ALTENEW - Let It Shine

Ken - Group 55 - Let It Shine

For this Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) level 1 course, I wanted to embrace a clean and simple aesthetic - almost sparse -  where shimmer and elegance take center stage.

The bold, die-cut GRACE serves as both a focal point and a tribute.  To me, ginkgo leaves, symbolize change and the beauty of aging gracefully, but they also carry a deeper meaning.  My high school best friend’s name was Grace – she, unfortunately, never had the chance to grow old.

I rarely work with the slimline format, but these oversized letters demanded it. The crisp white front allows delicate gold heat embossed ginkgo leaves to subtly peak through, the fragile veins shimmering in the light. The beauty of negative space turns emptiness into something precious and meaningful.

Nothing signifies autumn‘s fleeting brilliance, quite like the ginkgo leaves changing color in the span of a week. This card, for me, captures that moment of transformation.