Altenew

Altenew 7th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 2 + Giveaway (over $1,400 in Total Prizes)

annamahtani

If you have come from the uber talented Galina Filippenko, then you are in the right place! If you happened by chance, then I hope you hop along with us for a chance to win some exciting prizes! To check out the full list of prizes and more information on the hop, head over to the Altenew blog linked here.

To celebrate their anniversay, Altenew is giving over $1,400 in total prizes! Altenew is giving away a $70 gift certificate to 5 lucky winners and one Altenew Academy class to 15 lucky winners. There are also 19 awesome companies/crafty friends who are celebrating with us, and they are offering the following prizes:

In celebration of their anniversary, I would like to share my Altenew story with you. Ever since I can remember I have always been a crafter. As a kid I would sew my own Barbie clothes using scraps from my mom’s dressmaking business. I would crawl under her sewing machine and pick up whatever fabric scraps I could find. Then I would “steal” some needle and thread and sew clothes for my Barbie’s. In the 70’s, Barbie doll accessories were quite expensive so I would have to resort to making my own — I would turn shoe boxes into beds, bookshelves, books, etc for my Barbie. Then I graduated into other crafts like origami, papier mache, decoupage. When I got married and had my kids, I started scrapbooking. Four years ago, I discovered card making and have been hooked ever since. I am telling this story because Altenew was one of the first stamp sets I ever bought! Before I discovered Altenew, I was using ephemera on my cards, I did not know any other way to make them.

One day as I was browsing through the internet, I chanced upon a local online store selling cardmaking stamps. I was immediately drawn to the floral stamps they carried. So I ordered one called Spring Daisy – and it was Altenew! I entered my home address for delivery then shortly recieved an email from the store saying that it would be hand delivered — the owner of the store was my neighbor. She lived right next door! Nenette of @mylittleattic, if you are reading this – I blame you for my addiction to Altenew! Haha!

Here is the very first stamped card I created. Notice how I didn’t vary the colors in my stamp layering? I didn’t have many inks at that time to do that. I also did not use the coordinating dies because at that time I didn’t even own a die-cutting machine. And the leaves – I hand colored them with markers!

My very first stamped card using Altenew Spring Daisy

In honor of Altenew’s 7th Anniversary, I will C.A.S.E. (Copy And Selectively Edit) my very first card using the same stamp set. The difference will be how my skills have changed over the four years! If you would like to know more about how I C.A.S.E. other crafters projects as inspiration, you can check it here.

My original card was fairly clean and simple. I used an embossing folder for the background and some baker’s twine as accent. The color palette was also quite traditional, yellow for the daisy and green for the leaves and stem. It’s not an ugly card by any means, but it looks very one-dimensional.

Here is my “updated” card design using my original card as inspiration.

I used the same Spring Daisy stamp set for my card. I stamped the flowers on watercolor cardstock with Obsidian Ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I painted the flowers, leaves and the stems with watercolor brush markers from the Spring Garden set.

After I watercolored them, I used my Prismacolor pencils to enhance the areas in the inner part of the flower and in the middle of the leaves.

For the background, I used my all-time favorite embossing forder, Angled Mosaic, and embossed it on white cardstock. I used the Jet Blank Ink spray for the splatters.

I arranged and adhered my floral elements to the middle of the embossed panel. I used foam tape on the bottom flower and the small bud to add some dimension.

The sentiment “Sending Love & Hugs” is from the Best Sentiments stamp set, stamped with Obsidian Ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I added it to the bottom of the stems with foam tape.

I would like to give Altenew a big thank you for their wonderful products and for inspiring me everyday! I’ve come so far and learned so much in my crafting journey and I credit them for that! I am also so grateful for their invitation to celebrate this wonderful milestone with them!

Special Offer

Enjoy FREE U.S. shipping with code HAPPY7TH or $5 OFF international shipping with code ANNIV21 at checkout. Offer valid from 4/8/2021 at 12:01 am EDT through 4/11/2021 at 11:59 pm EDT. Shop here: Altenew Not valid on prior purchases. Cannot be combined with other promo codes. 

I am the last stop in DAY 2, you can start over at the Altenew blog linked here!

‘Til next time!

Anna

Thank you for visiting my blog. I truly appreciate it! You can also find me on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Facebook.

BLOG HOP LIST:


Altenew Blog

Amber Davis

Terri Koszler

Lilith Eeckels

Verity Biddlecombe

Butterfly Reflections Ink

Tania Ahmed

Tina Smith

Maryam Perez

Alex Syberia

Therese Calvird

Michelle’s Cards & Stamps

Keren Baker

Lisa Spangler

Laura Volpes

Galina Filippenko

Anna Mahtani (you are here!)

PRODUCT LIST:

Note: I am affiliated with some online stores including Altenew, Hero Arts, Brutus Monroe, Concord & 9th and Trinity Stamps. If you use any of the links above, I get a small commission from these wonderful shops at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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Published by annamahtani

217 thoughts on “Altenew 7th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 2 + Giveaway (over $1,400 in Total Prizes)”

  6. You have come quite a way from your first card! I love your bold color choice for the flowers, really beautiful card! Thank you for sharing your creativity!

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  9. Hello from Central Florida, USA! I still use ephemera, twine and that swiss dot folder on my cards now LOL…it’s fun to look back and see how we’ve grown in our crafting and creating. Lovely story, card design and thanks for the inspiration. P.S. Happy Anniversary Altenew!

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  10. Hi from Sacramento, CA – I’m fairly new to card making and I’m so happy to see your first card and what you can create now. It gives me hope! Both cards are lovely and that is a great stamp set. Thanks so very much for sharing these cards.

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  15. Hi from Snohomish Washington. I love your background embossing and your watercolor technique. You inspire me to try it!

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  16. Oh what a difference few years and a few tools can make. I’ve got a treasure trove of each under my belt. Lovely cards both old and new. Thank you from Mukilteo Wa.

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  21. Hello from Ohio!!. What a great way to end Day 2!!. This is a beautiful stamp set!!!.
    You outdid yourself with creations for this hop!!. Happy Anniversary Altenew!!.

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  24. Hi from Switzerland ! Wow, this is stunning to see how your technique evolved ! I hope I can make as much progress as you did ! Wonderful job !

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  29. Hello from Brisbane, Australia. It’s so nice that we can give ourselves permission to grow in our creative journey. I look back at some of my earlier cards too and appreciate how far I’ve come. All the fantastic inspiration we can get these days from other talented creatives is SO helpful. Thank you for sharing your story, Anna 🙂

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  32. Hi from TX! I love both of your cards, but I completely understand what you mean by finding your own style and taking your own creativity to new heights! Well done!

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  36. These are lovely. I really like that second bouquet. With the brighter colors there is so much depth to them. They are gorgeous.

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  38. Hi from Florida. I love the coloring on your flowers. Your shading made them look so real. I also love the backgrounds you used.Thank you for sharing.

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  39. Hi there from the Hill Country in Texas! I love the history 🙂 I too started sewing clothes for Barbies and other dolls – by hand and just sitting at the sewing machine with no instruction. Such growth in your skills – both cards are so nice!!

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  42. Hi from Boston! This is so cool to see your first card and how much you’ve grown as a crafter in 4 short years!! You are so talented!

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  43. Greetings from Rochester, NY, USA.
    WOW, Anna, you have become the artist I wish to be. My cards still look one dimensional like your first one. I am going get busy with some of the Altenew card classes I purchased. I enjoyed your story about your journey to card making.

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  45. Hello from Idaho, USA! Oh my goodness, I just love how you showcased how you have improved over just a small amount of time. And yes, the inspiration that Altenew provides through their programs and design artist has also helped me understand the art of “taking it to the max”. Well done, your second card is stunning!

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  46. Hello from New Hampshire! Happy Anniversary to Altenew! Pretty cards Anna. Love the bold colors and the dry embossed backgrounds. Lovely designs! Thank you for the inspirations!

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  47. Hi from Beaver, UT! Congratulations to Altenew on their 7th anniversary! Your card! I am SO impressed with the different looks you got from the same flower stamp! The orange-ish one was my favorite! So beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  49. Hi from Bangladesh, love both your old and new card, I literally screamed when I saw the new version it’s so beautiful! Really shows how far in card-making you have come💜

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  50. Hi from Michigan, USA! I loved reading your story and seeing the difference in your two cards! Love them both, and the embossed texture on the background is so subtle and pretty!

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