February is here and we have a new monthly challenge for you! This time around, we have the wonderful Erica to introduce the February 2025 Inspiration Challenge with some projects featuring the most relaxing color choices!

February 2025 Inspiration Challenge

Each month, a member of the Altenew Design Team (or guest designer) selects a photo that they have taken and then uses that as inspiration for a project. We want to share the fun, of course, and so we invite YOU to use your own creativity to make a project inspired by this month's photo. Let's hear it from Erica!

Let's Make Textured Backgrounds And Sweet Greetings!

Hi Altenew friends and fans, it's time for a new monthly challenge and I thought it would be fun to create some textured backgrounds and do some puzzles. Not proper puzzle, but paper puzzles.. sort of.

There is a challenge graphic, and some gorgeous colors to inspire you to create a project. This is a photo I took of my coffee and macarons, while wearing what I call my Altenew robe. It has such a beautiful pattern, and always makes me think of Altenew florals and summer. Today we are going to take that little picture, use the colors and get creative!

Inspiration Challenge Photo

Macarons are one of my favorite treats and they have this gorgeous textured edge to them, and I thought I'd try and incorporate that into my cards. Not that I usually need an excuse to add lots of texture and layers, but here I thought I'd give a reason at least. What better to create some absolutely gorgeous textured backgrounds with than some Press Plates? It's a win-win, as you get texture AND color/hot foil.

The one I went with is Essential Textures: Terrazzo Press Plate/Foil Plate, and the colors used are inspired by the challenge graphic. Between the Aqua Island Fresh Dye Ink Bundle and the Delectable Delights Fresh Dye Ink Bundle I had all three colors covered, and extra shades too. So you will need a BetterPress platform, and if you are like me and like to keep yours clean and free from ink stains, you will also need a piece of clear acetate.

I made two ombré textured backgrounds with the Press Plate and we are doing a super technical technique I like to call dibble-dabble-scribbling with the ink pads. What that means is we are going to take the ink pad, one at a time, and wiggle it over the Press Plate. The wiggling is important to avoid the harsh lines. It's also important to go from light to dark. Never, ever the other way around.

We need one of each color, and then we are going to cut them into two triangles. The triangles we are going to do a little swapper-roo with, so that we have one of each color for two backgrounds. If you don't want the backgrounds to be exactly the same, trim one of them down a little so that you get that nice white frame once you add it to a card base.

I decided to add some sweet friend sentiments with the Leaf Canopy Stamp Set and the Bold Alphabet Die-cuts. Die-cutting letters adds another textured look to a card, and it's so great that you can personalize cards and projects. A good alphabet die-cut set is essential to every craft room, in my humble opinion. I cut out ‘hugs' and ‘friend' out of white card stock. The sentiments are stamped up with Permanent Black ink on white card stock with the help of the Stampwheel.

Oh, and as a final little touch I added some Creamrose Pearl Dots to the cards too. It adds a little extra something, doesn't it? I do wish I had Pearl Dots in the lightest color of the inspiration graphic, but sometimes you have to use what you have. I think that's a better option than not adding those little beauties, right? I can't lie though, the need to get every single color of every single embellishment is so strong.

With that I'm all done and it's your turn to turn on that creativity and join in the challenge. I can't wait to see your interpretation on the challenge, you don't have to embrace the textured look I did, but I an highly encouraging it for obvious reasons.

With love and creativity,
Erica

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Do you love Erica's cards as much as we do? Now it's your turn!

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 February 28, 2025, at 11:55 pm EST.

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.