5 Ingredients for a Card

Hello friends!

I am popping in to share a card idea that was swimming in my head.
By using 5 ingredients, I came up with this colorful love-themed card.

My idea was to "mix up the alphabet dies" and create my own sentiment.
I strongly encourage you to do that if you have various sets or sizes of alphabet dies or stamps.
This is where your originality comes through!

There are 5 basic ingredients in this card as I break down the process in 5 steps.

1. Dies:  Mega Alphabet Dies is, well, tremendously helpful when it comes to home decor or designs with bold sentiment. I use just the Mega L Alphabet Die here.

2. Stamps: I stamped Floral Alphabet Stamps ( Dies)
on the pattern paper. Since the paper surface is a bit slick, I also clear-embossed the alphabet.

 

3. pattern paper: Enchanting Washes Paper Pad has some really beautiful and vibrant paper. 
The letter "L" and "ove" are all die cut from that paper collection. 
 

 4. Washi Tape: The Painted Fantasy Washi Tape goes perfectly well with Enchanting Washes Paper Pad . I also added Golden Edge for that extra Wow factor. 

5.  embossing powder: Clear and white embossing ink were used (see links below). The whit-embossed "you" is from Sweetest Peas.

Scrapbook.com is having a card-making sale.
Shop Altenew Floral Alphabet Stamp Set here and die set here

(valid till Jan. 24th)
 
I hope that you find today's post inspiring and perhaps it makes you want to create something with 5 ingredients? If you do, please link it up to my "show & Share" (see top right side bar). I'd love to see what you create! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

More Water-Coloring (& a Light Bulb Moment)

Hello friends! 

I am popping in with a quick post.

Today's card was watercolored (with the Altenew 24 Pan Set) a while ago...

Happy Bloom

Recently, I added a few touches with the Watercolor Brush Markers (Winter Wonderland).

 

After all the water-coloring, I added some details.
Namely, I water-colored the silver borders!!

Ding---> Stretch your stencils! Use one part of the stencil and add details!

With the Classy Stripe Stencil, I only use ONE STRIPE to color in the border with silver metallic brush marker.

You may see some silver splatter?

 Those were added along with the silver border.

  

 I used a different stamp set for the sentiment (Dandelion Wishes). It fits perfectly!

Lastly, I want to thank you for your continuing support.
For me, blogging gets all the more challenging in the last year. I try to post more in my Facebook page (search Yes, Virginia page)and Instagram (yesvirginialu). However, this blog is still my main passion. I believe in posting strong and quality content in my blog. It doe take up nearly all my free time, but I gladly do it. If you make visiting my blog a part of your day/week, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Please link up your new creations to my "Show & Share" if you have not done so.
I want to see what you make and will leave you some blog love!

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(edited)

Scrapbook.com  is having a Card-making Sale! 
Shop HERE
  3-day Card Making Sale! Shop now and SAVE 20% to 50% on all card making supplies! Everything you need, from cardstock to stamps to die cutting items, is all marked down plus so much more! This sale ends on Thursday, January 24th at midnight MST, so shop now for the best selection!
Shop Altenew products here

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Altenew offers Double Points with the Altenew online shop.

Thanks for stopping by!

DIY Coloring Card

Hello friends!

It is my turn to share a project with you over Altenew Card Blog.

Today's project is a DIY coloring card.

Basically, you can stamp any design to create your coloring pages for a card.
I am using Wispy Begonia Stamp/Die Bundle as my example.

 
As the scale is simple and smaller, it is very do-able.
 With the availability of two sets of Altenew Watercolor Brush Markers (Spring Garden and Winter Wonderland), I find myself keep reaching out for them to do quick water-coloring. The lovely Wispy Begonia Stamp/Die Bundle has simple yet intricate outline stamps. This set is perfect for any types of coloring.

 

 Firstly, let’s talk about the composition. When you stamp a design, it is a good idea to start with the largest and most prominent image first. I stamped the yellow Begonia with Warm Sunshine Crisp dye Ink. With the coordinating die cut piece as masks, I then stamped the leaves and another Begonia. I like to keep flower arrangement in a cluster and that is what I did here.

 I usually do the “Wet-on-Wet” approach when coloring larger images. That means I first applied tiny bit of water first, then I applied the watercolor brush colors. Once the colors mix, you can just sit back and relax and enjoy the simple water-coloring. The sentiment was stamped in Embossing Ink Pad and then embossed in Pure White Embossing Powder.

Once I finished coloring the flowers, I applied Gray color to the background. I used Halftone Stencil as a guide and added Silver Metallic Watercolor. This is a rather safe and controlled way to add some seemingly random spots to the background.  A piece of grey card stock (Celebrations 6×6 Paper Pad) and Rock Collections Enamel Dots are the right embellishment for this colorful design.

I hope today’s card makes you want to create your own watercolor cards! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Wispy Begonia is a smaller stamp set and that makes it more affordable, too. 

Hope you like today's post! It will be much appreciated if you stop by Altenew Card Blog to leave me some love! You also get to be eligible for the monthly $15 Gift Certificate giveaway! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Take on Handpicked Bouquet

Hello friends!

When you know that you can't stop playing with a certain stamp set, you know it is a GOODIE.

Handpicked Bouquet is just that. 

 Handpicked Bouquet is so popular that it was sold out in major online shops.
( edited )It is now back in stock over Altenew.  
The dies are out of stock once again over Altenew.


  Scrapbook.com has the stamp here and die here.

I am enamored with this set and just have one more card to share (hope you don't mind!).


 
I Incorporated one of my favorite things in this design: dry-embossing with the die!
 (Coni, you will like this!)
Following the dry-embossed outlines, I colored part of the background.

For the extra shiny touches, I applied some shine with Metallic Silver Brush Markers (from Winter Wonderland Collection). I love the sentiment from "Cake Love". It is an older stamp set, but is full of lovely images and sweet sentiment.



 Today is the last day for getting 40% off  with this Strength Blooms Stamp/Die Bundle .

(regular price: $30, now $18)

Thanks for stopping by!

Altenew Educator Blog Hop

Hello friends!
I have a special blog post over Altenew Card Blog today!
I am sharing a project with Delicate Primrose Stamp/Die Bundle.

As the Coordinator of Altenew Certification Program since November 2017, I have the pleasure of working with numerous creative stampers all over the world.

I am very proud of this program as I have been working heavily and tirelessly with every step of the program, from drafting the application form to the Q & A, selection of the participants, reviewing projects and answering hundreds of e-mails. It has been a very rewarding experience. However, I do plan to step back a bit from the program to focus on other things that I didn't have time for.

 
Today we have a celebratory blog hop to celebrate our certified Educators.

Here is more about Altenew Educators Certification Program (AECP)?
We started this program back in December, 2017. We now have 11 ( and counting) certified Educators in such a short time. These talented and hard-working Educators started from Level 1 and worked all their way up to Level 3. They passed 3 final challenges and successfully conducted an Altenew Card-making workshop (observed by our team members). You can find out about the program here. Today we are celebrating the certified Altenew Educators with a special blog hop. There are prizes (of course), so be sure to hop along for inspiration and creative ideas.

We asked our Educators to share their "favorites". They can be the favorite card-making styles, Altenew products or favorite techniques....etc. Being the Coordinator of the AECP, I am kicking it off here with my latest favorite medium-Water-coloring! With Altenew's Watercolor Brush Markers, anyone can color like a pro!

For the background, I used Metallic Silver Brush Markers from Winter Wonderland Collection. After adhering Flowing Butterfly Stencil with a piece of Washi Tape, I can easily apply the brush marker over the stencil. You can see the gorgeous metallic shine!

I colored the Primrose with a mix of colors. This is the fun part of playing with the Watercolor Brush Markers. You will be amazed how the color mix and you get the unexpected rich gorgeous colors! I used the paper from Our Family 12/12 Pattern Paper Collection for the card base.  The subtle green stripes provide just the right amount of color and interest.

I would like to mention that this Strength Blooms Stamp/Die Bundle is 40% off
Two days only!

(regular price: $30, now $18)

Please leave your comment (for a chance to win a gift certificate) over Altenew Card Blog.
My post here today is not part of the blog hop.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Quick Welcome Baby Card

Hello friends!

I find myself needing a baby card FAST...

Of all the cards that I made, there is nothing suitable---WHAT!?

It's just like the time when you never have the right dress for that one party....
You know what I am saying, right?
I set out to create a quick card and this is it!

 I was glad that it turned out alright. 

To color the elephant, I used two brush markers from Altenew's Spring Garden (Gray) and Winter Wonderland (silver metallic) collection.

You can get the bundle here.

 The only "fussy" part is to cut out a stamped elephant from a piece of paper and used it as mask.

The Wavy Grid Stencil is fin and easy to use.

The Enamel Dots are the perfect embellishments for this quick baby card!
Mission accomplished.
If you like stickers and such, today's the last day for getting 15% off over Altenew.
 Shop here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Ruffled Flowers!

Hello friends!

I am back with another rendition of Ruffled Flowers Stamp and Die Bundle
There was a huge shortage of Ruffle Flower Die everywhere...
This is likely one of the hottest Altenew item!

 
Guess what!? This Bundle is finally back in stock!
 Previously, I had shared three versions of  Ruffled Flowers...


Like most of you, I can't get enough of this stamp set and came back for one more.
I hope you don't mind me sharing...again.

Altenew - Clear Photopolymer Stamps - Ruffled Flowers

from: Scrapbook.com

I wanted to stamp the leaves in GRAY and then came up with another card like this.




This time I arranged the flower at the front and centered. As the flowers and leaves are so delicate, you can really arrange them however you like it.... I know, right?
If you like the colors of inks I used, please check the link at the end of this post.



You can see that there are slight variation of dimensions. The Acetate Diecut Butterfly from Altenew enhances this design to another level---light and airy.




Once I arranged the elements to my satisfaction, I filled up the tiny space with enamel dots and sequins and a bit of splatter!




I know this card will make someone special (and gorgeous) very happy!

Hurry, get this Ruffled Flowers Stamp & Die Bundle  here before they are sold out again.

ONE DAY ONLY! Get a FREE NEW Pine Cone Mini Stamp Set (value $4.99) with every order from 1/15/2019 at 12:01 AM EST until 1/15/2019 at 11:59 PM EST. While supplies last! Not valid on prior purchases.

Shop here.

Thank you for stopping by!