Altenew Educators "Giving Thanks" Blog Hop and Linky Party + Giveaway


Today I am excited to be part of the Giving Thanks Blog Hop where we Altenew Educators show some of the cards we have been making to say thank you to all those who have worked and still are working hard to keep us all safe on the front lines during the Covid19 pandemic.
If you have come from Rosie Neustaedter's blog you are on the right track, you can always start at the beginning of the hop on the Altenew Card Blog. For a full list of participating blogs, scroll to the bottom of this post.

This is no ordinary hop! We want you to join in the fun as well. There is a Linky Party going on at the Altenew Card Blog. All you have to do is link up your creations based on the theme of the hop,, "Giving Thanks" and mention that you are taking part in the Altenew Educators Blog Hop and Linky Party. So what are you waiting for?

EDITED FOR PRIZE WINNER!
Congratulations to Suzanne Russel who has been chosen by Altenew as a winner from my blog.
Please send an email at winner@altenew.com with the subject line “June 2020 Giving Thanks to Heroes Blog Hop Giveaway Winner from Helen Kalb's blog” by 06/30/2020 so they can set you up with your prize. 

Because we are early summer in the Northern hemisphere I wanted to use the Wildflower Garden stamp and die set for some of my cards today. This is a beautiful and versatile set and here are a couple of very different ways to use it. For another card using this set and a completely different look, see this post: Pick Me!

My first cards were made with a very old but fun technique that gives almost a hand pressed flower quality to the card - stamping with water based markers!



Put your individual stamps onto acrylic blocks, scribble one or two water based marker colors directly on to the stamp, mist once with a spray bottle and stamp down on your water color paper. You can do second and even third generation stamping too. I started with the stems and leaves and added the flower heads afterwards. The awesome sentiment is from the Stone Mosaic set.


I stamped up a big sheet of wildflowers and then cut the best parts down to just under A2 using a nested rectangles die set and mounted the cards on color card bases.
The sentiment is from Label Love - French. Did you know you can get the Label Love set in several languages including Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, German?

Now for a complete different look using the same stamp set; Wildflower Garden. 
Start by die cutting the flower shapes using the coordinating dies out of blue, pink and white cards stocks, then stamp the flowers in blue, red and yellow inks. Die cut a circle from green paper and assemble the flowers into a lovely, summery bouquet and mount on a square card base. 
Quite often I don't put sentiments on my cards just because I like the clean look.


After the flowers I wanted to go for a completely different style, I have a few Altenew set that have fun graphic elements, one of my favorites is the Stone Mosaic set which I used on the next few cards.
This fantastic set lets you create a a slate of polished stone in any color combo you like using one, two, three or four layers.


For the first card I used three layers and stamped them in oranges and blues, then I mounted the image on a standard A2 sized card base in orange and added the U Rock sentiment from Label Love. Clean, simple, colorful and cool! For another graphic card see this post: Trigonometry

We have had really bad weather here in Berlin for the past few days so my picture is not excellent but I really wanted you to see the shiny embossing on my card below.


For this one I gold embossed one of the layers in Rose Gold embossing powder and stamped two more layers in Grass Green and Pink Pearl. You can really play with different color combos with this set using all the lovely colors of Altenew Crisp Inks. The label is again from Label Love - French where I cut the sentiment apart for it to read "for you", it was stamped in Grass Green and then over stamped in clear embossing ink to be shiny but still the same color green as the green on the card.

Then I took one of the Stone Mosaic images and used it as a background for a flower - I am telling you, this is a genius set and it has some great sentiments as well!


All four layers for the background were stamped in grays, pink and green to match my peony from the Hope set. This is a must have set that lines up easily and can be stamped in so many color combos. I wanted mine to look like the gorgeous bouquet in my living room.


To stamp the flower I used the same Pink Diamond ink for all layers and stamped only the last three layers, so not the first solid one - that made for a pale pink peony.


Then I made a couple of other little square cards without sentiments and just some blooms. For the one with a green background I used Morning Frost and Pink Diamond inks to stamp a white flower. 
Here is another idea for using the Hope set in bright reds: Sign me up!

For your information I have linked all the products I have used to the Altenew shop, please note that I do not receive a commission from Altenew, this is purely a service to you, my blog readers.

Prizes:
Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 6/17/2020 for a chance to win.

We'll also draw a winner to receive a $15 Altenew gift certificate from the comments left on each designer's blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Card Blog on 6/21/2020.

There's MORE! We will pick 2 of our favorite handmade creations from those who joined the linky party and they will also receive a $15 Altenew gift certificate.

Special offer:
FREE US shipping with code HAPPY6T or $5 OFF international shipping with code SHOPPING6T at checkout on orders over $29. Offer valid from 6/10/2020 at 12:01 EDT through 6/11/2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Shop HERE! Not valid on prior purchases. Cannot be combined with other promo codes. Not valid on Altenew Academy Classes and Virtual Workshops.

I hope you will visit each of the talented Altenew Educator's blogs and leave some love for my friends!

you are here - Helen Kalb - you are here
this is where you go next: Laurel Beard


Comments

  1. I love the beautiful soft stamping of the wild flowers in your first two cards and that fun design with the gold dots!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Meghan, the watercolor marker technique is an oldie but goldie!

      Delete
  2. All so delightful! Me too, I adore Wild Flower Garden ones!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cindy, Wild Flower Garden is such a brilliant set.

      Delete
  3. The first one is so sweet, like a meadow

    ReplyDelete
  4. Stunning cards. Your different color combos work so well together!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Diana,
      I love selecting colors, for me it's really one of the great joys of card making.

      Delete
  5. Beautiful cards Helen! Love that Stone Mosaic stamp, that's one I'll need to add to my stash :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rosie, Stone Mosaic is a wonderful set!

      Delete
  6. Your cards are so pretty Helen! Love them all :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such dainty and sweet cards, Helen!!! Love them all!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful beautiful beautiful work!! Love everything you made! What a fabulous variety!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love all of the cards but there is somerhing extra special with the wild flowers. So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love your cards. Especially like the ones using the Hope Set that you made with the inspiration of your lovely peony. Love peonies and had my first bloom on mine in late spring (Sarah Bernhardt--looks similar to yours).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Linda,
      Peonies make my hear beat a little faster.

      Delete
  11. Oh I love the spring flowers on your cards. So fresh and light.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I absolutely love the elegant feel of your cards. Gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your very kind comment Janis!

      Delete
  13. These cards are so pretty, Helen! I love the first two cards. The watercolored flowers look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love all your cards and great ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJune 10, 2020

    Marisela Delgado said: so beautiful! mariandmonsterd@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. love all of the cards, but the peony is my absolute favorite!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What wonderful cards. Every card is amazing. I especially like the wildflower card.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your cards are beautiful - I especially like the pink peony. It's as pretty as your real peony!

    ReplyDelete
  19. So very beautiful. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  20. Very pretty cards. I can like the watercolor look of those first two cards and the peonies are beautifully colored.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nicely done. Thank you for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great look with the squares behind the 3 Hope set cards - the graphic look is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jen,
      I do love a graphic element on a card :)

      Delete
  23. Love the style of your beautiful cards! I especially love the wildflower designs!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such pretty cards! My favorite is the green circle with the flower die cuts. I also really like that stone mosaic background with the flower. I wouldn't have thought or known how to use the mosaic, but it looks fabulous as the flower's background.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you Dorothy, the one with the green circle is my favorite too - it went to my daughter whose birthday it is today. :)

      Delete
  25. All of your cards are very pretty. Thank you and be safe.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like the press flower look.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Loved the use of the sprayed water color method

    ReplyDelete
  28. Absolutely stunning and creatively inspirational card(s)!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lovely cards! Thanks for sharing. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations Suzanne, your comment was chosen by Altenew to win a prize, please go back to my blog post for instructions on how to claim the prize!

      Delete
  30. So glad you had a flower as your inspiration. It’s a definite match!

    ReplyDelete
  31. You are a master at using pretty colors! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love your peony cards. Perfect time of year to use that gorgeous flower.
    I envy that big vase of real peonies.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Helen thank you so much for your blog! I love the wild flower cards and look forward to trying your technique with water based markers. I ended up buying a couple sets of love stamps----in French and one set in Spanish. I still have to get the wild flower set. You're very inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merci Leslie,
      Je suis sure que tu vas adorer le Label Love en français!
      Sorry I do not speak Spanish but you'll see the Label Love sets are so very useful!
      Thanks for your sweet comment!

      Delete
  34. Lovely cards all, and I will be trying the markers with water mist technique this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cindy , you'll have so much fun with this technique!

      Delete
  35. Lovely cards. Elegant and bright.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh my Goodness!! These are all amazing and very creative!! I especially love your first two wild flower cards...I've never used markers on my stamps and definitely need to give it a try! Those peonies are beautiful...mine here in Northern Kentucky just finished blooming!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patty, you shpuld definitely try the marker technique, so fun and easy to do!

      Delete
  37. Patricia BeckJune 12, 2020

    Wow, your cards are so diverse in style, and I love them all! Thank you for sharing and inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  38. so many different cards to admire and learn from

    ReplyDelete
  39. All are so beautiful. I really love the water color ones.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful cards. I especially love the first two. I can't wait to try the stamping with water based makers technique.

    ReplyDelete
  41. pat youngJune 12, 2020

    What an amazing array of ideas! You are very creative. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pat, I hope you try some of the techniques!

      Delete
  42. Beautiful cards! I especially love the first card - the look of watercolor.
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The marker technique always gives such pretty results. Love all your cards!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. These are lovely. You've done a wonderful job. I like the gold touches and the florals are lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I had forgotten about the "color your stamp and mist it, then stamp" technique!! It's very beautiful with this set. the great backgrounds and versatility you've demonstrated with each set has opened my eyes to new possibilities! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love your cards. The first is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love that soft wild flower card - just lovely and sweet. I also love those square cards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nox, you cannot go wrong with a square card!

      Delete
  48. Your cards are all so unique and beautiful!! I love the one with the gold embossing!! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  49. Beautiful cards. Love the hand pressed card. The flowers look almost like tissue paper.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thanks for sharing your cards 😁

    ReplyDelete
  51. Helen, your cards are great. The first one is my favorite. I forget that technique and how simple but how gorgeous it looks.

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousJune 15, 2020

    Beautiful cards. I really like the French sentiments.

    ReplyDelete
  53. love your cards, especially the first two - they're so delicate and pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Very pretty group if cards. I definitely need to try the watercolor marker stamping. Yours looks so cute. The stone mosaic stamp is very unique. The rose gold embossing looks really pretty in there. The peony is probably my favorite though. The peony looks so soft and pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Beautiful and sweet cards...love your clean look.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Beautiful creations! Thank you for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Pretty and creative card designs.

    ReplyDelete
  58. The peonies are outstanding and so realistic!!! Love the photo too. Gorgeous! That little bud stole my heart! Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Love the delicate look of the wild flowers. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Your cards are Soooo Beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Love the delicate flowers

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love reading your comments, thanks for taking the time to leave one :)

This is a public blog, meaning any comments left will be visible by 3rd parties and 3rd parties may be able to access your information from your comment left here. I will not contact you except to answer your comments and I will not store your contact information anywhere else than in your comment.

See other posts