Hello friends!
I am so excited to be part of the Altenew 11th Anniversary Blog Hop! 🎉 It’s such a joy to celebrate this incredible company and their dedication to creativity, innovation, and community. I hope you’ll hop along with us — not only for the inspiration, but also for a chance to win some amazing prizes (details at the end of this post!).

As I sat down to create a special project for this milestone celebration, I found myself overwhelmed — in the best possible way — by Altenew’s stunning selection of products. So many possibilities! But after much happy deliberation, I reached for two favorites that spark joy every time I use them: the Billowing Peonies Stamp Set and the Checkered Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder.

A Love Letter to Vintage Elegance
I have a soft spot for anything vintage, so I decided to craft a pair of cards that feel like they stepped out of an old-fashioned letterpress shop. My creative journey began with the background — watercolor paper paired with Lindy’s Gang Boho Dreams Magicals in Dreamy Desert Rose and Sandlewood Scents. These pigments added the perfect whisper of color and shimmer, like a faded memory come to life.

While the paper was still slightly damp, I ran it through my Big Shot with the Checkered Diamonds embossing folder. The result? Absolute texture heaven. To add a gentle wash of tone, I took my Silver Lake ink pad and lightly brushed it over the raised design. It was like the paper was whispering its own story.

Peonies, But Make Them Moody
For the floral focal point, I used the same Silver Lake ink to stamp the Billowing Peony onto watercolor paper. Then came the real fun — adding color with the Spring Garden Watercolor Brush Markers. I chose Rubellite, Dusk, Warm Sunshine, and a touch of Evening Gray to create a rich, moody palette with subtle dimension. The fine tips of these markers make it easy to build color exactly where you want it — even in the tiniest petal creases.

Once dry, I die cut the flower and (deep breath!) sliced it in half to create two coordinating cards. A bold move, but totally worth it — one bloom, two beauties. The sentiments from the Billowing Peonies set are just as elegant as the flowers, and I white heat embossed them for a crisp, classic finish. A bit of foam tape gave everything the lift it needed to pop off the page.

Let’s Celebrate Together!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing this creative moment with me. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just discovering the joy of stamping, I hope my project inspires you to embrace your style, try new techniques, and, most importantly, have fun.

Don’t forget to scroll down for all the giveaway details — Altenew is generously offering prizes you won’t want to miss!
Happy hopping, and happiest of birthdays to Altenew! Here’s to many more years of beauty and inspiration. 🌸✨

Giveaway info:
- Be sure to leave comments by April 29, 2025 for a chance to win one of 76 prizes! To make the hop more exciting, start your comment with “Hi from (city or country where you’re from)!” 76 winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the blogs listed below and will be announced on the Altenew Blog on May 4, 2025.
- Over $3,600 in total prizes! Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 11 lucky winners. There are also 35 awesome companies/crafty friends who are celebrating with us, and they are offering the following prizes:
- Altenew: 11 x $50 Gift Certificate
- Altenew Academy: 17 x Online Card Class ($39.99 value each)
- Artistry by Altenew: 5x $20 Gift Certificate
- Glassboard Studio: 3 x $50 Gift Certificate
- Creative Scrapbooker Magazine: 3 x Creative Scrapbooker Magazine 1-Year Subscription ($44.9 value each)
- Stamp-n-Storage: 1 Ink Pad Carousel for Altenew Fresh Dye Inks ($129.75 value)
- Online Card Classes: 5 x Online Card Class ($25+ value each)
- Gina K. Designs: $100 Gift Certificate
- Lawn Fawn: $100 Gift Certificate
- Honey Bee Stamps: $100 Gift Certificate
- Pink and Main: $100 Gift Certificate
- Brutus Monroe: $100 Gift Certificate
- Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine: $100 Gift Certificate
- My Favorite Things: $100 Gift Certificate
- Jennifer McGuire Ink: 1 Share Handemade Kindness Goodies Bag
- Amy Tangerine: 1 Sticker Assortment Pack ($75 value)
- Ranger Industries: $75 Gift Certificate
- Michelle’s Cards & Stamps: AUD $100 Gift Certificate
- LDRS Creative: 2x $30 Gift Certificate
- MarkerPop: 2x $25 Gift Certificate
- Trinity Stamps: $50 Gift Certificate
- A Cherry On Top: $50 Gift Certificate
- Simon Says Stamp: $50 Gift Certificate
- Alex Syberia Designs: $50 Gift Certificate
- Newton’s Nook Designs: $50 Gift Certificate
- Pretty Pink Posh: $50 Gift Certificate
- My Craft Room: $50 Gift Certificate
- Krafters Cart: $50 Gift Certificate
- Concord & 9th: $50 Gift Certificate
- Scrapbook.com: $50 Gift Certificate
- Pinkfresh Studio: $50 Gift Certificate
- Bumbleberry Papercrafts: £25 Gift Certificate
- Picket Fence Studios: $25 Gift Certificate
- Ink Blot Shop: $25 Discount Code
- Creative Chick Co.: $25 Gift Certificate
- Auzz Trinklets N Krafts: AUD $25 Gift Certificate
Blog Hop List:
Anniversary Special Offers:
- 04/14/2025 – 04/17/2025: Get a FREE brand-new Lace 3D Embossing Folder (worth $11.99) on orders over $89 from 04/14/2025 at 12:01 AM EDT until 04/17/2025 at 11:59 PM EDT. The free gift will be automatically added to eligible orders—while supplies last. Shop HERE
- 04/14/2025 – 04/18/2025: Get FREE U.S. Shipping on orders over $29 (no code needed) or $10 off International Shipping with code ALTENEW@11 at checkout from 04/14/2025 at 12:01 AM EDT until 04/18/2025 at 11:59 PM EDT. Shop HERE
Want to find the supplies I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you.) Thank you for your support!
![]() Altenew – Billowing Peonies Shop at: Alt | SC |
![]() Altenew – Embossing Ink Shop at: Alt |
![]() Altenew – Pure White Shop at: Alt |
![]() Altenew – Checkered Diamonds Shop at: Alt |
![]() Altenew – Watercolor Brushes Spring Garden Set Shop at: Alt |
![]() Lindy’s Gang – Magical Shakers – Boho Dreams Shop at: Lindys |
![]() Hero Arts – Wagner – HT400 Precision Heat Tool Shop at: AZ |
![]() Sizzix – Big Shot Machine Shop at: SC | Lindys | AZ |
















Hi from Northwest Arkansas and congrats to Altenew!!! WOW – gorgeous cards! I love the silver “swipe” on the background.
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Hello from NJ ! I love the background panels you created – beautiful vintage style!
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Beautiful watercolor!
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Pretty card!
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Hi from New Jersey! Beautiful cars. Love the background!
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Hello from Western Washington! Congratulations, Altenew, on your 11th Anniversary and what a fun way to celebrate! Those peonies on that diamond background look fabulous!
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Hello from Denver, CO! Your cards are really pretty! The backgrounds are so fun 🙂
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Howdy from Kentucky! One word to describe these cards is sensational
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Hi from Texas – I’m loving all this creativity. great backgrounds texture
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Hi from Graham, Washington! Such a beautiful card! I love how you’ve colored the flowers.
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Hi from Graham, Washington! Such a beautiful card! I love how you colored the flowers!
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Hello from the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia. Your two cards are stunning and the embossed backgrounds adds to the overall look.
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Beautiful design! I like the flip to the background.
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Hi from Arizona! Lovely peony cards–Altenew has the most wonderful floral stamps and dies!
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Hello from Utah. Beautiful cards!
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Hello from Denver, CO. Love your cards!
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Beautiful cards ♥️. I love the background 😍
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Beautiful cards ♥️. Love this background.
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Stunning background on your cards–very pretty
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Such gorgeous texture & dimension, and I love how you got a twofer project out of one floral!!
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Hi from Colorado! That background is amazing! I really like your “moody” peonies!
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Hello from NH! Gorgeous cards! Love the coloring!
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Hello from South Carolina! Beautiful!
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Hello from Arizona! Gorgeous cards! Love the pink!
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Hello from NM, what a beautiful Card!
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Hi from the Florida Panhandle! Such beautiful cards.
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love the shimmery, textured backgrounds! So pretty!
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Hello from West Melbourne FL! Your cards are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing how you created the backgrounds! They are beautiful!
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Hi from Linda Choquette British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦
Love your colors 😍 ❤️ thank you for sharing
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Both of your cards are so pretty and I love that you included showing us your backgrounds and how you made them to complete your cards. Thanks for sharing with us! Happy 11th Anniversary ALTENEW!!!
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Hi from Lake Balboa, CA. What a wonderful idea for a two-fer using the embossing folder in different directions for a different look.
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Hello –
Hello from Pennsylvania! These are STUNNING!!! I love the texture you got from the Checkered Diamonds plate + Lindy’s products. The knockout floral from Altenew really “makes” both cards. Your talent is IMPRESSIVE!
Lori S in PA
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Love 2/for cards! Very pretty!
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Hi from South Dakota! Your cards are so beautiful!
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wow! I love how beautiful and cheery your cards are! So pretty!
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Hi from San Antonio, Texas! Gorgeous colors 😍
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Ericka, these are absolutely magical – even your descriptive writing style, too! Its like reading a favorite novel – love the design, the colors, the dreaminess! Hello from Florida!
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Hello from Maryland! Just gorgeous cards..love the texture on the background.
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