Altenew Level Two Exam: Four Masculine Cards and a Bonus 3D Home Decor' Piece

Hey Friends!  

I am so excited to share this ensemble with all of you.  This card set is very near and dear to my heart.... it's all for my amazing husband,  He is very Patriotic and loves Merica! 

The challenge, I was given, was to make FOUR Masculine cards, Birthday, Love/Thinking of You, Anniversary and  Encouragement.  I must use THREE techniques I have learned so far ( I may have used more, smiles). So sit back and enjoy the ride!

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Supplies: 

Stamps: Altenew Land of the Free | Altenew Pattern Play Circle | Altenew Dotted Blooms (happy Birthday Sentiment) | Altenew Label Love (LOVE U sentiment) | Altenew Forever and Always ( I will find you in any lifetime! sentiment) 
Ink: Altenew Jet Black | Embossing Ink | Altenew Lapis Lazuli Ink Cube Set | Catherine Pooler Midnight, Sand Castle, Tiara & Twilight
Cardstock/Paper:  Neenah Solar White | Altenew Jet Black | Fun Stampers Journey Huckleberry Fusion and Silver Mirror Cardstock
Other: Clear & Silver Embossing Powder | Nuvo Silver Sequins | Clear Rhinestones  | Nuvo Crystal Glaze | Blending Brush | Fun Stampers Journey Sparkle Silk

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Birthday Card

Techniques:

• Clean and Simple: use of white space
• Heat Embossing: make that sentiment pop with some embossing
• Let it Shine: add a strip of shimmer using Mirror Cardstock 

Steps: 

• Stamp Set: Land of the Free. Stamp Eagles as shown on Neenah Solar White , I used Catherine Pooler Inks (Midnight and Twilight).
• Stamp Set: Dotted Blooms. Stamp Sentiment on a scrap of Neenah Solar White, I used Altenew Azurite and Clear Embossed. 
• Assemble as shown. I added a 1/4 strip of blue cardstock and a 1/2 inch strip of silver mirror cardstock. Finished size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4.

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Love/Thinking of You Card

Techniques:

• Easy Ink Blending: add ink direct to paper with a blending tool, this allows you to create custom colors of cardstock 
• Let it Shine: add some sequins for some shimmer and shine

Steps:

• Apply ink direct to a piece of solar white cardstock (4 x 4) using a blender brush. I started with the darkest shade Azurite, then Ultramarine, ending with Eastern Sky.  I left some white space on the bottom.
• Cut strips of 1/2" and 1/4'"every other. you will discard the 1/4" strips. 
• Adhere to a clean piece of 4 x 4 cardstock, adhering 5 strips the 1/2" pieces. 
• TIP: you could cut (5) 1/2" x 4" strips and apply ink to each strip one by one, I found it easier to cut after inking, less messy on the fingers.
• Stamp the Eagle (Stamp Set: Land of the Free) with Jet Black ink on a scrap of Solar White Cardstock. I embossed the Eagle with Clear embossing, another form of Let it Shine. 
• Diecut or punch a 2 1/4 circle around the Eagle. 
• Assemble the card as shown, finish with a sentiment (Stamp Set: Label Love) and some sequins. Finished size 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.

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Encouragement Card

Technique:

• Irresistible Inking Techniques: Ink blending direct to paper and water bleaching
• Let it Shine: Clear Rhinestones and Sparkle Silk

Steps: 

• Apply Ink to Solar White Cardstock, again start with the darkest color and work your way down, I used all four shades this time from the Lapis Lazuli cube set.
• Using three of the circle stamps from Pattern Play, I created a 'cloud'. I masked off with a scrap piece of paper so I could make them half circles.  Stamp with water.  You may need to repeat a few times. TIP: Be sure to dry between each time you stamp. 
• Using a dry brush and some ink I added some lines to highlight the clouds to create a shadow. 
• Next,  I spritzed some water on the entire panel and flicked some Sparkle Silk. 
• Using a stamp platform and Stamp Set: Land of the Free, I stamped the Eagle with Jet Black, the stars with Azurite and sentiment with Eastern Sky. 
• Adhere the panel to a card base. Finish with some clear Rhinestones. Finished card 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

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Next up, features my own technique, broken glass...

Anniversary Card

To finish off, I am also showing a technique I have done and learned years ago- it's  called broken glass or stained glass- it is REALLY hard to capture the beauty of this card as an amateur photographer... it's SO stunning and SO awesome in person. 

Technique: 

• Broken Glass/Stained Glass 
• Easy Ink Blending: apply ink direct to paper with a blending brush
• Let it Shine: emboss with Silver Embossing Powder 

Steps: 

• Stamp a collage of images. I used the Eagles from Stamp Set: Land of the Free and circles from Pattern Play Circles.  The inks I used are from Catherine Pooler, Midnight and Tiara.
• Color the beaks with a yellow marker or pencil. 
• Apply a blue shade of ink to the edges of the all four sides using a blending tool or brush. 
• this is where the fun begins-- apply Embossing Ink to the entire collage piece- add Clear Embossing Powder and heat set- REPEAT this 3- 4 more time until you have a thick layer. 
• Place your panel in your freezer for 30 minutes or so. 
• Remove and 'snap'...bend- break the panel until you have lots of cracks. Work quickly, if you find it won't break - return to freezer and repeat breaking. 
• The next step is to take a blending tool and some ink - I used Catherine Pooler Sand Castle, any distress ink works, apply to the entire panel until the cracks are filled in. 
• Assemble as shown with cardstock mats, finish with a silver embossed sentiment. 

In June, it will be my 19th Wedding Anniversary, I can't wait to give this to my hubs! He will love it! 

Before I go, I have ONE more surprise, a 3D decor' piece that is also part of my exam. I needed to alter/up-cycle something. I decided to take a blah wall hanging from Target to make it my own, my youngest graduates next year so I need to start making fun things to have at her party.  This will definitely be on display!  

Supplies: 

• Stamp Set: Altenew Dearest Friend | Altenew Inked Rose
• Cardstock: Neenah Solar White
• Inks: Catherine Pooler Sand Castle
• Other: Arteza Colored Pencils | Nuvo Crystal Drops, Simply White | Ribbon, Twine and a button. 

Steps: 

• I chalked the words YOU ARE using a stencil and some chalk ink. 
• I stamped and embossed the word Beautiful from Stamp Set: Inked Rose with white embossing. 
• I stamped the flowers and leave/sprigs on Neenah Solar White using Catherine Pooler Sand Castle Ink, 
• I colored the images with my Arteza colored pencils. 
• I added photos of my daughter and the colored images with liquid glue and foam squares. 
• I finished it with ribbon, twine, a button and some Nuvo drops. 

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Product Links for most the products I used:

Thank you Erum and Virginia for pushing me out of my comfort box to make some masculine cards. I hope you loved them as much as I do. 

This completes ALL my requirements for my Journey to Certification, level two.
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Blessings, 

♥ Christine