Do you want to get an email when this blog is updated? Click HERE to sign up for new post notifications (separate from the weekly A-List newsletter)
NOTE: This is a detailed post, be sure to read ALLL THE WAY TO THE END to find out how to enter to WIN prizes from Altenew!
It's time again for a new product release from Altenew! This release really spoke to my new little obsession with no line watercolor. In fact, it's becoming more than an obsession, I really enjoy it now! The one thing I wish I had gotten with the new Quiet Reflection stamp set was the layering stencil! I didn't realize until I was actually working on painting the image that the stencil would have made my life so much easier! BUT I feel like I actually really made it work and learned a little bit more about watercolor!
For this release, which includes so many awesome stamps and coordinating dies, I received the main stamp set, Tranquility Rose (available now as a PRE-ORDER, as soon as they arrive at my shop, I will ship to YOU!) plus Inspirational Quotes. I felt these two sets were very complimentary to each other with either their phrases or the images. I also received the coordinating die for Tranquility Rose. I have to admit, I am quickly learning how handy it is to have the coordinating die for a stamp set! I don't have the time or patience to sit and carefully cut out every image but those dies really do make life easy!
So are you ready to see the cards I made? You know I had to do my own spin on a background.
First, one evening when I had some spare time, I stamped the main rose image on several sheets of the 4x6 watercolor paper from Altenew. This paper is absolutely fantastic! It takes the stamped image really well and held up very nicely to the watercolor! You can see all the products I used to create these cards on the Quiet Reflections Release Collection page. I quickly realized that I could layer the stamped images by quickly creating my own stamping mask! I just stamped the rose on a sheet of copy paper and cut out around the image (of course you could use the die for that). Then after I stamped the image on the card, I could tape down the mask with washi tape and stamp the leaf image to get a really cool layered effect. Helpful hint: Keep the mask in the same package as the stamp set for future use!
For this one I also used some of the images from the Inspirational Quotes set to create those background flowers. I thought it made it look more like a mixed bouquet than just a rose plopped on the page. I really enjoyed using the Altenew Watercolors (the 36 half pan set) to paint the rose and the leaves. Can you believe that rose is painted with the same color, just with a tiny bit more or less water? I used the inspiration card that was included with the set as a color guide for the shading. To finish the card, I had to add my own touch of layered papers. The corner paper was created with some leftover scrap cardstock (it might actually be the outside of the card from when I die cut one of the roses) that I swiped through some Altenew Spray Ink to get another watercolor effect. I actually stamped the Thank You sentiment (also from the Tranquility Rose set) with Altenew Jet Black Mixed Media ink BEFORE I did the blue background! Just remember to heat set the ink and then it's waterproof!
Whew! This one was super fun to make, but it was actually the last one I finished. I started out with the pieces I had painted and die cut all the flowers and leaves. I wanted to do a fun background that speaks to my mixed media style, so I decided to try out the Altenew Spray Ink that I received with my new vendor welcome package. I just love this ink! It has a slight shimmer to it even though it's dark blue!
So I created a few backgrounds, one was using the Graffiti Scribble Stencil with that spray ink but I applied it with a sponge. I love the contrast between the white cardstock and the blue ink. I added a little of the watercolor washi to help the sentiment stamp stand out. It's hard to tell from the photo but the rose and leaf are raised on fun foam that is stuck on with 1/4" Scor-Tape. This rose was one I watercolored and just eyeballed the shading.
Remember when I said I tried smooshing that ink onto the cardstock for a watercolor effect? Here's one of the backgrounds I created with that smooshed ink! I did spray it with water to dilute it a little bit. I stamped the sentiment on some deli paper (LOVE that stuff!) The sentiment is from the Inspirational Quotes set. This one is really more of a journaling card size. I find that when I create something, I don't really worry about if it's the right size for a traditional card. I am a modern quilter, I guess this makes me a modern stamper too? Or just non-traditional.
You may notice a pattern here, the same smooshed ink/faux watercolor background, a watercolor painted rose and leaves which I stamped with grey ink this time. I like stamping with the light yellow ink but I felt like the purple blended better with the grey. The sentiment was actually stamped on deli paper again. When I used the Gloss Medium to adhere it to the card, I also just decided to just go over the entire card with the gloss medium. I felt like it would seal the watercolor on the flower to prevent it from smearing. It also gives the card a neat glossy/shimmery look. I am ALL ABOUT THE TEXTURE!
When I started stamping for this project, I decided to stamp several of the sentiments on deli paper because I wasn't sure which ones I would use in my final projects. Since I had this square of paper left over with that awesome drippy smooshed ink on it, I decided I wanted to use the You Are Amazing sentiment which, when I stamped it was sort of wonky, but the best part about the deli paper stamping is you can cut it apart and make it look intentionally wonky!
Here's another thing I've learned as I'm doing more of these cards: You'll probably stamp and color more images than you actually use in your final projects (I have so far) so I am just storing all the extra pieces in the envelope with the stamp set! That keeps it all in one place, including the deli paper I stamped! Then the next time I want to use that set to make a card, I will already be ahead of the game with some finished stamped and painted images!
OK, are you ready for the Blog Hop and giveaway details? Here they are!
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $40 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 9 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 12/09/2020 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 12 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 12/11/2020.
Anna Veach <---- YOU ARE HERE
Don't forget, you must COMMENT here to enter the blog hop giveaway from Altenew!
Want to hear about new products when they hit the shelves, early access to shop sales AND get a $5 coupon to spend here at Piece Craft Love? Just click HERE to sign up for the A-List for weekly updates about the shop! You can also follow me on Instagram (time-lapse art anyone?) and check out my Facebook page for news and updates, search for @piececraftlove in all the places to find me!
See you next week with another project share!
Happy Crafting,
Anna
40 comments
I love your backgrounds.
wow, such beautiful background!
These are so sweet! And it looks like you had a lot of fun. I love coloring big flowers
Love the mixed media take on your cards. I love the fluid feel of them. I too keep my extras with the stamp/die set so later I have them too use. Though I do like keeping extra sentiments together to use on other cards/projects.
Great tips! Great cards! What a fantastic release