All About Layering 3

 I am thrilled to begin my creative journey as part of the Altenew Educator Program! My first project is inspired by the class "All About Layering 3," where I explored new techniques and learned how to bring stamped images to life with depth and dimension. This class has been an incredible opportunity to refine my skills and experiment with Altenew's beautiful layering stamps. I am excited to share this project and look forward to the creative adventures ahead in this program. Stay tuned for more inspiration and artistic discoveries!

For this project, I wanted to create a simple, one-layer card featuring Altenew’s stunning layering stamps, using masking techniques to keep the look clean and elegant.

Products Used:

• White Cardstock
• Gold Mirror Cardstock
• Golden Days Layering Stamp Set
• Golden Days Masking Stencil
• Build-A-Garden: Magnificent Branch Set
• Forest Trail Fresh Dye Ink
• Rose Petal Fresh Dye Ink

Steps:

1. Prepare the Card Panel: Start by trimming the white cardstock panel to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".
2. Add Base Color: Position the open stencil from the Golden Days Masking Stencil over the lower left corner of the panel. Use Rose Quartz ink to color the base of the flower, ensuring there’s enough space around it for adding leaves later.
3. Layer the Flower: Align stamps A2, A3, and A4 from the Golden Days Layering Stamp Set to build a beautifully dimensional flower. Stamp each layer using Puffy Heart, Purple Wine, and Cosmic Berry inks, respectively, double-stamping each layer to enhance the vibrancy. I skipped the outline and center to achieve a soft, painterly look for this card.
4. Mask the Flower: Carefully place the Golden Days Mask Stencil over the stamped flower to protect it while adding leaves and additional layers
5. Stamp the Leaves: Using stamps B2 and C2, position them thoughtfully to form a pleasing triangular composition with the flower. Double stamp the leaves with Matcha Tea Fresh Dye Ink to get a rich, vibrant shade. Keep the mask stencil in place while layering the leaves, following the same technique used for the flower.
6. Add Base Color to Leaves: With the stencil still in place, use Aloe Vera ink to softly shade the base of the leaves. I chose to skip the outline stamp here as well to maintain the soft, blended appearance.
7. Add the Sentiment: To balance the design and fill the empty space in the upper right corner, I chose a sentiment from the Build-A-Garden: Magnificent Branch stamp set. For a touch of interest, I decided to create an ombre effect. First, I inked the top half of the sentiment with Puffy Heart ink and stamped it. Then, I slightly overlapped the bottom half with Purple Wine ink, creating a seamless blend for a beautiful gradient effect.
8. Add a Touch of Gold: To finish the card with a bit of shine, I adhered a thin strip of Gold Mirror Cardstock along the right edge of the card base. Then, I glued the stamped panel on top, ensuring the gold strip peeks through just slightly. This subtle metallic accent adds elegance and frames the design beautifully, giving the card a polished look.
   
   

I love how this final detail ties everything together, adding a hint of sophistication without overpowering the delicate, layered elements. I had so much fun creating this one-layered card that I couldn’t resist making another one!. I hope you enjoyed this process as much as I did. Stay tuned for more from my Altenew journey!

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