Pop-Up Pillar Card

I recently completed a set of feminine cards as part of my Altenew Educator Program (AECP) Level 1 final project, and this is one of the cards I made in the set. I based the design off Lynn Dunn's video here: Easy Pop Up Pillar Card ~ Folds Flat for Mailing! but left off the panel that she put on the pillar. I didn't want anything to block the view of the beautiful Parchment Bouquet set on the inner panel of the card! 

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements: 

Yellow cardstock: 

• 5 1/2" by 8 1/4" scored at 1/2", 2", 2 1/2", and 4

Green cardstock: 

• (2) 1 1/4" by 51/4"
• (1) 1/4" by 5 1/4"
• (1) 3 3/4" by 5 1/4"
• (1) 4' by 5 1/4"

White cardstock: 

• (2) 1" by 5"
• (1) 3 1/2" by 5"

Pink cardstock: 

• 3 1/2" by 5"

Instructions: 

First, I trimmed all my pieces to the measurements listed above. Then I used Altenew's Magnolia Dreams embossing folder and coordinating stencil set to emboss and ink blend through the coordinating stencil on all the white panels. I ink blended some Magenta ink onto the pink panel for the back of the card. Then I adhered all the panels to the card base and created the pop-up panel by adhering the last 1/2" of the yellow card base to the card base to form a little box that pops up. 

For Altenew's Parchment Bouquet die set, I added some ink blending to the magnolia flowers and used some glitter cardstock for the foliage pieces after die cutting all the pieces. I added my "congrats" sentiment that I had die cut out of both yellow cardstock and yellow fun foam for dimension using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Splendid Bouquet set. 

For the back of the card, I added my ink-blended panel and then popped up my stamped "Happy Anniversary" sentiment using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I finished off the back using a few enamel dots and a trimmed glitter cardstock die cut from the Parchment Bouquet set. 

To make the coordinating envelope, I again embossed the envelope flap with the Magnolia Dreams embossing folder. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: 7th anniversary raffle: I chose the anniversary category

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils with an optional twist of bouquets (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Creases #103: ATG with a fun fold project (entering my card for fun as I'm on the CCC DT)

Allsorts challenge blog: paper piecing or ATG (2/3; ends 5/23/25) (Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! I added your badge to the top left of my blog!😘)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder; optional twist of florals (2/3; ends 5/21/25)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with twist of Floral Delight (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Beautiful blooms (2/5; ends 5/14/25)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 5/21/25)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Flowers (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (unlimited entries; ends at the end of the month)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: Pretty Flowers (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: ATG (5/5; ends 6/15/25)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG (5/5; ends 6/15/25)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors; I trimmed my foliage die cut on the back of the card using scissors (5/5; ends at the end of the month)

Magnolia Dreams Bay Window Fold Card

I recently watched a video by Connie Stewart showing how to create a Bay Window Fold card, and I thought it would be a fun style to try. I've seen them before but never got around to creating one until now! It was easy when I followed the instructions in the video here: 🔴 Make a Bay Window Card: The Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial

I chose shades of Coral inks and gouache to participate in an Altenew Livestream challenge where the theme is "Hello, Hue," and the challenge is to choose one color and create a hello-themed card using just that color and black and/or white. I started by painting an 11 by 17 inch sheet of watercolor paper using Altenew's Coral Red gouache from the Strolling Through New York Artists' Gouache set. I let that dry overnight. After trimming and scoring a white card base according to Connie's measurements, I trimmed a panel of the coral watercolor paper to emboss with Altenew's Magnolia Dreams 3D embossing folder. I embossed the panel and then blended Coral Berry Fresh Dye Ink over the coordinating stencil for the flower petals. I didn't color in the leaves or the flower centers because I was sticking to a monochromatic theme. I added a panel of the coral watercolor paper to the inside of the card before moving on to trimming the embossed panel according to the measurements in the video. I adhered the panels in place and then set about decorating the card. 

The cute little pitcher on the front of the card is from a  new set from Altenew called Pitcher Vases. I die cut one of the vase and embossed it and then ink blended the design on the vase using the coordinating stencil and Coral Berry and Coral Bliss Fresh Dye inks from Altenew. I die cut a circle out of vellum to place behind the pitcher and then die cut some foliage from Altenew's Parchment Bouquet set using more of the coral watercolor paper and more vellum. I added a bit of Coral Berry ink to the tips of the watercolor die cut for shading. I then die cut "hello" from Altenew's Watercolor Roses stencil and coordinating die set. I die cut it multiple times and stacked the die cuts for dimension. The top layer was die cut from the coral watercolor paper, and I ink blended a bit of an ombré effect on the die cut with more Coral Berry ink. I adhered the die cuts and vellum circle to the center panel of the Bay Window card and then worked on the inside of the card. 

For the inside of the card, I stamped "praying for you" using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Casual Bouquets project kit onto the coral watercolor paper and die cut it with Altenew's Fine Rings: Circles die set. I die cut a larger circle from the set out of the same coral watercolor paper, but this time I ink blended some Coral Berry ink over it. I adhered the circles together and then added them to the inside of the card using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I decided the sentiment needed a little something more, so I added a die cut from Altenew's Zero Waste: Berries & Branches die that I ink blended with Coral Bliss ink. 

I've recently become an affiliate for Altenew, so if you are interested in ordering something lovely from Altenew and would like to use my link, thank you very much! Here's the link: Carrie's Altenew affiliate page 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases #103: ATG with a fun fold project (entering my card for fun as I'm on the CCC DT)

Allsorts challenge blog: paper piecing or ATG (1/3; ends 5/23/25) (Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! I added your badge to the top left of my blog!😘)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder; optional twist of florals (1/3; ends 5/21/25)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: Bouquets or ATG with stencils (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with twist of Floral Delight (3/8; ends at the end of the month)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 5/18/25)

Cardz 4 Galz: Flowers (3/3; ends 5/14/25)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Beautiful blooms (1/5; ends 5/7/25)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 5/21/25)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Flowers (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (5/6; ends 5/12/25)

Triple B: ATG with birds, blooms, and/or butterflies (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of feminine; ends 5/12/25

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (unlimited entries; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 5/26/25)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: Pretty Flowers (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: ATG (4/5; ends 6/15/25)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG (4/5; ends 6/15/25)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge: Stencil fun (1/5; ends 5/12/25)

 

AECP Level 1 Final Project Part 2

I'm back with Part 2 of my AECP Level 1 Final Project! This time I'm showing my set of masculine cards. The instructions were to create a cohesive set of 4-6 masculine cards and packaging. In the sets and packaging, I needed to apply at least 3 techniques from the classes in Level 1. I also needed to incorporate recycled packaging in my cards and/or packaging for the cards. 

Here's a look at the 5 cards in the masculine set:

Cards and envelopes in their recycled gift box:

Techniques used: 

Ink Blending Techniques: Lesson 5: Faux Watercoloring (I watercolored the birds on cards 3 and 5 using inks I smooshed onto acetate and then spritzed with water)

All About Layering 3: Lesson 4: Add die cuts over the edge of the card and trim the excess (I added the Berry Branch Layering Die Set to Card #5 and trimmed off the edges and then adhered the trimmed portion to another part of the card)

Let It Shine: Lesson 3: Embellishments (I used Gem Sparkles and Enamel Dots on all my cards except card #2)

Scene Building: Lesson 6: Create a shaker scene (I created a shaker scene on Card #1 with a cloud stencil over my ink smooshed and sprayed background)                    

Clean & Simple Boutique Cards: Lesson 5: Use specialty papers (I used silver metallic cardstock on all 5 cards)

To make the set cohesive, I chose to include the following elements in all my masculine cards:

Color palette: Red, blue, and silver 

Sentiment: Congrats/congratulations (stamped or die cut in black on red cardstock)

Theme: birds and clouds

Card Style: Fun fold and shaker cards

Every card in the set features at least one panel of watercolor paper ink smooshed with Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks and sprayed with Prize Ribbon Distress Spray Stain or Cobalt Blue Chroma Mist. The card bases are all red cardstock and the layering panels are silver metallic cardstock. 

Process: Because I knew I wanted to have plenty of ink smooshed and sprayed panels, I used 2 sheets of 11 by 17-inch watercolor paper and set to work creating backgrounds. Here's a look at the first one. The second is similar, but I used more Chipped Sapphire and then sprayed the paper with Cobalt Blue Chroma Mist instead of Prize Ribbon Distress Spray Stain: 

    

 

I let the panels dry overnight and then did some stamping with red and black inks using Altenew's Pinstripe Stamp Set and Altenew's Dotted Pinwheels Stamp Set. I love how I can stamp long pieces in the Stampwheel 2.0 by removing the side. That came in handy on this project. 

      

  

  

I varied my stamping so that in some places I had the whole pattern of the stamps and in other places, I just added ink to parts of the stamp. I also spritzed a bit of water over the inked stamp for a loose, watercolor effect in some places. I left some of the background unstamped, too. 

Card #1: Slimline Shaker Card

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements:

Red cardstock: 

•     9" by 8 1/2" scored by 4 1/2" on the long side

Silver cardstock: 

• 4 1/4" by 8 1/4" panel for the front of the card 
• 4" by 8" for the inside of the card

Ink smooshed watercolor paper: 

• 4" by 8" for the shaker panel  
• 3 1/3" by 7 1/2" for the inside of the card

Instructions: 

Although it's hard to tell in the photos, I stenciled Altenew's Cloud stencil over the ink smooshed paper for the shaker background using Altenew's Iceberg ink: 

Then I added the panel to a shaker pouch and sealed 3 sides before adding my shaker beads in multiple colors and metallics to match my color palette. Once I had enough beads, I closed the last side of the shaker pouch and adhered it to the silver cardstock panel and then adhered that to the red card base. 

I die cut the pieces for the cranes from Altenew's Red-Crowned Cranes Layering Die Set using red, black, and silver cardstock and then assembled them using all 3 colors for each crane. I added them to the card front using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I then die cut "congrats" using Altenew's Versatile Greetings 2 die set. I added the "congrats" to its shadow and then die cut another shadow using fun foam. I stacked them together and added them to the front of the card. 

For the inside of the card, I adhered my silver cardstock and ink smooshed panels and then stamped 
"wish you all the good things" from Altenew's Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells set and adhered that to the ink smooshed panel. I added 3 black enamel dots from Altenew's Colorful World Enamel Dot set.

For the coordinating envelope, I die cut the top layer of the largest crane in the Red-Crowned Cranes set out of silver cardstock and adhered it to the front of the envelope. 

Altenew products used: Cloud Scene Stencil, Red-Crowned Cranes Layering Die Set, Versatile Greetings 2 Die Set, Colorful World Enamel Dot Set, Dotted Pinwheel Stamp Set, and Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells.

Card #2: Spanner Card (inspired by Lisa Curcio)

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements: 

Red cardstock: 

• 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" and cut at 1 1/4" from each side up to the center scoreline to create 2 side panels

Silver cardstock: 

• (2) 1 1/8" by 4 1/8" 
• (1) 2 7/8" by 4 1/8"
• (1) 4" by 5 1/4"

Black cardstock: 

• (2) 1 1/8" by 4 1/8" 

Ink smooshed watercolor paper: 

• (2) 1" by 4"

White cardstock stenciled with Cloud Scene Stencil using Stormy Sky Distress Ink: 

• (1) 2 3/4" by 4" 
• (1) 3 3/4" by 5"

Acetate: 

• (1) 1" by 5 1/2" 

Instructions:

After trimming all the pieces listed above and stenciling the cloud panels, I began adhering the layers to the card base. I added the strip of acetate to the inside of the 2 side panels so those panels move as one. 

I used Altenew's Raised Sentiments embossing folder to emboss the "congratulations" sentiment on the front of the card and the "you're incredible" sentiment on the inside. On the back of the acetate strip, I adhered another red strip I stamped with "Happy Graduation" from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Flourishing Garden stamped to cover the back of the sentiment strip on the front of the acetate. I added a bit of black ink over the embossed sentiments by running the ink pad directly over the words and then added a bit more ink on the red strips to give them a distressed look. 

I die cut and assembled 2 birds from Altenew's Bird Bath Layering Die Set using red, black, and silver cardstock and adhered the larger one to the center panel that shows on the front of the card and the smaller one on the sentiment strip inside the card. 

To create the coordinating envelope, I embossed the envelope flap with the Cloudy Days 3D embossing folder. 

 

Altenew products used: Bird Bath Layering Die Set, Dotted Pinwheels StampSet, Raised Sentiments 3D embossing folder, Craft-Your-Life: Flourishing Garden, Cloud Scene Stencil, and Cloudy Day embossing folder 

   
Card #3: Diamond Z-Fold Card (inspired by Tami White)

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements:

Red cardstock:

• 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" scored by 2 1/8" and 4 1/4"
• 1" by 5" scored at 1", 2", 3", and 4"
• (3) 1 7/8" by 1 7/8"

Silver cardstock:

• (1) 5 1/4" by 4"
• (2) 5 1/4" by 1 7/8"
• (3) 1 5/8" by 1 5/8"

Ink-smooshed watercolor paper:

• (1) 5" by 3 3/4"
• (2) 1 5/8" by 1 5/8"

White cardstock:

• (3) 1 3/8" by 1 3/8"

Instructions: 

After trimming all the pieces to the sizes above, I then embossed the small white squares and the large ink-smooshed panels using Altenew's Cloudy Day 3D embossing folder. Then I adhered all the layers to the card base. 

I stamped and die cut the hummingbird from Altenew's Mini Hummingbird stamp set and die cut it. Then ink watercolored it by smooshing inks onto a sheet of acetate and then using a paintbrush to watercolor the hummingbird to match my color palette. 

While that dried, I stamped and die cut the "congrats" sentiments three times using red cardstock and then used the die to die cut fun foam an additional three times. I adhered the layers together and then added the sentiments to the diamonds on the card. 

I added the hummingbird using foam tape and then stamped and trimmed the "So happy for you sentiment" and adhered it to the bottom right corner of the card. I finished the card by adding 3 blue enamel dots from the Colorful World Enamel Dots set. 

To create the coordinating envelope, I stenciled the Cloud Scene stencil onto the envelope flap using Stormy Skies Distress ink. 

Altenew products used:

Mini Hummingbird Stamp Set and coordinating die, Craft-Your-Life: Splendid Bouquet, Pinstripes Stamp Set, Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells, Instant Dimension Foam Tape, Ruby Red and Canyon Clay inks

Card #4: Standard Z-Fold Card

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements:

Red cardstock:

• 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" scored by 2 1/8" and 4 1/4"
• (2) 3 1/8" by 3 1/8"
• (1) 2 1/16" by 1 1/8"

Silver cardstock:

• (1) 5 1/4" by 4"
• (2) 5 1/4" by 1 7/8"
• (2) 2 7/8" by 2 3/8"

Ink-smooshed watercolor paper:

• (1) 5" by 3 3/4"
• (2) 1 5/8" by 1 5/8"
• (1) 2 5/8" by 2"

White cardstock:

• (1) 2 5/8" by 2 1/8"

Instructions:

After trimming all pieces according to the measurements above, I stenciled the white cardstock rectangle using the Cloud Scene stencil and Stormy Skies Distress Ink. Then I adhered all the pieces to the card base.

I die cut the dove out of white cardstock and silver cardstock and assembled it using liquid adhesive. I added the dove to the front of the card using foam tape. 

I stamped "Congrats" and "we are so proud of you" from the Craft-Your-Life: Feathered Lilies kit onto red cardstock and adhered the sentiments to the inside panel. 

To finish the card, I added some Smoky Quartz Gem Sparkles to the front and inside of the card. 

To create the coordinating envelope, I embossed the envelope flap using the Cloudy Day 3D embossing folder. 

Altenew products used:

Creative Cuts: Doves in Flight, Cloud Scene Stencil, Cloudy Day embossing folder, Smoky Quartz Gem Sparkles, Dotted Pinwheel Stamp Set, Pinstripe Stamp Set (for the black spots on one of the panels) 

Card #5: Bendy Card (inspired by Dawn Griffith)

Card with coordinating envelope:

Measurements:

Red cardstock:

• 4 1/4" by 5 1/2" scored at 2 1/8"
• 3 1/4" by 5" scored at 1/2", 1 5/8", and 4 1/2"
• 7/8" by 8 1/2" scored at 1 1/2" and 7"

Silver cardstock:

• 4" by 5 1/4" scored at 2"

Ink-smooshed watercolor paper:

• 3" by 3 3/4" scored at 1 1/2"
• 5/8" by 5 1/4"

Instructions:

After trimming all the pieces according to the measurements above, I embossed the silver cardstock using the Cloudy Day 3D embossing folder.  

Then I die cut Berry Branch Layering die set using red, black, and silver for the layers. I adhered the branch to the ink-smooshed and stamped panel and then trimmed the parts that went over the panel and then added them to other places on the panel using liquid glue in some places and foam tape in other places. 

I stamped and die cut the one of the birds from Craft-Your-Life: Rustic Charm and watercolored it using inks I had smooshed onto acetate. I added the bird to the ink-smooshed panel. 

Then I adhered the ink-smooshed panel to the red center panel before adhering the red center panel to the back panel by adding glue to the 1/2" scored panels on the sides of the center panel and adhering those small areas to the back panel. 

To add the sentiment strip at the bottom of the card, I folded the red strip at the score lines and added liquid glue to the tabs to adhere them to the back of the card. I then added the ink-smooshed panel and then the red panel on which I had stamped "Congratulations" and "Happy Retirement." 

I finished the card by adding 3 black enamel dots to the center panel. 

To create the coordinating envelope, I again used the Cloud Scene stencil on the envelope flap with Story Skies Distress ink. 

Altenew products used: 

Cloudy Day 3D embossing folder, Craft-Your-Life: Rustic Charm, Pinstripe Stamp Set, Berry Branch Layering Die Set, Craft-Your-Life: Flourishing Garden, Ruby Red and Canyon Clay inks, Instant Dimension Foam Tape

Gift Box:

For this set of cards, I chose a box that had an acetate window on the front because I thought it would be great to have a glimpse of the cards inside. I measured the front, back, sides, top, and bottom of the box and set to work trimming up pieces of my ink-smooshed watercolor paper along with more silver cardstock to coordinate with the card set. 

After trimming all my pieces, I adhered everything to the box to cover the original design on the box. I die cut an opening on the front to allow the acetate window to show through the ink smooshed panel before adhering the front panel. 

Next, I set about decorating the box. I wanted to continue the bird theme, so I stamped and ink blended 2 more birds from the Rustic Charm set. I die cut a silver fence for them to perch on and then stamped and die cut the "Today will be the best day ever" sentiment from Billowing Peonies. I used foam tape to adhere the fence, birds, and sentiment to the box. 

  

  

My feminine and masculine card sets in their boxes:

Both sets of cards without the boxes:

Continuity between sets: 

While no two cards used the same card style/size, all cards in both sets featured a congratulations theme and a fun fold or shaker card design.