Ready for inspiration to bloom this May? Let's kick your creative juices into high gear by introducing this month's inspiration challenge, hosted by Nathalie DeSousa!

May 2024 Inspiration Challenge

Hi friends! It's Nathalie DeSousa with you today to introduce the May 2024 Inspiration Challenge. Each month, a member of the Altenew Team selects a photo that they have created themselves and then uses it as inspiration for a project. We want to share the fun, and invite YOU to use your own creativity to make a project inspired by our photo!

Inspiration Photo

I pulled a few pictures from  my gallery, and finally decided on this one that shows one of the floral bouquets I received for Mother's Day last year (as you can see, there were quite a few floral arrangements on the sofa table!) Usually we have a lot of tulips around  this time of the year.  The ones in the photo came as buds, and had a beautiful combination of yellow and coral, while the others showed hints of fuchsia in the inner petals.  In addition, I love the movement tulips create when they are placed on a vase; it is as if the tulips turn to catch the sun filtering through the windows. Color and movement – a perfect combination for a spring inspired card.

Creating Innovative Cards with Vivid Colors

For this card, I am starting from scratch with a sheet of letter size heavy white cardstock, and a few Altenew products. I am bringing the same flowers from the picture to my card using the Craft A Flower: Tulip Layering Die Set, and a selection of Fresh Dye Inks and Crisp Dye Inks.

Tip: I wanted to bring the look of different tones of color in a petal to my die-cuts. I achieved this by dragging ink on smooth cardstock, so that it forms streaks on the paper.

I layered different tones of inks together so that there is a nice combination of color streaks on the paper. I made sure to cut each piece from a different section of the paper, so that when they are glued together, they give this semi-natural look. I am contrasting the look of the flowers with a more even ink application on the leaves.  This makes the flowers pop a bit more on the card.

Adding a Twist to the Card Shape

Since I want to bring more of the colors in the flowers to the background of the card, I decided to create “rainbows” for the base of the card. For this, I am using the Double Rainbow Stencil to create the front of my card.  I trimmed my white cardstock to 11″ x 5.5″ then set the stencil at the bottom right corner of the paper, so that the larger arch sit flush to the 5.5″ right edge. Next, I added color to the first three (from right) arches following the colors in the May 2024 Inspiration challenge. I used the Crafter's Essential Scoring Board to create a score line along the left edges of the arches (at about 3.5″ from right edge).  I carefully used my scissors to trim around the outer edge of the rightmost arch, thus creating my first rainbow, and the front of the card. Now, I needed to create the base of the card, so I scored a second line at 4.25″ from the previous scoring line. This resulted on an extra flap on the right side of the panel. I repeated the rainbow stenciling at the bottom of this flap, so that the arches start at the scoring line and end at the bottom of the card  – my second rainbow. Using my Comfy Cut, I trimmed this flap, so that only the three arches remained in it, thus creating the back of the card, and a two flap opening for my card. I  used the Mini Delight: Light My World to stamp the sentiment in the inside part of the small rainbow.

Video Tutorial: Unique Hack to Add Colors to Floral Die-Cuts

I want you to take a closer look at how this card comes together, the inks I used, and  how the card opens up, so I created a video of the entire process.  You can watch the video here by clicking on the image below, or in HD in Altenew's YouTube Channel. I hope this card inspires you today! If you would like to join in the challenge, simply use our inspiration photo from the graphic above and link your project/s by clicking the button below. You could win one of five $30 gift certificates to the Altenew store! Thanks so much for stopping by today, I cannot wait to see what you will create! ~Nathalie

Now, it’s your turn! We can’t wait to see what you create!

Play along with our Inspiration Challenge

• 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 the challenge as many times as you wish!
• The challenge ends on May 31st, 2024, at 11:55 pm EDT.

FREE Coloring Pages!

Nothing from Altenew in your crafting stash? Not a problem! Introducing our FREE Coloring Pages, a collection of printable coloring sheets that you can use for the Inspiration Challenge. Color them with your favorite medium or combine them with other designs in your stash – the creative possibilities are endless! Get more designs here. After the challenge ends, FOUR WINNERS will be selected. Each will receive a $30 gift certificate to  spend at www.altenew.com. There's MORE! Each winner also gets a chance join one of our future blog hops as a guest designer. Winners will be announced on June 10, 2024.

More Prizes! 

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 badge above and let everyone know you are a participant in our Inspiration Challenge! Good luck and happy crafting!