Lots to Love ~ NEW January 2026 Kit

I'm our Team Kit Ambassador for January which means I will be showing you the 3 NEW kits for this month and alterations to the cards. This is the first kit I opened and played with so take a look.

Lots to Love is a beautiful and easy kit to create with. You get a total of 9 cards and envelopes with 3 cards of 3 designs. I made 1 card of each design using the included directions. Then I went a bit rogue and altered the other 2 cards for each design. 

The first photo shows the pretty grouping of 4 flowers. The card on the left is by the directions. The window layer has a lot of texture and is popped up with the included foam strips. The flowers are popped up with Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. 

The altered cards are next. The middle card has a trimmed down window layer with inked edges in Crumb Cake and a Blending Brush. I used a White & Gold ribbon knot in the center and moved the sentiment to. the bottom.

The card on the right has no window layer. To alter I simply wrapped a ribbon detail along the left fold. It's a very easy thing to do and makes a pretty altered look!

Card 2: the card on the left has a large center spray of flowers and is made by direction. The flowers have a delicate die cut popped up on Dimensionalds are a couple leaves. The window layer is also popped up on strips of the included foam. 

Middle card: The window layer is trimmed down a bit to create a framed look. I added a piece of window plastic behind the opening and used the strips of foam. Placing some Gold Sequins on top of the flowers I then laid the window layer on top and sealed in the sequins. Now it's a shaker card! I did not use the die cut flowers and leaves on the inside because of the sequins, sod I added one flower to the card front next to the sentiment. 

Right card: I cut up the window layer to create corners and inked it with Crumb Cake ink and a Blending Brush. This creates a vignette look that draws in your eye. The flowers and leaves have the die cuts popped up. 

Card 3: Left card is done by the directions. The leaves are popped up with the Mini Dimensionals and tucked into the window over the other leaves. 

Top card: No window layer this time. I did add a piece of the window layer edge I trimmed off and added a piece of Pretty Peacock CS to the edge. You can just see it a little bit. Sorry about that. The die cut leaves are popped up and accented with a Gold Sequin on the bottom. 

Right card: The window layer is once again trimmed but only on the top and bottom sides. The window is popped up as are the die cut leaves. Pretty Peacock CS is at the top and bottom and Gold Sequins complete the look!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this kit and the alterations I created. It was a lot of fun and I love this kit even more than I thought I would! You are going to want to have this kit on hand as it will easily adapt to all kinds of occasions.

Come back soon for the next January Kit!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#shownadtellwithmichelle #lotstolovekit #kitambassador #cardmaking  

What's Up Wednesday ~ Snowy Days Layout

 It's mid-week so that means a new What's Up Wednesday. This is where I give you a more detailed project and this week it's a layout. 

My daughter sent some photos of a snowy cross country skiing day with their neighbors. The photos paired very well with the new Square Snippets DSP so I was ready to start the layout!

The Square Snippets DSP is a bit different than other pack of DSP we have. Here you get 12 sheets: 4 each of double sided designs. You get sheets with 4"squares and sheets with 3"squares. Talk about versatility! 

Square Snippets DSP

The Joyful Squares Bundle was also used and is made to coordinate perfectly with the Square Snippets DSP. The dies are so fun! Take a close look at the layout and see if you can find which dies I used, I also added some of the stamp images but with all the squares I kept the stamping minimal so as not to make it too busy.

Joyful Squares Bundle

Starting with the left page I knew I wanted a larger sized photo of all the kids lined up.  I started by cutting up a sheet of the 4" squares. I laid them out in a way that looked nice with the colors in the photo. After that I started playing with cutting shapes to created more interest. With the dies there are so many ways to alter the squares!

On this page more of the squares are in the upper left corner with just a few opposite in the lower right corner. I kept areas free of squares so it didn't look too busy but then those areas look unfinished. Stamping the corner and adding a few gems solved that issue!

For the right page I just mimicked the left page but I reversed the corner placement. Now most of the squares are in the lower right corner. I kept the same idea with laying out fun squares to create a nice pattern. then I started altering some of the squares and added the stamped corners, arms and a couple of the stamped sentiments.

Scrapbooking these photos was so much fun. I felt part of the day even those I was a thousand miles away! that's why I love scrapbooking. When you create the pages you get to relive the memory of the occasion. With this layout I also get to share with my family when I send them this layout for their albbum!

Thanks for stopping by! Come back often for more ideas, information and inspiration. Have a crafty day!

Michhelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #scrapbookinglayout #squaresnippets #joyfulsquares

Embossed Split Negative Card

 I promised I'd share more Split Negative designs and here is a different way of creating with that technique.  Embossing creates a new look and adding a metallic element really makes it a bit dramatic, too. Click here to see the previous post I shared explaining the technique.

Here I've used Black and Copper Metallic for this look. Alternating layers of Black card stock and Metallica Copper Specialty paper gave me this dramatic look. You can easily make two cards at once simply but cutting your card stock to the full size of your image using both choices of paper. Then cut those two pieces in half giving you two each of the papers. Do the same for the layer under the image layer. You end up with enough pieces to make two cards!

Back to this card....

Using Black and Copper embossing powders I heat embossed my image on the two pieces placed next to each other so the image can be lined up. A word of warning: the metallic papers are slippery. Be careful when placing the stamp onto the metallic paper so it doesn't slip and blur your image. I find if I place the stamp carefully then lift it straight up it works well.

To create the layers I start with the one directly on the card first. Line up the two pieces and glue to the card. Next comes the embossed pieces. Glue them to the image lines up AND the center seam lines up, too. 

For the sentiment I used the Banner Punch to create the 3 pieces. I added a few gems to finish it off.

Want to see an idea on how to take this look up a notch? Here you go!

I used the same idea here but die cut the layers for a stylish look. To soften all the white area I used a water painter to splatter black ink. I put a drop of ink on a block then picked it up with the water painter. Holding the card base over my trash can I tapped the painter on the edge of the trash can to get the splatters. 

HINT: Sometimes I use a piece of scrap paper to hold the layers together I just glue it to the back and it hold those two pieces in place.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this version of a Split Negative card and a way to kick it up a notch. Give it a try and have fun with it!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #splitnegativetechnique #cardmaking

Wooly Friends Card ~ Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 665

 Are you ready for a sketch challenge? Well our team at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge has you covered! Every Monday we give you a new sketch to start your creative juices flowing. Our blog opens for enties on Wednesday and is open through Sunday. 

Use our sketch however you like. We just need to be able to recognize our sketch in your design. When you're ready to add your entry use the link below.

I altered parts of the sketch shapes to go with my Wooly Friends set. The basic design on the sketch is still plainly visible. The very pretty and shiny paper is from the Pleasant Patterns, one four new Mini catalog products. There is a third design in the pack and they are all beautiful.

The dimensions I used for the pattern paper are as follows: pink strip: 1.25" x 5.25", green banner: 2.25" x 2.75". 

Stampin' Blends were used to color the ewe and the head is popped up on Dimensionals. The flowers were colored with the coordinating two step images in the set.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 

How about giving our sketch challenge a try? I know you'll have fun and create something really fun. We love seeing how our sketch inspires you. 

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #Atlantic hearts sketch challenge #cardmaking #woolyfriends

Wooly Friends Bundle

Friendly Foliage Card ~ Color Dare #687

 Let's give a new color dare a try! Each Friday our team at Color Dare Challenge gives you a color combo to spark your creativity. This week we give you 3 colors of which you must use at least 2 of the colors. There are also Free colors other than use along with your 2-3 colors from the graphic. Do not add any colors beyond what is listed in the graphic. 

Make any paper craft you like. When you're ready to join our challenge use the direct link below the graphic.

For this challenge, the Friendly Foliage set spoke to me. My Upline has been inspiring her team with ideas using this set and I just had to give one of them a try. I love how we are such a sharing community!

Using all 3 colors in our challenge I came up with this lovely look and I'm so pleased with it. I tried layering the colors in different ways to see how they best looked for this design. Be sure to do that when you're creating to find the best combination of your elements.

The dies for this set are amazing! You can get the entire focal image cut at once using the nesting dies. See below.

I cut the purple layer to fit behind the die cut foliage and layered on another piece of cardstock. The embossed layer adds so much texture to the design! 

Adding the touches of Gold with the ribbon and gems ties the design up a notch and gives it some sparkle, too.

The inside of the card show how I added a piece of the leftover purple DSP to the right edge making the design carry into the inside as well. 

The 2 dies for the larger image nest with each other. You can use them alone for different look or together to get the look I've made today.

When you remove the die after cutting you get this lovely image cut on both the outdid and inside of the image. This gave me the option to place the purple paper behind the image for a beautiful contrast with the other layers.

Now it's your turn to create and share using our color challenge. It's a lot of fun and we can't wait to see how our colors inspire your project!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #colordarechallenge #colorchallenge #cardmaking #friendlyfoliage

Friendly Foliage Bundle

Adopt a Pet Kit

Here is one of our 3 new kits for January. Can you believe how cute this is? Four little animal pets your kids or grandkids will have fun putting together.   

I am the January Kit Ambassador for our Team and will be sharing this kit with your s soon as it arrives.  

Be on the look out later this month for my thoughts, tips and alternate ideas and just plain fun for this kit!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up!

Square Snippets Technique Card

Yesterday I shared a layout using our new Square Snippets DSP (Designer Series Paper). Here is a card with a fun technique using the same Square Snippets. I can't tell you enough how versatile this DSP pack is!!! 

The technique is called Split Negative and it's easy to do making it even more fun! Basically you need two colors so you can create "positive" and "negative" parts of your design. Here I chose to use the pink and teal colors from the Square Snippets pack.

My DSP squares started at 4" but I trimmed them down to 3.5" so I could mat and still have room on the card front. The extra benefit is you can easily make two cards at once when cutting your papers! 

The measurements are as follows:

Card Base: 4.25" x 5.5"

Layer 1: 4" x 4" of each color: cut in half

Layer 2: 3.5" x 3.5" of each color: cut in half

Layer 3: 2.5" x 2.5" of each color: cut in half

Starting with Layer 1, glue one half of each color to make a whole square. 

Do the same with Layer 2 but put the colors opposite of the color it's on. 

For Layer 3 you need to stamp before adding to the card. Place the pieces next to each other like they will be on the card. Stamp the square image. Now both pieces are stamped in one easy step. Glue the stamped layers on the card front placing them on the opposite color. 

For the center I stamped and die cut the image. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals for fun and dimension.

To fill in a bit of the white space at the bottom I added the 3 gems. See how easy that technique is? You can take this technique up a notch with other things liker heat embossing. I'll be showing you how to do that soon

Square Snippets is a 12 sheet pack of DSP. You get squares of 4" and 3" in many wonderful patterns. 

Square Snippets DSP pack

The Joyful Squares Bundle pairs perfectly with the DSP but also is great for other papers, too! So many ways to use this Bundle and paper are right there for your creativity to take over!

Joyful Squares Bundle

Check back often to stay in the loop for more great ideas!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #splitnegativethechnique #squaresnippets