Altenew Monthly Challenge — Peach, Purple & Grey | Two different cards

Sometimes a color challenge gives you colors that immediately make you want to create. This month's Altenew Monthly Challenge, hosted by the very talented Nathalie DeSousa, was exactly that kind of challenge for me.

I absolutely love the colors Nathalie chose. They are soft, elegant and so beautiful together. And they are also from Altenew's newer color collections, which I have only recently started using. I am already completely in love with them — yes, even the grey! 

Nathalie's inspiration card was gorgeous, and my first card is inspired by her design. Of course, I couldn't resist giving it my own spin — and literally turning the design upside down.

Card 1

For my first card I used the Craft-A-Flower Gerbera Daisy Layering Die Set and created a large purple flower with a peach center. I wanted the leaves to stay within the challenge colors, so instead of using green, I made them grey.

That sounds simple, but it was actually a tiny challenge. 😂 Of course green is the first color we often chose for leaves, but while I used grey more often, for these leaves it looked different. Maybe because of the shape of the leaves?  But I really like how it turned out in the end. The grey keeps the flower as the main focus and works beautifully with the purple and peach. I gave the flower a bit extra with my iridescent Spray.

For the background I used the Patchwork Pathways Die Set and I added some sparkle in it. 

And then there is the little extra: the wax seal. I learned how to make these in a workshop with the very talented Lana. The purple wasn't an exact match to the challenge colors, but sometimes I like adding something unexpected to a card. I think it gives this card a little bit of my own personality.

Card 2

For my second card I wanted to use exactly the same flower and the same color combination, but create something completely different.

This time I started with a soft watercolor wash using the same peach and purple tones. I wanted the color to stay quiet in the background, so the flowers would remain the stars of the card.

I used the Nesting Serene Archways Die Set to create the soft archway shape and added two Gerbera Daisies, the sentiment and a little parchment scroll for some extra interest.

I really like how calm this card feels. There are no leaves this time and no busy background — just the soft watercolor wash, the serene archway frame, the flowers and a few little details.

The Iridescent Ink Spray gives the flowers a beautiful subtle shine, which is especially lovely when the light catches it.

And something quite shocking happened while making these cards...

I didn't use a single embellishment on either card! 

For once, I decided they simply didn't need anything extra. And I think that was the right decision. Sometimes knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing what to add.

Final Thoughts

What I love most about these two cards is that they use the same flowers and exactly the same challenge colors, but they have such a different feel.

The first card is more playful and decorative, with the patchwork background, grey leaves and wax seal. The second is much calmer and more serene, with the soft watercolor background and the archway.

I am also really enjoying working with these new Altenew colors. I have only just started experimenting with them, but the way the peach and purple blend together is already making me very happy.

And once again, I learned that a limited color palette doesn't have to limit creativity. Sometimes it actually makes you look at your supplies in a completely different way.

Used Products