April 2020 Inspiration Challenge

Hello, everyone! Nicole here, and I’m happy to be hosting the April 2020 Inspiration Challenge. I rifled through lots of photos to find a fun, and different challenge for us, and I think I did! This photo is from a trip to Hawaii. This was at the Pololū Valley where the black sand beach is also covered with these beautiful ocean-polished lava rocks. Many spend time there stacking them up into cairns like the one in the photo. The floral lei helped pull in some contrasting colors to give us a great palette to work with.

I thought I’d combine the color and photo challenge with a sketch to bring you a new Sketch Starters with Nicole.

FIRST CARD

For my first project, I really wanted to draw on the rocky background, so I took the Warm Gray Artist Marker Refills to some vellum to create a beautiful alcohol ink background. I added in some Platinum embossing powder for sparkle and shine.

I used a die from Crystal Frames to cut out an oval shape from the center and then mounted it all on a card base. The flowers were no-line watercolored from the Floral Sprig stamp set. Then, I used Rubellite and Lava Rock from the 36 Pan Watercolor set.

Next, I fussy cut the finished image and separated the three blooms to create a small arrangement, tied off with some natural twine.

The card was finished off with the sentiment from the Crystal Frames stamp set – heat embossed in black on Vellum Cardstock.

SECOND CARD

For my second card, I took a completely different approach! I used Artist Marker Refill ink in Cotton Candy and Peach Perfect to create a circular background on white cardstock.

Then, I added in the sentiment from the Floral Sprig stamp set and mounted it on some Real Gray cardstock.

I finished off the design with another Floral Sprig, detailed with just a hint of Limestone Artist Marker to give it some dimension.

Of course, I have a Sketch Starter video that will help show some more details from my project!

I hope you take on this month’s Inspiration Challenge and link up your projects below. Using the sketch is optional but can be a great place to start. I can’t wait to see what beautiful designs you create!

~SUPPLY LIST~

Floral Sprig Stamp & Die Bundle —… [ ALTN ] Crystal Frames Stamp & Die Bundle —… [ ALTN ] Morning Frost Artist Marker Refill —… [ ALTN ] Evening Gray Artist Marker Refill —… [ ALTN ] Moon Rock Artist Marker Refill — Altenew [ ALTN ] Lava Rock Artist Marker Refill — Altenew [ ALTN ] Permanent Black Crisp Ink [ ALTN ] Vellum Translucent Paper (25 sheets/set) [ ALTN ] Pale Gray Cardstock (10 sheets/set) [ ALTN ] Classic Crest Solar White (25… [ ALTN ] Classic Crest Solar White (25… [ ALTN ] Cotton Candy Artist Marker Refill [ ALTN ] Peach Perfect Artist Marker Refill [ ALTN ] Artist Markers Warm Gray Set [ ALTN ] Artist Markers Colorless Blender [ ALTN ] Platinum Crisp Embossing Powder [ ALTN ]

• Altenew products should be the focus, but other companies’ products can be used.
• Make sure to use our challenge image above in your blog post.
• Include a link back to the ALTENEW INSPIRATION CHALLENGE POST.
• When uploading your project, make sure you link your entry post, not your entire blog.
• You may enter as many times as you wish!
• Challenge ends on April 30th, 2020, at 11:55 PM EDT.

After the challenge ends, FOUR WINNERS will be selected. Each will receive a $30 gift certificate to spend at www.altenew.com.

Winners will be announced on 05/09/2020. (UPDATE: Winners will be announced on 6/3/2020. We apologize for the delay.)

WAIT – there’s more!

If you use #AltenewChallenge when you share your challenge entry on social media, you are instantly entered into a raffle to win a $15 gift certificate to our online store!

Feel free to use the banner above and let everyone know that you are participating in our Inspiration Challenge!

Please click on the blue button below to link your challenge entries. We cannot wait to see where this month’s inspiration takes you!

Good luck and happy crafting!