Ornament Card ~ Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 661

Welcome to a new sketch from our team at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Every Monday we give you a new sketch to inspire you. Our blog opens for entries on Wednesday. Here is the sketch for this week. 

I love the sketch and had fun making this card. The Gold Foiled Tags are a perfect way to create the sentiment layer and have a touch of gold to take it up a notch. After that is was easy to create a design cluster for the left side of the card.

I already had some extra ornaments, tops and a ribbons all ready to go so this was a great way to use some of them.  I die cut a branch and got to work finishing the design. A few sparkle sequins on the tag was a nice finishing touch.

How will you use our sketch? We can't wait to see!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images© Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #christmascards #cardmaking #atlanticheartssketchchallenge

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

Merry Christmas Card ~ Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 659

 Hello and welcome to a new sketch from our Design Team at Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge! We have a fun sketch for you this week and hope you give it a try. Here is how our challenge works. Each Monday we give you a new sketch to inspire you. On Wednesday our blog opens for entries. Use our sketch as you like. We just need to be able to see it in your project. Most important is to have fun!

I adjusted the sketch a bit for my card. I turned it to a vertical format and put the banner on the side. You can still see the sketch though, can't you?

The image was stamped then die cut. The pinkish looking flowers are 2nd generation Real Red ink. I inked the stamp, stamped on scrap paper then on the flower.

Some Wink of Stella on the main flower for some sparkle and the image was popped with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

For the banner I used a piece from our Foiled Frames & Labels Ephemera Pack. What a quick and easy way to get a banner! Plus it's edged in gold! See below for the products I used to make this card.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Why not give our sketch a try? It's a lot of fun when we get you started with a design.

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #atlanticheartssketchchallenge #christmascards

Embossed Wreath Card ~ Color Dare #680

It's Friday! That means a new color challenge from our Design Team at Color Dare. This one sets the mood for Christmas using the traditional colors of red and green.  We also offer some Free colors for you to use in addition to the red and green. See the graphic for more info. What you can't do is add colors beyond what's listed on the graphic.

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

I kept the design fairly simple for my card. I embossed the wreath and layered it with tone on tone colors. I used a gold metallic marker around the edge to give some separation of the two layers.

Red was added with the ribbon and gems. The sentiment comes from our ephemera pack of Christmas messages. I added some gold and white twine and popped it up on foam. 

That's it! It was done quickly and easily with these products.

Direct link to Color Dare #680

Now it's your turn to create and share using these colors. Be creative and have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #christmascard #cardmaking #colordarechallenge

 

Sparkly Snowflake Card ~ Color Dare #679

 Welcome to a new color challenge from our Design Team at Color Dare! This week you must use at least two of the colors shown in our graphic but feel free to use all three if you like. There are some FREE colors to use in addition if you like. See the graphic for that info. Make any paper craft you like. When you're ready to join our challenge use the direct link below the graphic. Most important is to have fun!

For my card I used all three colors. The light color is actually glitter paper but it's hard to see it in the phot. You can get a hint of it in the upper left corner area. 

The large snowflake die cut is so pretty! I cuts a hole in the center giving you a circle to use or save for another project. I elected to use it now. I die cut the single snowflake from that circle since I knew I'd be layering on top of it thus making the most of my supplies. The blue layer is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals mostly because the foam sticks better to the glitter paper. It also gives a new dimension to the design. There is so much for the eye to roam over that you don't even need any embellishments!

Direct link to Color Dare #679

Now it's your turn to use our colors for a project. If you combine challenges be careful of the color requirements. Have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #colordare #colorchallenge #cardmaking #christmascard

What's Up Wednesday ~ Easy Fun Fold Card

Welcome to What's Up Wednesday where I share more detailed projects with you. This week it's an easy Fun Fold card you'll love to make! It's also a project for our team Challenge to make a Fun Fold Card with DSP.

Start with a cardstock base of 4.25" x 5.5".  The card base will not open. 

Take a piece of DSP 5.25" x 6". On the 6" side score a line 2" from the end. By this I mean put the 6" length onto the paper trimmer lining it up at 4" and score. If you have our SU Trimmer use the scoring tool that came with the trimmer. If you don't have that you can use a Take Your Pick tool to do the scoring with a trimmer.

Once you've scored your DSP, fold over the 2" flap. Now glue the DSP to the card base. the flap is what opens for the inside part of the card.

I used a card from our Joyful Days Memories and More Pack. It's 3" x 4" and some of the cards have a sentiment. Glue the top of the card to the flap. I added some sequins for some sparkle. 

When you open the flap you find a piece of white CS that is stamped with an inside message. I added a small piece of CS to the back of the card on the front to give a finished look to the back of that piece.

How's that for an easy Fun Fold card? Give it a try! I know you'll love the results.

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #tramchallenge #christmascards

Modern Christmas Card

 Are you a modern or traditional type when it comes to Christmas cards? Well, I'm both! I'm really loving this Modern Christmas line of products we have this year. Today I'm sharing this beautiful card inspired by one seen on Craftwerks. 

A fun technique to do, especially on Christmas cards, it to heat emboss. On this card the two gold trees are heat embossed with Gold powder. This helps carry the gold theme throughout the design. Heat embossing is easy if you haven't tried it yet. Stamp your image using a Versamark Pad. It's a sticky, clear ink that holds the powder in place. Once your image is stamped shake the powder over the image. Be sure to use a piece of scrap paper or a container so catch the excess powder. Now tap off the excess powder to reveal the image. Now you heat the image with a heat tool. Hint: you must use a heat tool designed for this technique. A hair blow dryer will not work as it doesn't get hot enough. As you heat the image you can see the powder change from a sand look to shiny gold. Move the heat tool around until all the powder is melted. Now you have a heat embossed image!

After heat embossing I die cut the images along with the tree stamped with black ink. While die cutting you'll want to do some stars, too. Oh...die cut a white 3" circle, too.

The piece along the left side of the card is gold foil with DSP on top. To create the design start with the strip along the left. After that do the layer with the trees. The white circle is the base. The two bottom trees are glued to the circle keeping them to the right side of the circle.

Next glue down the Large Gold Hoop using a couple of Mini Glue Dots. Place the glue dots on the hoop across from each other then adhere to the card front. Glue the white circle inside the hoop. Using Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the tree on the left place it on the card front with a bit going over the hoop. 

Stamp the sentiment and use glue dots to adhere it to the hoop. I also put a glue dot to stick to the tree. Add three stars and you're finished!

What a beautiful, modern look!

Thanks for dropping in! I hope you enjoyed this modern look card. I'll be sending a lot of these this year!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #christmascards #cardmaking #modernchristmas

What's Up Wednesday ~ Easy Christmas Card

 Welcome to What's Up Wednesday! This week I'm sharing a project inspired by a post on Pinterest. It's a simple and easy to make card with a tone on tone background. Let's take a look!

This is the finished card. The focal image is a card from the Joyful Days Memories & More Card Pack. This pack has two sizes of cards with images/designs on both sides. I used the smaller sized card here. I debated on the embossed background to use and ultimately decided on the one you see here.  That surprised me because the other choice was a plaid....and I love plaid! 

Inside the card I kept it simple for now. I cut one of the small card in half and used it to decorate the bottom of the inside. The white space is ready for a custom message when I get ready to use the card.

These are the two embossing folders I debated between. Of course you could use just about any pattern you like. 

Here is a look at the plaid pattern with the card. I like this look but thought the corrugated stripes was a bitter choice for this design.

Using one of the mini punches from the Hole Punch Assortment I added a slot for the ribbon. The ribbon is just a loop threaded through the hole with the long tails extending from underneath at the bottom. 

There you go! That was my process for the inspired card. It's quick and easy and a good "production" card. That means a card you can make a lot of in a short time.

Have fun crafting!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #whatsupwednesday 

Christmas Tree Card ~ Quick and Easy!

Are you ready for a quick and easy Christmas Card? This one and the one I'm sharing tomorrow are what you want! They are both good "production cards". By that I mean they are easy to make a lot of cards in a short time. 

The main feature of this card is the Joyful Days Memories & More Card Pack. This pack has two different sizes (4"x6" and 3"x4") with designs/patterns on both sides. This tree is beautiful with a watercolor look to it. 

I simply matted the card with dark green CS and popped it up on foam on the card front. The pattern paper  adds a nice look to compliment the colors of the tree. With the touch of gold it looks so pretty. The red gems complete the design.

There you go! Did I mention this is a quick and easy card? Check out this card pack as there are many designs that will help make your Christmas Card making go really fast this year!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #christmascards 

Snowflake Card ~ Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 655

 Are you in the mood to create with a sketch today? Well here you go! Our Team at Athletic Hearts Sketch Challenge shares a new sketch every Monday to get you started. You can do whatever you like to the sketch. We just need to be able to see it in your finished project.

The sketch goes live on Monday and our blog opens for entries on Wednesday. Have fun with the sketch!

I worked with the sketch as it is this time making a standard sized horizontal card. I added a light colored panel to help show off my snowflakes in white, silver and gold. 

The sentiment is from our Greeting for You pack and backed in silver. Other than die cutting the snowflakes this card took no time to create! 

What do you think? Would you make a Christmas card like this to send out? I know I'm going to be making more!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Happy crafting!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #atlanticheartsketchchallengr #cardmaking #christmascards

Z Fold Card for Christmas

Hello and welcome! Today I'm sharing the final card in our October Team Challenge. The challenge was to create 3 cards for Christmas with DSP and 3 Fun Fold cards with DSP. DSP = Designer Series Paper (pattern paper). The is card fulfills the Fun Fold category.

Have you tried a Z Fold Card yet? It's really quite easy. Start with a regular card base and fold the front of the card back on itself . You now have a Z fold Card base! I said it was easy!

Now you just have to decorate the panels. This is where I used the DSP on both the front and inside of the card.  I also added a layer to the card front with a sentiment and image. The image was die cut from the DSP. For the sentiment I wanted to use one that was too long for my mat. I solved the by curing the stamp on the block then stamping on the CS. Next I placed the image up in the curve. A few gems were added as well. 

On the inside I stamped a sentiment and left room to sign the card. I also added a different pattern to the inside for some fun. 

So, are you ready to give this easy Z Fold a try? I know you'll have fun and make many more!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stamppin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #cardmaking #teamchallenge #christmascard

Quick and Easy Christmas Card

 Here's another card for our Team Challenge. It fits the "make 3 Christmas Cards with DSP". For the pattern paper I used a couple pieces from our Joyful Days Memories and More Card Pack. That's where the quick and easy part comes in!

I picked a 4" x 6" pieces and a 3" x 4" piece that coordinated with the patterns. There is actually a sentiment on the larger piece, too, but I covered it with the smaller layer. The larger piece was trimmed a bit to fit a 4.25" x 5.5" card base.

After adhering to the card base I put the smaller piece on a matching mat. I wrapped a piece of ribbon around and glued it to the back. I tied a bow and used glue dots to stick it to the card front.

It's hard to see in the photo but I added some Gold sequins to finish the look. Like I said.....quick and easy!A piece of white cardstock was added to the inside to allow for a sentiment and signing the card.

Thanks for dropping in! I have two more cards for this Team Challenge. They are both Fun Fold Cards! Look for them this week.

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #teamchallenge #cardmaking #christmascards

What's Up Wednesday ~ Winter Scene Ornament Card

Welcome to What's Up Wednesday! Today I have a really pretty card to show you with lots of little tips to go with it. Let's take a look!

I created this card for a Team Challenge where you had to use DSP (pattern paper). As I was drifting off to sleep last night the idea came to me to use the ornament die and the Winter Scenes image to create a beautiful ornament. I think it worked well. How about you?

I started by stamping the ornament in Memento Black ink so it wouldn't bleed when I added color with a Water Painter. let the ink dry for a few minutes while you get the rest of the card pieces ready. 

The base is 5.5" x 8.5" in Pretty Peacock CS. This is a side fold card. the Balmy Blue is the light side of our 2 tone CS and is 4" x 5.25". The DSP is from our Elegant Pine Snowflake pack. It's one of the back side patterns. the piece is 1.5" x 5". The strip of Pretty Peacock CS is .5" x 4". The Vellum circle was die cut using a die from the Ornamental Christmas Dies, as was the white ornament base. 

Going back to the stamped image I lightly added some color using a Water Painter and the Balmy Blue ink. I tapped a block on the ink pad and lifted the ink with the Water Painter. On a piece of scrap paper I tested the ink to make sure it was what I wanted then painted parts of the image. Once the image was painted I also painted ink around the outside of the ornament to give it a bit of color and to shape the ornament a bit. 

The ribbon is actually white so I used my light Pretty Peacock Stampin' blend marker to color the ribbon. All you have to do is drag the brush tip across the ribbon and you end up with a beautiful color coordinating ribbon! Let it dry a minute while you assemble the card using the photo as a guide.

The Vellum is glued down using adhesive in the middle area of the circle because this area will be covered by the ornament layer so the glue won't be seen. The ornament is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals to give some depth to the design. 

The ribbon is used in two places: the bow and the hanger for the ornament. Attach those two pieces to the card using Glue Dots as they work best to stick fabric material to your card.

Once all the pieces are in place I painted the image with Wink of Stella to give a shimmery look. Then the gems were added and it was finished! By the way, I didn't put a sentiment on the card front because it would have been hard to fit it in somewhere and not look busy. You don't always need a sentiment on the front. This is one of those times.

In this close-up you get a better look at the shimmery on the image. It added a nice element to the theme don't you think?

Looking at the ribbon would you have guessed it was colored with a marker to get that pretty look? It matches the Pretty Peacock CS perfectly!

The Faceted Snowflake gems look like they were made for this design! Once again, the color is a great match and the facets add another element of sparkle to the card.

I also used the Pretty Peacock marker to edge the ornament. This gives it a nice finished edge.

Using Vellum as a layer under the ornament separates the ornament from the background in a soft and subtle manner. I tried a piece of CS but it was too bold. The vellum was just the right touch.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this card.  I know I had a lot of fun creating it!

Come back often for more ideas and inspiration! 

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichell #cardmaking #teamchallenge #christmascard #winterscenes

NOTE: The ribbon is part of the Last Chance Products. Get it while you can!

Vellum will be available in November as part of the November Online Exclusives!