Hello there and thank you for stopping by to help celebrate Altenew January 2017 Release! As always, there are lots of great products to pick from – new stamp sets, coordinating dies and new ink colors (scroll down to the bottom of this post to see all new colors in action)!
Now that I live in Phoenix and am constantly surrounded by cacti I couldn’t resist using the Be Strong set that features a fun southwestern theme – they say Cacti are all the rage right now and I couldn’t agree more!
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CARD DETAILS
I started working on my project by stamping the front cactus using Simon’s Intense Black ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper (it’s rather expensive paper but oh so very very good – you try it once and you never want to use another watercolor paper again). I used my MISTI stamping tool and triple stamped each image for the blackest black and most solid outline possible. Cold press paper always had some texture to it, so it’s hard to get a good impression when stamping using a clear block.
I masked the front cactus and added another, slightly bigger one behind it. I also stamped Be You & Be Happy sentiment using same black ink and added a number of light strings to the top part of my watercolor panel.
For my coloring, I went with Daniel Smith watercolors (I am using their dot sampler chart – there’s a ton of color in every single dot; it’s meant for trying and testing colors but if you watercolor just a little bit this chart will last you a long time). I freehand colored the sky and horizon line as well as the sandy ground.
I added some natural twine from May Arts and also embellished my card using small and medium clear droplets from Pretty Pink Posh – I adore using them for my cards.
Here’s one last photo of this project where you can catch a bit of texture on the paper.
ADDITIONAL INSPIRATION
I also used a Splash of Color stamp set together with one of the Sketchy Cities and added bold splashes of green to do some quick coloring. I love this set and I can see myself using it often to quickly color any image (and it’s going to completely mess free!). I added a simple sentiment – Sometimes all you need is a little splash of color, tied some natural twine and adhered a strip of gold glitter tape and foam mounted my stamped panel onto a card base made out of light gray cardstock.
NEW ALTENEW INK COLORS
I thought it would be super fun to use the Splash of Color stamps to stamp all 12 new ink colors onto a piece of paper. I’m planning on stamping all Altenew inks like this for an easy visual representation.
If you are a fan of Altenew Crisp Dye inks you’ll be happy to know they now have new colors available. A set of lush, tropical greens – Tropical Forest (this is a great addition to the 3 existing green colors); vibrant orange – Warm & Cozy and cool stylish gray colors – Rock Collection. All of these are available in individual pads and in a large oval as well as small cube sets.
GIVEAWAY (NOW CLOSED)
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew blog by Thursday, February 2nd at 11:59 PM EST for a chance to win. The winners will be announced on the Altenew blog on Saturday, February 4th.
I also have one $30 gift certificate to giveaway! Leave a comment below by the end of the day, Feb 2nd. I’ll pick a random winner on Feb 4th, post winner’s name in this post and will email the winner.
The winner is Hey Jude Cards (Jude U). Congratulations!
Thank you, everyone, for your lovely comments!
NEW STAMPS
 Altenew Tiny Bubble Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Basic Borders Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Basic Headers Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Be A Lighthouse Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Faithful Feathers Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Let The Wind Carry You Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Painted Jellyfish Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Wishing You Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew A Splash Of Color Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Amazing You Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Be Strong Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Farmers Market Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Garden Hydrangea Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Halftone Circles Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Hibiscus Bouquet Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Life is Beautiful Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Recollections Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Smile More Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
BLOG HOP
The next stop on this hop is my good and crazy talented friend May Sukyong Park!
You can also start over at Altenew blog.
SUPPLIES
Altenew Be Strong Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
Altenew A Splash Of Color Stamps Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Sketchy Cities America Stamps Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Pale Gray Cardstock Shop at: AN |
 Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Arches Cold Press Watercolor Pad 9×12″ Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Neenah 80 Solar White Paper Pack 250 Sheets Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Mini Misti Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins Mix Shop at: SSS | PPP |
 Sakura Quickie Glue Pen Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Pretty Pink Posh 4MM Clear Droplets (small) Shop at: SSS |
 Pretty Pink Posh 6MM Clear Droplets (medium) Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor 238-Dot Color Chart Shop at: AZ |
 Altenew Gold & Silver Glitter Tape Shop at: AN |
 Martha Stewart Mini Scoring Board Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Medium Water Brush Shop at: SSS |
 May Arts IVORY Twine String Burlap Shop at: SSS |
 Altenew Mini Cube Set Rock Collection Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Mini Cube Set Tropical Forest Shop at: AN | SSS |
 Altenew Mini Cube Set Warm and Cozy Shop at: AN | SSS |
Love your color choices!
Great cards, always love your work. The new release is so awesome.
Fun cards! I love the splashes of color behind the skyline.
Fabulous cards and designs!
I like how you used the Splash of Color stamp set with the Sketchy Cities stamp. Really cool!
Wow both of your cards are lovely – I love the greens on the skyline card! It also took me a while to figure out how you got the ‘droplets’ of water on your first card then I realised they were embellishment! Such a gorgeous effect! x
Fun cards!
Great cards Yana! Love the new ink colors and all the new sets! TFS!
I ❤ur designs in ur card making. The colors that u use really make ur cards POP. Your cards should be in a MUSEUM IF THERE WERE A PLACE TO display ur work in card making. You r the reason I resided to make cards.❤❤❤Tks for all your hard work.
Love the colors, the sentiment and the sequins.
Fun cards and love the colors. Great release.
So many wonderful new stamps and ink sets! Your splash of color on the cityscape is so fun!
Beautiful cards, loving the greens on your cards.
I love how you used the Splash of Color stamps …. your city scene card is beautiful. I always enjoy stopping by your blog to see your creations. TFS.
Love how you’ve splashed the greens behind the cityscape. And a great idea for “swatching” the inks.
Loving the new ink colors. The light strings are so cute and fun
Love your cards. Really like the Splash of Color stamp.
Splash of color is one of my new faves! Altenew has outdone themselves this release!! Great idea with the color splotches behind all the intricate lines of the city scape stamp…Very mixed media style which I LOVE! You are always an inspiration.
Nice cards, thanks for sharing.
Love the Splashes of Color. Also, the Warm and lazy ink cubes!
Great color and fun images!
I need all those new products and now!! 🙂
Tan very beautiful cards. Love the technique using the splotches to color!
Two fun & colourful cards! Love how you used the Splash of Colour with the Sketchy Cities!
So fresh and beautiful – love the colours and designs!
Amazing cards! Love the combination of the Splash of Color + sketchy Cities – wow!!!!
Love love love the “coloring” you did on the cities. Can’t wait to try out this technique!!!
Nice cards, Thanks for sharing! Denise
Love the new colors from Altenew! And I love the cards ~ you are such an inspiration.
what fun cards, I really like the splash of color card with the cityscape, it turned out wonderful!
Love your card with the cityscape. I agree every card doesn’t have to be complicated and complex to be beautiful and yours are.
The colors and scene remind me of a Mexican fiesta. Wonderful!!
Super fun cards! Love the colors♥
love the coloring
Your colors are so vibrant! Thank you for sharing!
I like how you used the splash of color…
Those splashes of color on the sketchy cities are great!
Love the “splash of colour” stamps – what a good idea to use them to ID the ink colours!
Love the green splotches on the city card!
Love your cards. I especially love the cityscape with the splashes of color. Great new colors.
Stunning cards with stunning colours, love the cityscape, but I couldn’t choose between any of them. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely cards!
Such fun cards! Love the cacti.
I love the paint splash stamps with the city outline – so effective. A great idea to use these stamps as a colour reference tool, too – think I might have to “borrow” that idea! x
Awesome release, great colors and neat cards.
Love your cityscape card with the bold colors splashes. These new colors are wonderful.
I love the splash of color stamps – so many ideas right now!
O my, what fabulous cards!! When I saw cacti stamp set I immediately thought of you and figured you’d use it asap. Love the splash of colour with the city scene and your third card was a great way to showcase the new ink pad colours. I always love seeing what you’ve made. Always so creative, inspiring and original!!
I am loving these new ink colors your cityscape card is so funky and cool!
These are so awesome!