Today I wanted to share some Tips and Tricks for making bold, vibrant colorful cards. The Featured Stamps are from Altenew’s March 2023 Mini Stamp Collection.
TIP #1: Use Watercolor Markers which have tons of pigment.
Below, you can see the watercolor panel that I used for my die cut word sentiments. I added Rubelite and Autumn Blaze from Altenew’s Spring Garden Brush Markers and then used a #18 brush and water to blend the colors. I did not increase the saturation on this card, the color on the screen is the true color in person. So bright and happy!
I like to keep strips of colorful cardstock on hand for quick cards. The strips on this card are each 1/4″ wide and they are a snap to make with your paper trimmer.
On Bristol Cardstock, I blended watercolors from Altenew’s Spring Garden Brush Marker Set in Rainbow Order. I used water and a #18 Brush to blend the colors. I created a 5.5″ x 4.25 inch panel and trimmed off a 1.75″ strip for this card, reserving the remaining panel for a future project.
Welcome to Altenew’s March Release and Blog Hop! I have SEVEN cards to share with you today. I was so excited and inspired by the Japandi Release….I had SO many ideas! I decided to do a “Rainbow” themed post and I am so pleased you stopped by. You can see Altenew’s entire release HERE.
Rainbow Gradient Handcrafted Cards
I started by watercoloring a bunch of panels for my cards, which I find this fun and therapeutic. On watercolor paper, using water and one of Altenew’s #18 brushes, I watercolored bands of color from Altenew’s Spring Garden Brush Marker set. I love how bright and vibrant the colors are with these markers! You can see two of my finished panels below.
2-For-1 Cards
Once my panels were dry, I started die cutting. My first two projects are 2-For-1 Cards using the beautiful new Zero-Waste Leaf Pattern Cover Die. When you are done, you have the pieces for a “Positive” Card and a “Negative” Card, and I love them both!
On Watercolor Paper, paint rainbow bands of color with Spring Garden Watercolor Brush Markers and then blend with water and a #18 Paintbrush. I taped my panel to a hardboard with blue painters tape prior to painting. Dry.
I used the “Press and Seal” Method. After I die cut my Zero Waste panel, I smoothed Glad Press and Seal Multipurpose Sealing Wrap over the top of the die cut panel. I then flipped it over and using tweezers added cut Instant Dimension Foam Tape to the back of each positive die cut. Next, I carefully flipped the panel over and adhered onto an A2 card base. Then I removed the Press and Seal.
I die cut my Simply Hello sentiment twice from black cardstock, glued the pieces together and added to the bottom right of my card.
For my Negative Card, I added liquid glue to the back of the panel and then adhered directly to an A2 card base. I added my Sweet Sentiments Celebrate die cut and shadow to the center of my card and voila, two bright and happy cards!
You can see two of my watercolor panels just prior to die-cutting. I again used my Spring Garden Watercolor Markers and I really love the rainbow gradient across the blooms. For my sentiment, I die cut “For You” from the new Vertical Greetings Die Set and then backed with a scrap from the rainbow panel shown below.
Inlay Rainbow Die Cutting
Altenew’s new Archway Die Set is so fun and is perfect for mass producing cards. Cut the rainbow from 7 or more colors of cardstock, change the order and you can make a bunch of cards quickly. The included tree die adds a lot of interest. I added a coordinating sentiment and shadow from Altenew’s Sweet Sentiments Die Set.
On card 2, I changed up the color order. I think these would be perfect for Get Well, Birthday, Graduation…
Quick and Easy Die Cut Cards
I thought the tree from the Archway Die Set was so pretty that I made a third quick and easy card. I die cut the tree from white cardstock and used the negative panel, placed Instant Dimension Foam Tape on the back and then adhered to my rainbow panel (watercolored with Spring Garden Brush Markers). I added a few of the white interior pieces and popped it on a fog A2 card base and added another die cut sentiment from Altenew’s Sweet Sentiments. Be sure to save the positive diecut for a future 2-For-1 card.
The Archways Die Set also comes with a third “Wave” die that I know you will also love!
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a *$100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $20 gift certificate to 10 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 03/12/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 11 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 03/13/2023.
You probably came from April’s Blog and the next stop is talented Tenia! You can see the all the hop stops by clicking the button below:
Hello everyone, Karen Brown here and I am so happy you are “hopping” with The Altenew Educators! This Altenew hop is all about “new” and I am so excited to show you a technique new to me…paper weaving.
Paper Weaving + Card Making
It is a little gloomy outside so I wanted to make a bright fun project that incorporated paper weaving. I cut my paper strips and then sat by the fire doing my weaving. I think I am already for Spring to arrive!
I selected 8 colors of cardstock and cut 1/4″ strips with my paper trimmer. I then cut one end of each strip into a point so that it would be easier to weave.
In rainbow order, I wove all the strips going one direction and then wove the cross pieces.
I die cut Altenew’s Simply Hello sentiment three times from black cardstock and then glued them together for a substantial looking sentiment.
With a paper trimmer, I trimmed the woven panel down and then glued it to the card base. I adhered the frame with foam tape and added the sentiment.
I had a strip of paper weaving left over so I made a quick “Two-fer” Bonus card. The sentiment is Birthday Greetings and the two windows were cut with the die from the Mini Paintbox. I also added three enamel dots to the white space.
Prizes:
$130 in total prizes! Altenew is giving away a $20 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners and a $15 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 01/09/2022 for a chance to win.
There’s MORE! What’s a hop without YOU?! We have included an Inlinkz at the Altenew blog for you to enter your gorgeous Altenew “New Favorite” creations. We will pick one of our favorite handmade creations from those who joined the linky party and they will receive a $10 Altenew gift certificate!
Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 01/10/2022.
Didn’t you just love Bridget’s “Hugs” card? Neha is next with some lovely creations.
I really enjoyed weaving this card and I hope you found some inspiration. I love reading your comments so if you have a moment, let me know what you think about my project. Thanks for stopping by!
Kenny's Cards 