Hello crafty friends! Nicki Baxley is on the blog to introduce the November 2024 Inspiration Challenge and share a pair of layered poinsettia holiday cards!

November 2024 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 Nicki!

2 Quick & Easy Layered Poinsettia Holiday Cards

Inspiration Challenge Photo

This gorgeous flower photo was taken on my summer vacation to tour the Pacific Northwest with my family. We stopped at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia and it was a flower-lover’s heaven. I have never seen so many beautiful flowers in one place. Even my teenagers suggested I take photos for future card inspiration.

Layered Poinsettia Holiday Card #1: Kraft Cardstock Background

• First, cut 4.0″ x 5.25″ panels of Kraft or light brown cardstock.
• Use Cloud White Pigment Ink to smoosh on a mat; add a small amount of water to make the white paint easier to use.
• Next, grab some plastic packaging or something to use for ink smooshing.
• Dip the plastic in the watered-down ink and apply to the Kraft panel.
• Set this aside to dry.
• Start die cutting with the Poinsettias 3D Die Set & Smooth White Cardstock. The pieces of this die set are graduated but really can be combined in many ways. Tip: I like to cut many extra pieces, so I build lots of layers. I also moved from light to dark in my layering, so the top 3 layers are lighter.
• Apply Coral Berry Ink to the entire top 3 layers with Heart Beat Ink blended from the center out to about 1/3 of petal.
• For the next 2 layers, apply Heartbeat Ink all over with Berry Mocha Ink in the center, blended out to about 1/3 of the petal.
• For the green leaves: use 2 die-cuts and blend Sweet Leaf Ink all over the die-cut, then add Just Green Ink about 2/3 of the way down the leaf from the center. Next, add a little Hunter Green Ink to the center and 1/3 of the leaves.
• Assemble the poinsettia with adhesive.
• Now add splatter to both the flower and the background, both white acrylic and metallic gold watercolor.
• Cut black cardstock to 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
• Use the “Peace & Joy” sentiment from Timeless Sentiments 3: Holiday Edition and cut in the center of the black cardstock.
• Use the black panel as the matte for the Kraft cardstock panel.
• Place poinsettia and sentiment.

Layered Poinsettia Holiday Card #2: Black Embossed Background

• Start with colored cardstock: Coral Berry, Heartbeat, Sweet Leaf and Just Green.
• Cut these with the Poinsettia 3D Die set.
• Assemble poinsettia with the lightest layers on top.
• Use Tufted Elegance 3D Embossing Folder on the black cardstock.
• Cut the center of the poinsettia and the “Peace & Joy” sentiment from the Timeless Sentiments 3: Holiday Edition with Gold Mirror Cardstock.
• Add a piece of gold washi tape across the black background behind the poinsettia.
• Adhere the poinsettia and sentiment to the black background.

Video Tutorial

If you would like to watch Nicki's process in creating these lovely poinsettia holiday cards, CLICK HERE. If you want 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! I can’t wait to see what inspires you and what you create! Thanks for stopping by! ~Nicki What do you think about Nicki's gorgeous, layered poinsettia holiday cards? 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 November 30th, 2024, 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.

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 December 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! Click the blue button below to link your entry (or entries!). Good luck and happy crafting!