Let it shine

AECP class on using shiny elements to a card

For the next class in the Altenew educator program, Let it shine, the instructor introduced a lot of ways to add shine to a card. The class inspired me to try a few different elements to add shine including: heat embossing, adding foil with tape and glitter. I noticed that all the card examples were very clean and simple with a lot of white to balance the metallic elements on the example cards. For the card I made, I used Altenew’s Vintage Teacup Stamp set. This is a layering stamp set with a lot of cute coordinating sentiments. Please read on for how I assembled this card.

Building the elements

This card is all about the shine so I first looked around my craft room to see what I had to add shine. I recently purchased Elizabeth Craft Designs glitter which is a loose fine glitter that once burnished, does not rub off. I also had transfer foils and embossing powder.
I started by making the tea cup. I stamped the outline image in Gina K amalgam ink and used Hero Arts gold embossing powder for the outline and pattern on the cup and saucer. To add some color, I used a Tombow marker and water brush to quickly add an ombré look to the tea cup and saucer. I then used Fiskars fine point scissors to cut the teacup and saucer out.

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On a piece of Neenah 80 lb solar white cut to A2 size, I added a thin (1/8”) and thicker (1/4”) strip of double sided tape to the top and side of the card. I wanted the card base to look like a tea towel. I placed the top strips down first. I applied the glitter first by removing the release paper from the thicker strip, pouring glitter onto the tape, shaking off the excess and then burnishing it into the tape with my bone folder. I then applied the foil by removing the release paper from the thin strip, adding the foil, burnishing it with my finger and then remove excess foil. I repeated these steps for the other side.

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Card assembly

After building the card base, I decided where to place the tea cup and saucer and how to ground it. It is important for items on your cards to be grounded, that is to provide them with a background or base so they do not seem to be floating in mid air. For this card, I grounded the tea cup by cutting out a piece of gold foiled polka dot cardstock with an oval die. I adhered the foiled piece to the card. Then I used Cricut Tag dies to cut out a tag which I gold heat embossed a sentiment from the Vintage Teacup stamp set. I then used a Versamarker to add more gold embossing around the edge of the tag. Some Nuvo drops brought in extra color and shine. The tea cup was adhered with Gina K foam tape. This tape is a little thinner than regular foam tape allowing you to add just enough dimension. I then cut out a piece of fun foam to raise up the whole panel on top of an A2 top folding cardstock.

I really enjoyed designing and building this card as it pushed me to use some different techniques and really build in the shine. I consider myself to be more about layers and clean and simple designs. I hope this post inspired you to try some different techniques on your projects. In the comments below tell me how you like to add shine and sparkle to your cards. Have a wonderful and crafty day.