Cardmaking Kit · papercrafting

Spellbinders April Club Kit Release – Snail Mail, Vintage Letterboxes & Stitched Stationery!

Spellbinders April 2025 Club Kit handmade cards that are watercolored and hand stitched.

Spellbinders’ latest Club Kit Release is here, and this month’s dies are packed with charm, nostalgia, and creativity! I created three unique handmade cards using the Large Die of the Month, Small Die of the Month, and Stitching Club of the Month. Each design brings something different to the crafting table—from vintage-inspired letterboxes to whimsical mail carriers and stitched stationery.

Let’s get started!

Card 1: A Vintage Farmhouse Letterbox

Vintage farmhouse letterbox card – A handmade card featuring a minty vintage-style letterbox with a die-cut letter, pink flowers, and a gold key, mounted on ribbed white paper that resembles house siding.

First up, the Large Die of the Month – a stunning vintage-style letterbox that feels straight out of a charming countryside home.

  • I custom-mixed my colors using Hero Arts Reactive Inks, blending 50% Fog and 50% Pool Party for the perfect minty vintage hue on the letterbox. Other Reactive Inks Used: Taffy, Fruit Punch, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry and. Grape Slush. The key, sentiment frame and keyhole were painted with Gold Metallic Watercolor.
  • Inside the mail slot, a sweet die-cut letter with a heart and a cluster of pink flowers peeks out, adding a touch of romance.
  • A gold letterbox key is placed on the box for extra detail.
  • I mounted everything on Stellar White Groove ribbed paper (from a Your Paper Insider subscription box) to mimic the look of house siding.

I’m a bit of a paper hoarder, so this specialty paper subscription is right up my alley! 😄

Spellbinders April 2025 Large Die of the Month vintage farmhouse letterbox Hello card.

Card 2: You’ve Got (Snail) Mail!

Snail mail delivery scene – A die-cut snail with a mail pouch and hat, holding a tiny letter with a heart seal, alongside a pink worm, tulips, and a mailbox. Sentiment reads "sending" + an enamel heart.

For the Small Die of the Month, I couldn’t resist creating a playful “snail mail” scene! This one was so much fun to put together.

  • The star is a cute little snail, delivering happy mail in style. She holds a tiny envelope with a heart seal and wears a mail pouch and hat as she crawls along.
  • I started by doing my die-cutting and then I watercolored each die cut for my happy cozy scene. I watercolored with Reactive Inks : Creamsicle, Fruit Punch, Taffy, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, Pool Party, Blue Hawaii, Splash, Granite and Fawn.
  • She’s accompanied by a pink worm and surrounded by red and orange tulips and a mailbox—a cozy little world in miniature.
  • The sentiment is a scripty “sending” + an enamel heart.
  • I finished the card with diluted white acrylic paint splatters, adding a touch of whimsy.

The theme? A punny “You’ve Got (Snail) Mail”—a crafty nod to the classic rom-com! 💌 🐌

Spellbinders April 2025 Small Die of the Month "Snail Mail" scene card that is die cut and then watercolored with Reactive Inks and splattered with white paint.

Card 3: Stitched Notebook Paper & Die-Cut Page Tabs

Snail mail delivery scene – A die-cut snail with a mail pouch and hat, holding a tiny letter with a heart seal, alongside a pink worm, tulips, and a mailbox. Sentiment reads "sending" + an enamel heart.

For my final card, I used the Stitching Club of the Month to create a notebook-inspired stitched background—a must for any stationery lover!

  • The stitched blue horizontal lines and pink vertical margin line replicate lined notebook paper.
  • I have a Stitching Tutorial that you might find helpful.
  • The top edge is die-cut to look like it was torn from a wirebound notebook for extra realism.
  • The sentiments are die-cut page pointers die cut from ColorWheel Cardstock, reading:
    • Hello (pink)
    • Friend (blue)
    • A Note (lime)
    • For You (teal)
  • To add movement, I included a pink and teal kite, die-cut from last summer’s Fly Away Kite Kit.
  • I stitched with two pieces of floss for extra texture and die-cut the background twice (and glued together) for a sturdy base. I used DMC #162 (light blue) and #776 (pink) floss.

This design is a fun way to send a cheerful, handwritten-style note in card form!

Spellbinders April 2025 Stitched Die of the Month Kit Card featuring a background that looks like notebook paper with die cut page pointer sentiments and a die cut kite.

Helpful Links:

Final Thoughts

This month’s Spellbinders Club Kits are filled with endless creative possibilities—from elegant vintage letterboxes to playful snail mail and nostalgic stitched stationery.

Which card is your favorite this month? Let me know in the comments! 💌 ✂️

Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Blog Hop: Enchanted Paper Gardens with the Hero Studio April Release!

Hero Arts Studio:  April 2025 - two whimsical die-cut cards: one featuring a lush, layered terrarium full of mushrooms, leaves, and a fluttering butterfly, and another with bold, hand-painted leaves and a cheerful “hello” sentiment. Both are packed with watercolor magic, intricate details, and playful techniques!

Once upon a time, in a land filled with ink and creativity, a whimsical cardmaker (that’s me!) discovered the Hero Studio April Release and its magical Tranquil Terrarium Kit. With a wave of my die-cutting wand and a splash of watercolor, I crafted a dreamy terrarium scene—one fit for a fairy tale!

Step into a Paper Fairy Tale: A Lush, Layered Terrarium


A handcrafted die-cut card featuring a whimsical terrarium scene with mushrooms, leaves, rocks, and an orange butterfly, all watercolored in bright, vivid hues. The background has a vintage script stencil effect, and the card base is soft Mist blue

Picture this: a tiny enchanted world encased in glass (well, cardstock), teeming with lush leaves, charming red and tan mushrooms, green grass, rustic rocks, and a tiny tree stump. Perched on a delicately curled leaf is a radiant orange butterfly, completing this little forest wonderland.

  • Die-cut magic: Every element was cut from watercolor paper, allowing for beautifully blended, organic colors.
  • Coloring adventure: I used brightly colored reactive inks to hand-paint each die cut piece, adding depth and dimension. I enjoyed painting each piece individually, but you could also paint several card panels and then die cut the elements. Reactive inks used: Green Apple, Key Lime Fizz, Blue Hawaii, Granite, Purple Galaxy, Fawn, Fruit Punch,
  • Serene background: I put a light Pool Party watercolor wash on the rounded terrarium panel. It shows up better in person and adds a lovely subtle dimension.
  • Vintage charm: The background panel features a subtle Script Stencil in tan ink, lending a storybook feel to this enchanted setting. Stencil Used: Script Stencil
  • Rounded elegance: To echo the terrarium’s shape, I rounded the corners of both the panel and card base using Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies.
  • The final touch: Layered on a dreamy Mist blue card base, this card is a burst of color, depth, and whimsy.

✨ Pro Tip: When layering die-cut scenes, use thin foam squares on select elements (like the butterfly) to create a natural sense of depth without overwhelming the design.

Botanical terrarium card  full of lush leaves, adorable red and tan mushrooms, green grass, rocks, a tree stump with a beautiful orange butterfly perched on a gently curling leaf.  I die cut my pieces from watercolor paper and then watercolored the components with brightly colored reactive inks.   Card created with Hero Studios April 2025 Card Kit of the Month

What’s Inside the April 2025 Hero Studio Card Kit?

  • 20 Terrarium Fancy Dies
  • Terrarium Clear Stamp Set, 6″ x 8″
  • 16 Terrarium Coordinating Dies
  • Clear Hero Enamel Dots
  • 3 Clear Card Panels, 4.25″ x 5.5″
  • 9 Sheets of Cardstock, 5.5″ x 8.5″ (Poppy, Peridot, Rainforest, Fern, Alabaster, Fawn, Truffle, Fog, Anchor)

The Whole Studio includes ALL 5 of the monthly subscriptions in one discounted bundle. Cling of the Month, Stamp & Cut of the Month (new name for the subscription!), Layering Stencil of the Month, Fancy Dies of the Month, and the Card Kit of the Month.

This month, receive a FREE adorable “froggy” stamp & die set when you purchase The Whole Studio!

Hero Arts has many different Monthly Kits that you can subscribe to including:

Card 2: A Bold, Botanical Hello

A bold, colorful handmade card with die cut watercolored leaves and fronds on a creamy white background.  Uses Hero Studio April 2025 Fancy Dies kit.

For my second card, I embraced bold color and graphic design with the Fancy Dies of the Month Kit. This set features five striking leaf dies and a scripty “hello” with a shadow layer.

  • Hand-painted beauty: Each leaf was die cut from watercolor paper and hand-painted in vibrant greens and blue-greens. Reactive Inks Used: Splash, Key Lime Fizz, Blue Hawaii, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple. I started with the lightest color and then layered on darker shades.
  • A pop of fun: To contrast the cool tones, I painted the “hello” with Fruit Punch Reactive Ink-blended cardstock, giving it a lively coral-red pop.
  • Artful splatter: I added Licorice Reactive Ink splatters for an artsy, organic touch. I simply dabbed the ink on an acrylic block and flicked splatters on my die cuts with a fine wet watercolor brush. I turned my splatter box for even splatter distribution.
  • Design balance: The leaves are arranged in a radiating composition, leading the eye toward the bottom-right hello.
  • Crisp and clean: Everything is anchored on an Adriatic blue card base, making those greens pop!

🎨 Pro Tip: When adding splatters, dab the ink on an acrylic block and flick splatters on the die cuts with a fine wet watercolor brush. Thie results in controlled yet artistic splatters. Don’t forget to rotate your splatter box to get an even, natural distribution!

A bold handmade card with  hand-painted die-cut leaves in vibrant greens and blue-greens. The sentiment "hello" stands out in a coral-red shade.  The leaves have black ink splatters adding artistic detail. The background is clean white on a deep Adriatic blue A2 card base making the colors pop.

BLOG HOP!

Don’t forget, this is part of a blog hop, so there’s plenty more enchanting inspiration ahead! Be sure to follow along for more crafty adventures. ✂️✨

Giveaway:

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, April 6 at 11:59pm PST, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Leave a comment on all stops for more chances to win!


Hero Arts
Hero Arts Creative Team:
Mindy Eggen
Anna Mahtani
Seeka
Channin Pelletier
Rosie Lopez
Charlene Madrid
Michelle Short
Rachel Kleinman
Jeannie Lieu
Natasha Vacca
Jennifer Kotas
Natasha Polite
Karen Brown You Are Here!
Lisa Tilson
Michelle Lupton
Special Guests:
Nichol Spohr
Kelly Taylor

A Fairy-Tale Ending? Or Just the Beginning?

These cards brought to life the whimsy of a storybook forest and the bold beauty of botanical art, all with the magic of the Hero Arts April Release. Whether you love layered die cuts, ink blending, or just an excuse to play with paint, this kit delivers endless creative inspiration!

I’d love to hear your thoughts—which card is your favorite? Let’s chat in the comments!

BetterPress · papercrafting

Ranch-Themed BetterPress Art Projects: Meet Clover and Cotton Ball

Create your own BetterPress framed  and watercolored art pieces of Clover the Cow and Cotton Ball the lamb.

There’s something special about bringing a little piece of the ranch indoors—especially when it comes in the form of charming letterpressed art. Today, I’m excited to share two BetterPress projects straight from my little hacienda, featuring Clover the cow and Cotton Ball the lamb from Spellbinders.

New To BetterPress?

If you’re new to BetterPress or want to refine your skills, check out my previous blog post, “9 Tips, Tricks and Insights for Spellbinders BetterPress Machine,” for helpful advice on how to achieve perfect impressions every time.

Key Products Used in This Post:

Meet Clover the Cow

Spellbinders Clover the Cow watercolored BetterPress Animal Art piece framed to display in home.

Clover isn’t just any cow—she’s inspired by a real-life, flower-munching culprit from my own yard. And yes, she was eating flowers from my garden!

The BetterPress version of Clover captures her mischievous spirit, complete with a whimsical flower wreath perched atop her head.

Inspiration photo for my Cow BetterPress framed art piece.

After BetterPressing Clover, I added soft watercolor washes that brought her to life, highlighting her gentle eyes and the delicate petals in her floral crown. What’s more, the print looks stunning even without the watercolor—just the crisp, tactile impression of the press is beautiful on its own.

Process photo showing my watercoloring technique for colorizing my Spellbinders BetterPress Cow print.

Introducing Cotton Ball the Lamb

Spellbinders Cotton Ball the lamb BetterPress watercolored and framed animal art piece.

Not to be outdone by Clover, Cotton Ball the lamb is equally charming with her own flower wreath. She’s the picture of pastoral sweetness, and the BetterPress captured every curl and detail of her woolly coat. Watercoloring Cotton Ball was a joy, blending soft pastels to match her gentle personality.

Framed with Love

Both prints sit in 4″ x 5″ easel frames that add a touch of ranch-inspired warmth to my home. The textures from the letterpress, the soft watercolor hues, and the rustic frames create an inviting, homey feel that reflects life on my little hacienda.

Try It Yourself

Whether you’re inspired by ranch life or just love the charm of whimsical animal art, BetterPress projects like Clover and Cotton Ball are a joy to create. The prints are beautiful whether you choose to watercolor them or leave them as crisp, letterpressed pieces.

cardmaking · papercrafting

Tips for Making Vibrant Colorful Cards

Tips for Making Vibrant Colorful Cards

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!

Making backgrounds with Watercolor Markers.

Products Used:

Altenew's Mini Coneflower Stamp and Die + Altenew's Spring Garden Brush Markers

TIP #2: Use Strips of Cardstock in Rainbow Colors

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.

Using strips of colored cardstock to make colorful rainbow backgrounds.

Products Used on This Card:

Altenew's Mini Dogwood Stamp and Die on a handmade card.

TIP #3: Create a Rainbow Gradient Accent Strip

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.

Altenew's Spring Garden Brush Marker Set + handmade card

Products Used:

Altenew's Mini Dahlia Stamp and Die Set + handmade card

Thanks for stopping by! What do you think…..do you have a favorite?

Karen

cardmaking · Video

How to Create Easy Rainbow Die Cut Cards + Video

Easy Rainbow Watercolor Sentiment Cards

Today, I am sharing how to make easy rainbow die cut cards. And, I’ve got something new….a video! Yes, I created my first video and I’d love for you to watch it.

How To Make Rainbow Sentiment Cards

These cards are are quick to make and very eye-catching. I love bright happy colors and with watercolor brush markers you can make a high impact card in a short amount of time.

Continue reading “How to Create Easy Rainbow Die Cut Cards + Video”
cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Altenew: A Year In Review: Crafters’ Edition Blog Hop + Giveaway 

Hello friends! I am so excited to be participating again in Altenew’s A Year In Review! I really enjoyed looking back through my projects and selecting some favorite creations.

Rainbow paper weaving with Altenew's Garden Trellis Cover Die.

This first card was my most popular Altenew card on Instagram and I detailed how I created my rainbow paper weaving. You can see my original post HERE. I used Altenew’s Garden Trellis Cover Die as the base for my weaving.

Layered Stamping on a cute little bird:  Bird of the Woods by Altenew.

This year, I was a bit obssessed with the Bird of the Woods Layering Stamp set and coordinating dies and I made a bunch of cards using this bundle! This POST was by far my most popular blog post of 2022.

Altenew's Precious Doodles Layered Stamping Floral Dies

I fell in love with the Precious Doodles Bundle…when “doodles” is in the title, I know it is going to be a favorite of mine! This is a darling stamp layering set and you can find my original post HERE.

Altenew Coloring Book watercolor page framed artwork.

I received so much positive feedback on this watercolor piece! I LOVE Altenew’s watercolor products and I used them on my framed project. I started with the Poppy from Altenew’s Coloring Book and I painted it with the 36 Pan Set and Artists Brushes. You can see my original post HERE.

Messy masculine mixed media card

I love mixed media, and this card was my 2nd most popular post on Instagram. You can see my original post HERE. I got really messy and used tons of fun products to create this masculine birthday card.

Clean and Simple + Gel Press Printing Rainbow Grid Card

If there is such a thing as CAS Mixed Media, then this is it. I love the clean white contrast with the rainbow colored gel press die cut squares and the giant black Altenew Mega Hello sentiment. You can see my original post HERE.

Altenew Craft Your Life Always Sunshine Kit card

I love all of the Craft Your Life releases but this Always Sunshine Kit was especially popular with my blog readers. You can read my original post HERE: I love coloring with stencils and that is the technique I used on this card.

Altenew Craft A Flower Open Peony

I always love Altenew’s Craft-A-Flower kits and this Open Peony was my favorite Craft-A-Flower in 2022. You can read my original blog post HERE.

Altenew Timeless Tulips with coordinating ink blend background.

Who doessn’t love a floral bouquet? Altenew’s Timeless Tulips premiered in August and I think it is a gorgeous set with two big beautiful floral stamps. You can read my original post HERE.

Altenew Summer Wishes stamp, die and coloring stencil card.

I will finish with Altenew’s Summer Wishes Bundle which is oh, so fun! I created a cozy little beach scene comprised of an adirondack chair, umbrella, radio and flip flops. This is such a happy card and I know I will pull out this bundle year after year. You can find my original post HERE.

Prizes:

Over $500 in total prizes! Altenew is giving away a $100 gift card to 1 lucky winner, 3 $50 gift cards, and 27 $10 gift cards. Winners will be chosen from both blog hop #1 and blog hop #2. Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog HERE by 12/27/2022 for a chance to win. 

Wait, there’s MORE!

We would also LOVE to see YOUR favorite handmade cards, layouts, home decor, etc. featuring Altenew products! Feel free to share them on social media or on your blog using the hashtag #AltenewBest2022. You may also add a link by clicking the blue button below.

FOUR lucky crafters will each win a $15 gift certificate to our store! Winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 12/29/2022. We are looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations!

Blog Hop Order:

Altenew Card Blog

Erin Thompson

Annemarie Caister

Seeka

Karen Brown You Are Here!

Claire Apostoloff Claire is Next!

Mindy Eggen

Fiona Duff

Karen Reátegui

Carol Hintermeier

Bobby Hagen

Michelle Short

Lorena Brougher

Michelle Burnier

I am so pleased that you took a moment to stop by! If you have time, I’d love to hear which project you liked best.

Wishing all my crafty friends a healthy and happy 2023!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Spellbinders | October 2022 Club Kits

Spellbinders October 2022 Large Die of the Month: watercolored die cut Christms Ornament card

Large Die of the Month – October 2022

Hello! Today is Release Day for the October 2022 Spellbinders Club Kits and I have several cards to share with you. I’ll start with the beautiful Large of Die of the Month, which is a seasonal stitched Christmas ornament. In my mind, I saw a softly watercolored bauble so I die cut the ornament from watercolor paper. Then, using the wet on wet technique, I loosely painted the die cut with three shades of aqua. I also painted a pink and green panel for the poinsettia and greenery. I used the greenery from Stitched Ornament (S4-1231), which was released earlier this year. After allowing the paint to dry, I darkened the edges with a second coat of water color.

I used three strands of blue gray embroidery floss. I created the background (3 5/8″ x 8 5/8″) with this month’s Embossing Folder of the Month. I wanted a showy card, so I used a big slimline card base (8″ x 9″, scored at 4″). I found this card so relaxing to make!

watercoloring die cuts:  Spellbinders stitched Christmas ornament.

Small Die of the Month – October 2022

I created a cheerful Get Well card with the Small Die of the Month (Outlined Christmas Sentiments) kit. I love the ten mix and match sentiments (and shadows): Merry, Greetings, Warm, Christmas, Holiday, Wishes, Cheer, Enclosed, Joyous, Hugs.

Spellbinders October 2022 Small Die of the Month (Outlined Christmas Sentiments) Club Kit card.

I started by embossing my background (September 2022 Embossing Folder of the Month: Scattered Fall) on Waterfall Cardstock, and then used the shadow dies to cut an opening for the words Warm Hugs Enclosed. The sentiment was then die cut from Copper Metallic Cardstock. I’ve found it works well if you attach a sheet of double sided adhesive paper to the cardstock prior to die cutting. After you die cut, just pull away the backing paper and apply! I also die cut the poinsettias (included in this month’s kit) from Teal Topaz and white cardstock. The last step was to assemble the A2 Top Folding card with craft foam behind the background and foam tape squares behind the poinsettias.

Warm Hugs Enclosed Get Well card: Spellbinders October 2022 Die of the Month Club Kit.

Embossing Folder of the Month: October 2022

My last card was quick and easy! Using this month’s Embossing Folder (Scattered Christmas). I created my background with blue cardstock. I wanted the lovely embossing to be the star on this card.

Spellbinders October 2022 Embossing Folder of the Month Club Kit card.

I added a bold seasonal sentiment with three enamel dots and added the components to a top folding A2 card base.

Quick and Easy 3D Embossed Card using Spellbinders October 2022 Embossing Folder of the Month.

I am so glad you stopped by today!

Karen

cardmaking

Altenew Celebrating Watercolors Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Total Prizes!

 Framed watercolor Poppy from Altenew's Watercolor Coloring Book

Altenew’s 36 Pan Watercolor Set

Hello friends! Did you know it is World Watercolor Month? To celebrate, Altenew is hosting a grand Blog Hop with LOTS of prizes and inspiration.

I LOVE Altenew’s watercolor products and I used them on my framed project. I started with the Poppy from Altenew’s Coloring Book and I painted it with the 36 Pan Set and Artists Brushes.

Watercolor Poppy for World Watercolor Month using the Altenew 36 Pan Set

The coloring book is such a great idea!  There are 12 designs…24 printed pages on good quality watercolor paper.  Each design has a black outline and a “no-line” outline.  I am going on vacation soon and this coloring book will be making the trip as it is so packable. Grab the book, brushes and watercolors and I am set for hours of creating.  I also think this would make a great gift!  

I went slow while I painted and added layer upon layer of color.  For me, this is the secret to watercolor painting.  Add color and blend with a damp brush with clean water, let dry and repeat. The quality of the paper in the coloring book allowed me to add lots of layers without any worry about the paper breaking down.

This no-line Poppy was loads of fun to paint!  I didn’t mix the paints but used the color right out of the pans.  Lovely and feminine.  I did add a few accents to the flower’s center with a black pen and white gel pen.

Pink watercolor Altenew Poppy.
Altenew’s Coloring Book

Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this special blog hop, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 08/05/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/09/2022.

Blog Hop Order

Altenew

Jenny Colacicco

Kelly Taylor

Therese Calvird

Amber Rain Davis

Seeka

Virginia Lu

Tina Smith

Ishani Sai

Isha Gupta

Tenia Nelson

Joylita Dsouza

Karen Brown

Sandhya Iyer

Terri Koszler

LauraJane

Hussena Calcuttawala

Nenette Madero

As always, I am so very happy that you stopped by!

Karen

Uncategorized

Altenew Ultimate Watercolor Lovers Blog Hop + Giveaway

Altenew Watercolor Coloring Book and Watercolor Brushes

Hello and welcome!  I\’ve had a delightful weekend playing with Altenew\’s  new  Watercolor Coloring Book and Watercolor Brushes (Bundle).  The coloring book is such a great idea!  There are 12 designs…24 printed pages on good quality watercolor paper.  Each design has a black outline and a \”no-line\” outline.  I am going to the beach soon and this coloring book will be making the trip as it will be so packable. Grab the book, brushes and watercolors and I am set for hours of creating.  I also think this would make a great gift.  

Altenew watercolor Lilly and Poppy

I used Altenew\’s 36 Pan Watercolor Set for all of my painting.  For the Lilly, I wanted to work on mixing watercolors.  I started with the salmon pinks but did a lot of custom paint mixing with my pinks and greens.  

Altenew watercolor Stargazer Lilly.

With both paintings, I went slow and added layer upon layer of color.  For me, this is the secret to watercolor painting.  Add color and blend with a damp brush with clean water, let dry and repeat. The quality of the paper in the coloring book allowed me to add lots of layers without any worry about the paper breaking down.

I liked the Lilly so much that I framed it and set it on the ledge around my bath tub.

This no-line Poppy was loads of fun to paint!  I didn\’t mix the paints but used the color right out of the pans.  Lovely and feminine.  I did add a few accents to the flower\’s center with a black pen and white gel pen.

Altenew Watercolor pink poppy

Altenew Round and Detail Watercolor Brushes

Altenew also just released Round and Detail watercolor brushes which pair so well with the Watercolor Coloring Book!  You can also order the Brush bundle at a discount.  

Altenew how to watercolor detail brushes

 If you want to up your watercoloring, consider taking Emily Midgett\’s Watercolor 101 Class.  I took it last fall and it improved my watercoloring skills more than any other class I\’ve taken.

*****************


Special Offer

To celebrate the release of the watercoloring book,  Altenew is running a free gift promotion for a limited time. Receive a FREE brand new Poppy Arrangement Stamp Set  (worth $23.99) with every order of the new  Florals Coloring Book and Watercolor Bundle from 2/11/2021 at 12:01 AM EST until 2/14/2021 at 11:59 PM EST.  Free gift will be added to cart automatically.

 Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners 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 02/16/2021 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 02/19/2021.

LINK TO BLOG HOP

Hello!  You likely came from the beautiful post by Nathalie DeSousa and after me, you are on to Tenia whose cards are always an inspiring treat.

Altenew Card Blog

Jaycee Gaspar

Erum Tasneem

Therese Calvird

LauraJane

Jenny Colacicco

Nicole Watt

Seeka

Emily Midgett

Amanda Baldwin

Virginia Lu

Rosie Neustaedter

Norine Borys

Terri Koszler

Nathalie DeSousa

Karen Brown         You are here!

Tenia Nelson

Tina Smith

Lilith Eeckels

Verity Biddlecombe

Maryam Perez

Yoonsun Hur

Kelly Latevola

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen