I’m really excited to be participating on this Altenew Blog Hop where we are going through a review of all the cards from this 2022. It is a pleasure to be part of this amazing company and be creating with their awesome products. We also have a GIVEAWAY so be sure to participate, LINK here. You will find more details below so keep reading.
Here are my favorite cards and a few more that I also love so much.
Giveaway & Prizes:
Over $500 in total prizes! Altenew is giving away a $100 gift card to 1 lucky winner, 3 $50 gift cards, and 27 $10 gift cards. Winners will be chosen from both blog hop #1 and blog hop #2. Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog HERE by 12/27/2022 for a chance to win.
Wait, there’s MORE!
We would also LOVE to see YOUR favorite handmade cards, layouts, home decor, etc. featuring Altenew products! Feel free to share them on social media or on your blog using the hashtag #AltenewBest2022. You may also add a link by clicking the blue button below.
FOUR lucky crafters will each win a $15 gift certificate to our store! Winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 12/29/2022. We are looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations!
Hey, crafty friends! Yesterday, I joined a fun Instagram Hop with Altenew to celebrate the release of the October 2022 Marvelous Monthly Series!
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $20 gift certificate to 5 lucky winners! For a chance to win, please head over tu my Instagram account for all details @_littleblessings_ 🥰. Altenew will announce the winners on altenewllc’s post on 10/24/2022. What are you waiting for? Gorgeous project inspiration and fun prizes await you!
Below you will find all my creations using this wonderful new release and I hope I can inspire you.
You can find all links to the products from this new release below. Thank you so much for stopping by. Your friend, Karen.
Marvelous Monthly Series Bundle – October 2022 —> Link
Craft Your Life Project Kit: Casual Bouquets —> Link
Altenew latest collection, Just Imagine from October 2022, it’s absolutely gorgeous. We have lots of Stamps, Dies, Stencils, Embossing Folders and Hot Foil Plate being released.
There is an Instagram Hop happening and if you join it you can enter the Giveaway.
Giveaway Prizes:
Altenew is giving away a $15 gift certificate to 4 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on @altenewllc’s post and/or each designer’s Instagram post on the hop list. Altenew will announce the winners on @altenewllc’s post on 10/21/2022. You can check out the full hop list over my Instagram account.
I made several cards using different products from this collection and I hope you like them.
I’m so excited to be getting inked with this awesome blog hop that is being hosted over the Altenew Card Blog, link here. I had a wonderful time playing with the Altenew’s Alcohol Inks. You can find the whole collection here. For this particular card I used the Tranquility and Fall Harvest Alcohol Ink Bundles to color directly on top of these flower and leaves. I really hope you like it.
I really hope you liked this card and get some inspiration. Now it’s time for the fun time, read all about the GIVEAWAY bellow ⬇️ Good luck!
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this special blog hop, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 09/06/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 09/08/2022.
Hi friends! Today I have a new video on my YouTube channel showing you how to add more dimension and definition to your backgrounds using any embossing folder and different inks. For this card I made a “Thank You Card” using the Floating Foliage Embossing Folder and Simple Greetings Die Set from Altenew. The inks I used are Salvaged Patina and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks and the Antique Gold Pigment Ink was used to add more definition and contrast. Click here to watch the video.
Let’s begin! I added Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide ink to the raised parts of this Floating Foliage Embossing Folder. Then, I inserted a piece of white cardstock inside the embossing folder and run it through my die cutting machine. I always use my Gemini Jr. and the sandwich type is “clear plate, embossing folder and the other clear plate”. I have to admit that I’ve never had any issues with this machine while using this type of sandwich.
Next, I added Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink to the background of this panel, then once I covered the whole background I applied Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide ink on top of the leaves to cover some white spots. This whole process of adding color doesn’t have to be perfect, actually the more imperfect it looks the better. I guarantee you that this technique is so therapeutic that you will enjoy it so much!
So to create more definition on this leaves, I applied Antique Gold Pigment Ink and the ink got stuck mostly on the detail parts and edges of the leaves giving them even more dimension because now they do have more definition. Once my panel was dry I added some splatters using Hero Arts Gold Metallic ink.
When this panel was dry I adhered a white folded note card at the back using foam tape. Then, I applied Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide ink to a piece of cardstock and die cut out of it the word die Thanks from the Simple Greetings Die Set and the shadow was die cut from white cardstock. I placed this word die sentiment on top of my background and as a final touch I added some enamel dots from Julie Hickey and this card was done.
Hope you like this card and try this technique. All products used on this card are listed bellow. Affiliate links at no cost to you. Have a marvelous day and thank you so much for stopping by.
Welcome to an AECP Family Hop where we are sharing the Altenew Academy class which has inspired us the most.
We are all at various points in our AECP journey, but we are united in wanting to celebrate the inspiration and knowledge we’ve gained from the classes in Altenew Academy.
~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~
Altenew is generously sponsoring this hop and to be in with a chance to win one of FOUR $25 gift certificates to their online store. You will find all details and the hop list of designers over my IG account.
To be honest, I loved many classes so I decided to put a lit bit of three of them on this card: “All About Layering”, “Creating Watercolor Media” and “Let It Shine”.
Let’s start!
To create my background I used Watercolor Brush markers and I made this organic look with lots of splatters but I didn’t covered the whole panel so the background would have some movement. The colors of watercolors I used on the panel are Rubellite, Midnight Violet and Emerald. These colors belong to the Spring Garden set.
Once my panel was dry, I placed it inside the Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder and run it through my die cutting machine. Next, I added a white folded note card at the back using glue.
Then, I added some touches of Antique Gold Pigment over the embossed panel. Additionally, I gold heat embossed some flowers and leaves from the stamp set Nature Blossoms. I watercolored these flowers and leaves using more of the Watercolor Brush markers. The colors I used were Fresh Lemon, Sunkissed, Emerald and Desert Night. Using the matching die I die cut all these images.
I arranged all flowers and leaves on top of my panel using glue and foam tape. Also, I die cut the Waterbrush Hello Die out of golf foil paper and placed it on top of my arrangement. Finally, I watercolor a piece of watercolor paper using Emerald Watercolor Brush marker and once it was dry I gold heat embossed my sentiment and added it to my background along with some sequins and this card was finished.
I hope you like this card and get some inspiration. You will find all the products I used down below. Don’t forget to participate in the IG Hop and leave some love to the other designers. Thank you so much for stopping by and have wonderful weekend!
Hello crafty friends! Today I’m really excited to be sharing my final challenge for Altenew Academy Level 2. I was assigned to create 4 masculine cards plus an altered item/upcycled project. For the cards I chose two themes: birthday and encouragement that are the ones I use the most. I will start presenting and explaining how I made the 4 masculine cards and at the end I will show you the altered item/upcycled project, which in this case was a recycled item.
For this challenge I have selected three components from Level 1 and 2. Here they are:
• Easy Die Cutting Techniques: Die cutting is one of my favorite techniques and for these cards I used this technique to create focal points in a very subtle way since I was creating masculine cards. I think masculine cards should be clean and simple so I used a few elements like frames, word dies and feathers that I die cut using different materials like vellum and washi tape, making the layers more interesting. TIP: By using different elements like washi tape or vellum you give your card a very unique look without having to add too many elements to your background.
Impressive Heat Embossing: I love to heat emboss. I could gold-heat emboss every single stamp because I believe you can achieve a sparkly and glamours look when using metallic or glitter embossing powders. Also, you can get different textures that will enrich your projects. TIP: Whenever you heat emboss over vellum you get a better impression and it looks so elegant and beautiful.
Beyond Basic Backgrounds: I love working on making my own backgrounds from scratch, whether is playing with watercolors, ink blending, alcohol inks, etc. It’s always fun to achieve unique backgrounds with different mediums and techniques. For these cards I’m using an Embossing Folder and Washi Tape, the combination is really awesome. TIP: Don’t limit yourself and try different things, getting out of your comfort zone helps to find new creative ways.
Masculine Cards – Birthday and Encouragement theme
Masculine cards are very challenging for many including me, but I have learned that masculine cards need to be as clean and simple as possible. I don’t always get this done but I think you can help yourself by choosing the right combination of colors and the elements that you will use on the card, depending on the theme of course. So, for these cards I chose the Tranquility mini cube set as my ink color combination and this set includes the following colors: Misty Morning, Cloudy Sky, Nimbus and Dark Night. Additionally, I went out of my comfort zone and I included Washi Tape for the first time ever. I have to say that this design is so elegant and definitely work perfect for male cards, so I have to admit that I truly enjoyed using washi tape. Also, I thought that using an Embossing Folder was the right element for these cards and I decided to combine it with the Foiled Marble washi tape. You have many ways to incorporate Embossing Folders and washi tape to your projects, so this can easily be another technique for the Altenew Academy. Lastly, for adding that touch of shine I used Metallic Gold Embossing Powder and Antique Gold Pigment ink, which is my favorite when playing with Embossing Folders. I combined all the previous supplies mentioned before with elements like feathers stamps and dies, word dies and frames throughout the four cards that I made, having the same color combination with unique designs at the same time. Now let’s continue with the process of making the cards.
Supplies
Mini Delight: Strength Stamp & Die Set
Fancy Celebrate Die
Nesting Frames Die Set
Foiled Marble Washi Tape
Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder
Tranquility Mini Cube Set
Antique Gold Pigment Ink
WOW! Metallic Gold Embossing Powder
WOW! Ulla’s Cognac Embossing Powder
Large Ink Blending Tool
Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine
Vellum
White cardstock
Gold mirror cardstock
Adding washi tape to a panel
Let’s start with the Encouragement cards.
For this first card I started with an A2 panel, where I applied Misty Morning and Cloudy Sky inks to only half of the panel and using the large Ink Blending Tool. Then, I added this fabulous Foiled Marble Washi Tape on top of the other half panel without ink. But before adding the washi tape I slowly ripped the edges. As my next step, I placed this panel inside the Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder and run it through my die cutting machine. Also, I added a white folded note card at the back of this panel.
In addition, I applied Dark Night ink using the Large Ink Blending Tool to a piece of cardstock and then I die cut it with a die from the Nesting Frames Die Set. Then, on top of it I heat embossed the sentiment from the Mini Delight: Strength Stamp using WOW! Metallic Gold Embossing Powder. I added it to my background along with some feathers that I gold-heat embossed from the same stamp using foam tape and glue. As a final touch, I added to the background a bit of gold using the Antique Gold Pigment ink from Altenew.
In the picture about you can see some images of the process I made to create this background.
For the next card, I ink-blended a piece of cardstock using the Tranquility Mini Cube Set and the Large Ink Blending Tool. I covered the whole panel using all colors from the Tranquility ink set. Then, I placed only half of this panel inside the Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder and run it through my die cutting machine. I trimmed down the edges a little bit too. Next, to visually create a division between the embossed and the non embossed parts, I added a strip of washi tape previously adhered to a piece of cardstock. I also, added a white folded note card at the back.
Using the Nesting Frames Die Set I die cut 3 frames, the first out of washi tape adhered to a cardstock, the second from gold mirror cardstock and the last one out of white cardstock. On this last frame I heat embossed the sentiment from the Mini Delight: Strength Stamp & Die Set, using WOW! Metallic Gold Embossing Powder. Additionally, I added two feathers that I stamped and die cut from the same stamp. Finally, I added over the embossed part a bit of gold using the Antique Gold Pigment ink.
The following card is a Birthday card and I started by placing one side of a white folded note card inside the Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder and run it through my die cutting machine. Then, I applied to the whole embossed panel Cloudy Sky and Nimbu inks directly on top and not pushing too hard.
I also die cut two frames from the Nesting Frames Die Set, out of washi tape and another from white cardstock. On this last frame, I applied Cloudy Sky, Nimbus and Dark Night inks on top using the Large Ink Blending Tool. Then, I added these frames to the background plus two feathers that were heat embossed on vellum using WOW! Metallic Gold Embossing Powder. Last, I die cut the Fancy Celebrate Die from white cardstock and placed it on top of the frames.
For my last birthday card I ink-blended a panel using all inks from the Tranquility Mini Cube Set. Then, I placed this panel inside the Mod Squares 3D Embossing Folder. Adhered a white folded note card at the back and I applied the Antique Gold Pigment Ink directly on top of this panel. The gold definitely enhanced the colors from the background.
Next, I die cut the Fancy Celebrate Die and I only heat embossed half of the word using WOW! Metallic Gold Embossing Powder. Finally, I added the celebrate word to the background along with some feathers die cut from vellum and washi tape.
Above you can take a look at how I made the background for the last birthday card.
Upcycled Item
Now let’s jump into the recycled item and for this project I decided to use one of my aprons, it’s not new, I got it like two years ago and I’m not planning on replacing it because this was a special gift to me. I love coffee and my aunt has a business where she sells organic products. Her Organic Gourmet Coffee is one of my favorites so this apron was given to me by her, it was part of her launching marketing campaign.
So I wanted to give this apron a new look and to add some of my personal touch to it by stamping. The stamp I used was Coffee Love Stamp Set & Die Bundle along with Evergreen ink from Green Fields Mixed Media Ink Bundle, which are perfect for stamping over fabric.
So, I started working on this project by washing the apron and once it was dry I ironed it until it was wrinkles free. Then, I got a large stamping block and created a collage on it using some stamps from the Coffee Love Stamp Set. I inked up the stamps using the Evergreen ink and pressed hard enough on top of the apron to transfer as much ink as possible.
Next, I stamped the Coffee Ring Stamp over the pockets. I didn’t cover the whole pockets, I just made small designs around them and once I was finished stamping I got my iron back, placed a piece of paper towel over my stamped designs and heat set all of them with the iron. This way the ink won’t fade and it became permanent. I loved giving this apron a second life and with my personal touch, thanks to Green Fields Mixed Media Inks this process was easy and fun to achieve.
As you can see here I decided to make a matching coffee card for my apron. We are coffee lovers in my family so this card will be handy! I used Green Fields Mixed Media Inks to stamp on my background using Coffee Ring Stamp and the coffee beans from Coffee Love Stamp Set. I did first, second and third generation stamping and I loved how you can achieve this look with the mix media inks. I also added some splashes of ink using Paper Bag Watercolor Brush.
Once I finished stamping I heat set my background using a heat tool and I adhered a white folded note card at the back. I also created a watercolor panel using Paper Bag Watercolor Brush, Milk Chocolate Ink and Forest Glades mix media ink. Then, I stamped some images from the Coffee Love Stamp Set using Black Jet Mix Media Ink.
Finally, I die cut the images using the coordinating dies and I placed them on top of my panel using glue and foam tape for more dimension. My sentiment was from Coffee Ring Stamp and I used Black Jet Mix Media Ink to stamped it.
I really hope you like these masculine cards and my new apron. I cannot wait to try more mixed media inks on a T-shirt. I think I can create a very special Mother’s Day present for my mom and sister. Below you will find all supplies I used to make the coffee card and to stamp on top of the apron.
Supplies
Coffee Love Stamp Set & Die Bundle
Green Fields Mixed Media Ink Bundle
Coffee Ring Stamp
Stamping blocks
Milk Chocolate Ink
Paper Bag Watercolor Brush
Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine
Watercolor paper
Espresso Envelopes
Thank you so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day!
Hello crafty friends! This is my final card for Level 2 and I’m so excited to finally be here since 2018. I know! Time flies and I have been procrastinating too much. Anyways, this last class was spectacular because I love to heat emboss. I could gold-heat emboss every single stamp so for this card I decided to change a little bit and use this Golden Peach Crisp Embossing Powder that is absolutely gorgeous along with Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder and to add a touch of glitter I used Capri Embossing Glitter from WOW!
Also, I chose to heat emboss over vellum and in my opinion you get a better impression when you heat emboss in this material, plus it looks so elegant and beautiful.
The stamp I used for this card is Nature Blossoms and the coordinating dies. The big thanks is from Script Words 2 Die Set. The sequins are Antique Gold Sequins from Altenew. One of the papers from my background is a specialty 3D cardstock that matched the Golden Peach Crisp Embossing Powder and the other is from Celebrations 6×6 paper pad from Altenew.
Let’s start! To create my background I die cut an A2 panel out of one of the papers from Celebrations 6×6 paper pad from Altenew and adhered it to a white folded notecard using glue. Then, the specialty 3D cardstock was cut diagonally and added to the panel, just like you see in the pictures.
Next, I heat embossed all my flowers from Nature Blossoms Stamp Set, so for that I stamp each outline stamp onto vellum using Versamark Emboss ink pad and heat embossed them with Hero Arts White Embossing Powder and my heat tool. Then, I heat embossed two detailed stamps from these flowers using Golden Peach and Platinum Crisp Embossing Powders.
TIP: Always remember to use anti-static powder before heat embossing.
Here you can have a closer look from the specialty 3D cardstock and the heat emboss layering on the flowers. The center part of each flower was heat embossed using Capri Embossing Glitter for that touch of sparkle and it gave the flowers the contrast in color needed.
For the leaves, I decided to change the combination of colors and I heat embossed all the outline parts with Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder and the detailed stamps were heat embossed using Hero Arts White Embossing Powder and I honestly loved how they look. I will be trying this in the future for sure!
Once I finished heat embossing all flowers and leaves I die cut them using the matching dies. I arranged all die cuts on top of the panel following the diagonal line crated with the papers on the background. I added clear foam tape to get some dimension between all the elements on the panel.
Finally, from a teal mirror cardstock, that I have in my stash, I die cut the Thanks die from Script Words 2 Die Set and I placed it on top of the flowers using glue, in addition I added a few Antique Gold Sequins, some Nuvo drops around and my card was finished.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I hope you like this card and get some inspiration. Have a wonderful day and see you next time.
Hello crafty friends! Today I have this card part of the Masking Unleashed class from Altenew Academy. On this class I learned different techniques for masking and I chose this one where you can create beautiful backgrounds. Additionally and since mask stencils are very popular now, I used the negative parts of a stencil to mask my flowers and create a background. This technique is fantastic and a great way to create a quick and unique background. I haven’t tried this technique before but I’m already a fan of it.
For this card I used Wonderland Stamp Set, Wonderland Mask Stencil, Moroccan Mosaic Stamp Set, More than Words Stamp Set for the sentiment and Antique Gold Pigment ink for my background.
Let’s begin, I started by stamping my flowers on a piece of Neenah Crest Solar White 80 lbs. I used the corresponding negative parts of the mask stencil for the flowers at the bottom. I stamped with a copic-friendly black ink.
Next, I removed the mask stencils and I colored the flowers using Copic markers. Once I finished coloring I placed the corresponding negative parts of the mask stencil on all flowers. I needed all flowers to be masked so I can stamp on top of them.
To stamp the Moroccan background stamp I had to use my biggest MISTI so I can re stamp with no problems. I did have to re stamp at least 4 times using the Antique Gold Pigment Ink and I can say that even with those layers of the mask I had a pretty decent impression.
At the end I trimmed down the top and bottom part of this panel and adhered a white folded card note using foam tape. Then, I stamped the sentiment using More than Words Stamp Set with black ink, added a few embellishments, sequins and this card was ready.
I’m so grateful for this class where I have learned a lot of tips an techniques. Masking is a whole new world where you are going to have so much fun. Thank you so much for stopping by and have a marvelous day!
Hi everyone! Today I’m sharing this colorful card part of the Color your Day class from Altenew Academy. Just like its name this class is all about how to add and play with colors in your cards and feel confident about using them. I’m a fan of adding colors and on this card I was sure to play with colors and contrast. I love getting inspiration from my kids clothing but for this card my inspiration came from a picture that you will see below.
Inspired by this picture
The products I used for this card are Starry Flowers Stamp and dies, Flowing Drops Stencil and Fancy Hello die. Additionally, I used Watercolor Brush Markers and Daffodil Yellow paper glaze as a medium for my stencil.
Let’s start! I placed the Flowing Drops Stencil on top of an A2 watercolor paper and applied the Daffodil Yellow paper glaze across the stencil with the help of an spatula. Then, I removed the stencil and let this panel dry for about 30 minutes.
Once the panel was dry I trimmed down the edges a little bit and adhered a white folded note card at the back using glue. I used paper glaze on the background because I love how bright this shade of yellow is and that helped me to create the contrast with the flowers.
Next. on a piece of watercolor paper I stamped the two images from the Starry Flowers Stamp Set using black ink and then I heat embossed them with WOW! Clear Gloss Embossing Powder.
I started adding colors with the Watercolor Brush Markers that work beautifully and the pigment doesn’t fade away once it’s dry. Using the matching dies I die cut the flowers and added both of them to the background using foam tape.
Also, I die cut an oval shape out of vellum and adhered it on top of the flowers. Then, I die cut the Fancy Hello die twice out of white and light teal cardstocks. I placed the white die cut behind the teal Hello and added this stack to the vellum.
Finally, a few Nuvo clear drops were added along with some clear iridescent sequins around the panel and this card was finished.
This class was amazing! I have to admit that this was my first time watching how a color wheel works and it really helps. Remember that if you aren’t sure which colors go well together you can always use a color wheel chart. Thank you so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day!
CARDMAKING 