Adventure Awaits!
My First Altenew Challenge
After completing the first group of 10 classes and 10 projects, I’ve officially stepped into the next phase of my journey with the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I’m so excited to share my very first challenge with you—and it’s all about crafting a coordinated gift set with a chosen theme.
The Theme: Adventure
The theme I selected for this gift set is Adventure. To me, adventure can take many forms—a new relationship, a big life change, or even an exciting vacation. I wanted these cards to feel joyful, breezy, and full of possibility. That’s why I went for a beach-y vibe using stamps with coastal imagery and a soft, inviting palette of pink, peach, teal, and blue. Whether you’re sending off a friend on a new journey or celebrating a special escape, these cards are designed to inspire a sense of wanderlust and wonder.
Incorporating Level 1 Techniques
One of the requirements for this challenge was to incorporate at least three techniques learned from the Level 1 AECP courses. Honestly, I now find it nearly impossible to craft without pulling in a bit of everything I’ve learned! But for this project, I focused on three standout techniques:
- Easy Die Cutting – Clean cuts, embossing with dies, and visual interest all made simple.
- Easy Ink Blending – Soft gradients and colorful backdrops that bring the beachy tones to life.
- Let It Shine – Adding shimmer and sparkle to elevate the look and give each card a celebratory finish.
You’ll see each of these techniques play an important role in bringing the gift set together.
Upcycled Packaging
Another fun twist to this challenge was incorporating an upcycled element. For this, I repurposed a sturdy and stylish box that came with one of my Your Paper Insider quarterly boxes. It was the perfect size for packaging my card set, and with a few creative touches, it now complements the overall theme beautifully. I love giving old packaging a second life—it adds both character and sustainability to the project.
Gathering Supplies
When I started planning for this challenge, I already had a strong vision in mind—from the color palette to the embellishments and stamp sets I wanted to use. Having that clear direction made the prep process feel just as exciting as the creating!
The first thing I did was head straight to my ink collection and pull out the colors that best captured the beachy, adventurous vibe: soft pinks, warm peaches, cool teals, and calming blues. These colors would set the tone for the entire gift set and helped guide my other design choices.
Next, I sifted through my stamp sets, dies, and stencils, curating a mix that would allow me to play with texture and dimension while staying true to the theme. I selected images and sentiments that evoke adventure, exploration, and joy—perfect for celebrating.
To bring in some extra shine and detail, I gathered a few favorite embellishments, including Altenew’s enamel dots and embossing powders for a bit of added texture. I also picked out some vellum, which I love for soft layering—it gives cards an airy, almost ethereal feel, just right for a dreamy, seaside-inspired look.
Making the Pieces
With my supplies gathered, I jumped into the fun part—making all the elements that would come together to form this gift set.
I began by stamping a variety of sentiments onto white cardstock. This step helped me get a feel for how the ink colors looked once dry, which can sometimes be a little different than how they appear when freshly applied. I also tested a few of the inks on colored cardstock, just to explore my options. While I loved how vibrant some of the colors looked on white, I found that many of them didn’t show up quite the way I wanted on the colored paper. So in the end, you’ll see that most of the final pieces were done on white or lightly toned backgrounds for the clearest results.
Even though I knew I wouldn’t use every sentiment I stamped, I didn’t see that as waste—I simply tucked the extras into the envelope with the coordinating stamp set for future projects. It’s a little system that works well for me and helps me stay organized for the next burst of creativity.
The process for the stamped and die-cut images was similar. I made a big batch—cutting, inking, and embossing different elements using my selected dies and stamps. Some pieces were finished off with glitter accents or heat embossing for that “Let It Shine” sparkle. I love how these small touches elevate a card and make it feel extra special. Once again, I didn’t end up using every single piece, but nothing goes to waste around here! All the leftover bits were sorted into envelopes with their stamp sets for future inspiration.
This phase was all about exploration and play—trying things out, mixing and matching, and letting creativity lead the way. With my key components now ready, I was excited to start building the individual cards and bring the Adventure theme to life.
Making the Cards
With all of my elements prepped and ready, it was time to bring the cards to life! I created several sets, each with its own unique twist while staying cohesive through the Adventure theme and consistent color palette.
First Set – Ink Blended Backgrounds and Painted Die Cuts
This set began with one of my favorite techniques from the Easy Ink Blending class: blended ink backgrounds. I wanted a soft, breezy feel, so I layered coordinating colors to create gentle transitions reminiscent of sand, ocean skies, and waves.
To bring in a fun coordinating detail, I added scrapbooking paper—in matching tones—to the envelopes, giving the whole set an extra touch of personality.
From the same ink blending course, I also experimented with using ink and water as paint for some of the die-cut elements. It gave them a relaxed, almost watercolor look, which worked perfectly with the adventurous, beachy vibe. For shine, I added a few coordinating enamel dots and a touch of sparkle using a glitter pen, tying in the Let It Shine class techniques.
Second Set – Stenciled Ombre Backgrounds and Soft Layers
This set is built on the techniques from the first, with the focus shifting to stenciled ink blending. I used a stencil to create interesting patterns and gave each background an ombre effect using coordinating Altenew inks. The gradual blending brought beautiful depth to the design.
To add dimension, I popped up the focal elements using double-sided foam adhesive from Altenew—such a simple tool that really brings cards to life.
Third Set – Stamped Background
One new element in this set was stamping directly onto the background, which gave the cards a seamless, polished look. I also introduced vellum layers to soften the composition, letting the color peek through while balancing the boldness of the stamps.
Fourth Set – Classic Stencil with a Twist
For this set, I reached into my stash and used a stencil from an older collection. It still had plenty of life left in it! I paired it with fresh ink colors from Altenew, giving the designs a modern refresh.
Again, I layered vellum in front of some of the focal points to mute and soften the stronger ink tones. The finishing touches came with enamel dots for a bit of texture and a heat-embossed sentiment, which added elegance and that signature Let It Shine sparkle.
Final Set – Embossed Elegance
This last set is probably my favorite—and also the simplest. Sometimes, less really is more!
I used an embossing folder to create a textured background, adding instant visual interest without overwhelming the design. Then I layered a band of scrapbook paper and a strip of vellum across the card for a polished yet airy look.
To finish it off, I added enamel dots to match the color scheme and bring a bit of playfulness. The result? Clean, simple cards with texture, balance, and a subtle nod to the adventure theme.
The Packaging
The final portion of this challenge was to create a gift box to house the card sets—a finishing touch that really pulls everything together and gives the project that special, polished feel.
For my box, I chose to upcycle a sturdy container from one of my Your Paper Insider quarterly boxes. It was the perfect size and shape, and I loved the idea of giving it a second life. To dress it up and stay on theme, I covered the outside with scrapbook paper that coordinated with the colors of the card sets. I also added a few die-cut embellishments that echoed the designs used on the cards, creating a cohesive look across the entire gift set.
For a little extra flair (and function), I created a decorative band to wrap around the box using more scrapbook paper layered with vellum. The vellum softened the pattern and gave the box an elegant, beachy finish that tied everything together beautifully.
Inside, I lined the box with sparkling tissue paper, which added just the right amount of shimmer. I gently laid the card sets and coordinating envelopes side-by-side—one designed with a more “his” feel, and one more “hers”—then folded the tissue around them like a gentle wrap.
The final presentation had that gifted feel I was going for—thoughtful, handcrafted, and truly reflective of the Adventure theme. It was so rewarding to see everything come together, from the ink blending to the upcycled packaging, in one cohesive and meaningful gift set.
Final Thoughts
This first Altenew Educator challenge was such a rewarding experience. It pushed me to not only apply what I’ve learned from the Level 1 courses, but also to think intentionally about design, coordination, and presentation as a whole. From selecting a cohesive theme and color palette to exploring techniques like ink blending, die cutting, embossing, and adding shine, I felt like I was able to stretch creatively while staying grounded in the fundamentals I’ve been practicing.
I especially loved the opportunity to incorporate upcycling into this project. Giving new life to an old box added a layer of purpose to the packaging and reminded me that creativity doesn’t always require brand-new materials—sometimes the best pieces are already in your stash, just waiting for a new story.
More than anything, this challenge reminded me of how much joy there is in creating with intention. Every card in this gift set was designed with celebration in mind—for adventures in love, life, or travel—and it was such a joy to imagine the hands they might end up in.
I’m so grateful to be part of the AECP journey, and I can’t wait to take on the next challenge with even more knowledge, confidence, and creativity.
Altenew Supply List
- Enjoy Your Jouney stamp and die set
- Summer Wishes stamp, die, and stencil set
- Sunny Sentiments stamp set
- Greatest Adventure stamp
- Anywhere With You stamp
- Say Yes stamp
- Liquid Marble stencil
- Magnolia Dreams embossing folder
- Enamel Dots:
- Sugar Plums
- Dried Petals
- Sea Shore
- Double-sided foam adhesive shapes
- Embossing power:
- Pure White
- Golden Peach
- Inks:
- Blush
- Pink Pearl
- Coral Bliss
- Mint Chocolate
- Pool
- Mystic Lake
- Teal Tempest
- Pink Diamond
- Hazelnut
- Vanilla Cream
- Minty Mint
- Pastel Sunrise
- Eastern Sky
- Numbus
- Misty Morning
- Sea Breeze
- Sunkissed
- Limeade
- Razzelberry
- Pinkalicious
- Embossing Ink
Scrapbook Paper: Craftsmart Travelouge
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