

Hello Altenew fans, and Everyday Expressions Friends! This week marks Altenew’s 10th anniversary in the crafting industry, and that means a decade of my paper-crafting journey as well. Many of you already know that I began cardmaking around the same time Altenew opened shop, and they were one of my favorites right away. You know I’m a florals gal!
To start the next decade off right, we’re kicking off the celebrations with an amazing 3-day anniversary blog hop, a 2-day Instagram hop, lots of crafting inspiration, and even more giveaways!

Today I’m sharing a lovely card I recently created as a bonus project as an instructor for the March Mindfulness Virtual Retreat. I could not stop creating even after I taught the class, and I was inspired by the beautiful Calming Koi and Lilypad Dreams collection in the kit to create a card in the style of Japanese art.
I created a video tutorial for this card in my new series: Art-ish. You can view it HERE or below. I would love it if you would like and subscribe to be notified of new videos in the future.

I began by stamping the bamboo from the Altenew set, Never Give Up, In Obsidian ink using the Stampwheel, around the square cardstock panel. Once I heatset the ink, I used the Lilypad Dreams embossing folder to emboss two sides of the panel.
Next I inked the lily pads using the coordinating layering stencils in Gentleman’s Gray colors and black, and used the Red Cosmos collection to ink the lotus flowers. Then I die cut the Koi from iridescent vellum, ink blended in the Red Cosmos Crip Dye inks, and glued them together. I created shadows by softly ink blending gray below the fish.

I finished the card with a sentiment from the Tranquil Greetings stamp set in the kit. What do you think? I think this card is lovely, and am thrilled with the final product. The grays, black, and pink colors work perfectly to create a tranquil scene in the Japanese art style.
Giveaway Prizes
https://shrsl.com/40sjg
Over $3,500 in total prizes! We are giving away a $50 Altenew gift certificate to 10 winners, a $20 ArtistrybyAltenew gift certificate to 5 winners, and an online papercrafting class ($39.99 value) from Altenew Academy Online Class to 14 winners. There are also 28 awesome companies/crafty friends who are celebrating with us, and they are offering the following prizes:
- Altenew: 10 x $50 Altenew Gift Certificates
- ArtistrybyAltenew: 5 x $20 ArtistrybyAltenew Gift Certificates
- Altenew Academy: 14 x Online Papercrafting Classes ($39.99 value each)
- Crafter’s Companion: 1 x Gemini II Die Cutting and Embossing Machine ($329 value)
- LDRS Creative: 4 x $50 LDRS Creative Gift Certificates
- Online Card Classes: 5 x Online Card Classes ($25 value each)
- Jennifer McGuire Ink: 1 Share Handmade Kindness goodies bag ($100 value)
- Honey Bee Stamps: $100 Gift Certificate
- Hero Arts: $100 Gift Certificate
- Lawn Fawn: $100 Gift Certificate
- Pink and Main: $100 Gift Certificate
- Scrapbook & Cards Today: $100 Gift Certificate
- Taylored Expressions: $100 Gift Certificate
- Gina K. Designs: $100 Gift Certificate
- CraftStash: $100 Gift Certificate
- Brutus Monroe: $100 Gift Certificate
- Picket Fence Studios: $50 Gift Certificate
- Pelletier Craft Studio: 3 x $25 Gift Certificates
- Michelle’s Cards and Stamps: AUD $100 Gift Certificate
- Spellbinders Paper Arts: 2 x $25 Gift Certificates
- Scrapbook.com: $50 Gift Certificate
- My Craft Room: $50 Gift Certificate
- Krafters Cart: $50 Gift Certificate
- A Cherry on Top: $50 Gift Certificate
- Simon Says Stamp: $50 Gift Certificate
- My Favorite Things: $50 Gift Certificate
- Pinkfresh Studio: $50 Gift Certificate
- Bumbleberry Papercrafts: £25 Gift Certificate
- Seize the Stamp: CHF 25 Gift Certificate
- MarkerPop: $25 Gift Certificate
- Auzz Trinklets N Krafts: AUD $25 Gift Certificate

Anniversary Blog Hop Day 3
We have a fantastic lineup of crafters and paper crafting companies! Be sure to join the hop, explore the wonderful projects they have made, and leave comments for a chance to win prizes in our giveaways!
Post comments by 04/16/2024 for a chance to win one of 68 prizes! To make the hop more exciting, start your comment with “Hi from (city or country where you’re from)!” 68 winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on any of the blogs listed below and will be announced on the Altenew Card Blog on 04/19/2024.

Thanks so much for hopping along this week, and all of your support over the years. This hobby has turned into an obsession and even a business for me! With the amazing companies for whom I design, and even my own virtual retreats and in-person, annual Nashville Craft Retreat, my favorite part of this crafty world is the amazing friendships I have formed over the last 10 years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for joining me in this journey!! Big hugs!
Erin
CARD SUPPLIES
A note about supplies: Affiliate links used in this post at no cost to you. Did you know that when you shop by clicking my store links I receive a small tip from the stores? I do, and to pay it forward I donate all proceeds to important charities. Recently I donated $1,000 to the American Red Cross Hawaii wildfire efforts, and previously donated earnings to earthquake relief in Turkey through Samaritan’s Purseand to my favorite gentle giants at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting the important work of these charities!

OMG! This is jaw dropping! I LOVE the colors of the fish! Gorgeous!
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good morning from NM. Beautiful serene card!
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Hi from South Dakota. Gorgeous card with the koi and lily pads.
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Hi from Berkshire in the UK, absolutely stunning, do I like, yes I certainly do, I cannot stop admiring it. Fantastic work, Jane x
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Hello from the state of VA. This card is absolutely stunning!
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Hi from CA. Not only are the fish gorgeous, but the grey lily pads are so cool. I have never thought of using grey…
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Hello from the Florida Panhandle! Such a gorgeous card!
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Hi from NE Ohio. So beautiful in shades of pink and grey.
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This card is so pretty. I love the muted tones on the background with the pop of pink.
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Hello from Portland, Oregon. Stunning card. I love the grays, black and pinks. Gorgeous!
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Good morning from St. Paul, Minnesota
What a beautiful card. I love the color combinations and how you created the koi. You truly have artistic talent!
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Hi from Southern California. Your card is stunning! I love the Koi fish. Thank you for sharing it.
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Hi from Tennessee. What a beautiful card! I love the combination of the gray and pink.
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Hello from Central Florida. What a fabulous card. So inspirational
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Hey from Beaver Dam Arizona!
Beautiful done card and I love
the colors.
Carla from Arizona
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unique and beautiful card Erin See you soon.
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Hi from Mexico! Erin you card absolutely embodies the message from the sentiment! You did a splendid job designing this beauty. Thanks for sharing!
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Hi from St. Louis, MO. WOW…..stunning!!
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hey from Mobile Alabama. Oh my word, this card is just stunning!!!
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hi from Alabama! This card is absolutely stunning!
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Hello from Mississippi. Beautiful card and beautiful sentiment.
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Beautiful! I will have to check out this set.
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Hi from NJ. WOWZA! Your card is absolutely breathtaking! LOVE!!!
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Very creative design!
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Oh my! That card is beautiful.
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Hello from beautiful Olde Cape Cod! Love the shades of grey and then the POP of Pink Kois! Beautiful!
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Hi from Brambleton, Virginia. Wow… this is Extraordinary crafting! Amazing display of kois in a subtle and elegant monotone background. Looks like they are glowing.
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Oh, wow! This is breathtaking!
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Fascinating technique & beautiful results.
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Hi from Iowa. What a gorgeous card, so peaceful.
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Hello from Oahu! This is an amazing card. The colors are just brilliant.
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Hi from Cypress, Texas. Your card is so unique and distinctive! I love the koi – so calming and peaceful!
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Hi from Albuquerque, NM! I love this card so much! It is absolutely stunning!!! The pinks and grays are so beautiful together! Wonderful shading, too!
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Oh my goodness! (Hi from California). The pink Koi with the grays in the pond……absolutely stunning!!!
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The color scheme on this card is just wonderful. Love the gray ad pink together
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Hi from Missouri.
Love your color choices. The whole card is unique but using the gray with the pink really makes those adorable fish pop. Nice work!
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hello from South Carolina. Wow those koi fish are stunning and love them against the black and white backdrop
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Hello from South Carolina. Those Koi fish are stunning and what an amazing way to showcase them against the black and white backdrop
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Hi from Florida! This is a beautiful koi pond!!
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Hi from Calgary, AB, Canada! Wow, absolutely stunning!!!!! So beautiful!
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beautiful card, thanks for sharing
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Hello from PA! OMG, this card just blew my mind. The colors and the style is just stunning. Absolutely gorgeous.
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this card is swoon worthy – thank you
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Hello from Utah. Such an awesome card!
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Hello from SW Oklahoma! This card is absolutely gorgeous! Those dark shades just make that pink pop!
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Hello from Florida… beautiful card 💗
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Hello from Oklahoma! This card is beyond gorgeous! That blending that you did with the black ink is amazing!
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I think you’re right. It is lovely. The colors are a great combo and who wouldn’t like a pink koi?
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Such lovely colors!
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beautiful
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