2 Creative and Mindful Ways to Keep Inspiration Flowing | Perfect Pairings with Jaycee

Hey there Altenew friends, welcome back to another Perfect Pairings with Jaycee. After the flurry of holiday crafting, I like many of you, sometimes experience a crafting lull. Getting inspiration and staying and motivated is crucial, and that's why I rely on a couple of Altenew essentials to keep the creative spark alive. Today, I’ll be sharing some simple yet effective ways to keep your crafting spirit thriving.

Watch the video HERE.

Crafting Inspiration Essentials:

I've found that two things from Altenew are a key part of keeping my crafting spirit alive:

• Altenew Coloring Pages: These are a fantastic way to get started. You can print them on your favorite cardstock and they are so easy to get started with. The Botanical Elegance Watercolor Coloring Book has beautiful images, with both black outline and dark grey options for botanical illustrations. This allows for amazing variation. And if you’re looking for other images, Altenew provides free coloring pages on their website. Also, there are many other coloring books for watercolor, alcohol-based artists markers, and acrylic paint pens.
• Build-A-Garden Subscriptions: This subscription is perfect for beautifully stamped bouquets. The accompanying layered stencils are great for applying colors, and I think are another simple way to keep crafting going in between cardmaking projects.

Watercolor Tulips

1. Prep Work: I started by tracing an A2 template onto the watercolor panel to determine the area I wanted to color. This helps me control the size of the final card.
2. Watercoloring: I used the Palette Perfection set to contain my colors and the Artist's Round Brush Set to watercolor the tulips. I took inspiration from the parrot tulips I planted in my garden. The palette is the perfect size for watercolor tubes and I am curious if Altenew will expand these accessories with matching water cups or brush holders.
3. Adding Details: To give the image some depth, I added white splatter for a dreamy effect and let it dry completely.
4. Card Assembly: Next, I cut the panel to 4.25 x 5.5 inches, stamped a sentiment on scrap watercolor paper and used foam tape to add the sentiment and enamel dots.
5. Finishing Touches: The premade bouquet compositions are perfect for many occasions.

Altenew’s coloring pages allow you to have fun without having to think so much. The premade bouquet compositions are perfect for many occasions.

Flowering Quince with Stencils

1. Stamping: I started by stamping the Flowering Quince fruit slice and the Quince flower branch onto the fresh lemon cardstock. This gives the card a great base and bright color.
2. Stenciling: Using the Build-A-Garden stencil set, I colored the images with Altenew's Fresh Dye Inks. I also loved using the layering guide.
3. Adding Details: I stamped a sentiment using a mix of olive and sugar kelp. Then I cut everything out using the add-on dies.
4. Embossed Panel: I embossed the Moroccan Tile 3D embossing folder and used the honey drizzle fresh dye ink to add color to the embossing.
5. Card Assembly: I reduced the embossed panel and assembled the card using foam tape, enamel dots, and the Quince image and sentiment.

Stencils offer an easy way to apply colors, and the Build-A-Garden subscription offers beautiful stamped images!

Get Inspiration from These Ideas!

I hope these two simple projects inspire you to keep your creativity flowing! Whether you choose the elegance of watercolor or the ease of stenciling, Altenew provides the tools and inspiration to create beautiful cards. What are your favorite ways to stay motivated when crafting? Share your tips in the comments below!

Happy crafting!

~Supply List~