Hello and welcome to Altenew | July 2026 Release Blog Hop!

You probably came from Lea Lawson. If not, you may consider starting from the beginning at Altenew Card Blog and see what other members of Altenew design team and guest designers have created. There are so many beautiful projects from talented designers. Also at each stop, you have a chance to win a prize.

ALTENEW JULY 2026 RELEASE

Altenew Build-A-Garden: Blossoming Trio Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Build-A-Garden: Blossoming Trio Add-On Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Build-A-Garden: Blossoming Trio & Add-On Die Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Gerbera Daisy Layering Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Mini Delight: Special Delivery Stamp & Die Set Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Windows To Stillness Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Creative Cuts: Jack Pine Tree Layering Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Stencil Art: Where Nature Meets Home Layering Stencil Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Marvelous Monthly Series Bundle – July 2026 Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Festive Florals Multi-Color Cardstock Pack Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Decorative Frames 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Festive Greenery Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Forest Friends Silhouettes Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Holiday Adornments Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Holiday Essentials Die Set Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Holiday Messages Stamp Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Lush Botanicals: Poinsettia 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Scenes In A Sip Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Snowy Footpath 3D Embossing Folder Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Winter Woodland Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Winterberry Poinsettias Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Layer It Up Tree Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew July 2026 Full Release Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesive Strips – 1/8″ X 7.0″ X 1/16″ Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesive Strips – 1/8″ X 7.0″ X 1/8″ Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Foam Strip Duo Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesive Squares – 1/16″ Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesives Squares – 1/8″ Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Squares Duo Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesive Dots – 1/16″ Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Foam Adhesives Dots – 1/8″ Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Dots Duo Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Multi-Shape Foam Adhesive Bundle Click A Shop: AN

COZY WINTER SCENE SHAKER MUG CHRISTMAS CARD

The star of this card is the cozy shaker mug created with the Scenes In A Sip Stamp Set and coordinating dies. When I first saw this set, I immediately thought it would be perfect for turning into a shaker card. The set includes several holiday-themed sentiments as well as scene images designed to look like cappuccino art inside a warm drink. Since I don’t make shaker cards very often, this felt like the perfect opportunity to pull out some of my ever-growing collection of shaker fillers and create something fun.

I started by stamping the mug onto Crafty Necessities: Crimson Cardstock using Heartbeat and Berry Mocha Fresh Dye Inks from the Tea Party Fresh Dye Ink Set. Instead of using white cardstock, I chose a red-colored cardstock because I wanted to avoid bright white edges around the mug. As you can see in the finished card, there is very little white on the design, and white edges would have looked out of place against the rich green background.

After stamping, I die cut both the outer mug shape and the inner opening to create the frame for the shaker. For the shaker scene, I stamped one of the winter landscape images from the Scenes In A Sip Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Rocky Shore and Mocha Fresh Dye Ink. The snowy cottage scene creates the illusion of latte art inside the mug and serves as the back layer of the shaker.

To create the depth needed for the shaker, I skipped traditional foam tape. Since the mug frame is relatively thin and curved, foam tape would have been difficult to apply neatly. Instead, I die-cut the mug shape from red cardstock multiple times—about eight layers in total—and stacked them together. This created a sturdy dimensional frame that perfectly accommodated the shaker filler while maintaining the shape of the mug.

For the shaker window, I cut a circle of acetate by hand to fit inside the mug opening. I filled the shaker with the smallest 2 mm Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins before sealing everything together. Once assembled, the mug became a fun interactive focal point with the snowy cottage scene peeking through the sparkling shaker elements.

To complement the mug, I created a festive arrangement of greenery using the Festive Greenery Die Set. I die cut the foliage from Crafty Necessities: Forest Glades and Misty Sage Cardstock, and cream cardstock. Layering the different shades of green created beautiful contrast against the dark background while adding a full and lush look around the mug. I also added a few bright red berry accents that tie in beautifully with the red mug and reinforce the classic Christmas color palette.

The background itself is a simple panel of Crafty Necessities: Forest Fern Cardstock. I wanted the card to feature traditional holiday colors while keeping the overall design clean and focused on the shaker element. The deep green background provides a rich backdrop for the layered foliage and allows the red mug to immediately draw the eye.

For the sentiment, I stamped one of the greetings from the Scenes In A Sip Stamp Set using Forest Fern Fresh Dye Ink onto Misty Sage Cardstock and die cut it with the coordinating die. Rather than using white cardstock, I chose colored cardstock to coordinate with the greenery and keep the color palette cohesive. The sentiment, “Savor The Warmth Of The Season,” felt perfect for the cozy winter scene inside the mug.

Originally, I considered placing the sentiment partially over the mug, but after spending so much time creating the shaker element, I didn’t want to cover any of it. Instead, I positioned the sentiment in the upper right corner where it balances the design while allowing the shaker mug to remain the star of the card.

To finish the card, I scattered larger clear iridescent sequins around the focal point. These embellishments coordinate with the shaker filler inside the mug, and add a subtle sparkle that enhances the festive winter feel of the design. The combination of the snowy cottage scene, layered greenery, rich holiday colors, and interactive shaker element creates a warm and inviting Christmas card that truly captures the coziness of the season.

TONE-ON-TONE POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS CARD

The star of this holiday card is a bold and dimensional poinsettia created with the Lush Botanicals: Poinsettia 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set. I started by die cutting the flower petals from Crafty Necessities: Coral Bliss Cardstock and adding shading with Ruby Red and Grapevine Fresh Dye Ink from the Red Cosmos Fresh Dye Ink Bundle. I concentrated the darker ink around the tips and base of each petal to create depth and dimension.

Once the coloring was complete, I placed each petal into the coordinating 3D embossing folder and ran it through my die-cutting machine. The embossed details instantly transformed the flat die cuts into incredibly realistic poinsettia petals. The texture and dimension created such a striking effect that it genuinely gave me one of those rare wow moments that do not happen very often after years of cardmaking.

For the flower center, I die cut the pieces from Crafty Necessities: Honey Drizzle Cardstock, blended them with Honey Drizzle Fresh Dye Ink, and embossed them using the coordinating folder to add even more texture. The leaves were created from Crafty Necessities: Forest Glades Cardstock and shaded with Forest Glades and Evergreen Fresh Dye Ink.

After embossing the leaves, I selected the largest leaf die cuts, trimmed them apart, and tucked the individual sections behind the flower wherever additional fullness was needed.

The flower assembly was quick thanks to the built-in keyhole alignment system, which made it easy to layer all of the pieces together. The finished poinsettia has plenty of dimension, with the coral-red petals, golden center, and dark green leaves creating a rich focal point against the berry-colored background.

For the background, I used Crafty Necessities: Vineyard Berry Cardstock to create both the card panel and the decorative frames. The frames were cut and embossed with the Decorative Frames 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set. Just like the poinsettia, the embossed details added incredible texture and visual interest, giving me a second wow moment when I removed the pieces from the folder.

To give the frames additional stability and dimension, I die cut each one three extra times from the same cardstock. Each frame was created by stacking three plain die cuts and placing the embossed die cut on top. I then adhered the two ornate frames to the background panel and popped the poinsettia over the center, allowing the flower to overlap both frames and create a dramatic layered focal point.

The sentiment comes from the Winter Woodland Complete Bundle. I white heat embossed the “Merry Christmas” greeting onto Crafty Necessities: Vineyard Berry Cardstock, cut it out with the coordinating die, and popped it up across the poinsettia.

To finish the card, I scattered several embellishments from the Red Cosmos Enamel Dots Set around the design. I briefly considered adding white embellishments to coordinate with the white embossed sentiment, but ultimately decided against it. Keeping the embellishments within the same red and berry color family preserved the bold monochromatic look of the card. Some of the enamel dots almost disappear into the background, which is a detail I ended up loving because it reinforces the rich tone-on-tone design while allowing the dimensional poinsettia and embossed frames to remain the center of attention.

TWO-TONE EMBOSS RESIST CHRISTMAS CARD

For this card, I decided to revisit one of my favorite techniques and create a bold holiday design with lots of texture and contrast. I also wanted to challenge myself to use a single stamp set to create a background with multiple shades of green and plenty of visual interest.

I started with a white cardstock panel and blended Mountain Pine Fresh Dye Ink from the Green Valley Fresh Dye Ink Bundle over the entire surface using a large blending brush. After allowing the ink to dry thoroughly, I stamped the background from the Winter Woodland Silhouette Stamp Set with clear embossing ink. To create the layered look, I selectively applied clear embossing powder only to the larger images in the design, such as the trees, gifts, deer, mittens, and mushrooms. This required a bit of patience, as I carefully removed embossing powder from the smaller background elements using a dry brush before heat setting everything in place.

I worked on the panel in two sections, embossing the bottom portion first and then repeating the process for the top half. Using a stamping platform made it easy to restamp the background precisely in the same position. While this technique is definitely more time-consuming than a simple stamped background, it is a relaxing process and produces a unique result that is well worth the extra effort.

Once the embossing was complete, I returned to Mountain Pine Fresh Dye Ink, this time applying it with a mini blending brush. Smaller blending brushes tend to deposit more ink and create a deeper, richer color, allowing me to darken the background significantly while the embossed images resisted the ink and remained lighter. To further enhance the contrast, I stamped the background once more using the same ink, creating additional detail in the non-embossed areas. Any residual ink sitting on the embossed images was simply wiped away with a paper towel, revealing the crisp pattern underneath.

At this point, I added white paint splatters over the entire panel. This step not only enhances the wintery, festive feel of the card, but also helps soften and visually blend some of the tiny imperfections from the selective embossing process. The splatters bring everything together and make the background feel more cohesive and organic.

For the focal point, I chose the large “Peace, Love & Joy” sentiment from the Holiday Essentials Die Set. I die cut the sentiment five times from white cardstock and stacked the layers together with liquid adhesive to create a substantial dimensional element. The bright white sentiment helps balance the dark background and immediately draws the eye to the center of the card.

I mounted the finished panel onto an A2 white card base, leaving a generous border around the edges. The background panel measures 3¾” × 5″, which creates a clean frame and helps highlight the bold green design.

To finish the card, I embellished it with enamel dots and stars from the Essential Black & White Enamel Dots and Red Cosmos Enamel Dots. The red accents reinforce the classic holiday color palette, while the white embellishments help balance the darker areas of the design. I also decided to use a few star embellishments—a shape I rarely reach for but one that felt perfectly at home on this festive card.

HOLIDAY MAILBOX WITH FESTIVE GREENERY

The adorable mailbox from the Altenew Mini Delight: Special Delivery Stamp & Die Set takes center stage on this holiday card. I die cut all of the mailbox pieces from Crafty Necessities Cardstock in Heart Beat, Grapevine, Ruby Red, Espresso, Dark Chocolate, as well as Kraft, and White, then assembled them to create the dimensional focal point.

The tiny envelopes tucked inside the open mailbox add a charming finishing touch and make the design feel extra festive.

To frame the mailbox, I created several leafy branches using the Altenew Festive Greenery Die Set. The greenery was die cut from Crafty Necessities Cardstock in Forest Glades, Forest Fern, and Ruby Red, creating a rich combination of evergreen foliage and bright holiday berries.

Layering the greenery behind the mailbox helps draw the eye toward the focal point while adding plenty of dimension.

For the background, I kept everything monochromatic and bold by using Crafty Necessities: Grapevine Cardstock for both the A2 card base and the background panel. The background panel is cut 1/4″ smaller on all sides and foam-mounted onto the card base using black adhesive foam squares for added depth.

Before assembling the card, I added fine gold splatters across the background. While the design would also look beautiful without them, the gold splatters help repeat the metallic accents from the sentiment and bring in an extra touch of holiday sparkle.

Once the background was ready, I adhered the greenery first, then popped up the mailbox with black adhesive foam squares. I especially like using black dimensional adhesive behind darker die cuts since it stays virtually invisible from the sides, unlike white foam tape which can sometimes peek through.

The greeting was created with the Altenew Holiday Essentials Die Set. I die cut the shadow layer from the same Crafty Necessities: Grapevine Cardstock so it blends seamlessly into the background, while the sentiment itself was cut from Altenew Brushed Gold Metallic Cardstock. I also popped up the sentiment for extra dimension and to make the gold finish stand out even more.

To finish the card, I scattered the smallest gems from the Altenew Milky Way Gem Sparkles around the arrangement. I intentionally chose the white gems because they echo the tiny white envelopes peeking from the mailbox, balancing the composition while adding a subtle sparkle without overwhelming the design.

PEACEFUL SNOWY FOREST HOLIDAY CARD

My next card features the beautiful Creative Cuts: Jack Pine Tree Layering Die Set, another fantastic addition to Altenew’s monthly subscription lineup. Since all of my projects for this release lean toward holiday crafting, I immediately envisioned this layered tree in a peaceful winter setting. The versatile design can easily be used year-round, but creating a snowy holiday scene was simply irresistible!

I started by die cutting all layers of the Creative Cuts: Jack Pine Tree Layering Die Set from white cardstock. The trunk was ink blended using Umber Shadow Fresh Dye Ink from the Earth Tones Fresh Dye Ink Bundle.

For the foliage layers, I used Frosted Seaglass, Coastal Haze, and Misty Harbor Frost Dye Inks from the Coastal Mist Bundle, creating soft blue-gray tones that perfectly complement a winter landscape. I left the top layer white to represent freshly fallen snow resting on the branches.

After ink blending all of the pieces, I assembled the tree following the layering guide included with the set. Like many Altenew layering die sets, it features the convenient keyhole system, which makes alignment quick and effortless. To add extra stability, I die cut the trunk one additional time from kraft cardstock and adhered it behind the assembled tree since I knew I wanted to pop it up over the background.

For the snowy backdrop, I used the Stencil Art: Where Nature Meets Home Layering Stencil Set, another Altenew monthly subscription product.

I ink blended the tree trunks using Ginger Root and Umber Shadow Fresh Dye Inks from the Earth Tones Fresh Dye Ink Bundle. The cozy house nestled among the trees was colored with Almond Butter and Milk Chocolate Fresh Dye Ink from the Delectable Delights Fresh Dye Ink Bundle.

For all of the snowy elements, including the ground and snow-covered foliage, I used Marble Dust and Silver Lining Fresh Dye Ink from the Chasing Shadows Fresh Dye Ink Bundle. I also used the stencil layer designed for falling snow and applied it with Cloud White Pigment Ink to create the softly falling snow visible throughout the scene.

Once the background panel was complete, I adhered the dimensional tree using the new Foam Adhesive Squares – 1/16″. I chose the thinner thickness to add subtle dimension without making the already layered tree too bulky. I especially appreciated having multiple foam square sizes available, which allowed me to adhere all of the intricate die-cut pieces without trimming adhesive.

The sentiment, from the Winter Wonderland Stamp Set, was heat embossed in white on brown cardstock and die cut with the coordinating die. I popped it up using Foam Adhesive Squares – 1/8″ for a little extra dimension. To finish the card, I splattered white acrylic paint across both the background and the tree, adding the look of gently falling snow and completing this peaceful winter scene.

SUPPLIES

If you’re curious about the supplies I used, you can find everything listed below.

Some of the links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at no extra cost to you.

You can use the letter codes to shop from your favorite stores: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Altenew (AN), Scrapbook.com (SC), Amazon (AZ), Spellbinders (SB), Papertrey Ink (PTI), ScrapbookPal (SBP), and more.

I really appreciate your support 🤍

Altenew Mini Delight: Special Delivery Stamp & Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Creative Cuts: Jack Pine Tree Layering Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Stencil Art: Where Nature Meets Home Layering Stencil Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Marvelous Monthly Series Bundle – July 2026 Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Festive Florals Multi-Color Cardstock Pack Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Decorative Frames 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Festive Greenery Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Holiday Essentials Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Lush Botanicals: Poinsettia 3D Embossing Folder & Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Scenes In A Sip Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Winter Woodland Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Layer It Up Tree Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew July 2026 Full Release Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesive Squares – 1/16″ Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Foam Adhesives Squares – 1/8″ Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Cloud White Pigment Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC	Altenew Ruby Red Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Grapevine Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Red Cosmos Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Red Cosmos Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Heart Beat Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Berry Mocha Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Tea Party Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Tea Party Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Honey Drizzle Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Forest Fern Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Forest Glades Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Evergreen Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Mountain Pine Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Green Valley Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Green Valley Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Rocky Shore Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Mocha Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC
Altenew Almond Butter Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC	Altenew Milk Chocolate Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Delectable Delights Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Delectable Delights Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC	Altenew Ginger Root Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Umber Shadow Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Earth Tones Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Earth Tones Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Marble Dust Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Silver Lining Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Chasing Shadows Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Chasing Shadows Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Frosted Seaglass Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Coastal Haze Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Misty Harbor Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Coastal Mist Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Coastal Mist Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Brushed Gold Metallic Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Crimson Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Coral Bliss Cardstock Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Crafty Necessities: Heart Beat Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Vineyard Berry Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Ruby Red Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Grapevine Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Honey Drizzle Cardstock Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Crafty Necessities: Forest Glades Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Evergreen Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Forest Fern Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Misty Sage Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Crafty Necessities: Espresso Cardstock Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Crafty Necessities: Dark Chocolate Cardstock Click A Shop: AN	Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares Small Black Click A Shop: SC	Altenew Stampwheel 2.0 Click A Shop: AN	Altenew 9″X12″ Ultra Sticky Mat: Grid Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Ink Blending Tool – Large Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC
Altenew Mini Blending Brush Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC | SBP	Altenew Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Stellar Sequins – Clear Iridescent Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Milky Way Gem Sparkles Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Red Cosmos Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Essential Black & White Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN

PRIZES

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by July 16th for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew’s Blog Hop Post on July 18th, 2026.

The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.

GET HOPPING!

The next stop in the blog hop will be Mindy Eggen. If you got lost you can find the full list of blog hop participants below.

BLOG HOP