Terri Belkin. Group 56. Level 2 challenge - recycled item.

I started with a washi tape box and made it into a card holder. 

 

I used the multimedia approach again.  

On the top I stamped an art supplies background, then outlined to help them stand out.  I used the purple ribbon, glued to the bottom of the sleeve portion of the box.  Along with the multimedia I added mylar shapes to the top.  I used the An Artist's Collection to put a decorative finish on the top. 

 The cards are in the box wrapped with tissue paper.  Then the whole box is tied together to keep it together. 

Terri Belkin group 56 level 2 challenge

When I got my challenge,  I spent time thinking about what to do and I remembered what every class instructor said “ practice, experiment, explore, play, be inspired, browse, work with your supplies, view, study, search,  detect,  learn and experience”. That is what each of the teachers said at the end of each lesson.  

So I decided to listen to their advice and do something that I really haven't had the time to play with until now.   There are many projects that I have made notes to store away for when I have time to be able to play. Some of those include using acetate, using vellum, using colored inks on color paper, heat embossing with watercolors, no line coloring with Copics, coloring on metal, making Bokeh bubbles on paper, white  embossing a background, using score lines to make backgrounds, stamped images with sprays and water, and try cards with all different colors to show the moods of the cards.

I decided to play with multimedia using all the things that I have purchased in the last year that I have not been able to use.  I hoped it would help me decide what I am going to do for my final project. I took a big leap and decided that the project would be multimedia based. That way I incorporate a lot of the lessons and a lot of the advice from the teachers. I have to admit playing with all those different mediums really was exhilarating and fun!   

 I started with two pieces of white paper,  a brayer and ink pads. I started putting color on the paper with the brayer in different directions. Then, I started looking at my other supplies. I had some metallic paste, I had stencils and white ink and gold paste. I just started playing, making notes of what worked and what did not. It was hard to figure out when to stop, when it had enough details, when it was finished. It really was fun and freeing!   

When I was finished and the papers had dried I started looking at them and they gave me ideas for cards. There is a gold spot on one card that looked to me like a bird so I made that card with a bird on it. Another card had color blocks on the left side which made me think of squares. The triangle pieces are from the gold metallic paste that formed a triangle inside the triangles I cut. These mountains just reached out and made me feel positive and uplifted.This one looked to be a “good feeling and encouraging” card. And the circles came from the white ink and white paste that I put through the circle stencils. So I felt now my cards were ready to get started.

  I cut apart the paper to feature all the things I saw on the paper.  This was amazing! How much have I missed not playing more with mixed media! 

 I was truly using a little bit from a lot of different classes that I took during this time. I used the  Cards for Guys by using the suggestion of geometric shapes. That helped me to define each of the cards to be different shapes. I used the class on Color Your Day using the brayer technique and trying to balance my colors as 70, 20 and 10. This was easy to do using only three colors however I ended up adding some yellow, pink, and green to my base colors of purples and blues. These colors gave me a strong sense of appropriate colors for male cards. The last class I used to help me with these cards was the Heat Embossing class. I embossed the sentiment on one. I also embossed each circle on the circle card giving it some extra details.    I think the finished cards are a great addition to the many many cards that I have made during these classes.  I think these would be good cards to give to a male friend who needed some cards to send to his friends.  

To wrap this up I made a folio card to house each of the cards in my set. The folio card was made with one piece of 8 and 1/2 by 11 purple cardstock. The lines drawn are score lines. One at 2 inches from the bottom of the card and two lines in the middle (51/4 and 5 ¾)  to make the card a little thicker to accommodate all the cards and their envelopes. Decorating the cards with the leftover multimedia was a great use of the leftovers. I had to work on the closure. I decided some purple polka dot ribbon would be perfect to make a tie as it complements the color and patterns on the cards.  Of course where the name is on the top I would put the person's name or "for you" and give it as a gift.

This was a great challenge for me.  I learned a lot about how I approach a card, how it speaks to me and how my instincts work through the card making process. I have enjoyed my time going through the academy, I have had people comment on my growth with card making, the attention to detail and the ability of the card to say something to the recipient.    Thank you for visiting my blog and Instagram posts.  I appreciate your support!

 

Àltenew first challenge

Terri Belkin, group 56, first challenge 

The challenge was to make four to six greeting cards for "Him" and four to six cards for "Her" and a gift box for each. I also needed to use a recycled item.

 

When I first saw the challenge, I started thinking about the guy portion, first. My husband was an avid fisherman and since COVID he can no longer fish, but that gives me some ideas. So the theme for the guys was oceans and lakes. I selected blues, beige and yellow. Next it was time to think about the “Her” cards. These cards were going to feature flowers in different arrangements. My color palette for these cards would be pink, yellow and orange. Color choices were the first step.

 

For the “Him” cards I used inspiration from Cards For Guy class, looking at men's sports and thinking about geometric shapes. I als got inspiration from Let It Shine. I think adding some glitter paper for the water was helpful in making that card come to life. I also used embossing paste to make the waves look real. The next class I used was the Seasonal Scene Building to help me make water scenes more realistic. Thinking about a complete scene and all its components.

For "Her" cards I used inspiration from Layering 3 and 4 class to help me with the flowers. I learned how to line up the layering stamps and choosing colors and arranging items in odd numbers. I also used information from the Easy Ink Blending class and, using copic markers, to help blend the flowers and butterflies. Putting some items over the edge of the card gave an interesting look, and inking the edges of the card to cut down on some of the white space. I also got inspiration from the Easy Die Cutting class by using dies to help me cluster flowers. I also used the stencils in a different way by stacking them on top of each other after ink blending the pieces.

I began with Hammermill paper 100# paper for my card bases. Using 80# paper for card fronts. I use this paper because it works for copic markers and is sturdy enough to handle what I expected to put on it. My cards are top folding or side folding.

I started working on the boats and ships for the “Him” cards, and flowers for the "Her" cards. For the "Him" cards I used, Ocean Reflection glitter paper, Glacier Caves ink cubes and Copics b05, b24, b00, y08, y17 , e43.

  

 

For "Her" cards I used Pocket of Sunshine ink cubes and ink pads Autumn Bliss, Orange Dream, Peachy Keen, Cosmic Berry, Puffy Heart, and Rose Quarts. Copics that were used: y00, y04,y06, y07, yr08, yr14, yr61, rv04, rv13, rv14 rv17 g03, g17 and g67.

  

For the Altenew stencils, stamps and dies I used on the "Him" cards were: cutting dies for Sweet Birdie, cutting dies for the Wooden Rowboat, Boat Adventures stamps and dies, Brilliant Waves stencil, Flowing Drops stencil, and Seas The Day stamps set.

For the "Her" cards, I used:  Garden Trellis cover die, Cup of Coffee die, Proud of You stamp and dies, stencil grid, stencil Morning Flowers, Elegant Alocasia, Fresh Bouquet, Charming Bouquet, Garden Trellis cover die,Beautiful Butterflies press plate, and Build a Flower Primrose. I used the press plate for the first time. It was a great learning experience. I can see more uses in the future. The impression from the plate is pressed into the paper and feels really elegant.

By working one card at a time, I could make sure that each card was completely finished and looked its best. Getting feedback from members of the household was very introspective. If it wasn't clear or the message I was trying to portray was not clear, I was able to make adjustments.

Now that the cards were complete I worked on the packaging. The container for the “Him” cards was from a class I took many years ago. I decorated the card box with washi tape, glitter paper and cardstock from Altenew. The other container came about as I went to my mailbox to get some Altenew products that I had ordered. I noticed that the envelope was so colorful and beautiful that I was going to recycle the envelope!

 

 

I found this project challenging and excited. It was a great way to put the classes to good use by remembering all the tips, tricks and little details. I hope you enjoyed my project.  Thanks for visiting my blog.

September 2025

 

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