Altenew July 2024 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Total Prizes!)

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am so honored to be a part of Altenew's July 2024 release blog hop. This is a huge release with lots of amazing products to choose from. Today's post features product from this release and a few old Altenew products just to show you that these products can be used together. 

(I added below links to the Altenew products I used on each card. My affiliate link is: https://altenew.com/6358517. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase these product/s. It is just a way to help a fellow crafter sustain her love for crafting. While in the Altenew blog, don't forget to check out the rest of the products included in this month's release. Thank you for your support!)

FOR YOU SHAPED CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos & Add-on Die
• Altenew Nature's Wonders Enamel Dots
• Altenew Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder (not a part of this month's release)

The Altenew layering stencils are conveniently marked with a number as a guide in applying inks for layering. You don't have to follow the order of the number. On this card, I started with stencil #2 which has larger open areas which seems easier for me to begin with. 

I also find it easier to die cut first before stenciling if the stencil comes with a coordinating die. The shape of die cut helped me with the alignment of the stencil. 

Don't hesitate to go back and forth between stencils especially if you feel you need some shading on a part of the image. This technique is no different when you color with other mediums. 

Using different brush sizes also help in getting the best of your coloring. Using a small brush on those tiny nooks and crannies help in the application of color. On the other hand, using a larger brush on a larger space limits the harsh lines created when blending inks. 

This shaped card was partially die cut. There was some difficulty in doing this because of how I laid the die on the notecard. It went beyond the 6" width allowed by my die cutting machine. If you have a wider die cutting machine, this will not be a problem. Another way to achieve this card look is to create a tab on the fold, then adhere it to another panel to create a note card. Or rotate the die so that it will fit your die cutting machine without problems. 

One of the layered stencils on this set has a detailed part which you can skew during cleaning if you are not careful. I suggest you go one direction when wiping off the ink from the stencil, preferably wiping towards the detailed part. 

I did partial embossing on the inner card panel which creates a background for the flowers.

Use those enamel dots sparingly to add accent to the card. 

I love the sentiments on the stamp set included in this Build A Garden set. The sentiment I used came as a one lined sentiment. I did partial stamping and a stamp positioner to make this into a two lined sentiment. 

SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos & Add-on Die
• Altenew Raised Sentiments 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Just Leaves Die Set (not a part of this month's release)

The embossing folder I used on this card is my favorite in this release. You are not limited with the use of this embossing folder by its vertical sentiment design only. You can emboss a 6" x 6" cardstock and cut the sentiments apart creating a stash of sentiment strips ready for use. 

Or just like on the card above, you can use one of the sentiments and repeatedly emboss the same sentiment on a strip of cardstock which will be a great way to use those scraps. To make this last technique easier, I created a template by embossing a scrap cardstock. Using a craft knife, I cut off the sentiment that I will be repeatedly embossing. I positioned this template back on the embossing folder by matching the embossed impression with the raised sentiments on the folder. I placed the strip on the open spot, then emboss away! 

 

To make the embossed sentiment pop out some more, I used an inked brayer to apply white pigment ink to the raised letters. I over inked some spots but this added some grunge to the look of the strips. 

The floral stamp on the BAG comes with a coordinating die but fussy cutting this image is not hard at all. I also love the fourth stencil on the stencil set which is not a layering stencil but a background stencil. You can use this with other projects and not be limited to the layered floral image the stencil set creates. 

CONGRATS TO THE FABULOUS YOU CARD

• Altenew Geo Tree Stencil
• Altenew Raised Sentiment 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Woodland Escape Fresh Dye Ink (not a part of this month's release)
• Altenew Gold Peach Crisp Embossing Powder (not a part of this month's release)

The stencil, as its name implies, is designed to create trees. The packaging insert has instructions and photo samples on how to create different rows of trees with Christmas in mind. I don't have any Altenew Christmas-themed sentiment so I explored other ways of using this stencil for other occasions. Don't be afraid to stretch out those supplies. I cannot believe that I came up with this rosette-like design out of this stencil. I think I will be creating more projects using this stencil. 

I embossed the sentiments on pearl cardstock strips. To make the sentiment pop, I gently rubbed some lunar paste over the letters. The look reminded me of the Dymo embossed labels. 

NO SENTIMENT CHRISTMAS CARD

• Altenew Geo Tree Stencil
• Altenew Halftone Stars Stamp (not part of this month's release)
• Altenew String Art Rectangles Die Set (not part of this month's release)

I created another card using the same stencil I used on the previous project now with a Christmas theme. I blended inks on a row of trees. Instead of a pair of triangles to create the tree, I extended the width of the tree by adding another inked triangle on each side of the triangles. And, the tree trunks? I used the incomplete triangle on the stencil to create this. I masked these incomplete triangle openings to shorten the height of the triangle. I also created a DIY stencil to ground the tree by cutting up an oval shape on a Post-It Note.

What is a Christmas tree without stars and sparkles? A bit of glitter embossing powder here and there does the trick. And, don't forget to add accents to the tree. I used a white get pen and a sparkle pen for this purpose.

I also used a colored cardstock as card base which somehow created a new different color.

Who said every card needs a sentiment on the front? I kept the card front sentiment free to keep the focus on the ink blended trees.

I added stitching using a metallic embroidery floss to create a border. I created a stitching hole template by embossing the Altenew String Art Rectangle die on vellum. I used the holes created by the die as a guide to manually poke holes on my project. In this way, I can extend the length of the stitching. I also have the option to poke extra holes on the middle of each piercing to make the stitches smaller if I want to. 

LOTS OF INK BLENDING CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos Stamp & Stencil 
• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos Add-On Die Set
• Altenew Raised Sentiments 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Warm Gray Fresh Dye Round Inks
• Altenew Tea Party Fresh Dye Round Inks
• Altenew Northern Shore Fresh Dye Round Inks

I like to highlight the Altenew inks on this card. Altenew has conveniently grouped their inks into color families. You don't have to have all the inks of a color family but if you are a new crafter or a struggling crafter or a crafter in a hurry, these grouped inks remove the guess work of mixing and matching colors. I used the Altenew Tea Party inks on the flowers. I stamped the floral image for this card, which I also did on my second card. Unlike the second card, wherein I colored the image with alcohol markers, I blended the dye ink colors on this image. It just shows how versatile this BAG set is. 

I colored the leaves and the stems with a color twist, using the Altenew Northern Shore inks.

For the background, I used the Altenew Warm Gray inks.  I mimicked the trendy cardstock strips look on this background. I used a large Post-it Note and a repurposed plastic from an accordion file for masking. I marked a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock every 3rd of an inch making the spacing on each line of the embossed folder just right. Make sure to center the markings on the cardstock panel since there will be an extra 1/16" on the top and the bottom of the panel if you make your project on a portrait orientation just like my card. I blend the gray inks in an ombre fashion. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I apologize for a very long post. I appreciate your time. 

I hope you find inspiration in today's projects. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Here is a link to Altenew's March Release Products: https://altenew.com/collections/july-2024-stamps-dies-press-and-foil-plates-fresh-dye-inks-more-altenew

Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by July 16, 2024 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on July 18, 2024.

*The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am sharing some of the projects at 

Challenge #319 

#38-For You Shaped Card

Let's Get Into Shape!

For You Shaped Card