layout. I can also more easily add more or less ink in certain spots as well. Plus…I can use embossing paste, sprays, watercolor techniques…you name it! The list goes on. For about a quarter to a third of the price of a background stamp, my stencils really do a lot of work for me.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a wonderful day and finding a cool place to hang out! Happy crafting.
Update:
Altenew selects 2-4 winners for their sketch challenges each month and I am excited to be selected as one of this month’s sketch winners. You can check out the other winning selections HERE and consider participating in this month’s sketch challenge.
