This is my LAST course in the AECP!!!! I am so excited!!!! Of course, I will not stop taking classes. I have already started on Amber Davis’ “Zentangle for Cardmakers.” THAT will take me quite a while to practice, practice, practice — but I am really motivated to learn to Tangle! If you don’t know what that is, look up the class in the Altenew Academy.

SO, I am most definitely not done with learning, growing, and refining my skills. I completely believe in being a lifelong learner, and I love encouraging others to do the same. But this card represents the last course that I am required to take for the Altenew Educator Certification Program. 25 courses in all! After this, I have to successfully teach a Zoom workshop and then I will be officially an Altenew Educator. I can hardly wait. ?

The “As Easy as ABC” class was taught by the wonderful Therese Calvird. I have loved every class that she teaches. I took the course because I have several alphabet dies and stamps that I hardly ever use. Sure enough, Therese gave lots of ideas! I chose this one because my son-in-law’s birthday is coming up, and I loved the idea of using BOTH an alphabet stamp and a different alphabet die all in one card.

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The two alphabets that I chose for my card are the Altenew Ombre Alphabet and the Altenew Bold Alphabet Die Set. I began this card by using the Ombre Alphabet to stamp “Jeff” on a piece of 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ #80 Neenah Solar White card stock. I used Altenew Azarite Crisp Dye Ink for the letters. This panel will form the background of the card. After the ink dried, I colored the letters with a yellow-orange pencil, as Therese had done with her example.

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The next step was to use the Bold Alphabet dies to die cut the word “Yay!” in royal blue card stock. This will form the front panel of the card. [There is no exclamation mark in the set, so I used the “i” upside down!? ] Be sure that when you die cut a word like this, you save all of the little pieces, like the inside of my “a.” (I will be gluing it on later.)

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The next step on the front panel was to stamp the sentiment that I chose from the Altenew Balloon Bunch stamp set: “Birthday Blessings.” I used an anti-static tool on the card stock, stamped image using sticky embossing ink, and then heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.

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Next I used double-sided tape to adhere a piece of acetate to the back of the front panel. I also used some liquid glue on the very fine pieces like the center top of the “y’s.” After adhering the acetate, I filled the entire back side of the front panel with a double layer of foam tape , being sure that there was a complete seal around the acetate piece. This was to form a container for the sequins I was using for the shaker element. After inserting the sequins, I assembled the main part of the card by adhering the back panel of “Jeff” stamps to the front panel with the foam tape. The last step was to glue the tiny inside piece of the “a” to the front of the acetate.

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The final stage of completing this card was to stamp and finish the birthday balloons. I again used the Balloon Bunch stamp set and stamped 3 different balloons using the inks above. I don’t have the matching dies for this set, so next I fussy cut all 3 balloons. Then I adhered them to the front of the card — 2 with glue & the middle star with foam tape. I drew in the balloon strings with a white gel pen.

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I decided that they still needed a bit of “oomph” so I used Ranger Glossy Accents to coat the balloons. After drying (I recommend overnight), these balloons will look shiny and almost as if they are plastic. It’s a makes a fun finish for celebration cards! I also added a few yellow sequins as embellishments to bring some additional overall balance.

I feel that this card is celebratory without becoming too feminine. I hope my son-in-law likes it, and I know that my 3 grandchildren will love the shaker element! It was a fun card to make as my final contribution to the AECP coursework. ?

I don’t know the details of my Zoom workshop assignment yet, but I’m looking forward to preparing for it so that I can earn the title of “Altenew Educator!”

Many blessings to you…. Sande