Hi there! Today, Altenew is hopping along to celebrate the release of their new March 2023 Collection! You can find the full hop list at the bottom of the post, but you can also start at the beginning at the Altenew Blog. I have two projects featuring some gorgeous cherry blossom inspiration today, so let’s get started with all of the details!
Both of my projects feature lots of beautiful texture, lots of gorgeous rose gold metallic accents, and lots and lots of pink. It’s my favorite, and I cannot get enough. I took my cues for my cards today from the new Stunning Sakura stamps, allowing bright pops of pink to be the star of my projects.
My first project features the fabulous new Everyday Sentiments Hot Foil Plate. These circular sentiments reminded me of the wax seals that are so popular right now, so after hot foiling the Hello sentiment using some Rose Gold Hot Foil, I die cut it with one of the Fine Rings: Circles dies, I began work on a bundle of flowers to “tie” with my “wax seal.”
I used the Itty Bitty Flowers dies with the Rose Petal Gradient Cardstock set, die cutting the branches from some crisp white cardstock. I wanted those bright pink blooms to really pop from the background, so keeping the branches white helps to keep the focus on the pink flowers. I adhered all of the flower components together using liquid adhesive, then adhered them to the white branches.
I used the new Wicker Texture 3D Embossing Folder with a panel of white cardstock to create this crazy-textured background. I love how the incredibly crisp embossing is still relatively subtle because of the simple, repeating pattern. I arranged my cherry blossom die cut on the card front, adhering it with some foam adhesive, then added the hot foiled “wax seal” over the bundle with a double layer of foam tape for extra height. For even more texture, I added a baby pink seam binding bow and some sparkling pink gems. This card is simple, but all of the different textural elements really help to make it interesting, I think!
My second card uses the beautiful Stunning Sakura stamps and dies with some shocking pink watercolor to keep things bright and bold! I began by heat embossing the Stunning Sakura bouquet all over an A2 panel of watercolor paper using Altenew’s Rose Gold Embossing Powder. I then used the new Fine Watercolor Brushes with my favorite Artists’ 24 Pan Watercolors to watercolor the blooms in a beautiful hot pink, keeping the foliage in the same color family by mixing in a touch of black to the bright pink (aptly named “Cherry Blossom”) to create a jewel-toned maroon. I die cut all of the finished watercolored blooms from my A2 panel, and because I had placed hanging off the edges of the panel, I knew precisely where to place them on the clean card front!
For the greeting, I hot foiled one of the greetings from the new Vertical Greetings hot foil + die bundle, again using Rose Gold Hot Foil from Altenew. I also die cut the Simply Friend die from some coordinating rose gold glitter cardstock. I adhered it to some heavyweight vellum with liquid adhesive, then used my sharp scissors to cut around the edge to create a shadow. This vellum shadow allows the greeting to stand out a bit from the busy background, where it might get lost amongst the coordinating rose gold embossing powder and bright pink blooms.
I adhered all of the watercolored cherry blossom die cuts to a panel of white linen cardstock from my stash using Instant Dimension Foam Tape. The warmth of the linen cardstock coordinates beautifully with the warmth of the creamy watercolor paper. I hate it when the whites don’t match! I adhered the hot foiled and glittery die cut greeting pieces directly over the top of the popped up flowers using a double layer of foam tape to help them stand out even more. I added a few iridescent pink gems for some sparkle and added texture.
Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now for some fun giveaway information:
$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 03/07/2023 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 03/09/2023.
**The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.**
Here’s the full hop list:
Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!
WOW! I LOVE the embossing folder and your gorgeous pink flowers!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the wicker texture background.
So different and a great backdrop
for your flowers. thanks for sharing.
Your cards are stunning! Love Altenew!
Love your cards. The Stunning Sakura is my favorite from this release.
Both cards are fantastic! Love the color palette!
Beautiful card! Love the colors and textures.
Beautiful cards! I really love the card with the wicker texture – the flowers are gorgeous and those colours!
Emily your die-cut/embossed card is gorgeous – but you always WOW me with the water coloring! So amazing – so beautiful!
=]
Stunning creations!
Ooh so pretty! Adore the wicker embossing folder.
Cool Cherry Blossoms with the lattice work behind it!
These are stunning! I LOVE your color choices!
I love die cuts, so my favorite is the buds on the woven background! Such a pretty card.
Absolutely blown away by all of your creations. Love the Wicker texture embossing folder.
Beautiful cards. Thank you for sharing them with us
Pretty cards! Love this release.
Beautiful cards. Love the wicker embossing, looks great.
Both flower cards are so pretty. I really love your coloring
Absolutely! I especially love the gorgeous HELLO card!
I too love all the pink flowers. Piecing together small flower dies is fun for me and relaxing. I’m going to be busy with that one. Love the texture created with the wicker embossing folder.
Beautiful cards and terrific backgrounds! Love this release!
Fabulous cards, beautifully colored.
Such a different approach.
Absolutely stunning cards 😍 ❤️
Stunningly beautiful creations!
I think that wicker folder may be almost as versatile as organic linen.
Just stunning.
Emily, your cards are truly awesome, so bright and spring-like, I love them all! Thank You for sharing your talent!
Thank you for sharing your designs! Really love the basket embossing background – another one to my list 🙂
Like that wicker texture embossing folder- thanks for closeup photo of that!!
Hi, Emily – That wicker background is magnificent, and the Sakura set is a dream. It’s a must-have for me, without a doubt. I also love the colors you used! Your artistry never fails to inspire.
Lori S in PA
LOVE THE HELLO CARD
The creative inspiration is overwhelming as I continue on the hop!! Your cards are marvelous!!
your cards are lovely especially the first one:)
Beautiful cards! Love the sentiment using the glitter paper
Gorgeous florals and don’t you love the option of vertical sentiments.
Your cards are fabulous I really love that wicker embossing folder!
Beautiful cards Emily! Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh yes, the cards are simple, simply stunning! Loved the wicker embossing folder, and the color choices were perfect.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards!
Beautiful inspiration!
I love your use of the wicker embossing folder. Looks super behind the sentiment, and flowers.
Love the Hello card with the Itty Bitty flowers!
Love both of your delightful floral cards! They are both so pretty! I especially love that embossed basketweave background — just lovely!
Just gorgeous! I love the watercolor sakura flowers with the gold embossing. It’s so elegant!
These are gorgeous!
Those deep pinks and wine colors are yummy.
Love Emily’s cards. Have been a huge fan for some time now, and this card is so wonderfully creative. Itchin’ to naked obw.
Thank you for sharing your talent! I love the vibrant pink flowers and color combinations! Stunning!
Fascinating joining of different elements!! I like best the wicker weave dry embossing with the bright, crisp cherry blossom die cuts. The soft, pink seam tape bow brings it all together. Thank you!
Oh very pretty! Love the wicker texture and choice of colors. Thanks for the inspiration.
Your cards are stunning. I love the gorgeous colors.
Thanks for sharing your lovely cards–love the beautiful florals!
Wow, what a stunning cards!!
Wow, that friend card is just smashing! The watercoloring is amazing.
These are stunning! The colors really pop!
Gorgeous cards! Love the embossing folder and the flowers.
Thanks for sharing.
The Stunning Sakura card is my favorite, but the wicker embossing folder is very eye catching too.
I’m in love with your Stunning Sakuras card!
Emily, I absolutely love everything about your cards. Those colors are gorgeous!
Loving your cards with all that gold. Just beautiful!
Hi Emily, Your cards are stunning. I love your color choice. They just pop off the page. The addition of the little bow is so pretty.
Lovely cards! I love them both. The close ups of the Wicker Texture Embossing Folder really show how wonderful it is. Superb painting also. Thanks for posting these!
Wow!!!! These are sooooo Stunning!!!!
Gorgeous creations! I especially love the first Stunning Sakura card!
Very pretty cards. I love the basket weave background.
These cards are amazing. Love all the new products