Branching Out Card ~ Color Dare #678

 Welcome to a Color Dare Challenge that gives you colors to work with to get your project started. Each Friday we give you a new combo of colors to create any paper craft you like. There are Free colors you can also use in addition to the colors shown, but do not add any colors beyond that unless instructed. This challenge lets you add 2 colors to go with the shades of brown. 

When you're ready to join our challenge use the direct link below. Most of all, have fun!

My 2 colors to go with the browns are red and green since I wanted to make a Christmas card. I love this Branching Out Bundle! The beautiful images and dies will create so many different looks and feels! This is how my project turned out.

I started by creating a frame in Gold Foil. Hint: I used a smaller die to cut out the center since it would be covered up anyway. Now I have that piece for a future project and my Gold Foil paper will last longer.

I stamped the white CS with various images and added a sentiment from the Greeting for You pack. The sentiment is in Gold and I inked the edges with brown. A beige ribbon was added to the popped up sentiment.

I debated on adding some gems but after a bit decided no gems were needed. With the touches of Gold it was enough.

Direct link to Color Dare #678

Now it's your turn to create and share using our Color Dare colors. We can't wait to see how you're inspired! Have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' UP® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtelliwthmichelle #colordarechallenge #cardmaking #colorchallenge #branchingout

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

Sunflower Card ~ Color Dare #677

Are you feeling creative but not sure where to start? How about starting with a color challenge from our team at Color Dare? Every Friday we give you a combo of colors to get you started. This week we give you two colors + 1 color of your choice. There are also Free color you can use along with the colors shown in the graphic. Do not add any extra colors beyond this so be careful if you're combining challenges.  

My two colors are Pumpkin Pie and Garden Green. My 1 color of choice is Darling Duckling and I added the neutral color Pecan Pie. 

I embossed my design and used sponge daubers to add color to the flowers. The embossed panel is edged with Pecan Pie CS. The sentiment was decorated with gems and a ribbon. Simple and easy to create. The colors got me going and I like having something to point me in a direction to get started. 

Direct Link to Color Dare #677

Now it's your turn to create and share. We love seeing how our colors inspire you. Have fun!

Michelle Loncar

Independent Stampin' Up® Demonstrator 

Images©Stampin' Up

#showandtellwithmichelle #colordarechallenge #colorchallenge #cardmaking

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