November 2026 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. This month's host is Michelle Short. 

Hello crafters! Michelle here, and I am delighted to be hosting the November 2026 Inspiration Challenge.

For this month's challenge, my photo inspiration comes straight from my own garden: a striking white hydrangea. I adore hydrangeas and grow several varieties across my garden in various shades, but pure white blooms always hold a special place in my heart. If you look closely at the petals, you will spot subtle flecks and blush edges of pink, which lend an effortless, natural dimension to the floral head.

While Altenew offers wonderful hydrangea designs, I chose to translate the look of delicate white petals and soft shadows using the Craft-A-Flower: Calla Lily Layering Die Set.

To recreate the drama of the photo, I opted for high-contrast papercrafting. Using soft pink ink on pristine white cardstock creates warm, gentle depth, while mounting the finished stems against an A2 Jet Black card base allows every floral contour to pop. Whether you focus on scrapbooking, mixed media, or cardmaking, using high contrast is one of the easiest ways to elevate clean and simple designs.

Follow these step-by-step cardmaking instructions to recreate this elegant floral project.

1. Run the flower layers through your die cutting machine using Classic Crest 110lb Solar White Cardstock to cut three full calla lilies.

2. Secure your die-cut pieces onto a sticky mat (a small sticky mat or crafting sticky tile keeps delicate paper pieces firmly locked in place while your hands stay clean).

3. Pick up Baby Pink Fresh Dye Ink with a Mini Blending Brush and gently blend colour upward from the base of the petals where natural shadows fall. Leave the stamens and folded petal edges un-inked to retain a crisp white highlight.

1. Using the same white cardstock, run your dies through the machine to cut three stems and three coordinating leaves.

2. Transfer the cuts directly to your crafting mat or crafting sticky tile for stability during ink application.

3. Blend the foliage using the Green Valley Fresh Dye Inks collection:

   • Lay down a foundational wash with Grass Field.

   • Add depth along the spine and lower base of each leaf and stem using Shadow Creek.

   • Deepen the final tips and junctions with Mountain Pine for realistic botanic gradient shading.

1. Trim and score a heavy black cardstock panel to create an A2 top-folding card base (4.25'' x 5.5'').

2. Assemble and layer each flower head using ClearFix liquid adhesive, aligning the layers via the built-in keyhole guide system.

3. Test-fit your arrangement on the card front. Using the flower positions as your visual guide, adhere the leaves and stems directly to the card base using liquid glue.

4. Flip the card front over and trim away any overhanging stem edges flush with the card perimeter using sharp detail scissors.

5. Mount the assembled calla lily blooms over the stems using Black Instant Dimension Foam Tape to add realistic height without visible white edges underneath.

1. Thoroughly shake your bottle of Iridescent Shimmer Ink Spray to evenly disperse the mica particles.

2. Unscrew the spray nozzle and dip the tip of a small, round watercolor paintbrush into the liquid.

3. Hold the brush over the card and gently tap the barrel to create a controlled shower of shimmering droplets across the lower-right quadrant around the floral cluster.

4. Set the panel aside to dry completely before stamping your sentiment.

1. Treat a scrap strip of Crafty Necessities: Jet Black Cardstock with an anti-static tool.
2. Stamp the "just because" sentiment from the One Go: Friendship Flowers Stamp Set using clear sticky embossing ink.
3. Dust the stamped impression with Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder, tap off excess powder, and melt with a pre-heated heat tool until smooth and glossy.
4. Trim the sentiment into a narrow banner and adhere it across the stem cluster using dimensional foam tape.
5. Complete the design by adding crisp white accent dots around the floral arrangement using a fine-point white gel pen from the Must-Have Gel Pen Set.

Whilst this color palette is minimal, I hope you enjoy using it as much as I have! I really love the elegance of white flowers, and the pink really adds so much to the flowers. I cannot wait to see what you create!

Have fun!

Michelle

Ready to share your own masterpiece? We love seeing how different artists interpret the same photo. To make sure your entry is eligible for our prizes, please follow these simple guidelines:

• 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.
• When uploading your project, make sure you link your entry post, not your entire blog.
• If you don't have a blog, feel free to upload your entries to the Crafter's Gallery and get the link to your photo.
• You may enter the challenge as many times as you wish!
• The challenge ends on November 30th, 2026, at 11:55 pm EST.

We love rewarding our community! After the challenge ends, FOUR WINNERS will be selected. Each will receive a $30 gift certificate to spend at www.oltonew.shop. Winners will be announced on December 10th, 2026 on the Altenew Instagram account.

Feel free to use the badge above and let everyone know you are a participant in our Inspiration Challenge!

Now it’s your turn!

Whether you’re inspired by a color palette, a shape, or a feeling, I can’t wait to see how you interpret this month’s challenge theme. Will your take be bold and graphic, or soft and true to life? Either way, be sure to link up your project and share your creative journey with us!

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