The Beautiful Details class on Altenew Academy, taught by Marika Rahtu, is the theme for my 9th AECP post. This class was amazing! I absolutely loved watching the masterpieces Marika brought together on camera and I was left with renewed determination to continue working on my colouring skills.
One of the techniques that Marika taught was no line colouring on Vellum, achieved by embossing your image with a matte clear embossing powder and colouring on the opposite side of the vellum. I have made a video tutorial showing my exploration of this technique.
Unfortunately the footage of me assembling this card was corrupted when I came to edit the footage, but I was able to save the footage of the actual technique thankfully!!
To finish this card design I stamped the Shine Like a Diamond background stamp with Caramel Toffee; I wanted to pick up on the Terracotta colour of the plant pot but I did feel that it ended up a little brighter than I wanted. I was able to soften the colour using the Vellum, by cutting the sheet that I had coloured onto down to the size of my card panel. This also works to show off the technique by having the vellum be an integral part of the design as a whole.
Leaves: Copic YG63, YG17, YG95 Altenew G702
Pot: Copic E50, Winsor & Newton O567, O837
I wanted to finish the design in a simple but visually striking way, so I opted for black accents, adding one of the Fine Frames die cuts but opting to have it at an angle.
Then I stamped my sentiment onto white Neenah 80lb and cut it into a strip, adding e diagonal cut at the end for added interest.
A few black matte Nuvo drops dotted around finish it nicely, and also add discreet covering of the adhesive used to adhere the vellum to the card panel. I popped the whole thing up on foam onto a white 110lb card base allowing for a small border all of the way around.
One of the main ideas Marika discusses in this class is that we can use multiple mediums on a single image, and most importantly that this isn’t a sign that we have failed with the first medium, it allows us to add a number of ‘beautiful details’ which take our art to another level completely! Also, you won’t often love a piece whilst you are still in the process of creating it; I frequently find myself having the urge to bin a project before I’ve seen it through to the end, and it’s nice to get that reminder that it is ok for your work to go through an ugly duckling phase! Just trust the technique and keep trying.
Above all, remember that it is often the smallest details which have the largest effect on the beauty of a masterpiece.
Hey Crafty People!
Please be aware:
As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.
Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.
— SUPPLIES —
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
 MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP | Trinity |
 MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP |
 Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Neenah 80lb Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | Craftstash UK |
 Neenah 110lb Shop at: Alt |
 Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK |
 Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Trinity |
 Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
 Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
 Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
 Mini Trimmer Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 9.5 inch Shears Shop at: Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Bone Folder Shop at: Alt |
 Self Healing Mat Shop at: Alt | SBC |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.
— SUPPLIES —
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
Affiliate links are used MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP | Trinity |
 MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP |
 Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
 Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
 Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.
- Altenew Succulents stamp set Alt
- Altenew – Shine Like a Diamond stamp set UK Alt
- Altenew – Fine Frames Alt
- Altenew – Caramel Toffee ink pad Alt
- Neenah Classic Crest – Solar White 80lb*
- Neenah Classic Crest Solar White – 110lb (*Use code natashapapertree for 10% off)
- Crafter’s Companion – Vellum UK
- Papermill Direct – Black Cardstock
- Nuvo Vintage Drops – Blackboard
- Copic Markers
- n
- Arteza – Professional Colouring Pencils 48 set
- Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
- Arteza – Foam Adhesive tape
This is stunning!! I cant beleive you were able to achieve SO MUCH detail on vellum!! Super job!
Thank you for entering your work to the AECP assignment gallery.
Thank you Erum!! It was such a fun technique to experiment with, I loved it! ?
Wow this looks absolutely amazing – what a beautiful piece
Thank you so much for your kind words Poppy!
Every comment means so much to me!
Happy Crafting!