All About Layering 4: More Depth and Dimension

For my second AECP class submission I worked on the Altenew Academy class All About Layering 4. I wanted to try every new layout technique for the gorgeous layering stamp floral images the instructor presented. The cards presented here focus more on the process of arranging stamped images on various backgrounds than the stamping process. All of the techniques used add more depth and dimension to the final card composition. When I showed my projects to my daughter, she said I need to come up with occasions to give cards. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed the creative process and made more cards than I intended.

One Flower, An Ink Collection, Multiple Layouts

My initial approach to the class was to use a different stamp set for each technique I intended to try. In the end, I stamped many images from three different sets. The pinks, purples and greens are all from the Altenew Spectacular Spectrum Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Bundle. I also used Altenew Cloud White Pigment Ink and yellows from the Altenew Summer Afternoon Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set. (Buttercream is my new favorite!) I used the coordinating dies to cut out all of the images. Then I started playing with the different layering and background techniques to create more depth and dimension.

For this crafting session I decided to use my stamp positioning tool, the Altenew Stampwheel 2.0, in addition to acrylic blocks. This simplifies stamping multiple of the same image without having to line up the layers for every single color. I just had to clean the stamp, turn the plate and ink up the new color for each layer. I had to reposition the stamp to add extras to fill in blank spaces on my cardstock.

There are still quite a few left-over flowers floating around in my studio from All About Layering 3. For this class I challenged myself to use as many of the images I made as possible to reduce left-overs. In an effort to keep myself more organized, I set up a binder with 4- 4.25″ x 5.5″ pocket sleeves. I am trying to remember to put the extras away and label them with the product and ink colors used.

Happy Flowers Cards

Field of Flowers

Once I stamped and die cut all my flowers from Altenew Happy Flowers Stamp & Die Bundle , I began arranging them on a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ card base. I overlapped them in a cluster like they would be in a field of flowers. I chose to use five different colored images. When I liked the flower arrangement, I tucked in some leaves.

One of the most helpful tips I learned from the All About Layering 4 class was to use a low tack tape, (such as washi tape, mint tape, or satin tape) to hold a grouping of images together after arranging them. This allows me to put foam tape or double-sided adhesive on the back to hold everything together at once. It is much easier if you don’t have to do it one flower at a time. Glad Press-and-Seal can also be used to pick up an arrangement, but I find it more difficult to manipulate.

Next, adhere the arrangement to the panel, securing any loose pieces with double-sided adhesive. Trim the parts that hang over the edge from the back of the panel and tuck in the extra pieces to add more depth and dimension.

Adding a sentiment- Ink choices and fussy cutting

The sentiment is a Thank You included in the Happy Flower set. Since this floral image does not have black outlines, I used paper bag ink for the sentiment. This color is used in the flower centers, so it coordinates better than black would. This set does not have a die for the sentiment, so I used detail scissors to fussy cut around it. Then I rubbed the edge on the buttercream ink pad to soften it. I used foam tape to pop the sentiment up on the flowers.

I really love how much depth and dimension this card has, created by overlapping the images and using foam tape behind it. The flowers are relatively simple, but the result is lovely.

Dark Background and some Sparkle

My next arrangement of Happy Flowers went on a black A2 sized background. I arranged two of the small flowers and one large flower from the set in the center of the panel. Then, I used some tape to hold them in place and put some foam tape on the back. I still needed to add leaves, so I set the cluster aside.

Next, I auditioned some of the leaves from the set, as well as some from another set. Adding greenery didn’t look quite right because it made the flowers less of a focal point. I decided to stamp leaf images from Altenew’s retired Floral Shadow stamp set with Cloud white ink behind the flowers. I placed the panel on the Stampwheel and put the floral cluster in place. Then I positioned the stamps where I wanted them, tucking them under the flowers. Once I removed the flowers, I picked up the stamp with the plate and inked them up and stamped.

Pigment ink does not dry as quickly as dye ink, so I used my hairdryer to help it dry. I was on vacation and had left my heat tool at home. If I had been at home, I may have added some clear or white embossing powder to create even more depth and dimension. I really love the floral shadows.

More detail: Splatter and making the flowers blend into the background

After the ink had dried (mostly, it still smudged a bit), I removed the backing from the foam tape and adhered the flowers. The background looked like it was a little too empty and flat, so I used some Enchanted Gold metallic watercolor to add splatter over the whole panel to go with the gold sentiment. I love the sparkle and extra depth and dimension it added.

Another tip I picked up from the class was to use a black marker to go around the white border of the die cut flowers so it would blend with the background. I like it much better with the black than without.

Playing with washi tape

One technique demonstrated in the All About Layering 4 class was using washi tape to create interest and depth and dimension on a die cut sentiment. I haven’t really worked with washi tape, so I got some out and played with it a bit. I love some of the results, but they didn’t really go with my card, so I went with gold cardstock. It was fun to do some creative play with this technique and got me thinking about all the other ways I could use washi tape.

The sentiment is die cut from the Fancy Hello Die – Altenew. I cut one from gold cardstock, and an extra from white to pop up the sentiment just a little because it is too delicate to add foam tape. It is extremely helpful to add Double-sided Adhesive (5 sheets/set) – Altenew to the cardstock before die cutting it. The sentiment was so much easier to adhere to the card because the adhesive was already attached.

And then the “oops”

I then attached the panel to a card base with double sided adhesive strips. It looked great, until I realized that it was very crooked, and very firmly attached. When I got home, I cut the front off the base and trimmed the black panel down to 4″ x 5 1/4″. I didn’t like the white border around it from the new card base. I auditioned several red cardstocks to use as a mat, but none of them matched. So, I masked off the front of the base at the fold and ink-blended around the edgesvwith Jazzberry and Magenta inks. This created a perfectly coordinated border for the black panel. I very carefully adhered the now smaller card panel to the new card base and was much happier with the final result.

In the process of inking the border of the card base I managed to get red smudges on the inside of the card. I cut a white, 3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″ panel and stamped the Floral Shadow stamps in the corner with some limestone ink. Then I stamped a “thinking of you” sentiment from the same set in the center and adhered it to the inside of the card. This final detail may be my favorite. There were several times when I had to pivot in the construction of this card, but I am happy with the end result.

Columbine Build a Flower

Modified Gate Fold Card

For all about Layering 3 I experimented with the Build-A-Flower: Columbine Layering Stamp & Die Set – Altenew. It was not my favorite card. When I saw Lydia’s peek a boo card in All About Layering 4, I was inspired to try again. I loved the idea of the flowers hanging over the edge of the panel, partially covering the patterned inside. There was not room to write a note in the card, so I modified my design.

As a child, I loved my mother’s garden and was always fascinated by the variety of Columbine she had. I loved the color combinations, and they are still one of my favorite flowers. For this card I had fun playing with different colorings of the center and out parts of the flower. The ones with really white centers intrigue me, so I attempted to create some flowers that appear to have a lot of white in them.

In nature, light and shadows create depth and dimension so we can see different textures and colors in an object. Artistically, duplicating this is a challenge for me. I love stamps and stencils because they are helping me get better at visualizing how shading works.

For the lighter flowers I experimented with using Cloud White pigment ink as a base. It is very difficult to see how to layer on top of it on white cardstock! I also used Buttercream, Vanilla, and Morning Frost to keep the image light. Combined with the pink, purple, and yellow blooms, I had a nice variety. For the final composition I used five blooms.

Originally, I planned to make a flap with three flowers that overlapped a lightly decorated inside panel. I didn’t like how it looked, and two more flowers made it onto the card.

Columbine card construction

1. Stamping

Stamp and die cut (or fussy cut) several flowers in a variety of colors, as well as some leaves and stems. I also die cut several extra of each piece with plain white cardstocl. This will be used to cover up the adhesive on the back of the flowers that overhang the edge of their panel.

A very helpful tip I learned from this class is that when a stamp is flexible and does not hold its shape (such as a narrow stem), arrange it on the carrier sheet over the printed image, then lift it with your positioning tool or acrylic block so it holds its shape. This makes it much easier to cut out with the matching die.

Another way to make sure a stamp stays in position is to arrange it in the coordinating die then pick it up with the positioning tool or acrylic block. I can’t wait to try this next time I am using a stamped circle frame!

2. Preparing the base and some stenciling

For the base, trim down an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardstock (I used Neenah Solar White 110lb) to 5 1/2″ x 10″ and score it at 1 1/2″ and 5 3/4″. Fold both ends in toward the center and crease them with a bone folder. (Did you know that a specially coated bone folder does not leave a shine on the cardstock? I just learned that too!) The left, narrow flap will go over the right panel.

On the back side of the right panel (which was folded up and now is on the front of the card) I used a very light ink (Morning Frost) with a large blending brush to very lightly stencil the panel with the Altenew Dancing Drops Background Stencil. Before positioning the stencil, I used some Satin Tape to mask off the rest of the panel at the fold.

3. Arrange the floral elements and position the hidden sentiment

Arrange the flowers to your liking. I have three on the left panel, which overlap the two on the right panel. This creates a lot of depth and dimension and reminds me of a colorful garden.

Once again, I used satin tape to hold everything together while I added some double-sided adhesive and 1mm and 2mm foam tape to create layers of flowers.

Before adhering anything to the card, figure out where you want the sentiment. It is helpful to do this while the flowers are in place. I wanted to make sure the sentiment could not be seen until the card was opened. It is placed to the left of the two flowers in the inner panel, so it is covered by the three flowers on the front of the card. Remove the flowers to stamp the sentiment. Next, remove the backing from the tape and adhere the floral images to the card.

4. Finishing Touches

To neaten up the back of the flowers, use the white die cuts to cover them.

It is important to note the that the adhesive must be attached to the front of the die cut so it matches up to the back of the flowers. If you put it on the back, you will stick the card shut. I may have had to cut a few extra white pieces out for my backings.

Final Thoughts

All About Layering 4 was a fun class because it inspired me to try so many new techniques for adding more depth and dimension to my cards. Some of the new-to-me techniques I tried were- a watercolor background, coloring embossing paste, splatter, stamping shadows, using washi tape to jazz up a sentiment, and popping up a floral arrangement with just one layer of foam tape. I could have continued playing for days.

I hope you have been inspired to explore different ways to layer images to add more depth and dimension to your cards. Next up in my AECP journey will be Clean and Simple Boutique cards. This could be difficult for me because I am not very good at simplicity. I want to try everything!