How to Find Your Unique Style in Crafting

Last Updated: January 27, 2025

"Creativity takes courage." This simple quote by Henri Matisse beautifully captures the heart of crafting. 

A beautiful handmade Valentine's Day card with a watercolored teacup filled with flowers and a wax seal stamp design with the sentiment "love you"

 Whether you're creating with your favorite crafting tools or experimenting with new techniques, crafting isn’t just about making something beautiful—it’s about expressing who you are. For many, finding their unique creative style is a transformative journey, one filled with self-discovery, confidence-building, and the thrill of creating something truly personal.

Cute and sweet handmade greeting card idea with a stenciled background filled with sweets and candies, 3 pink glass candy jars, and the sentiment "sending you a sweet hello", made with Altenew's Tasty Treasures Bundle

Tasty Treasures Bundle

If you enjoy crafting but are still exploring all its possibilities, this blog is for you. Together, we’ll uncover how to craft your own path and discover your unique style while making every project a true reflection of your personality. Let’s get started!

Why Finding Your Creative Style Matters

Your creative style is more than a preference for certain colors or designs—it’s a way to share your individuality with the world. But why does it matter?

  • Build confidence in your crafting journey. When you find a style that feels like "you," every creation becomes a source of pride. Imagine how satisfying it feels to hold a handmade card, scrapbook album, or DIY bookmark that reflects your heart.

  • Enhance creative satisfaction. Crafting individuality allows you to connect more deeply with your handmade projects, turning every brushstroke or stamped design into a meaningful moment.

  • Make every project unique. Personalize your work and create one-of-a-kind pieces that truly stand out.

A close-up of a handmade card with heat-embossed and watercolored florals in blue and pink, made with Altenew's Watercolor Brush Markers

Quick Tip: Use tools like our Watercolor Brush Markers to experiment with vibrant, rich hues and discover how color can be a powerful part of your signature style.

How to Start Exploring Your Unique Crafting Style

Starting your journey to finding your creative style might seem daunting, but breaking it into manageable steps makes all the difference. Here’s how you can begin:

1. Identify Your Preferences

Take a moment to reflect on what resonates with you. Do you love clean, minimalist designs or bold, intricate patterns? Are soft, pastel hues your go-to, or do you prefer vibrant, dramatic colors? Do you like following a technique, a color palette, or a layout?

Simple boutique handmade greeting card with a green background and stamped white flowers and leaves, enhanced by using white gouache to paint the flowers

 Explore various techniques to see what feels most natural. For example, you might enjoy ink blending to create dreamy, ombre backgrounds or hot foiling for an elegant, polished look.

A crafter adding shimmer relief paste to a white cardstock through a stencil
A crafter adding shimmer relief paste through a stencil onto Kraft cardstock

Tool to Try: Experiment with shimmer relief pastes (or any type of relief paste) to add stunning textures to your projects. These versatile pastes can elevate simple designs into something extraordinary.

Read more on What Is Shimmer Relief Paste and How to Use It

2. Find Inspiration Everywhere

Inspiration is all around you, from nature to your cushions to your favorite book. Altenew’s monthly Inspiration Challenges and crafting contests are another fantastic way to spark your imagination. These challenges encourage you to work with specific themes, colors, or crafting supplies, helping you push boundaries and develop your unique style.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure where to start, our coordinated dye inks and curated alcohol marker sets are perfect for exploring color combinations without the guesswork.

Handmade greeting card with a background created with shimmer relief paste and stencil and a die-cut of a flying dove

Ways to Experiment and Personalize Your Projects

Once you’ve started to identify your preferences, it’s time to dive into creative experimentation. This is where the magic happens—your style truly begins to shine when you explore new ideas and techniques.

1. Combine Styles and Tools

Blend different styles to create something fresh and uniquely yours. For example:

  • Pair hot foiling techniques with watercolor backgrounds for a stunning juxtaposition of shine and softness.

  • Add depth and dimension to stamped images using stencils or 3D embossing folders.

  • Incorporate mixed media art through different types of pastes (embossing paste, relief paste, etc.), watercolors, embossing powders, etc.  

A staged photo of a slimline handmade card in the middle and black slimline envelope, wax seal stamps, wax sticks, wax beads, and wax seal tools in the background

2. Incorporate Signature Elements

Every crafter has a signature touch—a small, personal element that makes their handmade projects instantly recognizable. If you have read Altenew blogs consistently, you’ve probably seen every designer’s signature style. Whether it’s clean and simple (Aga and Tenia), coloring (Erum), or “2 cards, 1 technique/product” (Therese), every designer has their own unique signature that we can easily recognize and appreciate. Here are some quick tips you can incorporate into your cards.

  • Use wax seals for an elegant, timeless feel.

  • Combine different stencils to create unique backgrounds.

  • Add dimension and layers to your designs through dies.

DIY handmade card featuring a geometric background made with stencils and shimmer relief pastes and the die-cut sentiment "Be Strong"

3. Experiment with Texture and Dimension

Textured details can elevate any crafting project. Use 3D embossing folders to create rich, dimensional backgrounds or incorporate shimmer pastes to add a touch of glamour and texture. These tools let you play with layers and tactile elements, making your projects visually striking.

A close-up photo of a handmade card with a 3D embossed background, window designs, vellum florals, and the sentiment "just a note"

Build-A-Garden: Breezy Petals

Keeping Crafting Affordable and Accessible

Finding your unique style doesn’t have to mean splurging on expensive tools. Here are some tips to stay budget-friendly while still exploring your creativity.

2 clean and simple handmade greeting cards with stenciled and die-cut roses, one yellow and one red, and backgrounds adorned with stenciled words in flowing script

Stencil Art: Romantic Roses

  • Invest in versatile tools! Look for products that serve multiple purposes, like Altenew’s dye ink pads that work for stamping, blending, and watercoloring and stencils that can also be used for simple coloring, layering, and masking.

  • Start with affordable kits and bundles: Altenew offers budget-friendly crafting kits and bundles perfect for beginner to intermediate crafters, allowing you to experiment without breaking the bank.

  • Repurpose leftovers: Use scraps from previous projects to create something new. With our Zero-Waste dies, you can reuse and repurpose leftovers easily! Check out the collection here. 

Tip: Join Altenew’s vibrant crafting community online to swap tips, share ideas, and stay inspired while sticking to your budget.

A cardmaking process photo featuring shimmer relief pastes in different colors
A crafter placing a stencil on a piece of fabric, getting ready to apply shimmer relief paste through it

Sustaining Your Creativity

Creativity is a journey, not a destination. To keep your artistic spirit alive, try these tips:

  • Create an inspiration board: Gather color swatches, mood boards, or pictures of projects you admire. Seeing everything in one place can spark fresh ideas.

  • Practice with coloring books: Altenew’s thoughtfully designed coloring books are perfect for stress-free practice. Use them to test new techniques or simply relax while coloring.

  • Stay connected: Join Altenew’s crafting challenges or share your creations online. Engaging with fellow crafters is a great way to stay motivated and inspired.

A staged photo showing multiple handmade greeting cards created in batches using the same products and color palettes.

Explore Tips and Tools to Craft Uniquely You!

Finding your creative style is an empowering journey that turns crafting into more than just a hobby—it becomes an extension of who you are. By exploring new tools, experimenting with techniques, and embracing your unique preferences, you’ll create handmade projects that not only look stunning but feel deeply personal.

Share your creations with the Altenew community using #Altenew, and let’s celebrate the beauty of individuality in crafting. Your creative path is yours to craft—let Altenew be your guide!

Need more cardmaking inspiration and tips? Visit us In the Craft Room

 


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