Altenew 6th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 2 + Giveaway

Hi Friends! 

Welcome to the Happy Arty Days blog! 

I am so super excited to be participating in Day 2 of Altenew's 6th birthday celebrations! Yay!!! 

If you've just arrived here from the amazing Lilith Eeckels blog, then you're in the right place!

If not, or you're feeling a lil confused, here's the entire Day 2 Blog Hop List:

Start here --->Altenew Blog
Kristina Werner
Terri Koszler
Virginia Lu
Alex Syberia
Simon Says Stamp
Lilith Eeckels
You are here ---> Amanda Baldwin
Mindy Eggen
Butterfly Reflections Ink
Agnieszka Malyszek
Isha Gupta
Galina Filippenko
TaeEun Yoo
Norine Borys
Ilina Crouse
Irina Fonina
Keren Baker
Maryam Perez

Wow! What a line up!

& so many amazing Altenew projects to be inspired by!

Like all good blog hops there are some fabulous prizes too!

Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners and one Altenew Academy class to 10 lucky winners.

There are also 14 awesome companies/crafty friends who are celebrating with Altenew!

These incredible sponsors are offering the following prizes:

• Altenew: 6 $50 Altenew gift certificates
• Altenew Academy: 10 class spots
• Jennifer McGuire Ink: 1 $100 Altenew gift certificate & 5 Share Handmade Kindness goodie bags($20 each)
• My Sweet Petunia: 1 prize bundle(Original MISTI, a set of Creative Corners, a Cut-Align and a bar magnet)
• CiLi in Papers: $100 gift certificate
• Craft Stash: £75 gift certificate
• Amy Tangerine: Your Brightest Year Yet online workshop(valued at $89)
• Online Card Classes: 3 class spots
• Simon Says Stamp: $50 gift certificate
• Scrapbook.com: $50 gift certificate
• Michelle's Cards & Stamp: $50 gift certificate
• Ellen Hutson LLC: $30 gift certificate
• Butterfly Reflections Ink: $25 gift certificate
• Scrapbook & Cards Today: 1 copy of Scrapbook & Cards Today Spring 2020 issue
• Bumbleberry Papercrafts:  £25 gift certificate
• Seven Hills Crafts: £25 gift certificate

Be sure to leave comments by 4/12/2020 for a chance to win one of 37 prizes!

To make the hop more exciting, start your comment with,

"Hi from (city or country where you're from)!".

37 winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the blogs listed in the hop line up, and will be announced on the Altenew Card Blog on 4/18/2020. Goodluck!

And, as if that wasn't enough, Altenew are also offering the following special deal....

Enjoy FREE U.S. shipping with code HAPPY6TH

or $5 OFF international shipping with code ANNIV20 at checkout.

Offer valid from 4/2/2020 at 12:01 am EDT through 4/5/2020 at 11:59 pm EDT.

Not valid on prior purchases. Cannot be combined with other promo codes.

Shop all things Altenew HERE

With all the formalities taken care of, here's a look at my scrapbook page created for this milestone event, 

"So Pretty"

So pretty, indeed! 

I've gone for some monochromatic magic with this stunning layout! 

Altenew Supplies Featured: Crafty Talk Decal Set - Small, Rose Petal Washi Tape Set, Fine Frames Diamonds Die Set, Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells Die Set, Watercolor 36 Pan Set, & Live Your Dream Puffy Alphabet Stickers. 

Let's take a closer look at this mixed media delight!

Ga ga gor-jus!!!

Such a pretty page for my darling girl! 

How divine are those floral decals?! I've backed them onto some white paper & fussy cut them out to adorn my photo with!  

The brand new Rose Petal Washi Tape totally dictated my color scheme & looks amazing partnered with the Fine Frames Diamond Die Set,  and the B-A-F Canterbury Bells Die Set too! 

Please watch how I created this scrapbook page (including that delicious berry background) in my short process video below:

Alternatively, you watch it on my channel in Full HD here. 

Thanks so much for watching!

I hope you enjoyed my video & have subscribed to my channel to see more Altenew ideas & inspiration!

Here are a few more detailed and close up shots of my project....

Those 'rose petal' colors are just spectacular! 

It's hard to believe that the diamonds are all made from that washi tape set!

Those Fine Frames Diamonds are perfect for creating argyle patterns with! Love how effective they look! 

For the title, I used the fabulous Live Your Dream Puffy Alphabet Stickers. 

These puffy alphas are super glossy and really pop against all those berry hues! 

Amazing products make for amazing crafty projects!

Thankyou Altenew & Happy 6th Birthday!

***Please remember to leave a comment on this blog post to go in the prize draw & Good Luck!***

Time to send you hopping on over to the incredible Mindy Eggen's blog HERE - she has something really special to share with you!

Thanks so much for visiting,

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Shimmerz Paints: April Color Kitz Inspiration & Process Video!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for another exciting month of Shimmerz colorific inspiration!

 I am so super excited to be sharing my first creation (& process video) with the stunning new

Shimmerz Paints Color Kitz: The April Collection

If you haven't seen it yet, here's a peek at this fabulous new Color Kit!

Gorjus, huh?!

April Showers with the Shimmerz Paints Color Kitz. 
The April Collection includes the following colors and products:

Something Like Blue Inklingz: A new exclusive color to this kit. 

This color is a blue watercolor with a grey undertone. Much like cloudy skies on a rainy day.

Wave of Blue Inklingz: A new exclusive color to this kit. This color is a medium denim blue jeans water color.

Cold as Ice Vibez
Chick-A-Dee Spritz
Don't Citron Me Coloringz
Limoncello Shimmerz
1 exclusive Sweet Rainbow cut file created by Shimmerz Paints
1 package of daisy buttons.
1 set of "Sunshine mixed with a Little Huricaine" Dotz
1 set of Shimmerz Paints Stencil with dewdrops.

***Shop The April Collection HERE***

Here's my scrapbook layout using these divine colors...

"Shine"

Shine, indeed! What a glorious page! 

These colors are a match made in heaven - so stunning!!!

Here's a better look for you....

A really beautiful layout for my beautiful girl! 

I started my layout with a really fun and messy resist technique using an 'un-cut' cut file & Cold As Ice Vibez, Chickadee Spritz & Don't Citron Me Coloringz. 

(You can check it out in the video at the end of this post)

I then enhanced the geometric floral cut file with more intentional layers of paint with the two exclusive new colors: Inklingz Something Like Blue & Wave of Blue, as well as Shimmerz Limoncello. These colors are beyond words - so insanely gorgeous!!!

I applied two coats of these colors to really make them noticeable over the sprayed layers. 

I mixed some of the Cold As Ice Vibez into a white embossing paste, & applied it to my cardstock using the Shimmerz Paints Stencil: With Dewdrops. 

I love the soft texture and interest this added to my design - so pretty!

I also splattered Cold As Ice Vibes & Something Like Blue Inklingz around the perimeter of where my cut file would be positioned. Simple, but so effective! 

I foam mounted my shimmery cut file to create dimension and interest, and layered it onto my pretty  dewdrop base. I combined a bunch of Pink Paislee: Paige Evans: Bloom Street embellishments with the Daisy Buttons to evoke more of the Spring vibes. Love it! 

To complete the look, I added the You Are My Sunshine Dotz and a few of last month's kit, Shimmerz Paints Spotz. Voila! 

See it all come together in my detailed process video HERE

Thanks so much for watching! 

I hope you enjoyed my video & feel inspired to get creating! 

***Purchase your Shimmerz Paints Color Kitz: The April Collection HERE***

Thanks so much, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Elle's Studio: Easter Cards Inspiration!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Elle's Studio inspiration!
With Easter just around the corner, and so many of us being home bound during these unprecedented times, it's the perfect opportunity to create some cards!
I used the beautiful Elle's Studio: March Kit & new release items for these two sweet numbers....

Aren't they the cutest?!!

Elle's Studio Supplies Featured: March Kit, Tiny Shapes & Dots Puffy Stickers, Easter Wood Veneers, Acrylic Easter Eggs, &  Flourish 6" x 8.5" Paper Stack. 

Other: Bazzill Avalanche Cardstock, SpiegelMom Scraps Sequins - Malibu Sunset, doily, & ribbons.

Here's a closer look at them.... 

The fun and vibrant patterns in the new Flourish 6 x 8.5 Paper Stack coordinate beautifully with the March Kit and all those Easter themed embellishments! I couldn't resist combining them to create this bright & contemporary Easter card!

Super simple, but so effective! Love!

My second card is inspired by Easter bonnets and all.the.pretty.things for Easter!

Isn't it lovely?!!

So elegant and pretty!

Those Easter Wood Veneers are errrrrything!!!!

And there you have it! 

Simple, no fuss cards that are sure to brighten up your Easter celebrations! 

***Shop ALL the new Elle's Studio products HERE***

Thanks so much for visiting! 

Stay Healthy & Take Care!!!

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Hip Kit Club: Interactive Dolls House Layout & Process Video

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Hip Kit Club inspiration! 

Today's design team assignment is a product focus on the Pinkfresh Studio: Noteworthy: Right Now paper, & Puffy Frame Stickers! 

& oh my heart, you're going to love what I've created....

"Best Ever Dolls House"

I.can't.even!!!

So much fun & whimsy in this interactive dolls house!

It's inspired by the photos of my daughter visiting the 3-storey Life Size Dolls House created by visionary Japanese artist, Tatzu Nishi. (It was SO amazing & totally blew my mind!) 

You can read more about his life size dolls house HERE. 

When you open the 3x4 notecard (door) it reveals more inside....

So awesome!!! 

See more of this pretty page, including how I created it,

from start to finish in my process video below:

Alternatively, you can watch it in Full HD on my channel HERE

Thanks so much for watching, liking & subscribing!

I really appreciate your support & kindness! 

I hope you enjoyed my take on the Hip Kit Club product focus assignment! 

See more Hip Kit Club inspiration in the Facebook Group HERE

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo 

Hip Kit Club: Mood Board Inspiration!

Hi Friends!

Welcome back for more Hip Kit Club inspiration! 

Today I am sharing another super pretty page created with the February Hip Kits & inspired by the March Mood Board! 

Here's what I came up with,

  "Live Life In Full Bloom"

Oh.my.heart! 

Could it get any sweeter?!! 

The beautiful new Bloom Street collection was the perfect choice for documenting my two darlings (and there's so much of this stunning line in all of our February Hip Kits!) 

All the pretty florals and bright colors are an idyllic reflection of this month's mood board too! Speaking of the mood board, it was created by none other than our super talented, Lauren Hender. Let me tell you, this girl knows how to pull colors and patterns like no other!!! 

Here's a quick reminder of what her mood board looks like....

Whoa!!! Such a bright, bold & striking array of images! Absolutely gor-jus!!! 

You'll notice that I was not only inspired by the florals & bold use of colors but also the vertical designs and those pom poms & tassels too!

Here's a better look at my layout...

Sigh! Such a pretty page! 

I used that stunning Petalsoft Bazzill Cardstock from the February Cardstock Kit as my base, and trimmed the left & right sides with machine stitched chevron arrows. The chevrons were fussy cut from paper #24 from the Pink Paislee, Paige Evans: Bloom Street collection, which is included in the February 2020 Main Scrapbook Kit. 

With a myriad of colors in the mood board, and the presence of vertical designs, I arranged the fussy cut chevrons into rainbow order coming down the page. In keeping with the vertical design, (& very inspired by the dangling pom poms & tassels) I decided to create a cascade of florals & fussy cut blooms for my photos to rest upon. 

You'll spy lots of fussy cut flowers from the Bloom Street collection, paper #12. 

To frame my darling photographs, I trimmed up the sweet yellow 3" x 8" book mark card from the February 2020 Pocket Kit. I also fussy cut the hearts from this card, & used them to adorn one of my photos. Before I mounted my photos to the new yellow square bases, I positioned a larger bloom between each photo and the yellow cards. 

These blooms were from the Bloom Street - Journaling Spot Die Cutspack. I also tucked in a few of the fussy cut florals too!

To connect my photographs, I foam mounted a Bloom Street - Journaling Spot Die Cuts sentiment, Live Life In Full Bloom to serve as my title. To symbolize the tassels, I added dangling, colored sewing threads & a few small pom poms from my sewing box stash!

I embellished around the cascading florals with assorted stickers from Pink Paislee Paige Evans: Bloom Street Sticker Book, and finished the look with lots of Nuvo Sweet Lilac Crystal Drops. Super pretty!

Here's a couple more detailed shots of all.the.pretty.things!!!

Those Nuvo Crystal Drops are fabulous, aren't they? 

I am hoping to see more of these beauties in future Hip Kits! 

Happy Together, indeed! Such a fun & whimsical take on this month's mood board! 

I hope I have inspired you to get creating with the February Hip Kits! 

Missed out on a February Hip Kit? 

If you're super quick, you might be able to snare a March Hip Kit or two HERE, 

OR, better yet - start a subscription, save money & never miss out again! Yay!!!

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo

Technique Tuesday: February Memory Keepers & Fresh Cut Studio Inspiration!

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back for more Technique Tuesday inspiration!

This month's Memory Keepers & Fresh Cut Studio release is a really fun one! 

Emojis Stamp Set & coordinating Emojis Crafting Dies

How awesome are these?!! So.much.fun!!!

Here's what Technique Tuesday has to say about them....

"Emojis are a great way to communicate how you feel...without using words! With over 18 expressions, the Emojis stamp set with matching dies can add a bit of humor to your paper craft projects. With this emoji stamp and die bundle you can die cut a solid 1" circle and layer die cut emoji faces over it, or stamp an emoji face on it. You could custom stamp a background for a card or scrapbook layout with a variety of emoji faces, then add a few dimensional emoji die cuts to drive home the true feeling. Another fun use for these clear emoji stamps with dies would be to make a chore chart for your kids and let them glue pre-made emoji die cuts in the square each day...a smile for a job well done, a sad face when they forget, or a straight face for a job that needs more effort. You'll find so many ways to use these icons that are such a part of our daily lives!"

Clearly a super cute set to create cards with, but of course, I wanted to share how you could incorporate the Emojis Stamps & Crafting Dies into your memory keeping projects! 

Here's what I came up with....

"All Heart Eyes" 

Nawww!!! All the heart eyes, indeed!

Such a sweet traveler's notebook page documenting our darling doxie pup!

Here's a closer look for you....

You'll spy that I repeat stamped the 'smile' (semi circle) stamp to create my scallop trim on the top and bottom of my white cardstock. Such a super cool, alternative use of this stamp! 

I also stamped the 'This photo makes me' sentiment label in the same mint colored ink, and tucked it under my photo to create the appearance of a photo tab. 

I used the heart eyes Emojis Crafting Dies to embellish beneath my photo and add a playful element to my design!

SO cute 'n' fun!

Did you know you can become a Technique Tuesday Member? 

Click HERE for more information on membership benefits & discounts!

***You can shop the March Memory Keepers & Fresh Cut Studio products HERE***

I hope you enjoyed my project!

Thanks so much for visiting, 

til next time, 

Happy Arty Days, 

Amanda xo