Feminine and masculine card sets. Altenew Challenge Level 1.

Today I have a very special post, I completed my 10 AECP classes, and now I got a great challenge as a final test to approve level 1. It has been an awesome experience, allowing myself to create is a total gift.

Let´s get to it because I have loads to share. I made a video with all the process, including my creative process, the actual creation of the sets and the packaging.

 

The challenge consists in creating 2 card sets, a feminine set and a masculine set, with a cohesive theme. I needed to choose 3 elements from the classes taken during this level 1. It was a hard decision as I have many favourites… But I went with these three:

*Let it shine. It provides wonderful ideas to give that extra special touch to any card, adding shiny elements that take the projects to a higher level.

*Easy die cutting techniques. This class gave me a whole new way of taking advantage of my dies, and it´s very important when mass producing as it really speeds up the process, and also make the cards look more professional.

*Irresistible inking techniques. I enjoyed so much the different ways of incorporating inks other than stamping with it, it gives a lot of more potential to all those gorgeous ink colours. 

 

Creative Process

My mother, who is a PhD in Education, asked me about my creative process when I told her about the challenge. She was very curious to see and compare her creative process as an academic professional with a more relaxed and artistic process, so I thought it could be interesting for some of you to see how I did it.

-Before knowing all the details about the challenge:

·      I chose my favourite cards from the 10 classes during level 1.

·      I lay them on the table and stated (in my head) why I liked them, for example: the colour combination, the layout, the technique, etc. 

-After getting all the details of the challenge:

·      I wrote down all the requirements, I did it by hand as it helps me understand the idea better.

·      Then I made a list of common elements I wanted my cards to have, based on what I liked the most of my previous cards. I also considered that I needed to make many cards, they had to be special but not too time-consuming.

·      Then I made a little table where I put elements that were different to the sets, so I had the feminine on one side and the masculine on the other, so I could visualize the differences between the sets. 

·      Then I decided to make 6 cards per set. It sounds like a good number for a card set.

·      I created a little sketch for each card, I made 6 models, so I would make 2 cards of each design, one for the feminine set and another for the masculine one.

·      I had all this info in one piece of paper, and I used it all along, some ideas I used exactly as I wrote them and some I had to be a bit flexible and change.

·      This way of working kept me on track at all times, I had my guide to refer to at any point.

     Since making 12 cards counts as mass producing I created all elements for all cards step by step: first I made all the backgrounds, then stamped and heat embossed flowers, leaves and sentiments, then painted flowers and leaves, then assembled the cards 2 by 2, using my guide for the designs. This saves a lot of time and makes the elements more cohesive.

 

Creating the cards

Backgrounds

I created all the backgrounds at once. I cut around 16 pieces of watercolour paper, a bit bigger than A2 size. I sprayed both sides of the paper with water and inked a sleek surface with blue ink, then I picked some colour with a bush and started adding it to the panels.

I changed a bit the way I added the ink, sometimes using an acetate to smoosh the ink, sometimes more ink or more water. I just wanted to create different backgrounds with the same colours.

I let them air dry and placed them under a stack of books overnight to flatten them bit.

I wanted to add a shiny element to the backgrounds, so I heat embossed a few dots here and there, making it a bit distressed. I didn’t use a powder tool as I didn´t mind the embossing power sticking everywhere.

Later I decided to add some geometric element to the masculine set, so I stamped some lines with grey ink, I stamped them horizontally and vertically to create squares in the backgrounds.

Elements

Using my guide, I guessed how many flowers and leaves I would need, just to have an idea. 

I chose the set “Adore You” for my images, I love this set and I also have the dies which makes everything easier. 

Since I needed many flowers and leaves, I decided to leave the stamps in their original place, I took out all the sentiments. I prepared the surface with and antistatic power bag, inked the stamps with embossing ink and left them flat on the table, then I brought the paper on top of the stamps, rubbed it really well with my fingers but making sure it didn´t shift and lifted it carefully. Then sprinkled some embossing power and heat set it.

I repeated the process a couple of times and then changed colours to make enough elements for both sets. I also made a few more with only leaves for the masculine set.

For the sentiments I used “Painted Butterflies” and “Adore you” stamp sets. I used a stamp positioner this time, I like to stamp it 2 or 3 times to make sure all letters are properly stamped, without squashing them. 

I lined all the sentiments so I would get many at once. 

I used black cardstock and white embossing powder, always preparing the surface with the antistatic bag, and cleaning up the area with a dry brush to make sure there is no stray powder.

 

Painting flowers and leaves

I used a similar technique to paint the flowers and leaves as I did for the backgrounds. I wanted a distressed-watercolour look. So I wet the elements using a clean brush, then added a light colour to the whole image going outside of the line, then I picked a darker shade of the same colour and added a few touches here and there and let the ink flow on its own, this technique allowed me to paint everything really fast and I love the organic look it gives. I let everything airdry.

Cutting

I die cut all the flowers and leaves using my die cutting machine and I placed them in mugs, one for the feminine and another for the masculine to keep them organized.

I also cut the sentiment strips and trimmed the backgrounds to an A2 size.

 

Assembling

After creating my card bases, I distributed the elements and sentiments among the 12 cards, to make sure I had enough of the elements and balanced among the 6 models. 

I worked on pairs of cards following my sketches. So, I had models 1 to 6, depending on the design I wanted a darker or lighter background, I wrote the number of the model behind each background to identify them. There are 3 background that needed some die cutting.

This is the general process for each pair of cards.

·      Place elements according the model I was working on, move things around and arrange them in a way I like them. Do it for the feminine one and the masculine one.

·      Add dimension to elements using fun foam, I use all my scraps.

·      Glue all elements. Including the sentiment.

·      Work on the next pair. 

·      When they were ready, I added a couple of sequins to some of the feminine cards.

Model 1

 

Model 2 

Model 3

Model 4

Model 5

Model 6

Feminine card set

Masculine card set

Packaging

I used recycled elements to make my boxes. For the cardboard part I used the backing of cardstock packaging, the ones that come in a spiral book. And for the plastic cover I used a box of some make up brushes (for crafting of course!).

I drew a sketch for the bottom part of the box, a rectangle with flaps, cut it out and glue the corners. For the top, the piece was the perfect size, cutting it in half gave me the right size for each box. I decorated this plastic clear cover with some leftovers from the backgrounds. And to attach the top and bottom of the boxes I used a string, so I wouldn’t have to deal with gluing plastic to the cardboard, and it gives a nice touch.

I left the cardboard its natural colour, I think it goes well with the cards.

 

I hope you like them and that I gave you some ideas, or at least I make you wanna go create something. Have a wonderful day!

Espero que te hayan gustado y que te haya dado algunas ideas, o al menos te haga querer ir a crear algo. ¡Qué tengas día genial!

Summer Mini Album with video

I made a quick mini album, I wanted to scrapbook but I didn't want to spend so much time on it, I wanted to see the result right away.

Hice un mini álbum rápidamente, tenía ganas de scrapear pero no quería pasar mucho tiempo en ello y quería ver el producto terminado en el momento.

So I decided to use a 12" x 12" patterned paper as the album base, that would fold into itself. I made a mini sketch and cut it out to have a better idea how the album was going to fold and where I needed to cut it.

Así que decidí usar un papel estampado de 12" x 12" como base, que se doblaría para hacer las páginas. Hice un pequeño boceto y lo recorté para hacerme mejor idea de cómo se iba a doblar y por donde tenía que cortar.

The only complicated part was adding a "spine" to the sides of the album, it needs some room in order to close properly. So I scored the paper at 4" and 8" on both sides, leaving me with 9 perfect squares. Then I had to score another line right next to the ones I had done towards the outside, in other words, I scored the paper at 3 7/8", 4", 8", 8 1/8", then turned the paper 90º and repeated the same score lines. 

La única parte complicada del álbum era "el lomo" en los lados, se necesita un poco de espacio para que pueda cerrar correctamente. Así que marqué los pliegues a 4" y 8" en ambos lados, lo que me dejó 9 cuadrados perfectos. Luego tuve que marcar otras líneas muy cerquita de las que ya había hecho por el lado externo, en otras palabras, hice marcas para pliegues en 3 7/8", 4", 8", 8 1/8", luego giré el papel 90º y repetí esas mismas marcas.

I used a paper pack by We Are Memory Keepers, it´s an old collection that I´ve had for a few years now. Using a collection allows me to easily find papers that go well with each other, plus they bring stickers and other elements that make it easy to decorate the project.

Utilicé un paquete de papeles de We Are Memory Keepers, es una colección vieja que tengo hace varios años. Usar un paquete como este permite encontrar combinaciones perfectas además de traer pegatinas y más cositas para decorar el proyecto.

Here is a video to show you how I made it.

Aquí tienes el vídeo para que veas como lo hice.

I'm thinking this is a great album for my daughter to complete, we just need to print 8 or 10 photos from our summer, some journaling, maybe a bit more embellishments and voilá!

It could also be a great gift for a not-so-crafty-friend who loves scrapbooking ;)

Creo que es un álbum perfecto para que mi hija lo termine, solo tenemos que imprimir 8 o 10 fotos de nuestro verano, un poco de journaling, y quizás algunos adornos más y ¡voilá!

También podría ser un excelente regalo para esa amiga no muy buena con las manualidades pero que le encanta el scrapbooking ;)

I hope you have an awesome day!

¡Espero que tengas un día genial!

Leftover papers card by Dani + Video

Today I have a cute card made by Daniela. She asked me to make the process video to show how easy you can make a card using your scraps.
Hoy tengo una linda tarjeta hecha por Daniela. Ella me pidió que hiciera un video del proceso para mostrar lo lo fácil que es hacer una tarjeta usando retazos o restos de papel.

She made the whole design and card, and she even came up with the sentiment: You can always shine. Which I think is really cute. I really like what she made, how she did it and above all how well she explains everything.
Ella hizo todo el diseño y la tarjeta, hasta se inventó el mensaje: siempre puedes brillar. Es adorable! Me encanta lo que hizo, cómo lo hizo, y sobretodo, lo bien que explica.

I don´t think I will be able to give this card away, maybe to my mom or my mother in law, I´d like to keep it ;)
Yo no creo que pueda regalar esta tarjeta, quizás a mi madre o a mi suegra, me encantaría quedármela ;)

I hope you liked it and it that we gave you some ideas or inspiration to create something pretty.
Espero que te haya gustado y que te hayamos dado algunas ideas o inspiración para ponerte a crear cositas lindas.

Mixed Media Album with process video

After taking Ana Bondu´s workshops last February I wanted to keep creating, my hands were ready to get really inky (or painty, or gluey)
Después de tomar los talleres de Ana Bondu en febrero quedé con muchas ganas de seguir creando, mis estaban listas para llenarse de tinta, o pintura...o pegamento...

For a while I´ve been telling myself I need to use what I have, there are so many great new products and new collections, and I always fall in love with everything (I know I'm not alone on this :) but I can't keep buying stuff...So when I sat to make something, I found some old pictures I wanted scrap, and found some old mini album kits, that I´ve had for around 10 years waiting to the "perfect" occasion to use them. So the decision was made, some pictures of my kiddos playing with their cousins and a kit with different materials for the album pages and rings.
Then I worked with what I had on hand, actually what I had on my desk from my previous projects.
I worked over several days as I had little time, but I was able to make a video to show the process of how I work.
Llevo ya tiempo diciéndome a mi misma que tengo que usar los materiales que tengo, hay tantos productos nuevos y colecciones, y siempre me enamoro de todas (sé que no estoy sola en esto :) pero no puedo seguir comprando y comprando. Así que cuando me senté a crear algo, encontré algunas fotos que había impreso para scrapear, y también encontré unos kits de mini albums que he tenidos guardados durante unos 10 años esperando el momento "perfecto" para usarlos. Así que la decisión estuvo fácil, las fotos de mis peques jugando con sus primos y el kit con páginas de diferentes materiales y anillos para hacer un álbum.
Luego trabajé con lo que tenía a la mano, realmente con lo que tenía en mi mesa de proyectos anteriores. Trabajé durante varios días porque no tenía mucho tiempo, pero pude ir grabando videos para poder mostrar el proceso de cómo trabajo.

I hope the video gives you some ideas or inspiration to get creating.
Espero que este video te dé algunas ideas o instigación para ponerte a crear.

Here I show you more still shots to see more details of my album.
Aquí muestro más fotos de los detalles del álbum.

Have a great day.
Que tengas un día estupendo.