Tag: Flowers

BUTTERFLY BLESSINGS

Handmade Card by Linda Fields

It’s great to be back and creating in my sacred space again. If I should come up missing from the creative action again, I want you to know it’s because me and my husband are in the process of moving the studio so thank you for your patience! Now, on with the blog!

November last year I was honored to be accepted into Altenew’s Education Certification Program (AECP). Our of the three levels, I successfully passed Level 1 and I’m now working towards my Level 2 award. This is my first blog post for this new level. Enjoy!

AECP Level 2 Homework – Color Your Day Course

Color Inspiration

Pinterest – it’s the perfect place for inspiration. The first lesson in Altenew’s Color Your Day Course talks about finding inspiration. From photographs to the cup of coffee in your hand, inspiration can be found anywhere! I found the perfect photo posted by Contrast By Moon Beam on Pinterest. It became my color palette guide.

Slide to Compare Inspiration vs Creation

The Supplies

It’s important for me to have all my supplies picked out and ready to go before I start creating anything. The mediums, papers, and tools don’t just excite me but continually inspire me to that finished product. Does my Butterfly Blessings card inspire you? Do you want to create too? I used Altenew’s Swallowtail Butterfly Dies, Altenew’s Flower Vines 3D Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Sprays in Wild Honey, Antique Linen, Abandoned Coral, Tea Dye, and Spiced Marmalade, and Rub ‘n Buff’s Antique Gold. (Click on photo for online tag)

The Creative Process

Having all the right tools makes such a difference! This 3D card looks difficult to make but it was fun and easy to do. After picking my palette and selecting my supplies to match, I used 3 of the 4 largest Swallowtail dies cut from heavy black cardstock. I brought the pieces together, glueing only the center body together. I used heavy white cardstock in the Flower Vines embossing folder to create the backdrop.

TIP: Water mist your paper on both sides before embossing to get the best results.

I sprayed layers of Oxide Inks on the embossed paper and sprayed with water after to get the colors moving. Tilting your paper is a great way to move and blend one color into the next. I used a heat tool between layers. I blotted the last layer with a paper towel to remove the excess water drops and oxidized color. To stress that vintage look, I used fine sand paper to scrap ink from the highest embossed areas. Rub ‘n Buff was the perfect finishing touch. With a little finger painting, I turned paper into metal! I lightly hit the high points, paper edges, and butterfly with gold.

TIP: Antique Gold Rub ‘n Buff on black paper creates the illusion of old copper!

Creative Finish

What mood do you want to create? What colors inspire you? How do they compliment each other and what you’re trying to convey? When all is said and done, do you need a sentiment or does your creative finish say it all? Happy creating!

SENDING LOVE

Handmade Card by Linda Fields

My second try at making a shaker card. It was easier this time despite creating it in bed! It’s flu season, so yeah, I’m sick too but that didn’t stop me from crafting.

AECP Homework – Season Scene Course

Almost everything I used was from Altenew – the Dotted Blooms Stamp set, Alcohol Ink Pens, Black Dye Ink, and Fine Black Embossing Powder.

I created this 3.5 x 8.5 slimline shaker card starting with the stamped Dotted Blossoms background and colored all the pretty flowers and branches using Altenew’s Alcohol Ink pens. I decorated the card with pearls, used diamond cut sequins, and black embossed the sentiment “Sending All My Love” on the parchment paper.

SENDING PRAYERS

Handmade Card by Linda Fields

This was an absolute first for me, making a shaker card, and I must say, it was so much fun to do! A pretty yellow butterfly finds it way through a bed of pink roses to send prayers to that someone special.

I used the following Tim Holtz products to create the backdrop: Distress Oxide Inks in Kitsch Flamingo and Peeled Paint with the Rose Bud Stencil. I highly recommend using a small blender brush for the best results.

I cut the pattern down to 3″x8″ and ran it through my Spellbinder Platinum machine using my Honey Bee Swirling Leaves Piercing Plate. If you look close you’ll see the leafy hole pattern it put into the stenciled card front.

I used Altenew’s Silver Lake Crisp Dye Ink around the edges of the card front and matching envelope. I used Altenew’s Dream Big set to stamp and die cut the pretty butterfly. I used Jet Black and Lemon Yellow ink for his wings. I stamped and clear embossed “Sending Prayers” from Altenew’s Dotted Blooms Stamp set. I used parchment paper to create the sentiment band. I used acetate cut a piece 1/2 inch larger than my card front. You’ll need a good bone folder to emboss the lines for all four sides and then fold three of the edges over and securely tape them behind the backdrop. I poured clear sequins from Nuvo into the plastic pouch then sealed the last edge.

After mounting the shaker to a grey mat, I used foam tape to attach everything to a slimline card base made from Nina 120# Classic White cardstock. The envelope was made using Nina’s 80# paper. I repeated the stenciling on the paper, adding the butterfly last, before cutting the paper to create the final 4×9 slimline envelope. Making shaker cards is fun and opens the door for infinite creative possibilities!

HI WILDFLOWER!

Card Created by Linda Fields

It’s always great finding creative, different ways to use your tools. Today’s assignment required me to turn a die into a stencil. I was inspired to create a happy, country charm styled card to ring in the New Year.

AECP Homework – Celebration Stencil Techniques Course

I used the following Altenew crafting products: Edge Wildflower Die, Tiny Bubbles and Beach Stripes Stencils, Crimson, Pink Pearl, Maple Yellow, Forest Glades, and Jet Black Dye Inks, and two Blending Brushes. I also used Ribbon, Simon Says Talk Bubble “HI” Stamp, and Water Droplet embellishments.

I used the Wildflower Edge Die to cut one white cardstock flower set and another set from the grey paper. I used the thicker white as a stencil, blending in vibrant Crimson Petals. I used the Bubbles Stencil to ink happy pink and yellow dots before adding faded stripes in two directions to create a cheery plaid backdrop. It was simple finishing the card by adding the die cut grey flowers offset over the white flowers underneath. I stamped “HI”, tied a pretty bow with the gingham ribbon and added water droplets for that finishing touch. This hug is officially ready for mailing!

WAX SEAL LILLIES

Card Created by Linda Fields

Hello and Merry Christmas! Today I was inspired by a very beautiful card I found on Pinterest. I set out to try and recreate the techniques but I ended up making something completely different. Despite trials, errors, and my dog literally eating my homework, I finally finished this slimline card for my All About Layering #4 Course in the Altenew Education Certification Program I am participating in.

AECP Homework – All About Layering #4

This card couldn’t be any easier to make using Nina 120# Classic Crest White Cardstock for the 3.5″x8.5″ card base and 3″x8″ card front. You only need an embossing folder like the Feathered Lillies I used from Altenew, dye ink and ink blender, then whatever embellishments you may or may not want to add. I used Tim Holtz Black Paper Twine and melted silver wax beads to seal in a beautiful “Thank You” sentiment. Finish it with a black frame mat and foam tape for added height.

My goal was to use a mirroring technique I learned in my course. Altenew embossing folders are 6×6 so if you like to use larger sizes or measurements that don’t fit the square then you must get inventive with your paper placement before running it through your machine. Thicker paper gives amazing results photos just can’t show.

Turn your paper 90 degrees to get the mirror effect. You’ll see exciting new shapes emerge in the negative space from this technique. I chose to ink my flowers lightly with a blending sponge and black dye ink after I embossed but you could just as easily create a Letterpress illusion by inking the negative space of your embossing folder first (before you emboss). Experiment! Find that formula you love. Have a blast creating and you’ll always create a WOW piece you’ll love!

THE LOVELY GARDEN

Card Created by Linda Fields

This is my latest card, created for the Easy Die Cutting Techniques Course in Altenew’s Education Certification Program. This time I was inspired by the Inlay Die Cutting technique. I love the results so I decided to make LOVE stand out by popping it up and off for dimensional effect.

AECP Homework – Easy Die Cutting Techniques Course

My apologies in advance. Unlike all my other homework blog posts, I did not take the time to photograph my steps as I went, however, the steps to create the inlay effect are not difficult and the results always look amazing.

I created this slimline card using Altenew products: Golden Garden Stamp set, Mega Love Die, Obsidian Pigment Ink, Cloudy Sky Crisp Dye Ink, Firebrick and Moss Alcohol Ink Pens. I love Nina 120# Classic Crest White Cardstock. I don’t get the same, professional, crisp results with the 80#. I encourage you to try both to see which works best for you. I used a black mat to frame it all.

After cutting down my card base to a folded 3.5″x8.5″, I cut my 3″x8″ card front and 3.25″x8.25″ black mat. I created a pretty little flower pattern by repeating the same stamps in different directions. I created leaves using the brush nib, placed on its side and gently pressed to create the leaf shape. I added some flower details using a Micron pen. I used the die to cut “Love” from the front and extras from scrap paper. Glue them all together to create a thick piece. I inked the letters so it wouldn’t blend in with the background. I brought all the pieces together using double stick tape, adding the word last, set within the cut opening. I think I could have made the card even better if I had used black behind the word and foam tape for even more lift to exaggerate the dimensional effect but I still love how it came out and I encourage you to try this inlay technique for magical results you’ll love!

WHITE ROSE & LINEN

Card Created by Linda Fields

This is my homework submission I created for the All About Layering 3 course in Altenew’s Education Certification Program. I’m also submitting this into the Altenew Year In Review 2022 Inspiration Challenge. My second entry is inspired by the flower and colors of March. My goal was to create a sophisticated, tone-on-tone card with pops of grey, copper, and greens. The beautiful linen texture brings it all together.

AECP Homework – All About Layering 3 Course
Altenew Year In Review Inspiration Challenge 2022 – March Inspired Entry #2

I used the following materials: Nina 120# & 80# Crest White cardstock cut down to a folded 5″ x 7″ base, Vellum, a Micron Drawing Pen for fine details, VersaMark embossing ink, watercolor detail brush, water and white paper twine by Tim Holtz and the following Altenew materials: Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder, Enchanted Iris Set (Thanks stamp), Copper Embossing Powder, Garden Rose Layering Die, and Altenew’s Silver Lake, Evergreen, Forest Glades, Pistachio and Frayed Leaf Crisp Dye Inks for color.

First, I used the embossing folder and turned paper into linen like magic! I used my Tim Holtz Deckle Blade Cutter to create a ragged edge. Next, I used the Garden Rose die set by Altenew to cut everything from white paper. I used inks, a small brush applicator, a round sponge applicator, a watercolor detail brush, and Altenew inks to shade, define, and color all the pieces. If you’ve never used this or other similar flower building set before, the individual pieces are embossed with tiny numbers and have keyhole cutouts to use as guides. It’s a great approach and I appreciated the well thought out design. I cut down some vellum and embossed “Thanks” in copper to match the rose’s copper center. I used regular double-sided as well as foam tapes to bring it all together – tucking the leaves under the raised flower, paying special attention to the off-center, triangular layout I wanted.

In the end, I fell in love with the clean, textured look with that soft, complimentary pop of color. It was a joy making this card and I can’t wait to apply more of what I’ve learned for my next homework assignment.

PICKET FENCE BLOSSOMS

Card Created by Linda Fields

AECP Homework – All About Layering 1 Course

This is my latest creation while taking Altenew’s Eduction Certification Program. I was inspired by the idea of Spring 2023, looking over a white picket fence surrounding a garden full of wild flowers.

I used Nina 120# Crest White cardstock cut down to a folded 4.25″ x 5.5″ base card. I used the Hexagon & Diamond Die Set by Tonic Studios, a .01 Micron Drawing Pen, Altenew’s Mini Blossoms Stamp Set, Altenew Obsidian Stamping Ink, with Blueberry, Lemon Ice, Evergreen, Forest Glades, and Frayed Leaf Crisp Dye Inks for color.

I cut two diagonal stitch frames and glued them together then die cut the center section. I used Blueberry ink to create a nice contrast for the die cut “LOVE”. While my cuts were drying, pressed under something heavy, I started creating the main portion of the card. I learned a lot during the first Layer course, like how to find specific stamp characteristics to use as guides for lining up the flower layers. I used the Mini Blossoms stamp set to create the pretty backdrop. I pulled all the pieces together to create the card.

GOLD & GOUACHE

I loved drawing each and every flower, leaf, and vine for this scroll. After completing the knottwork “R”, I inked the entire piece using Micron Graphic Pens, going over all the pencil work I just spent hours drawing. I used Turner Acrylic Gouache for the botanicals and letter, adding the gilded, golden background last. To give dimensional pop, I re-inked it all one more time. I added the digital text, honoring my father, in Photoshop.

Unfortunately, cameras don’t easily pick up glint as anything but dusty particles because the metal reflects the light so this scroll looks much different in person.

Illustrated, Painted & Illuminated by Linda Fields

CRAFT YOUR SCRAPS

Sweet Pea Handmade Cards by Linda Fields

Don’t trash your scraps – turn them into something beautiful! I created this set of cards using Watercolor Paper, Altenew Sweet Pea Stamp & Die set, Spellbinders Nesting Square & Rectangular Die sets, Waffle Flower Painting Mats, Watercolor Pens by Altenew, Micron Illustration Pen, Archival Inks for stamping, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tim Holtz tools like the Cutter, Glass Mat, and Splatter Brush, then added Water Droplet Adornments last.

It was fun creating a new color by putting down the Autumn watercolor before painting a second, purple layer over the top. The two translucent color blended beautifully to create an amazing new color. I splattered left over, dried up watercolor paint for some of the backgrounds. I used cut up, black cardstock scraps, saved from cards I messed up. Speaking of which, when you mess up, and everyone does, find a new way to complete your card with whatever you have on hand. My last card is an example of just that. I ruined the front panel so I put down charcoal ink on its black mat instead and created the flower shadow background you see.

Challenge yourself! Create as many cards as you can with your leftovers. Turn your mistakes over and use the clean side! Even the smallest pieces can become a sentiment or part of a new design. Get creative and see what you end up with!