Hi everyone!

I’m super excited to say that I passed my Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) Level 2 final challenge and am moving on to Level 3! Today’s card is from my first class in the Level 3 series: A Touch of Texture. I learned several new/interesting things in this class and had a great time trying some of the different techniques before finally pulling all the pieces together for this card.

Before I get too far into the details of this card, I want to mention that this card is 4.25 inches square, which is a bit different from my normal cards (which are usually 4.25 x 5.5 inches). I got this idea from one of my favorite card-makers, Ardyth Percy-Robb. I’ve been persistently following (also known as stalking) Ardyth for some time as she does gorgeous work but also has amazing tips and tricks! I always learn something from her!
For this card I decided to (once again) use my woodgrain card stock. I love this cardstock and I’ve used in two other cards (here and here) – but always in white. The class taught several techniques for coloring the card stock to make the texture more realistic, so I thought it would be a great way to use supplies I already had on hand (and love)!

Instructions:

Prep your card base and frame:

1. Cut your card base for a 4.25 inch square card, score at 4.25 inches, and set aside.

2. Create a square frame using whatever square frame die you have on hand. I had this frame left over from another project so I decided to use it here.

3. Cut a piece of white card stock the same dimension as your frame (outside dimension).

Create the wood plank background:

4. Ink blend Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide ink on your woodgrain cardstock.

5. Very lightly ink blend Walnut Stain Distress oxide over the top of the Frayed Burlap. Use a light touch here so that you can keep the contrast between the two colors. You’ll notice that the wood grain will start to “pop” and it will look like real wood.

6. Cut the wood grain card stock into strips to represent planks.

7. Adhere your planks to the white cardstock you cut in step #3, leaving a tiny gap between each plank. You may want to mix up the planks, so the pattern is not continuous.

8. Use foam adhesive to secure the frame over the top of the wood plank panel and then adhere it to the card front.

Create your flowers and assemble your card front:

9. Die cut the pieces for your flower and leaves out of watercolor cardstock and arrange them in order for layering.

10. Watercolor the layers and let dry. By putting arranging my layers in step #9, I was able to be sure that each layer of the flowers/leaves had a slightly different shade so that they could be distinguished from each other and create dimension.

11. Once all the layers are dry, adhere them using the guide provided in the packaging.

12. Arrange your flowers and leaves the way you like them and adhere them to the card front using foam and liquid glue where appropriate.

13. Stamp and cut a sentiment and add it to the card front using foam adhesive and liquid glue.

I think the wood planks provide a gorgeous backdrop for the morning glories on this card! You’ll have to leave a comment and let me know what you think! And tell me, too, what you think of the 4.25 square card format!

Hope you have a wonderfully creative day!

All the best,