March 2023 Crop & Create Cards

Love these cards! They turned out great. I like the colours too. Off to see I they have that stencil.

Thank you!

This will not be a succinct answer, lokismom , but here goes.

I am not a huge fan of ink-blending and coloring stencils. As a matter of fact, the top right card in the photo was supposed to be blended using the stencils, but I used my Altenew alcohol markers instead -- except on the lily which I put Perfect Medium on with the stencils and then Perfect Pearls in pearl (doesn't really show in the photo).

That said, using coloring stencils with the 3D embossing folder (bottom photo) worked so well that I bought the stencil set that goes with another of their folders that I have and had very bad luck trying to color freehand. I think the embossing folder/coloring stencil combo is one that I may well seek out in the future although I will continue to prefer freehand coloring of outline stamps.

I do think that one stencil set to use with both an outline stamp and a 3D embossing folder might be a little fraught -- I don't think the image comes out exactly identical when stamped vs. embossed. The folder I already owned and just ordered the stencils for does not also have a stamp and I anticipate that making the stencils even easier to use.

Inking the embossing folder (top left) took some trial and error. I first used Altenew's Coral Berry per the instructions (but crisp dye instead of pigment) and it was hideously garish. That one is with TE raspberry sorbet. I did have trouble with the ink beading up and blotching on the paper. I re-inked and ran it through several times in different orientations and the bottom left corner is still a little blotchy. Pigment ink may well have worked better even though I have seen this technique demonstrated with dye ink other places as well.

The reason that it was the last class I completed is mostly because I then registered for two other Altenew events later in the year, so I had a LOT of Altenew to work through!

Popping back in to add this: one of the other Altenew events featured a seven-stencil set (at least two, maybe three with the two sections on the stencil) with no outline stamp and no embossing folder. That was hard -- a nightmare even, for someone like me who is not the biggest blending fan. That stencil set is looking for a new home. This set I will keep and although I said above that I wouldn't use the outline stamp with the stencil set, I've been thinking that trying it with a no-line coloring ink might give the watercolor-like softness one gets with stencil blending only but easier because there are in fact lines to help with alignment.

I think you'll be glad you did.

Thank you!

I'm not sure. I post most of my cards to the card share thread, but events and SLoC I always post in the dedicated thread. I do feel like the culture on these boards is more open a new thread than post to the relevant one that's been dormant. Of course, a dedicated thread to finishing up ANY past event could still go dormant and then what? Either the original event thread OR the new multi-event thread would have to be revived and who knows which someone would find?

In short, I like staying in the most relevant, topical thread, even if it's been quiet. All the better to inspire one another to use THESE products, right?

I do like to try to ensure that "use up a kit" and "finish a class" are on the challenges list every quarter, too.

So, this is only tangentially related to this event, so if you all want me to delete or move or start a new thread, let me know.

My new stencil set to go with my old embossing folder arrived.

Here is the panel I tried to hand color a year ago side by side with my first attempt using the stencil set (in the order inscribed on the stencils):


It's clear to see the limitations of hand coloring an embossed image -- it's virtually impossible to color anything but the very top of the image without going outside of the image. Probably why I haven't looked at the folder since then and started focusing on pattern-type folders.

The branch was beastly hard to line up because it has the most detail, so this morning I tried again doing stencil 1 (the branch) last:


This isn't perfect, but is pretty close to what I was going for -- enough color that the image is somewhat realistic but soft and subtle enough to still be the background for a die cut bird or two.

Holy smokes that bottom card is gorgeous! You did a great job!