WANDER - Simple Stories

Hello Simple Stories friends!!
Nathalie with you today with  a new project using the beautiful Simple Vintage Great Escape collection.  As soon, as I received this collection, all i could think about was documenting our hikes around the river bank.  We live next to a river, so a large part of our neighbourhood is a part of a provincial park, which means i get to experience nature 5 minutes from home!  So, I pulled a picture of my littles enjoying our hike for this page...

I loved the papers in the collection so much, that i decided to play with them to create the page.   I started by adding a little bit of white acrylic paint to the b-side of Born to Roam paper - that creates the soft white halo around the papers -.

While the paint dried, i started to create the paper layers.  First, i backed the picture with a piece of the Fern/Juniper Basic paper.  I wanted to emphasize the color of the picture, so i decided to use lots of green and wood grain papers.   I cut layers from the Wild and Free, Time  for Adventure, Let's Explore, and Made to Wander  papers; along the way, i distressed the edges of the papers and added a bit of white paint to some of them,too.

I love the layered Chipboard frames in this collection, and have learned that sometimes, i need to alter elements to make them work for my page.  So, i trimmed the frame part of the chipboard, and used the clustered elements as an embellishment for my picture.  In addition, i added a few more stickers from the collection.

To balance the page, i added a large cluster of embellishments to the top right corner of the picture.  First i added a strip of washi tape in between the bottom two layers -this helps to give the impression of more paper layers-, then used some of the banner stickers to add more layers to the right side, then just added the large sticker at the very corner of the picture.

The large chipboard "WANDER" word is the perfect size for a title. So, i combined it with some ephemera and those cute mushroom brads to create my title.  I added small butterflies to create movement through the page starting at the title, and zig zaggiing through the page.  In addition, i added a few stamped images to bring extra sentiment to the page.

I love how this page came together, i just played with paper and embellishments to bring the rustic look of nature to the page.  I am sure you are going to love the new Simple Vintage Great Escape collection for all your outdoor adventures.  Cannot wait to see what you create with it!!

XO

Altenew + Pinkfresh Studio “Celebrate” Collaboration Blog Hop Details + Giveaway

Hi there!
 Welcome to the Altenew+Pinkfresh Studio "CELEBRATE" Collaboration Blog Hop Details + Giveaway!   You are arriving from the Pinkfresh Studio Blog  - a list of all the blog hop participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience-

Today, two of my most favorite companies are collaborating in one gorgeous collection "CELEBRATE".  I am so blessed to be part of both design teams, so it was a joy to be able to mix and match stamps, dies, embellishments and papers in my memory keeping.  Let me show you:

For my first spread, i used the Celebrate Us Stamp and Die set to create the gorgeous florals that cascade through the two pages of my spread.

I chose the  This Day paper as the background for the page, then decided to stamp the flowers using Obsidian ink for the outline, and then using just the detailing part of the stamp set to add details to the images (  Altenew Crisp Inks: Parrot, Coral Berry, Buttercream, Rose Quartz, Baby Pink).

I added my lines of journal to a piece of vellum. I added a die cut word (Celebrate Us Die Set) at the top of the journal lines, and then attached it to the background.  Just a few embellishments ( Altenew Enamel dots) and then one of the Celebrate Ephemera pieces as a title.

Simple, colorful and just perfect.  But there is so much more that you can create with this collection, let me show you a pocket page layout:

For this spread, i started by creating my journal page using the Always patterned paper.  I trimmed it to the painted details sit at the top corner of the page.  This time, i used the  Celebrate Today stamp set and Obsidian Ink to create the border around the painted area of the paper - using a mask helps to create the corner cluster stamped image-.

For my title page, i decided to replicate the journal page, and trimmed a corner of the Always paper to fit a 3x4 card pocket.  Then followed by stamping the Celebrate Today floral image on the bottom corner, and finally creating the title with the sentiments  of the same stamp set.  The small heart from the Celebrate Ephemera complete the card.

I just backed my picture with a piece of the This Day paper and then created   a small phrase sentiment using the Celebrate Today stamp sentiments.   This new collection is the perfect combination of paper, embellishments and of course stamps and dies. 

For my last project, i decided to combine the entire collection in one scrapbook page:

For this page, i used the leftover piece of the  Always Paper and paired it up with the Progress paper for the background.  

I used the Celebrate Us stamp set  to create all the florals. This time, i used Altenew's Obsidian Ink for the outline, and Pinkfresh Studio Crip Inks in: Misty Coat, Lemmon Whip, Ballet Slipper, Peach Fuzz, Coral Reef, Fresh Pear and Olive to detail the flowers.

I used the Celebrate Today stamp set to add a little bit of interest to the background.  Using Pinkfresh Studio Crisp inks  ( in coordinating colors as the background), i added a soft impression of the floral cluster and then some of the sentiments to the page.  Then added a few splatters of the diluted ink and Altenew's Metallic Watercolor palette.

To finish the page, i used the Celebrate Us Die set and Pinkfresh Studio Phrase Builder: You Die Set to create the title words.   The following video will show you how this page came together:

Just love how this page came together using the new Celebrate collection...

Of course no celebration is complete without a GIVEAWAY:

There are TWO grand prizes(entire collection worth $85.5) from Altenew and Pinkfresh Studio up for grabs. Two winners will be picked randomly from the comments left on any of the blogs listed below. Please leave your comments by 7/2/2020 to be eligible to win. 

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 Altenew or Pinkfresh Studio 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 and Pinkfresh Studio giveaway page on 7/8/2020. 

Good Luck Everyone!

I am sure you all are ready to shop for the collection, so take advantage of the promotion Pinkfresh Studio is offering ( June 26 - July 2nd)

I am so thankful you stopped by, and now you are ready to continue being inspired by this beautiful collection.  Your next stop is the amazing: LEA LAWSON. 

You can find all the participants in the list below, and can always return to the Altenew Card Blog to start the blog hop.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Daffodil Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

hello there!
Welcome to the Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Daffodil Release Blog Hop + Giveaway. You are arriving from Erum's blog - a list of the all the participants is available at the bottom of this post.

It is time for a new addition to the PAINT-A-FLOWER family.  Let's welcome DAFFODIL to the PAF Family.  This new stamp set is amazing, detailed and versatile.  I chose to create a new entry of my Family album using the stamp and watercolor..

I started by softly stamping the small image of the Daffodil flower with Limestone crisp ink and then used the Altenew artist palette to detail it.

I carefully detailed the flower bunch with watercolor and then added a few splatters around the image. Once it dried, i used the Mega Script alpha stamp set to add the title of the layout using Obsidian Pigment ink.

For the other side of the layout, i stamped the small Daffodil bouquet with Obsidian Ink and detailed them with the Altenew Artitst Watercolor palette. This time, i fussy cut the images, and used them as picture corners in my page. The sentiments in the stamp set are the perfect size to add sentiments to the page.

I hope with all the inspiration so far, you have already decided to add the new PAF:DAFFODIL to your collection, remember you can always sign up for the Monthly Subscription program:

• Paint-A-Flower Monthly Subscription Plan (optional) https://altenew.com/products/paint-a-flower-monthly-subscription

This is a monthly subscription plan for our Paint-A-Flower set. When signed up, you are guaranteed a spot in our monthly PAF releases and will receive a set each month - at a specially discounted price! ($15.99 →$12.99)

Now it is time for the fun part of this hop: GIVEAWAY!


To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 5 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog for a chance to win. We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on THIS POST on 06/30/2020.


Good luck everyone!

Now it its time to hop onto my friend Jaycee's blog and be inspired by his work. Remember you can start the loop at the Altenew Card blog or return here to complete the hop. A list of all the participants is available for your covenience.


Altenew Card Blog
Norine Borys
Nicole Watt
Virginia Lu
Maryam Perez
Amber Rain Davis
Kymona Tracey
Tania Ahmed
Erum Tasneem
Nathalie DeSousa  << YOU ARE HERE  >>
Jaycee Gaspar
Ashlea Cornell
Lilith Eeckels
Svitlana Shayevich

have fun hopping along!

thank you for visiting and hope to see you soon!

Altenew June 2020 Stand-alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hi there!
Welcome to the Altenew June 2020 Stand-alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway. You are arriving from Nicole's blog (aren't her projects amazing!), a list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

I think every release, I repeat the same line, but i have to do it again... The new Altenew die release is amazing!!!  There are so many dies to choose from, and all are just as beautiful as the other one, so  let me show you what i created with some of these beauties...

The new SPRING ROSES Die Set is beautiful.  The larger bloom is perfect for a scrapbook page, but also as a focus for a card.   I wanted the blooms to be the focus of the card, so i kept the background pretty simple - just added strips of Sea Shore Washi Tape set - and cut  two of the blooms from white cardstock and also from two  shades of yellow cardstock.

I used the negative parts of the yellow die cuts to fill the spaces of the white die cuts and layered them to the left of the card front.  I cut the sentiment from white cardstock using the Script Word Die set, and then added a few sequin to finish the card.

If you have seen my work before, then you know, my first love is memory keeping.  So, i thought i used the same idea as the previous card in this page.   The new ROSE WREATH Die is gorgeous and just the right size to become a focal point and background on the page. This time, i created 7 die cuts:  two white, two green, two salmon and one pink and carefully peeled them from the cutting platform  -cling plastic wrap is a life saver!-.  I fully backed on of the wreaths with negative pieces from the pink and green die cuts.

I glue completed wreaths to opposite sides of the page.  I then used the new APOTHECARY LABELS Die set to cut a  title and embellishments.

To finish, i used some of the extra die cuts to repeat them under the picture.  All that is left is to add my lines of journal ( outside of the camera) .

The new GEM FRAME die are just beautiful. I love linear design, so i set out to create a card with the die set. 

I used the die to cut a few of the images from different color cardstock .   This time, i layered some of the cut pieces so that they form the background of the panel, then cut the sentiment with the Script Word die set!   Just love how easy this came together.

Here is another idea of a layered background for a card, this time using the new SODA TOP NESTING Die Set.    This repeating shape is perfect to create all sorts of cards, but also to  enhance your card backgrounds.

For this card, a few pieces of cardstock and cut the soda top shape from them.  I layered the shapes following the color family, then trimmed them all in half.  I used the paper pieces to create the colorful background.  The Handwritten Hello provides the perfect sentiment for the card!

My final project combines three of the new dies: BITTY BLOOM 3D Die Set, LEAFY BORDER Die, and APOTHECARY LABELS DIE SET.   Who doesn't love the little tiny flowers, and the border is just perfect  layout.

I started by creating borders on the edges of the page using the LEAFY BORDER Die - making sure to continue the cut so that the border spans the height of the page.  I backed the empty space behind the border with the Peach Gold washi tape, and set to create the little blooms for the page.

I cut the blooms from Gradient cardstock, and used the Verdant Walk paper pack to create the centers of the blooms.  I used these in three clusters on the page, and used the Apothecary Die set to create the small labels for the title and sentiment of the page.    Just love how this turned out!

How beautiful are these new dies!   So much you can create with them! You are going to love them!.  Of course no blog hop is complete without a GIVEAWAY

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 6/22/2020 for a chance to win.

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 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 blogs on 6/25/2020. 

Good luck everyone!

Now it is time to continue the blog hop, your next stop is the super inspiring Lydia.  Remember you can always go to the Altenew Card blog to start the hop, or return here to continue the hop.   Here is  a list of all the participants for your convenience:

Altenew Card Blog

Jennifer McGuire

Nicole Watt

Nathalie DeSousa   <<< YOU ARE HERE

Lydia Evans

Jaycee Gaspar

Laurie Willison

Vicky Papaioannou

Norine Borys

Lilith Eeckels

Svitlana Shayevich

Tania Ahmed

Therese Calvird

Virgninia Lu

Maryam Perez

Reiko Tsuchida

Ashlea Cornell

Kymona Tracey

Amber Rain Davis

Thank you for stopping by!

XO

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Tulip Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hi there!
Welcome to the  Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Tulip Release Blog Hop + Giveaway. You are arriving from Laurie's blog - a list of all the participants is available at the bottom of this post for your convenience-

Today, Altenew is releasing a new Craft-a-Flower Die set: TULIP. This set is one that you want to add to your collection as it created detailed dimensional tulips in a heartbeat, and as always with stunning results. Let me show you what i created with it:

How can you not love the beautiful details the new CAF:Tulip can create in your projects. As always, I love mixing the Altenew products in my Life Crafted album, and this time the new die was perfect for this page.

I used the new CAF:Tulip and Gradient Cardstock in Shades of Purple and Green Meadows to create the buds, leaves and stems following the layering guide that comes with the die set.

I added a bit of interest to the background of the page using the Shine Like A Diamond stamp set and Antique Gold Pigment Ink. Then used the die cut flowers to create two borders at the edges of the layout.

I added a simple title using a combination of the Puffy Alpha stickers from Live Your Dream scrapbook collection and the same stamp, then just added a few enamel dots around the flowers. The picture was layered with a paper from the Simple Blooms collection and then it was nestled within the left side border of CAF:Tulip flowers.

Can i tell you that this took no time to put together! The detailed dies bring so much to the page, that you will need just a few more embellishments to complete your project. Definitely, a must have for your collection!!! Remember you can always sign up for the subscription and rest assure that your die will arrive at your doorstep each month:

• Our Craft-A-Flower die sets are released monthly and celebrate the beauty of a wide variety of flowers! Each set includes all the pieces you need to create a multi-layered floral arrangement, inspired by our popular 3D flower dies. All you need to add is colored cardstock and a die cutting machine. 

Now it is time for the fun part of this blog hop.... GIVEAWAY time!

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 5 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog for a chance to win. We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 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 blogs on 06/23/2020.

Good Luck everyone!

Now it is VIrginia's turn to share a bit of her beautiful inspiration in her blog. You can always return to the Altenew Card blog to start the hop, or return here to complete the loop, Here is a list of the participants:

• Altenew Card Blog 
• Laurie Willison
• Nathalie DeSousa  <<< you are here>>>
• Virginia Lu
• Lilith Eeckels
• Maryam Perez
• Nicole Watt
• Jaycee Gaspar
• Therese Calvird
• Erum Tasneem