Hi Lovelies!
Welcome to the blockbuster Altenew Twinkle & Shine Blog Hop today! Why blockbuster? Because there are so many designers, sharing so much goodness at every stop on the hop, it will be hard to not treat yourself to a little something!
I have a "few" things to share... :-), but after you are done with me, be sure to head on to Maryam Perez's blog. If you would like to start the Blog Hop from the beginning, you can head to Altenew's Card Blog next for more inspiration or over to the release collection page or click below to shop!
When you are all done with me, on't forget to comment to participate in the fabulous Giveaway and be sure not to miss the Special Offers!
I experimented with stamps, dies, embossing folders, finalizers and decals, so let's jump right into my projects.
Card 1 - In A World Where You Can Be Anything...
I loved the first Better Together stamp set, so I was really excited about trying Better Together 2.
Packed with inspiring sentiments, I really wanted the card design focused on these beautiful words:
Featured Supplies:
Crisp Dye Inks: Pale Mauve and Grape Agate
I used Pale Mauve ink towards the center and blended out with the darker Grape Agate ink.
I love it when something pretty takes 5 minutes to come together!
Card 2 - In Diversity There is Beauty...
I couldn't make just one card with the Better Together 2 Set!
This quote from Maya Angelou brings me joy so I decided to grab my stencils and inks again to give it a pretty floral backdrop.
Featured Supplies:
Crisp Dye Inks: Pinkalicious, Chamomile, Citrus Burst, Volcano Lake
There's no mystery in these cards, just grab your blending tool and get to work!
Card 3 - Choose Kindness...
I got to try my Altenew Artist Markers on this next card featuring the Eucalyptus Jar Stamp & Die & Mask Stencil Bundle.
I can't claim that I have a lot of coloring confidence but the soft brush tips on these markers give you wings!
This stamp set not only features a beautiful Eucalyptus image, but the sentiments stand out as well:
Featured Supplies:
Crisp Dye Inks: Deep Iris, Lavender Fields, Moss, Limestone
Tip: If you are wondering where I got that perfectly coordinated cardstock from, I simply used the Crisp Dye Ink pads to blend directly onto cardstock. If you do this, be gentle with your ink pad and you will get beautifully colored cardstock strips when you are done!
Card 4 - Make Today Sparkle
I guess I was in a bit of a purple mood as went for pale lilac in this next card where I experimented with the Pen Sketched Silhouette and the Striped Circle Stamp Sets.
Featured Supplies:
Pen Sketched Silhouette Stamp Set
Striped Circle Stamp Set
I stamped my flower image first from the Pen Sketched Silhouette Stamp Set onto my card front. I stamped it again onto some copy paper and cut it out along the top and left side of the image so that I could use that as a mask when I stamped the Striped Circle image. This allowed me to create a focal point for the beautiful sketched flowers.
I don't know that this color combo is everyone's cup of tea, but I like pushing myself and doing things that I have not done before. I hope that you will also test your boundaries, you may be happily surprised by what you come up with!
Card 5 - Hello My Fabulous Friend
The Cartoon Rose Stamp and Die Set again inspired me to reach deeper into the Altenew color palette and I am so glad that I did!
Featured Supplies:
Crisp Dye Inks - Tranquility Set, Fall Harvest Set
With Altenew's Layering Guide for the Cartoon Rose Stamp Set and the fact that each of the layers are clearly labeled (A1, A2, A3 etc., see below) you will have an easy time "assembling" your rose.
However, I wanted to show you a little bit about how I created the ink-smooshing background with Misty Morning and Cloudy Sky inks:
Once you have you ink stamped directly from your pad onto your mat, spritz with water and dab your watercolor card background into it several times drying with a heat tool between "dabs".
Look at me being artsy! LOL
One more thing, I made a wee mistake when I stamped the "Hello" sentiment. I had already removed both my card background and the stamp from my MISTI when I noticed that the Hello was not clearly stamped.
Crisis was averted when I pulled out my new Altenew Fine Liner Pen Set to correct my boo-boo!
Time for a little retouching!
Easy-peasy right??? :-)
Card 6 - I Love You
I kept the Fine Liners out for the next card where I just wanted to doodle and make something in a color palette that my hubby could love.
Featured Supplies:
Stencils are so versatile and the Leaves and Berries stencil is a good choice for outlining with your Fine Liners!
You can be as precise as you prefer, but I kept my outlining a little loose and imperfect. I then also deliberately offset my stencil when I was ready to blend on the Limestone ink so that it went outside my lines.
I went back to the Eucalyptus Jar Stamp Set for this bold "I Love You" sentiment that stands out well against the background.
I can't wait to try this with other stencils! I can't draw to save my life so the stencils and these pens work great for me!!!
Card 7 & 8 - Love and Joy
Apart from stencils, embossing folders are on of the quickest ways to make a card with impact and the Perfect Poinsettias 3D Embossing Folder is no exception!
These 3D Embossing Folders create deep grooves in the paper which make the direct ink application technique that I used quick and easy!
Featured Supplies:
Crisp Dye Inks - Azurite, Hydrangea, Rocky Shores, Caramel Toffee, Crimson, Snapdragon, Mango Smoothie, Sunray
After dabbling mostly with a muted color palette, I wanted some vibrant, if non-traditional color schemes for these Holiday cards:
I embossed 110lb cardstock first using the Perfect Poinsettias folder.
I then used the mini ink cubes, which are perfectly sized for this technique, to apply ink directly on to the embossed surface in a gentle circular motion the allowed the ink to sit on the raised surface and the colors to blend together.
Most of the cards I did for this release were all quick and easy to put together and this pair is no exception.
Mini Ink Cube Label Decal Set
I've spent years collecting the Altenew Mini Ink Sets and I used over 25 ink colors in today's cards. The range of colors is impressive and allows me to easily select combos that are only limited by my imagination and inspiration. Keeping that gorgeous rainbow organized is a challenge that I have happily embraced and the new Mini Ink Cube Decals are gong to make that easier.
Let me explain, I am a total butterfingers and a few months back, I knocked the entire collection off the desk. I then spent two hours whining, looking at my swatch chart and matching the ink pad bases to their respective lids, as I had not labeled the bases. So you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw these beauties, the Mini Ink Cube Decal Set:
Hallelu! So let me introduce you to my newly labeled inks:
I know that I will knock over my inks again, but at least I won't be having a craft room meltdown if I do. LOL
You know I love anything that helps keep me organized, so these delightful decals make me all kinds of happy!!!
As promised, see details below about a special offer, the Giveaway and even more inspiration along the Blog Hop!
Special Offer:
Here are THREE ways to get a FREEBIE to kickstart your creativity!Â
Get a FREE brand new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release Inspiration Booklet (worth $5.99) with every order of high-value Twinkle & Shine release bundles. Shop HERE! *Exclusions apply.
Get a FREE brand new Online Cardmaking Class with every order from the new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release collection from 11/04/2020 through 11/10/2020. Shop HERE!
Get a FREE brand new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release Mini Inspiration Booklet with every order from 11/04/2020 through 11/06/2020. Shop HERE!
Giveaway Prizes:
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 11/10/2020 for a chance to win.Â
Altenew will also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 11/12/2020.
Blog Hop Order:
Be sure to hop along and get inspired by the work of these fabulous designers:
SUPPLIES:
I listed the products that I have used below. Please note that these are compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support. All products were personally purchased, except most of the stamps, dies, ink blending tools and decals, which were received from Altenew as part of my Guest Designer package. I was not paid to do this post and love the products that I share. Click on the icons below each product picture to shop with Altenew.
Wow! Your cards are amazing! I can't pick a favorite, but I do love the gold embossing on the striped circle!
WONDERFUL CREATIONS, wonderful products! I especially love your Poinsettia cards!
Great work showcasing the release. All so pretty and great use of the release items. The sentiments are so good for year round use.
Lovely, lovely cards! I was inspired by your use of the stencils, and I like that after you focused on the "Better together 2" sentiment stamp set. So positive and encouraging. I really like your colors and composition of the eucalyptus in the jar and the stripes- pretty! And your "make today sparkle" card is great! I like that some of the cards are so quick to make- that means many can be made at once- I love having great cards on hand!
I don't know what one I love the most. Wonderful designs.