Happy Arty Days: April 2021

Thursday, 29 April 2021

Altenew Wildflower Paper Crafting Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hey Crafters & Altenew Friends!

Boy-oh-boy am I excited to be part of today's amazing

Altenew Wildflower Paper Crafting Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Enormous thanks to the lovely, and very talented Tenia Nelson for sending you here! If you haven't arrived here as part of the hop, please visit the Altenew Blog to get started. There are tons of giveaways, offers and so much inspiration that you won't want to miss a single thing!

If you haven't seen this stunning new collection yet, here's a quick look see for you...

Oh.my.heart!!! DIVINE!

Shop all the Wildflower lovelies HERE

Like all Altenew release hops, there are some amazing giveaways happening...

Like $200 in total prizes! YAY!!!

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 5 winners!

Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 05/05/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 05/07/2021. Good Luck!

Blog Hop List:

Wow! What an incredible line up and epic hop!

So much inspiration!

Speaking of inspiration, here's what I've created with the beautiful Wildflower Collection,

"Love" - 12 x 12 Scrapbook Layout

Oh how elegant! Such a beautiful collection to document life's beautiful stories with!

Altenew Supplies Featured: Wildflower Collection Paper & Ephemera Bundle, Fine Frames Square Die Set, Instant Dimension Foam Tape & Cherry Blossom Enamel Dots.

Let's take a closer look...

Swoon! I absolutely love this! Such a classical and majestic page!

I just adored creating with this amazing new collection!

If you're interested, you can watch me craft this lovely layout in my process video at the end of my post.

Here's a few more pretty close ups for you...

From the regal color palette, to those darling blooms Wildflower is sure to set your crafty heart on fire! It's just soooooooooo pretty!

Those florals are errrything!!!

So many beautiful details!

I'd love for you to watch my process video below or, if you prefer, watch it in Full HD over on my channel HERE.

Thanks so much for watching, liking and subscribing to my channel.

I really hope I have inspired you today!

***Please remember to leave a comment on this post to be entered into the giveaways draw***

& Good Luck!

Time to send you hopping over to the amazing Karen Brown's blog, she has more wonderful creations to share with you!

Thanks so much for visiting!

'til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Elle's Studio: Throwback Thursday Inspiration & Video!

Hey Crafty Friends!

Welcome back for more Elle's Studio inspiration!

Today I am sharing a super fun Throwback Thursday project with you! Infact, I had so much fun creating today's layout there's even a process video for you at the end of this post! Yay!

For today's edition of 'Throwback Thursday', I'm being inspired by this amazing layout created in April 2020 by our incredibly talented, Suzanna Lee!

Told you it's amazing!!! Such a clever design, and one that instantly had my crafty fingers itching to make! That said, I didn't want to scraplift this layout, only use it as a starting point for my own variation.

So without further ado, here's my fun interpretation on the original...

"XO" - 12 x 12 Scrapbook Layout

Elle's Studio Supplies Featured: April 2021 Kit, Smile Cardstock Die Cuts, Springtime Stickers, Puffy Adventure Label Stickers, Acetate Heart Stickers, Cork Hearts, Love This Smile Stamp, & Celebrate 6x8.5inch Paper Stack.

Other Supplies: Smooth Bazzill Cardstock - Coconut Swirl, Permanent Black Crisp Dye Ink, & Machine Stitching.

Wow! That's quite a twist on Suzanna's design!

I really loved her original, so it was important for me to maintain the integrity of her design, but also create something true to my own style!

I personally love vertically aligned designs, so the first of my ideas was to rotate the original. I was also clearly inspired by Suzanna's large pattern paper cross over feature, which I interpreted as the letter X. One thing led to another, and my paper cross became a giant XO and formed my page title! To add more detail, and texture to my XO title, I machine stitched it into place. Such simple interpretations, but very noticeable differences!

Let's take a closer look at this sweet page...

I loved how Suzanna incorporated the 3x4inch pocket cards from the April Kit into her 12x12inch scrapbook page. I wanted to maintain this feature, but in a way that would emphasize my photograph, and fit well on the page. I opted to create a photo stack, with layered 3x4inch cards, and a couple of the Smile Cardstock Die Cuts. I foam mounted this stack for added dimension, and then embellished it with one of the Cork Hearts, and some Acetate Heart Stickers.

It's no secret how much I love Elle's Studio stamps, so needless to say that my version had to include the Love This Smile Stamp! It prints so crisp & clear that it looks like I used stickers! Gotta love that!

In keeping with Suzanna's page, I added a small embellishment cluster to the top left of my page. I also featured labels and journaling, as well as a heart (or two) to maintain the likeness of the design. However, where Suzanna had featured handwritten journaling, I simply scattered a few more Acetate Heart Stickers. To build up this section, I also tore the edge of the cardstock and added some pattern paper and a Springtime Sticker label behind it. This dramatized the edge of my page, but also aligned with my photograph to make my overall design more visually appealing.

Lastly, I created another smaller embellishment cluster towards the bottom right of my page. This was not only similar to the original page, but also added balance to my design.

And there you have it! The original was amazing, but I really do love how this variation reflects my signature style! If you'd like to know more, please watch my process video HERE.

Thanks so much for watching! I really hope you enjoyed my process video for Throwback Thursday, and feel inspired to get making!

A huge thanks to Suzanna Lee for the amazing inspiration too!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Thursday, 22 April 2021

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hey Crafters & Altenew Friends!

Welcome to the Happy Arty Days blog! I'm so super excited to be joining in on today's amazing

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Yay! I just LOVE the Altenew Paint-A-Flower releases so much!

Isn't the Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set just gorgeous?!

You can get yours HERE or, even better, join the exclusive Paint-A-Flower Club!

Wow! Not only will you save money, you'll also never suffer FOMO again!

Join this awesome club HERE

If you haven't arrived here as part of this awesome hop, visit the Altenew Card Blog HERE to get started! As always, there are some amazing offers, prizes and giveaways plus a ton of inspiration too!

Like $200 in total prizes! WOW!!!

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 04/27/2021 for a chance to win.

Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 04/30/2021.

Blog Hop Order:

Start here ---> Altenew Card Blog

You are here ---> Amanda Baldwin

Oh wow, that's some line up! You're going to be so inspired!

Speaking of inspiration, here's what I've created with this delightful

Paint A Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set

Oh my heart! Isn't this the sweetest card set?! Such beautiful sentiments!

Altenew Supplies Featured: Paint A Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set, Permanent Black Crisp Dye Ink, Sunshine Valley Garden Artist Alcohol Markers Set F & Water Garden Artist Alcohol Markers Set G.

Let's take a better look at each card...

Pretty in pink!

To create this sweet card, I stamped the Paint A Flower: Chamomile in Permanent Black Crisp Dye Ink and then hand colored with the gorgeous new Sunshine Valley Garden Artist Alcohol Markers Set F. Really simple and quick card making, but oh so effective!

Gorgeous!

Stunning in purple!

I repeated the same stamping and color process, only adding in a few extra marker colors from the Water Garden Artist Alcohol Markers Set G.

I think you'll agree that the Paint A Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set is just divine, and looks wonderful when kept simple!

Such a lovely Get Well card!

There's no denying it, the Paint A Flower: Chamomile Outline Stamp Set is a must-have stamp set!

Be sure to get yours HERE before they're all gone!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, I really hope my card duo has inspired you!

***Please remember to leave a comment on this post to be entered into the giveaways***

Good Luck!

If you want to see more of my Altenew creations, please be sure to

subscribe to my YouTube channel

follow me on Instagram

Thanks so much for all your kindness & support! It really means so much!

Now, time to get you hopping!

Next stop: the amazingly creative Norine Borys's blog! You'll love what she's crafted!

Thanks again for stopping by!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Monday, 19 April 2021

Altenew Suddenly Spring Stand-alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway($300 in Total Prizes)

Hi Crafters & Altenew Friends!

Welcome to the Happy Arty Days blog!

I am so super excited to be participating in today's amazing

Altenew Suddenly Spring Stand-alone Dies Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Yay! So many gorgeous new die sets in this release!

Thanks to the awesome and super talented Emily Midgett for relaying you here - if you haven't arrived here as part of the hop, you can visit the Altenew Card Blog HERE to get started!

I can't get over how amazing this release is!

If you've not seen all the fabulous new things yet, here's a quick look for you...

Oh wow!!! SO.much.awesomeness!!!

Shop the entire

Suddenly Spring Stand-alone Die Release Bundle HERE

And let's not forget my new essential must-have item, Instant Dimension Foam Tape

(How did I ever craft without you?)

There are some fabulous giveaways you won't want to miss out on...

Like $300 in total prizes! WOW!!!

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 10 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 04/25/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 12 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 04/27/2021.

Here's the blog hop list...

Start here ---> Altenew Card Blog

Nathalie DeSousa

Emily Midgett

You are here ---> Amanda Baldwin

So many amazing and talented creatives to inspire you!

Speaking of inspiration, here's what I've created for today's hop...

"Angel" 12 x 12 scrapbook layout

Oh my heart! SO whimsical and dreamy!

Altenew Supplies Featured: Decorative Swirls Die Set, Slim Sentiments Die Set, Poured Acrylic 6 x 6 Paper Pack,Watercolor 36 Pan Set, Enjoy The Ride Scrapbook Collection & Shades of Purple Enamel Dots.

Let's take a closer look at this darling page...

She truly does have a kind and beautiful heart! The Slim Sentiments Die Set was perfect for adding that small journaling to my page, but it's those Poured Acrylic Decorative Swirls that really have my attention! WOW!!!

I layered them onto a large watercolor swirl, and embellished with some fussy cut florals from the Enjoy The Ride Scrapbook Collection. So simple, and yet so striking and beautiful!