Ever had a tiny bird take over your craft space, demand a week of your attention and somehow turn your brushstrokes into a full-blown adventure? Meet my Olive Sparrow! I’m absolutely delighted to share my homework for my final AECP Level 3 class: “Botanical Illustration Inspired Watercolor”  by the ever-amazing Jaycee Gaspar — a class that is equal parts inspiration, challenge and “how does he make it look so easy!?”

Inspired by Altenew’s July 2025 Challenge, this elegant thank-you card features soft ink-blended leafy masking, glittery die cuts, and a dimensional, glittery butterfly. A simple design with a striking result — perfect for any occasion!

Discover how to upcycle an empty tissue box into a beautiful DIY storage solution for your Altenew Mini Delight stamp and die sets. In this post, I walk you through the steps to cover and reinforce the box, create custom paper sleeves (no plastic required!), and organize your supplies with style. Perfect for eco-conscious crafters and paper lovers looking to repurpose everyday materials creatively.

In my final AECP Level 2 class, Masking Unleashed, I explored how masking can add depth, layering, and clean design to handmade cards. I created two very different looks: a tranquil ink-blended leaf card with repeated masking, and a one-layer floral card combining masking, stamping, and pencil coloring. Masking is such a versatile technique — perfect for both bold and minimalist styles!

Learn how to create an elegant, clean and simple (CAS) card using Altenew’s Artist Markers on vellum. Featuring a heart-shaped window, soft purple florals, and a layered sentiment, this project was designed for the AECP Magical Marker Techniques class. Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or heartfelt thank-you cards!

Today’s card was inspired by the AECP class Impressive Heat Embossing — along with my love of biking and the gorgeous Tranquil Trail stamp set. “Tranquil” immediately brought the color blue to mind. So I began by ink blending a panel with Sea Glass and Desert Night Crisp Dye Inks...

See how a daunting class turned into a blooming success — two handmade cards, two styles and a lesson in beautiful details

No-line watercoloring on this AECP handmade card using the beautiful Cattleya orchid and some favorite shades — Quinacridone Coral, Perylene Violet and Perylene Green.

Inspired by a rainy, green-filled day and the 'In the Mood for Color' class, I created this monochrome handmade card celebrating the calm and renewal of green. Stenciling, stamping, ink-blending, glitter and soft floral touches come together in this fresh AECP Level 2 project.