Altenew's Craft the Year Away 2025 with Bridget Casey

 

Seven educators...seven challenges...9 hours...party hats... party poppers... and the funnest group of rogue crafters I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and calling my friends!!

I will list each project, who the educator was and what I did to each card, in a brief description under each photo, otherwise, you'll be here reading this post until the 2026 event lol

Bridget's challenge found me doing tone on tone stenciling over white cardstock and patterned paper. To give the background some interest, I cut the sentiment in a fun abstract shape and also did tone on tone stenciling. It's accented with gems. Products used:  Altenew Blends 6 x 6 paper pack, Halftone background stencil, Metallic Silver Gem Sparkles.

My challenge was for everyone to use their least favorite/least used color family of ink. For this project I used the Red Sunset ink set. I used two stencils: Luminous Diamond Rings background stencil and Halftone background stencil, alternating between the colors of the inks and applying light to heavy pressure with the ink through the stencil. The die cut flower is Bellflower Bliss layering die set. The sentiment is from the monthly Mini Delight monthly subscriptions: Hooray stamp set. This card also has the Metallic Silver Gem Sparkles to accent the sentiment.

Tracy's challenge was black, white and red all over (old school joke, IYKYK ;) Again, I used the Halftone stencil. The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder. The clock is from the Mini Delight monthly subscription: Live in the Moment.

Donna's challenge was all about embossing. This card features a "winter" background. The panel was embossed with Chain Link Fence 3D embossing folder, then attacked with embossing ink, platinum embossing powder and highlighted with some blue ink for emboss resist. The flower is Bellflower Bliss layering die set, cut from left over watercolored scraps. The flowers, also cut from leftover watercolored scraps, were embossed by dripping liquid embossing ink over them, then heat embossed with crystal clear embossing powder. I sandwiched the stem between two layers of ripped white cardstock to simulate snow. The "proud" sentiment was die cut from the Mini Delight Proud Amarylis set, also out of a watercolored scrap.

Pam's challenge was an homage to the Rose Bowl game. I did ombre stamping in grey tones using the Fresh Cut Roses outline stamp set. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the frame die, but it is cut and layered up 4 times, then dry brushed with the same grey tones. The single red rose simply colored using a red watercolor pencil.

Aditi's challenge for a slim line card base was to not use any white cardstock. Using shades of fuchsia, I ink blended then stenciled the background using the Luminous Diamond Rings background stencil. Bellflower Bliss was cut from red cardstock. I used the frame die again, blended in lighter shades. The flowers were ink blended very lightly.  The trick with using one color, or one-color family is to vary your pressures of ink blending.

Amy's challenege was to not use any ink. I used the Chain Link Fence 3D embossing folder on a soft yellow cardstock. The yellow strip and the bottom orange portion are scraps from the Alcohol Ink Backgrounds paper. The Bellflower Bliss die was also cut from scraps from the same paper pack. The top layer of the flowers were embossed with crystal clear embossing powder. The sentiment was cut from the die from the Mini Delight "Hooray" set and embossed with platinum embossing powder.

I look foward to Bridget's Craft the Year Away every year!!  Can't wait for 2026! I hope these projects inspired you! If they did, make sure to share your take on them and tag me on Instagram @scrappystampthefunup and Altenew @AltenewLLC.

To purchase any of the items used in these projects, you can click the link to the Altenew online shop on the right side of this blog! Thanks for stopping by!

January 2026 Inspiration Station Blog Hop Challenge

This month's inspiration photo

Click here to join the challenge

Below are the papers I auditioned for this project. I was actually most inspired by the background of this month's inspiration photo. A blank canvas of white is our current weather here. But I didn't want to use just plain white cardstock. I settled on a scrap of cardstock that looked like it had white spackle over it. 

I couldn't believe I actually had a chipmunk/squirrel stamp! Thanks to the Mini Delight monthly subscription from Altenew :)

I used Altenew inks in Mocha, Mahogany Bark, Red Jasper and Espresso to stamp the little guy.

I fussy cut him out. Pro tip:  after you fussy cut something, go around the edge with a coordinating-colored marker-this softens the harsh edges of a freshly nipped project.

To replicate the stump from the inspiration photo, I hand tore the edges of some watercolor paper scraps and wedged a piece wood-look cardstock between these pieces.

I think this came out pretty good!  Next was to add the nuts. I die cut some from solid colored cardstock, and wood-look cardstock to give them texture. 

There you go, HappyJanuary!

Click here to shop the Altenew store

December Inspiration Station Blog Hop Challenge

This month's inspiration photo! 

Click here to join the challenge!

(front)

(back)

Worth the wait!  This post had the potential to be four pages long lol, so, I'll post pictures of the process I did in creating this card and give just brief descriptions :)

Used shades of browns to reflect the tones of the inspiration photo, retired Stampin' Up! embossing folder and Tim Holtz Alterations brick embossing folder, Anna Griffin slim line window die (cut off to just the window portion). 

To create the snowy backdrop for the window I used light grey ink roughly blended over grey cardstock cut to fit behind the window.  I used retired Stampin' Up! layered trees and snow drift dies for the scenery and light brown ink to add texture to the window.

Added the same light brown to add depth to the brick embossed parts.

I used a die from the Anna Griffin pop-up Christmas tree die to cut a template for the tree.

Cut, embossed and folded the aperture that will allow the tree to pop out of the scene when the card is open and folded the tree to fit in it.

Folded 1/2" in on the ends of the aperture to attach it to the card base.

To create the glow of the fire in the fireplace, I started with white pigment ink and added the same light grey ink around it for shadowing and soot. Added a layer of yellow and orange ink for the backdrop of the flames.

Added the light brown ink and the light grey ink to the rest of the fireplace parts and assembled it. I used foam tape to lift the mantel up for depth.

Went thru my stash of vellum scraps to pick out flame colors.

Cut and layered "logs" with foam tape to layer up the flames for the 3D effect.

So far so good! I was inspired to re-create the inspiration photo as closely as I could, reminiscing of Christmas in my living room when I was a kid.

Time to trim the tree! Gold glitter cardstock and Hero Art Christmas tree dies to recreate the look of the old fluffy gold garlands we had when I was a kid. Used the same die sets to cut out the ornaments, green garlands and bows. Also added a fun holiday kitty to the fireplace hearth.

Used the same dies from the Hero Arts set as well as some left-over Anna Griffin gift embellishments to get plenty of gifts under the tree. I layered them with foam tape for depth.

This card project took me nearly a week to put together lol because of life getting in the way, but I am super happy with how it turned out. I won't be listing all the specific items I used as most of them, if not all are retired. However, I hope this project inspired you!!  If you try any of the techniques I used in this card, be sure to tag me on social media @scrappystampthefunup, I'd love to see your take on it. And be sure to head to the Inspiration Station blog to join the hop and see all our creations!  Happy Holidays from The Paper Creative LLC and Stamp the Fun Up! See you in 2026!