
So I was sitting at work having lunch and thought that this beautiful Bird Of Paradise needed to be my next inspiration challenge for Altenew! And today I am sharing with you how I took these colours and made them into a card.
I thought it would be too obvious to use the ‘Bird of Paradise‘ stamp from Altenew and wanted to share that you could do this with many different kinds of products and I chose to do a lot of die cutting today.
Starting with a big bright Craft-A-Flower: Lily. My leaves also needed to be bright so I created my own ombre cardstock by blending the Green Valley inks and die cut them with the wonderful Just Leaves Die Set.
My sentiment combined a Simple Greetings Die and an ‘amazing’ portion of a stamp from the Tranquility Rose Stamp Set.
You can see my video here or Watch it in HD at Youtube.
I can’t wait to see your take on this inspiration, you can head HERE to join the challenge! Hope you have a fabulous week, Hugs

Other Supplies: Gradient Cardstock – Rubellite / Razzleberry / Warm Sunshine
Affiliate links are used![]() Classic Crest Solar White 110lb ALT |
![]() Classic Crest Solar White 80lb ALT |
![]() Jet Black ALT |
![]() Summer Afternoon Cardstock ALT | AUZ |
![]() Cherry Blossom Cardstock ALT | AUZ |
![]() CAF: Lily ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Just Leaves Die ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Simple Greetings Die ALT | SSS |
![]() Tranquility Rose ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Rounded Rectangles ALT | SSS | EH |
![]() Obsidian ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Grass Field ALT | SSS | EH |
![]() Mountain Pine ALT | SSS | EH |
![]() Green Valley ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Ink Blending Tool ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Tweezers SSS | EH |
![]() Spring Scissors SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Scissors SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Mini Blossom ALT | SSS | AUZ |
![]() Gemini Junior SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Bone Folder EH |
![]() Mini Score Board SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() MISTI ALT | SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Mini MISTI ALT | SSS | EH |
![]() Magnets OTH |
![]() Grid Transparency SSS |
![]() Acrylic Blocks ALT |
![]() Paper Trimmer SSS | EH |
![]() Precision Tip SSS | EH |
![]() Multi Medium Matte SSS | AUZ | EH |
![]() Thin Foam Squares EH |
![]() Tape 1/2 SSS | EH |
![]() Glue Tape ALT | SSS | AUZ |
Really stunning, Therese! I’m loving the just leaves idea – and think you’ve found a gorgeous way to bring them to life!
=]
Thanks so very much Michele, they certainly are a beautiful set of dies and they ‘go with’ any flower set!
I loved it! The blended greens add so much life to the background. I swatched all my inks a year or two ago, but I’ve added so many Altenew colors since then that I need to do it again. I confess I’m usually too lazy to go to my swatch book, and I end up just swiping a pad on scratch paper to check the color.
ooh Yes! I could try swiping…. cause I have some catch up swatching to do myself lol.
Love the background idea!
Thank you Amy, you could pretty much use any ‘flower’ you like with these leaves!
The leaves background is a great idea.
So happy you like it Christine!
Stunning card Therese! I really love the background, it makes the flower stand out beautifully. I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a question about the Gemini Jr. I watched your live video the other day and you said you loved using the Gemini. I have been doing a lot of research before buying one and wondered if you have had problems with the cutting plates warping? I have watched Jennifer McGuire’s video and others with possible solutions, do you have a preferred sandwich to eliminate the warping? TYFS 🥰🥰❤️
Hi Helen, the simple answer is Yes the plates do warp. And they don’t seem to last as long as my Bigshot plates do…. but I think that it’s worth the price of an extra plate every so often to get a great cut first time…. every time. I acutally still use my Bigshot for the cuts that I don’t want too much pressure on such as when I die cut fun foam or even use some embossing folders. I did try one of those ‘self healing’ mats from Icrafter and the sandwich was too tight and it warped everything after just a few cuts lol. I did see a different sandwich using 2 icrafter plates, so maybe I could try that, but for now I have gone to my original stack. I may yet try a self healing mat like the one from Scrapbook.com?? But am hopeful that Gemini will come out with one of their own instead. But my answer is, if you like die cutting then it’s a big YES to getting an electronic die cutting machine, just flip plates and move the dies around so you don’t cut in the same place each time, but warping doesn’t really affect the cut too much as it’s such a strong machine. I have only used the Junior and it’s brilliant, so good in fact I want the little electric one too lol. Hope this is helpful, Crafty hugs Tx
Thanks so much for the feedback Therese, it was very helpful information. I have decided to buy one and am looking forward to receiving it. Thanks again not only for responding but for all your videos, I learn so much and you inspire me to try new things. Love your watercolour tutorials and your colour combos are always amazing. 😊😊💕
So pretty. Love the background. And the bird of paradise flower is just your colours!
thank you Vicki
This is so pretty
thank you Gab
GORGEOUS green color blended leaves! Once again, your flower color choices were amazing and bold. LOVE it!
Thanks so much June
You should send this card to yourself, Therese, because you’re amazing! As always, I’m in love with this card! Gorgeous how all the greens are playing in the background of that striking flower!
so happy that you liked this one Kara!
Just beautiful – that is all!
I also have the Gemini now, as well as the Big Shot – and you’re so right, it cuts beautifully first time. I tried Jennifer McGuire’s sandwich, and sticking some of the layers together as she advised, but my packing tape was not up to the job, and it stuck as it went through. No damage done, thank goodness, but I’ve removed it and now just run the sandwich through, turn and reverse the plates, then stack them below my Gemini, and sit it on top. No warping yet – fingers crossed!
My plates have warped as I tried one of the icrafter self healing mats and I didn’t like it… but I have seen a different sandwich using 2 of the self healing mats so maybe I could try that, but probably not lol. I think I will go back to plan A, or maybe cut up one of my old self healing mats as the plates are already warped and I have nothing to lose. But I do think it’s a fabulous machine, I totally agree with you!
What a fabulous background those leaves make, and especially since you also ink blended the panel they are one. Beautiful card, Therese.
I think that blending looks wonderful, I’m a little addicted at the moment lol.