Altenew Educator “Love & Friendship” Blog Hop +Giveaway

Hi everyone! I’m so honored to be joining the 2nd Altenew Educators’ blog hop and this time it’s all about love and friendship. If you are following the hop, then you should have arrived here from the talented Patty Melo. The Altenew Card Blog is hosting this hop so make sure to drop by there as well.

I finished the Altenew Educator’s Certificate Program (AECP) in November of 2018 and it has been one of the most inspiring and fulfilling programs I’ve ever joined. There were quite a number of wonderful classes to choose from. Even if I knew some basic techniques, the talented instructors have shown me other ways to improve and enhance my skills. Their tips and tricks are invaluable. Virginia Lu and Nicole Picadura‘s support and encouragement throughout the course have made the experience very inspiring and memorable. AECP has made me realize that I find so much joy in teaching others! It has also been a wonderful source of new friendships– the Altenew family, the Educator’s group, the students I teach locally, and my online friends from all over the world. Through this program, I’ve been inspired countless times by the creativity of the participants and the generosity of the instructors in sharing their knowledge. I truly believe that crafters are the most generous people on earth!!! 🙂

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” Eleanor Roosevelt

I love the theme for this blog hop. I treasure the new friends that I’ve made thru AECP and look forward to meeting more people through this wonderful crafting community. My lifelong friends are kind, sincere and most importantly, genuine people. I’ve learned so many life lessons through their experiences and always find comfort and support in their presence.

For this blog hop, I was so inspired to create backgrounds using distress oxide inks and Altenew watercolor brush markers. I suggest you make several backgrounds using the same coloring mediums. Just change the color combination. It’s best to choose analogous colors or colors next to each other on the color wheel. But if you want high contrast, then choose complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel). Just take note that if these colors mix, you will end up with “mud” which I also love. Below are some of the cards I made for friends and loved ones.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK  CARD

MATERIALS:

• Altenew Dotted Blooms Stamp and Die
• Altenew Rose Gold Crisp Embossing Powder
• Distress Oxide Inks: Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass, Candied Apple, Fossilized Amber, Ripe Persimmon, Salty Ocean
• Versamark Ink
• Tombo Mono Multi Liquid glue
• Arches 300gsm cold press watercolor paper
• Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Tape
• Tonic Paper Distresser

I wanted this card to look like an abstract painting. Arches watercolor paper was cut to 5.5” x 4”. Distress oxide Candied Apple, Ripe Persimmon and Fossilized Amber inks were pressed onto a craft mat and water was spritzed for the colors to react. The paper was then dabbed onto the colors then dried. I went back to add cool colors but making sure that the first layer of colors was dry before adding the next.

The flower image from the Dotted Blooms stamp set was stamped using Versamark Ink then heat embossed using Rose Gold embossing powder. Notice that I used the other second layers of the stamps separately thus creating more flowers that I can paint and use on my card.  The sentiment was stamped on watercolor paper then distress oxide pistachio was added heavily at the bottom of the strip then blended upwards to create an ombre effect. One of the main flower images was mounted using foam tape to add dimension. The sides of the card panel was distressed using the Tonic paper distresser.

WISHING YOU ALL THE JOY YOUR HEART CAN HOLD HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD

MATERIALS:

• Altenew Geometric Landscape Stamp; Altenew Sincere Geetings sentiment
• Altenew Rose Flurries 3D and Garden Pick 3D dies
• Altenew watercolor brush markers: Lagoon, Turquoise, Sweet Leaf, Persian Blue, Mountain Mist
• Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and Rose Gold Embossing Powder
• Versamark Ink
• Fabriano Watercolor cold press 200gsm
• Tonic paper distresser
• Neenah Solar White CS
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares

I stamped the image from the Geometric Landscape using Versa Mark onto a 5″ x 5.5″ watercolor paper and heat embossed using Altenew pure white crisp embossing powder. Using the wet on wet technique, I colored in the shapes using  Lagoon, Turquoise, Sweet Leaf, Persian Blue and Mountain Mist watercolor brush markers. The edges were distressed using Tim Holtz paper distresser.  Velum sheet was torn to create a frame and the sentiment from  Sincere greetings sentiment was stamped using Versamark and embossed using Rose gold embossing powder.  I chose vellum as a frame/mat for the sentiment so that the background can still be seen.

I painted a light wash using the same colors I used for the background and sprinkled salt to create these wonderful “blooms” and used the 3D dies to create the flowers and vines of the leaves. The leaves remained white so that the flowers will stand out more.  The die cuts were arranged in one corner and adhered using glue and foam squares. The whole panel was adhered to a top folding Neenah Solar white CS with foam tape for added dimension.

YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK CARD

MATERIALS:

• ALTENEW Beveled Square Stencil
• ROSE FLURRIES 3D  and Garden Picks 3D dies
• Delicate Flower Bed stamp for sentiment
• Altenew embossing paste
• Altenew Watercolor brush markers—Mountain Mist and Persian Blue
• Neenah Solar White CS
• Fabriano Watercolor cold press 200gsm
• Altenew pure White Crisp Embossing Powder
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares

I wanted to make a card that has a lot of white space this time. Neenah Solar White CS was cut down to 4.25” x 11” and scored at 5.5” to create a top-folding card. The Beveled Square stencil was placed on top of the card front and Altenew embossing paste was spread using a spatula.  While allowing it to dry,  wet on wet technique was used to add some color washes of blues and purples on watercolor paper. Salt was sprinkled while the paper was wet to create some effects.

The Rose Flurries 3D leaves and the Garden Picks 3D flowers and leaves were used to die cut the watercolor papers. A strip was also colored and the sentiment from the Delicate Flower Bed stamp set was embossed using Versamark Ink and Altenew Pure White Crisp embossing powder. The flowers and leaves were assembled and adhered with glue and foam squares.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT CARD

MATERIALS:

• Altenew Watercolor Stripes cover die
• Altenew Teal Shadow Washi tape
• Altenew Handpicked Bouquet for sentiment
• Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder
• Versamark Ink
• Neenah Solar White CS
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam tape
• Glossy Accents clear dimensional medium
• Distress Oxides_ Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral
• Fabriano Watercolor cold press 200gsm

I just love the Teal Shadow Washi Tape because you already have watercolored flowers and leaves instantly!!! <3 This card was pretty simple to create.  Fabriano watercolor paper was cut down to 5.5” x 4.25”. With a blending tool, the background was colored using Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade and Abandoned Coral.  Water was sprayed to create droplets. The Watercolor Stripes cover die was used to cut out the stripes from Neenah Solar White CS.  I stuck the beautiful Teal shadow washi tape on white CS as well then fussy cut the images.  (this washi tape comes with a coordinating die set) These images were then arranged on the left side of a side folding card and adhered using Glossy accents.

Different thickness of foam tape was also used to create dimension. The sentiment from the Handpicked Bouquet was stamped using Versamark Ink then embossed using Altenew pure white crisp embossing powder. Tuck in the sentiment strip under the leaves for added interest.

SENDING LOVE AND HUGS CARD

MATERIALS:

• Altenew Stencils– Feeling Dotty Stencil, Beveled Squares Stencil, Feathered Leaves Stencil, Sunburst Stencil
• Altenew Floral Frame Heart Die
• Distress Oxides- Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers
• Versamark Ink
• Altenew Crystal Clear embossing powder, Pure White embossing powder
• Altenew Adore You Stamp for sentiment
• Black cardstock
• Neenah Solar White CS
• Fabriano Watercolor cold press 200gsm
• Tonic paper distresser
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam sheet
• Vellum
• Antistatic tool

Feeling Dotty stencil was placed on the watercolor paper and Versamark Ink was added to certain areas then embossed with clear embossing powder. Next,  Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide inks were added to the watercolor paper using a distress tool.  Versamark Ink was again added to certain areas of the watercolor paper using the Feathered Leaves and Beveled Square Stencils then heat embossed using clear embossing powder.  Just make sure that the first layer of inks is completely dry. It helps to use an antistatic tool before applying the Versamark ink over the stencils. Water droplets were also added to create more contrast. Lastly, Wilted Violet was added on top revealing the stencil patterns using the emboss resist technique. 

The intricate Altenew Flora Frame Die was die cut 4 times then adhered on top of each other.  This was then pasted on vellum sheet to make it more sturdy. The vellum was cut out to follow the shape of the heart using scissors. The sentiment from the Adore You stamp set was stamped on black cardstock using Versamark Ink then heat embossed using  Pure White Embossing Powder.  The edges of the card front were distressed using the Tonic paper distresser then mounted on a top folding A2 card with foam sheet.

I APPRECIATE YOU AND I’M HERE FOR YOU CARDS

MATERIALS:

• I Adore You Stamp and Die set
• Wonderland Stamp and Forever and Always for sentiments
• Appreciate Your Support card- Fossilized Amber, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide Inks
• I’m Here For You card- Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry and Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide Inks
• Fabriano Watercolor cold press 200gsm
• Orange and Grey CS
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares
• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue
• Studio Katia Clear Round Drop mix
• Tim Holtz Ideology mini stapler
• Thread

I’ve been seeing layouts and card designs with watercolor drippings and have been inspired by Erum Tasnim and May Sukyong Park’s beautiful cards so I thought of trying out the technique.

I started out by choosing 3 colors that will blend well together.  I don’t mind seeing touches of “mud”. This happens when 2 complimentary colors mix.  In fact, for the cool colored card, I purposely mixed blue and orange to get a brownish color to add to the mix.  The 3 Distress Ink Pads were directly swiped onto the watercolor paper.  The colors were sprayed with water and allowed to drip. The paper was held perpendicularly to the table and a watercolor brush was used to help move the pigments downwards. When this was dry, flower and leaf images from the Adore You stamp set were stamped on watercolor paper and embossed using Pure White Embossing powder. The coordinating die cuts were used to cut out the stamped images. The flowers and leaves were arranged temporarily so that I could color them according to the color drippings. Salt was added while the images were wet for added texture.

The images were then adhered using glue or foam squares. The sentiment was stamped using Versamark Ink and embossed using Pure White Embossing powder.  Clear Round Drop embellishments were added to the cool colored card while staples and thread were added to the sentiment for the warm colored card to finish them off. These were then adhered to A2 top and side folding cardstocks.

WISHING THE BEST FOR YOU CARD

MATERIALS:

• Altenew Dainty Bouquet stamp set
• Altenew Caps Bold Alpha Dies
• Altenew Limestone, Mountain Mist, Volcano Lake, Iceberg and Eastern Sky Crisp Dye Inks
• Neenah Solar white CS
• Blue CS
• Tomobow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
• Scrapbook Adhesives foam tape

This is another quick and easy card to create.  I first created a background. This stamp set is so dainty and soft so I wanted to create a card that represents this stamp set. The images were stamped to cover the entire cardstock. For the shadow stamp, Limestone dye ink was used to keep it soft. The Mountain Mist and Volcano Lake were layered using the leaves and stem stamp sets then the Iceberg and Eastern Sky dye inks were used for the flowers.

The letters Y, O and U from the Caps Bold Alpha was used to die cut the word on the lower right side of the card. Additional letters were die cut on plain CS and layered to add dimension. The sentiment from the You Are stamp set was stamped on black cardstock using Versamark ink then heat embossed using Pure White Crisp embossing powder.  The strip was adhered on to the YOU using foam squares. Paper distresser was used on all sides of the panel and this was then glued onto a top folding A2 card base. 

DISCOUNTS AND PRIZES

To celebrate this blog hop and to encourage more people to join, Altenew is giving away 20% discount on the following bundles from 7/19 – 7/21: LEVEL 1 CLASS BUNDLE and LEVEL 2 CLASS BUNDLE. This is your chance to take advantage of this great deal!!

Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Blog by 7/26/2019 for a chance to win.
We’ll 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 blogs on 7/30/2019.

In case you are lost, here is the HOP ORDER:

• Altenew Card Blog
• Terri Marie Koszler
• Michelle Ochoa Murray
• Maryam Sharara
• Amber Rain Davis
• Irina Fonina
• Teri Wilson
• Francine Dodwell
• Patty Mello
• Nenette S. Madero <–YOU ARE HERE
• Vicki Finger
• Rosie Neustaedter
• Nandini Karmarkar
• Amy Hill
• Christine Pennington
• Erum Tasneem

If you liked these cards, I would appreciate it if you can subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram @mylittleatticstudio. <3 Do leave a comment below and get a chance to win some giveaway prizes!

Next stop is the talented Vicki Finger! Thanks again for dropping by! ❤️

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