Altenew Inspiration Challenge February 2024

It has been a while since I have played in the Altenew Inspiration Challenge - Kelly's gorgeous photo was all the inspiration I needed to play this month!  Check it out:

 

Isn't this fantastic??  Kelly found this mural during a visit to Cincinnati.

We have a local artist who has transformed some of 

the overpasses in our area.  There is also such a mural as this on 

the blank side of a local furniture store here in Norton Shores.  But

none start with this gorgeous charcoal grey.... and you know well that

is all the inspiration I needed, right?

Armed with these inks:

and the latest purchase from Altenew I got to work as soon

as I retrieved that package from the mailbox!

After stamping and stenciling these gorgeous Blooming Delights,

I gave them a quick cut so I could arrange them as I'd like over my

charcoal card base which has been dry embossed with my favorite

Altenew Geo Steps folder:

Thanks, Kelly! and thank YOU for dropping by!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge September 2023

 

Svitlana is our host this month for Altenew's September 2023 Inspiration Challenge and you seriously MUST see the photo above up close and personally - can you imagine having such gorgeous Halloween decorations gracing your mantle??  

I found her colors among two of Altenew's paper collections.  For the reds to oranges: Alcohol Ink Background Paper Pack, and for the yellow: Reflections paper pack.  

You all know by now that I love this little fancy frame that came with that Reflections paper crafting collection when it released.  I've gifted it many times over - in fact, I think I may have wiped out their supply!  Here, I've snipped two in half and flipped and glued it again and again to create a fun background for my Halloween roses [actually Altenew's Bamboo Roses].  A little trick as they're stamped onto the patterned paper and cut with the matching dies.

Ready for it?

Isn't this about the creepiest [and I mean that in a GOOD way] card I've ever made??

Here is a closeup so you can see those roses:

The roses stamped quite well onto the glossy finish of the patterned paper 

using Archival black ink.

Win or lose, I had a blast making this card - and I have a feeling Svitlana will appreciate it.  With that I'll head over to their gallery and treat them to this card!

Have a great day, my friends!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge July 2023

 

Michelle Short's gorgeous Hydrangeas had me reaching for my watercolor brushes again for Altenew's Inspiration Challege: July 2023!  Remember, I seldom get flowers on my own!  I also had another new set from Altenew: Japanese Anemone.  The outline stamp gave me plenty of nooks and crannies in which to add some of those pretty pinks and periwinkle blues of Michelle's blooms!  If you look very closely at this closeup of Michelle's photo, you'll find the reason why I had to bring a little grey into my card today!

I achieved that grey by using a panel of Altenew's Woodgrain Powder cardstock and blending on some Distress Oxide Hickory Smoke ink with a sponge dauber.

Along with the stamps and die I bought the stencils - here is my first attempt using them... [with a new little 'toy' that Waffle Flower sent to me to play with - more about that during a fun hop later this month!]

However, this new Grip Mat is available for Pre-order NOW over at 

Waffle Flower Crafts -

I LOVE IT!!  and there is no residue on the back of the panel.

The inspiration for this card was found right in the Altenew packaging - a great way to get a feel for the layers in the stencil set.

I better get my card over to Altenew before I forget - thanks so much for spending a bit of your weekend with me!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge June 2023

Even as tempted as I was to play with those Rocktrumpet flowers again, an older set caught my attention today for 

Altenew's June 2023 Inspiration Challenge!

Deepa's Petunias are gorgeous, aren't they? No petunias in my stash, sadly ... will these Basic Blooms do? Fingers crossed!

I pulled out lots of inks to capture her colors!

My card panel was cut using a Rounded Rectangle die from olive card and stamped with one of the lovely Altenew Leaf Clusters before popping it up and arranging my Basic Blooms.

One of Altenew's Versatile Greetings was gold hot-foiled and planted in the lower corner.  I'd better get these planted in their gallery right now before I forget!  Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge - Second helpings!

 

Hello, my friends!  After a whirlwind trip around Lake Erie, with a two night stay in Buffalo, we're home again!  Just in time to send card #2 to 

Altenew's April 2023 Inspiration Challenge!

Remember these darling Bamboo roses? I stamped and clear embossed a few,

water colored them using Altenew's Red Cosmos and Field Greens inks!

A few more of my favorite Altenew sets came out to play:

Rounded Rectangle dies, Dotted Starburst Debossing cover die, and Label dies. 

 Finally, a fun sentiment from Floral Sprig - another graduation card done!

I created my wash-y background by first giving my panel a watery wash of 

greens from Field Greens inks, and then after drying I debossed the panel, and blended again with Rustic Wilderness distress oxide ink, setting the ink with Distress glaze.  My roses were popped up, and card two is done!

Thanks for stopping by today - and for all your kind words!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge - April 2023

 

Before I even start blah blah blah-ing - please take a look at this gorgeous photo from our hostess, Joy D'Souza, for the Altenew April 2023 Inspiration Challenge: 

After you pick your jaw up off of the floor, take a look at my card - it was wonderful bringing out that fabulous Altenew BAF: Antique Rose again!

I'm sharing the closeup first to bring your attention to the leaves -

Leaf Canopy was first applied to a panel of card stock, and then again to 

another so they could be die-cut.  I used my sponge daubers to

add ink to the stamps in my MISTI so I could continue to add color until

I was happy with the 'blurred' look of Joy's leaves in her photo.  

I'm continuing to add to my graduation stash!  These congratulations are just one of the many sentiments in the Canopy set.  It was white heat-embossed onto a dark forest green cardstock.  A trio of Altenew Field Greens enamel dots and my 'work' here is done! 

There's no competing with Joy's photo but I gave it my best!

=] Michele

Altenew Featured Sentiments Die was used to cut my sentiment strip

Altenew Field Greens ink set was used for my leafy canopy

Various reds from my cardstock stash to layer the rose

Thankful for the Blessings

 A really quick Saturday post - I didn't want another day to go by before thanking all of you who were kind enough to send me one of your gorgeous handmade-from-the-heart birthday cards!  You know who you are - these are in no particular order just tucked into my card display wherever they would stay put!  I am so very blessed!

While I'm here, I'd like to share a photo Tom took of the little overnight guest who tucked himself into an old Robin's nest in our River Birch to roost for the night...

Last but not least... I was so grateful for the win at Altenew in October!  Of course, I had to show my gratitude by playing in their November 2022 Inspiration Challenge!

Cloudy sky seems to turn green for me when stamped - but looks

perfectly fine blended within my frame - insert head scratching here.  

Butternut and Pumpkin Pie inks blended onto my frame, and Dark Chocolate ink for the branches [Holiday Bows] and sentiment - from their Festive Poinsettia set.

Of course, I must also thank you for the time you share with me here - so appreciated!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge - August 2022

 

Who wouldn't want to sit in this bright Adirondack chair for a spell?

Hi, friends!  Hope you're enjoying these lazy days of Summer!  Our weather has been just glorious lately - all the more reason I was ready to play with Virginia's gorgeous photo and colors in the August 2022 Inspiration Challenge!

My card uses the newest addition to my Altenew embossing folder stash - Virginia might have inspired that purchase, too!

First up - here are the inks I've used today:

Altenew inks for wet work, and distress oxides for 'dauber-ing!'

Even though these Cherry Plum Blossoms would be a Springtime sighting, I just love them in these wonderful pre-Autumn tones!

Another September birthday card - check!

=] Michele

Altenew's Floral Sprig is the home of my sentiment today - cut with an old MFT die, heat-embossed with Platinum.

Altenew Inspiration Challenge February 2022

While I had those Anemones out, I decided to attempt another, much different take on Jenny's Inspiration Challenge at Altenew!  

Altenew's Rounded Rectangle dies are a go-to in my stash.  This time, I stamped

a bit of 'linen' to a green and yellow card stock with their Rustic Linen stamp before cutting the frames, and for fun the leaves in the Build a Flower Anemone.  Here are the inks I used today:

Are you playing along, too?  There's plenty of time!

=] Michele

 

Cloisonné anyone?

 A funny thing happened on the way to making a card - while digging in my stash, I came upon a piece of Yupo paper with dots of pearly alcohol inks.  First, I noticed that the colors fit in the Altenew February 2022 Inspiration Challenge 

Then I reimagined it as a pretty cloisonné flower for the February CAS Mix Up Challenge!

Our host, Susan, has shared a few techniques for creating cloisonné on paper.  I took my own path and just hope they will be okay with it... 

I just love the shiny, pearly, 'enameled' look of it!

Mixed Media: Stamping, heat embossing in gold, and alcohol inks

I found this example of cloisonne on the interweb...

Okay, off I go to deliver this card to the appropriate galleries... hope you are having a great week!

=] Michele

Altenew:  Build-a-flower Anemone and dies, and Fresh Bloom layering stamp for sentiment.

MFT Jumbo Dot coverup

January 2022 Altenew Inspiration Challenge

 

How did I come to the near end of the month without playing along

at Altenew's January 2022 Inspiration Challenge?

I've remedied that today!  Hope they like it - I couldn't resist these gorgeous

colors when all I can see around me is the glare of white snow!

Our hostess, Reiko, shared this wonderful photo she took as our inspiration.  I thought of the wonderful Altenew Sunflower Daisies right away...

A sweet birthday sentiment from Fresh Freesia - one of my oldest [2015], 

most often used Altenew sets!

I love the font - this time I stamped it in Moss ink instead of my usual black.

One of the small branches of leaves was stamped randomly on my 

panel, then I embossed it using Altenew's Geo Steps.

Here are the inks used today...

Off I go to get this into their gallery before it's too late!

Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

A few cards - two CAS Challenges! and Take 2 for Altenew!

Hello my friends - happy weekend-eve!  I've delivered my Christmas card contribution to my friends at Bring Smiles to Seniors - though I fell far short of a very lofty goal, it was nice to know my little stack of 160 will join the 20,000 cards collected this year just in Michigan!!  That surely brings ME a smile!

Now I have a few spare moments to just PLAY!!  The CAS Challenges always spark my creative juices, so yesterday my thinking cap was donned, and I got busy!  First up, for CAS Christmas - a sweet little Penny Black hedgy joy ... host Barb really has chosen a sweet theme for their 2021 finale: Critters!  

Tom snuck in while I was adding the finishing touches - he thinks this one's for him!

Have I mentioned that he has taken on Astrophotography as a hobby?  Amazing!

Of course, the sentiment is tucked inside - which I didn't share with him, either!

Looks like Mr. Hedgy is about to make someone's Christmas wish come true!

Edited to add this wonderful news:

Thank you, to the entire CAS Christmas team!

Ms. Loll has us Monoprinting again for CAS Mix Up!  OH it's my favorite of all the wonderful techniques she's taught us over the life of her CAS challenges!  my little 'hitchhikers' [Meadow and Willow Dragonflies -Memory Box c. 2012] had so much fun taking part in this challenge...

A wee little Hi from Pinkfresh Studios

The stencil I used is Altenew's Feathery stencil - and if I've learned anything from these CAS ladies it's NEVER waste ink... so I did a bit of creative mopping up...

more words from Pinkfresh, a gorgeous new stamp from Wplus9 Vintage Ephemera

gold heat embossed.  a bit of subtle texture from SU subtle texture, of course!

Last but not least - here is that Take 2 I mentioned for Altenew's Inspiration Challenge November 2021... water color paint from Altenew - loved the colors so much I repeated them on my CAS monoprint.  

Bird of Paradise and my well-loved Swirling dots coverplate.

Happy weekend, everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele