What's Up Wednesday ~ Arrow Fold Card

 Welcome to my blog! Today I'm sharing a Fun Fold pattern I just love to make....and....it's easy, too! It's called an Arrow Fold and with just a couple of quick measurements you have this amazing look!

I've used our March Product of the Month called Notes of Spring. It's an adorable stamp set with woodland animals. Bonus....each animal has its own solid image to quick color it! Of course you can use the outline and color by hand, too. Versatility is fun! With a qualifying order ($75) you can get this exclusive set for only $5! But it's only available during March!

Take a look at this fun inside view! I love how the card pattern looks on the inside. This truly is a fun fold card!

Ok on to the measurements! With a pencil, mark on the inside front of the card base. Measure across the bottom to 2-3/4" (center of card width). Next, measure up the side to 2-1/8". You do not need to draw the line. I just did that to make it easier to see what's happening. OK, SCORE from the side mark to the bottom mark on each side. Next SCORE from the upper corner to the bottom mark. That's it!

For the other layers use a piece of Design Paper  5" x 4" and white card stock 5" x 4". Mark at 2-1/2" on the long side. CUT from the bottom mark to the upper corner on both sides.

Creating the arrow fold: On the score line from the upper corner to the bottom FOLD to the inside. glue to the card front. On the score line from the 2-1/8" mark to the bottom FOLD to the outside. Glue to card front being careful to only out glue along the inside edge. Now do the same on the other side. Ta-da! You now have an arrow fold. 

Use the other pieces to decorate as seen in the photos. For the front I added a layer with the cute fawn. I punched the white and green card stock. since they are the same size I cut the green in half and glued them together with the green showing a the top and bottom for a layered look. As you can see, I also used a few of the images on the inside, too.

I hope you enjoyed my Arrow Fold Card. Give it a try...even if you don't like measuring. It's easy once you give it a try. Have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampn' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #arrowfoldcard #funfolds #cardmaking #whatsupwednesday

Flip Open Card

How are you today? I was feeling crafty so I made this card to share with you. It's a Fun Fold with a flip opening.  I'm using the colors for a team color challenge: Garden Green, Petal Pink and Highland Heather. It's a pretty combination and made me think of flowers. Let me know what you think. 

I started with a regular size card base (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") with a top fold. The cardstock is our Two Tone Garden Green. I used the lighter side for the card front. With our Paper Trimmer, I cut 1" in on each side of the card front, stopping at the fold.  These strips were then glued down onto the card base. 

I decorated the strips with a piece random stamped and colored with markers. The middle panel has a piece of DSP (Designer Series Paper) for a background. I die cut and colored images from the Delicate Whispers Bundle. The sentiment is on a punched circle.

To assemble I first stamped the bough in green in 1st and 2nd generation ink. To do this you ink once and stamp twice before cleaning your stamp. This gives some dimension and eye appeal. Then I layered on the circle and added the flower sprays. For the sprays I glued the bottom and popped up the top with Mini  Dimensionals. I love how this adds more dimension to the design. Finally, it was time to add a few gems to guide your eyes over the entire design. Polacing the gems is easy when you use our Taker Your Pick Tool. It has multiple tools you switch out as needed. For picking up and placing gems I like the flat paddle like tool.

On to the inside. When you lift the flap you find out the sides are stationary and only the center opens. Fun! 

For the inside I added a piece of white card stock for writing a personal note. Apiece of the DSP and a strip of cardstock anchors the bottom. The tip of one of the floral sprays was stamped and colored like on the front keeping the theme going inside and out.

What do you think? Is this a design you'd make? It's a lot of fun and easy to do. Why not give it a try? 

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #flipopencard #funfold #cardmaking, #teamchallenge

Springtime Scene Card ~ Color Dare #696

 Are you ready for a new challenge from our team at Color Dare? Well here you go! You must use at least FOUR of the six colors shown in the graphic below. We also give you some Free colors to use but do not add any colors beyond that. See the graphic for the details.

Create any paper craft you like and make sure your colors are a close match to those in the graphic. 

Since I woke up to a white ground this morning, even though it was only a dusting, I felt like doing Spring with my design and avoid looking out the window. Haha

We have a new bundle called Springtime Scenes and it has so many cute images and dies! I've only used a few for this card so I have many more to give a try soon! I paired it with the Splash of Sparkles DSP to get the colors needed for the challenge. 

I cut out this portion of the DSP for the color combo. After die cutting the elements I wanted to use I glue it all down on a green card base.

BY THE WAY, the clipboard easel I used to photo my project is one of our NEW KITS this month! What a fun way to display photos or projects! The kit is a set of 3. Be sure to check it out. The link is at the end.

The sentiment was stamped then the ends were punched with the Happy Labels Punch. Adding a few flowers helps draw your eye to the sentiment. Muted Palette Gems were used as flower centers in keeping with the colors of the challenge.

Here's a look at the inside of the card. I used a piece of the DSP along the bottom just for fun. I had a few flowers left over and placed them around the sentiment. I don't usually use gems on the inside of a card because of the bulk. This time I felt the flowers looked really bare and didn't go with the front of the card. So gems on the inside it is!

Direct link to Color Dare #696

Have fun! We can't wait to see how our colors inspire your creativity!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #colordarechallenge #colorchallenge

Dainty and Pretty

 How are you today? I felt some creativity happening earlier and put it to use for this creation! I love it when it comes together easily. How about you?

This is a new bundle from our March release on Online Exclusives. It's a bit old fashioned and dainty looking. Just think of all the looks you can get from this bundle! I think the frames would be great for scrapbooking old photos, too. I'll have to look into my photo bin to see what's there.

As I was looking through my papers I came across this pack of Pastel Shimmer. With the three colors in the pack I knew it would be perfect for my design. Plus it gives an added sheen. See the photo below.

I love the lacy look of the inner frame. I kept the oval inset and used that, too for a solid look to that layer. This was die cut from Vellum so it softens the green background. To make it easy and hide the adhesive, I put the Vellum on a piece of our Adhesive Sheets then die cut. The adhesive covers the entire piece and makes the glue invisible!

The pink flowers are popped up on Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. The flower centers come from the Rainbow Dots and finally a white ribbon accents the bottom of the frame. 

Our Take Your Pick Tool makes placing those tiny items like the Dots an easy thing to do! I use mine all the time and just with out the tips depending on what I need to do.

Look at that luster and sheen on the papers. It's even prettier in person! It adds so much to the design. I used all three colors here but it would also make a great accent using only a bit of it with other papers.

I had one tiny flower and set of leaves left over. they are the perfect tiny accent for the inside of the card. Don't forget to add something to the inside, too! This tiny accent leaves plenty of room for a custom message!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my project. Why not give the bundle and /or Pastel Shimmer paper a try? I know you'll love both.

Have a crafty day!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #scallopedwishesbundle #usingvellum #cardmaking

What's Up Wednesday ~ More Gears

Hello there!  Yes, it's another gear card, BUT this is one super fun technique to use on the gears! 

Adding texture to a project is always fun because there are so many ways to do it! This technique uses texture paste and embossing powder for the texture! Let's dive in.....

This card was design inspired by Cheri's Stamps. The technique was inspired by Daveda Leppke.  Thanks for the inspiration, Ladies.

I started by die cutting tons of gears in Textured Metallic paper. Since I was die cutting why not make extra, right? The gears look good in regular cardstock but I really like them in the metallic best. 

Next up was the DSP and stamp distressing those elements of the design. Once ready the pieces were glued to the card front and I was ready for the gears.

 In the photo it kind of looks like a mess on the gears but in person it really looks great! I started with the large copper gear and the embossing paste. Since copper ages to a green patina I used a drop of Coastal Cabana re inker to tint the paste. I smeared it randomly in a few spots and called it good. The heat tool was used to set the paste since I was impatient to keep going with the assembly. 

Next up was the gold gear. I applied the paste, no tinting, then pressed it face down in the copper embossing powdered tapped off the excess. I did the tiny silver gear the same way using a bit of paste and gold powder. Now I heat set those tow gears. 

To assemble the gears I layered them using the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. The large gear is glued directly to the card front.  The photo below gives you an idea of the dimension this creates.

I finished with the other elements and it was a win!

Here's a look at the inside of the card and the envelope. I randomly stamped images along the right to mimic what's going on in the front. I had a leftover piece of DSP and glued it to the flap of the envelope. Don't forget your envelope as it's always nice to decorate a bit there, too! 

What do you think? would you try this distressing technique? I hope you enjoyed seeing my project and it inspires you to give it a try. Have a crafty day!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #gears&textures #whatsupwednesday #distressingtechnique

Gears & Textures ~ Masculine Style

 Welcome to a fun and easy masculine style card using our Gears & Textures Bundle! This bundle is so versatile and fun to create both feminine and masculine cards! Click here to see a feminine version I shared a few posts ago. Today though, is all about masculine!

This design was inspired by Archie's Atelier. I did put my spin on it but the idea is still there. It's kind of an elegant look, don't you think? 

I spent a lot of time die cutting gears because I taught this at a recent class. For this card I used a technique to  distress the gears a bit with ink. The ink colors for each of the metallic is Gold + Pecan Pie, Copper + Cajun Craze and Silver + Basic Gray. All you have to do is tap the ink pad on the gear. Once you're happy with the look you need to dry the ink with a heat tool or set aside to dry for a while. It's a subtle look but adds a nice touch to the design.

The background for the gears was stamped with various images from the set. At the end I added some metallic gems to keep the metallic theme going. No need for a sentiment on the front but if you wanted to you could emboss a small one at the top or bottom of the stamped layer.

One other technique I used was to splatter ink all over the white layer using a Secret Sea Stampin' Blend. It adds to the distressed look and softens the white area, too.

What do you think? Would you send this card to someone special?

On the inside of the card I did some stamping then added a couple gears. The chain is leftover from the front when I snipped the chain for sizing. Those little pieces come in handy!

Tomorrow I'll share a different way to age the gears. This time using embossing paste! So be sure to come back tomorrow!

Have a crafty day!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #gears&texturesbundle #agingtechnique

Masculine Grears Card ~ Atlantic Hearts Sketch #673

Monday means a new sketch from our team at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Today it's Team A's turn to share and it's a fun and easy sketch to inspire your creativity.

You can manipulate the sketch however you like. We just need to be able to see the elements of the sketch in your design. Once again I have stayed true to the sketch as it is. Let's take a look. 

This card came together very quickly. I've been on a roll with the Gears & Textures set lately and felt this sketch worked well. I already had a bunch of the gears die cut and just went with it! I'll be sharing other masculine looks this week so come back to take a look!

Right away I felt the Timeless Plaid DSP would be a perfect match with the gears. I'm partial to greens and blues so that's why I chose this plaid from the pack. 

My gears were die cut in the Textured Metallics paper and I liked the copper and gold for this. I also added some texture to the upper panel with the Exposed Brisk 3D embossing Folder. I love it paired with the gears!

I popped up the layer with the gears so to keep the card from getting too thick I glued the gears directly on top of each other.

A simple sentiment from Banner Sayings copper embossed and punched out is all it took to finish the sketch along with a few gems.

Here's a look at the inside of the card. I used the leftover pieces from the front so they would feel left out. haha

By the way..... a couple of the products I used are on sale!!!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Now it's up to you to show us how this sketch inspires you. we can't wait to see your artwork! Have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampn' Up!® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up!

#showandtellwithmichelle #atlanticheartssketchchallenge #gears&texture #cardmaking