Wednesday, December 17, 2025

What's Up Wednesday ~ Scrapping Black & White Photos

Today I want to share with you how to use Black & White photos in scrapbooking. Since there are no additional colors to use for inspiration you can go in a lot of directions with color. For this layout I decided to use pink to accent the photo for two reasons: I like how pink looks with black and gray tones and I needed a project using pastel colors for a Color Dare Challenge going live on Friday. Some other colors to go with black and white could be red, blue, yellow or even just stay with a black and white theme!

Before I even sat down I envisioned this photo with a half circle of flowers on one side. the base is a piece of 12" x 12" Two Tone Pretty in Pink cardstock. I used the lighter side to create a contrast with the ink.

The stamped and die cut flowers are in two sizes from the Petals of Beauty Bundle using  the same Pretty in Pink but on the darker side of the cardstock. I also die cut some Vellum leaves to tuck around the flowers. I love how Vellum is such a great supporting actor in a design. Some of the flowers are popped up on Dimensionals and all the flowers have a pretty, sparkly Rhinestone in the center.

I used a Mini Alphabet die to cut a title which fit perfectly along the right edge of the 5" x 7" photo. My journalling was printed on Pretty in Pink cardstock.

After all of this the layout still looked plain and unfinished. There was so much pink space! I thought about stamping some flowers around the out area but I thought that would look to busy and take your eye away from the focal point...the photo. As you can see I ultimately decided to shade around the outside with a blending brush, this time using Flirty Flamingo ink as there wasn't enough contrast using the Pretty in Pink ink. By shading around the outside of the page it created a vignette effect where there is a shadowed perimeter going into a brighter center. It naturally draws your eye to the center!

The quality of the photo isn't the greatest since it's so old, but sometimes you have to work with what you have. The important part is getting the photo in a scrapbook so it can be enjoyed and passed on to future generations.

Right now I'm working on the right page for this double layout. Come back Friday to see the completed double layout and how I scrapped 3 black & white photos for page 2.


Close-up of a flower cluster



Thanks for dropping in for What's Up Wednesday!

Michelle Loncar
Independent Stmapin' Up® Demonstrator 
Images© Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #whatsupwednesday #scrapbboking #blackandwhitephotos


Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Joy Card

How are you today? I'm in spending some time in my craft room so that makes it a good day! I'm sure you can relate. 

today I'm sharing a fun technique that is easy to do and looks great when finished. I stated by doing a wash of color on Watercolor paper. First I painted some water on the Watercolor Paper to make it wet. Kind of a soupy wet if you want the colors to flow. Next I put a drop of each color from a re-inker onto an acrylic block. Using the water brush again, I picked up a bit of the ink and painted it across the wet paper. I kept doing this until I had the blend I wanted then set it aside to dry. You can also dry it with a heat tool.

When dry, I die cut the letters saving the die cuts for another project. I just wanted the piece with the letters cut out for this card.  I stamped some small snowflakes around the word JOY and added some gems to make it sparkle. 

I trimmed the paper down to size (4" x 5.25") and backed the cut out section with some pretty shimmer paper. The card base is a side fold and a color that compliments the water wash. 


This is a design that will work for all kinds of occasions! The only restriction would be the length of the word you want to die cut. 

Thanks for stopping by! come back often for more ideas and inspiration. 

Michelle Loncar
Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 
Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #watercolor #cardmaking 

Friday, December 12, 2025

January Card Retreat

Stampin' Up is hosting a two day Card Retreat January 22 - 23, 2026. During this retreat you'll make 15 cards while learning new techniques and ways to use products!  

Each day will have a session from 3:00pm - 10:00pm CT. OR you can watch a replay at your convenience!

You'll get 3 stamp sets (1 is exclusive to the retreat), die sets, pattern papers, die cut sheets, cardstock and envelopes. 

This is a NO FEE Retreat but you do need to buy the kit ($165) to participate and have access to the videos and replays. 

More info is available on my website. Kits are available while supplies last. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity! I've already signed up!






Tiny Flower Card ~ Color Dare #682

 Welcome to Color Dare! Each Friday we give you a combo of colors to use for any paper craft you like. This week you need to use both colors shown in our graphic PLUS only ONE color of your choice. There are Free colors we also give you to use if you like. See the graphic for the Free colors. NOTE: your color of choice should not be one of the Free colors.

I went with a CAS look (clean and simple) for my card. Using some products coming in January I'm giving you a sneak peek. What a fun couple of sets to work with and show off to you.

The tiny flower comes from the Pop-Up Petals Bundle and has a feature that allows you to create a pop-up feature that creates a 3-D effect. I didn't use that here but will for sure very soon! But, don't forget about the smaller images in a set. They need a chance to be the star, too! To call attention to the tiny flower I painted it with some Wink of Stella. It's hard to see in the photo but trust me, it's there.

The frame and die cut flowers come from what is a very versatile bundle: Swirled Designs. Sine I was using the tiny flower I wanted to frame it with one of the funky frames. Fun, right?!! There ways you can use your products the more economical they become!

I die cut the frame twice using blue and white CS. I saved the center of white to stamp the flower so it would be raised up in the frame. The die cut flowers were glued around the frame and adorned with a rhinestone center. Quick, easy and cute!




Direct link to Color Dare #682

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at some new products coming our way. It's going to be a fun New Year for crafting!

Michelle Loncar
Independent Stampin' UP® Demonstrator 
Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #pop-uppetalsbundle #swirleddesignsbundle #colordare #colorchallenge



Thursday, December 11, 2025

True Blue Florals ~ December Product of the Month

Have you seen these beautiful blue floral papers yet? The True Blue Florals pack is our December Product of the Month and can be yours for only $5 with a $75 min order. 

This is a new program we're starting this month. Each month there will be a new and exclusive product available with a min order. It will be a surprise each month and I know it will be something we ALL want to add to our stash!

Get out your Wish List. Get out your Christmas Gift List. Place an order for yourself and the crafters on your list. Then add this pretty True Blue Florals pack, too! There are NEW Online Exclusives and the Last Chance Sale has been updated. Be sure to check it all out!

Don't wait too long though. It's available while supplies last!



Michelle Loncar
Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 
Images© Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #productdofthemonth #specials

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

What's Up Wednesday ~ Easy & Elegant

This What's Up Wednesday post is all about elegance....the easy way! Sometimes simple and easy is the way to go!

I actually designed this card in my head as I was drifting off to sleep last night. Does that ever happen to you? Sometimes those designs work just right and sometimes they don't. This time is a just right time! 

Christmas cards and embossing just seem to go together. Agree? On this card I've done both versions of embossing: heat and folder. I love the texture from both techniques and the sparkle of the gold is so pretty!

I wanted to keep a clean white look to the card with touches of gold. The Gold Foil paper goes perfectly with the gold heat embossing of the snowflakes and the ephemera sentiment. I even added a bit more gold in the gems and the twine. The snowflakes are popped up on Dimensionals.

The four squares (1.5") are the embossing folder design part of the card. The pattern adds a cozy look. 

This card came together pretty quickly and I love how it turned out! I just might make some more to send out soon!



Thanks for stopping by. Come back often for more ideas, inspiration and information!

Michelle Loncar
Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 
Images©Stampin' Up


#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #christmascards #embossing


Tuesday, December 9, 2025

FREE SHIPPING....3 days only!

 



For 3 days only!
December 10, 11, 12th with orders of $75 min you get Free Shipping!
That order will also qualify you for the December Product of the Month for only $5!


What's Up Wednesday ~ Scrapping Black & White Photos

Today I want to share with you how to use Black & White photos in scrapbooking. Since there are no additional colors to use for inspirat...