Friday, March 21, 2025

I'm Dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

We're still getting our Grinch on, by making predominently green holiday cards. Here's how we showcased our green this week:


Lauren says, "This week I went a bit collagey, and if you say the words, "collage" and "green" to me in the same sentence, I immediately think about my stash of vintage S&H Greenstamps, obviously. (Thank you, Stephanie!) These have been layered over a 4x6" piece of 49 and Market's Spectrum Sherbet Lace Washi, to which I added a strip of drywall tape, some Eyelet Outlet Silver Pearl Swirl Bling and the diecut tree (Sizzix Christmas Tree #2) made of torn and layered scraps of green cardstock that I stumbled upon in the diecuts box last week. Some edge distressing, a sage green mat and a bit of machine stitching complete the design."


Stephanie Says, "I've been making my way through another Gelliarts gel print a day month, so I have lots of prints for creating at my disposal.  I cut numerous green prints into 3/8" strips and created a quilt background.  Then to help tie them together, I embossed the panel using an old quilt-like texture embossing folder.  To finish the card, I added this sweet little chef in green from Fancy Pants cookies for Kringle Ephemera."

And the Luck of the Green will be with one lucky participant who will receive a brand new Nordic Dimple Trees Die set by PoppyStamps.


Friday, March 14, 2025

Get Your Grinch On

This fortnight we're asking you to Get Your Grinch On, which means we're celebrating our friend the Grinch by creating cards that are predominantly GREEN (and bonus points if you throw in a Grinch too).

Here's how we're showing our GREEN this week.


Stephanie says, "I started with a fun green polka dot card base.  Next I matted a tag from Doodlebug Designs Candy Cane Lane with a link layer of blue to match the present and give a big of contrast to the background.  I added some glittery silver ribbon, a tie of lime twine, and a tiny bit of red bling for the gingerbread man's button.  I finished by using foam tape to add the tag for a bit of dimension."



Lauren says, "I started with a (seemingly firm) plan that involved a Christmas Tree layered with about six different shades of torn green cardstock. But then... I found this little quartet of adorability on a sheet of journal cards and the next thing I knew my card had four snowmen, two green polka dot papers, three EO Snowflake Brads and eight washi tapes. Because that's the way I roll, lol. (Not to worry, I can make the other card for next week!)"

♥♥♥

And the Luck of the Green will be with one lucky participant who will receive a brand new Nordic Dimple Trees Die set by PoppyStamps.



JB2506: Get Your Grinch On runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday evening, March 26th. Link as many newly made, mostly GREEN holiday cards as you'd like to, right here:

Thursday, March 13, 2025

BLING It On!

What's sparkly and shimmery and absolutely awesome? Every single one of the cards in the Bling On the Holidays Readers' Gallery, of course! If you haven't already treated yourself to the inspiration therein, we highly recommend the trip. Meanwhile, here are three cards that especially caught our eye this time:


...used multiple shades of green pigment powders and a stencil to create her gorgeous multicolor branches of holly; then framed them in red and added loads of beautiful, blingy berries!


...built a wonderous winter landscape set under a snowy sky full of glistening snowflakes and pearly accents; surrounded by a pristine snowfall of glittery acrylic paint!

...stacked a constellation's worth of blue and golden diecuts, added lots (& LOTS!) of glorious glitter et voila... a shaped card that shines as brightly as the stars it resembles!

♥♥♥♥♥

Here's a badge, if you'd like one!

Many thanks to everyone who played along, we loved seeing ALL of your cards! We'll be back at Midnight with a brand new prompt we think might find you GREEN with envy! ;) 

Friday, March 7, 2025

Jingle Belles are BLING-ing

We're still BLING-ing in the Holidays at Jingle Belles this week ... creating cards featuring jewels, gems, beads, pearls, glitter, stickles, or anything sparkly.

Here's how we got BLING-y with it this week.

Lauren says, "Believe it or not, this week's card has more BLING-centric elements than last week's... but admittedly they are harder to see. The gorgeous three-layer tree is Simon Hurley's Classic Christmas Tree from Spellbinders. I diecut the solid background tree from deep green cardstock and the foliage from medium green. I used a natural sponge to lightly dab both layers with Bronze Liquid Pearls for a subtle iridescent shimmer. I diecut the tree stand, some of the ornaments and the background mat from shimmery gold cardstock. I cut more ornaments from gold metallic and gold glitter cardstock. I added small rhinestones and pearls to the tree before mounting the whole thing on a piece of Lawn Fawn's Spiffier Speckles in Leprechaun (perfect for March!) on which the speckles are gold metallic. Finally I added a layer of ancient Hambly Screenprints doily patterned paper, which is also shimmery"


Stephanie says, "I started by covering my snowflake designer paper with Eyelet Outlet Silver Pearl Swirl Bling.  Next I added sentiments from Concord & 9th Big on Christmas, using strategically placed foam adhesive, so the sentiments floated above the bling."

Friday, February 28, 2025

BLING on the Holidays!

This fortnight we're celebrating (...you may have guessed it from the title...) BLING! All you need to do is make a card featuring jewels, gems, beads, pearls, glitter, stickles, or anything sparkly and join the fun by adding it with the Linky tool at the bottom of this post.

Meanwhile, here's how we're BLING-ing it this week:



Stephanie's Card

Stephanie says, "Bling is the perfect way to decorate a Christmas Tree, especially this three layer Kaleidoscope Christmas Tree die cut set from Spellbinders.  I cut the bottom layer of my tree from white glitter paper for even more sparkle.  And for a bit more shine, I topped the tree & die cut the My Favorite Things PEACE Die-Namics sentiment from Concord & 9th Champagne Foil Paper.



Lauren's Card

Lauren says, "I've had these Bling Snowflakes from the big box store for aggggggggges, so I was determined to use them for this prompt. I found a funky gel print made (at some un-remembered time, lol) by using an ancient Darice snowflake embossing folder to remove paint from the plate. I added some older Tim Holtz metallic rub-on transfers to enhance the holiday theme. My sentiment and mat are white glitter cardstock and the finished card is an A6."

♥♥♥

JB2505: BLING on the Holidays runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, March 12th. Link your beautiful BLING-centric card(s) right here:

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Clearly Awesome

Clear elements can be challenging to work with, but the Midnight Clear Readers' Gallery (clearly!) proves that the effect is worth the effort! Here are three cards that caught our eye this fortnight:


...layered vellum squares over her elegant trio of candle images, giving them a soft nostalgic feeling that works perfectly with her traditional red and green palette!


...pressure embossed an alphabet folder on a piece of clear acetate (bonus points for upcycling a piece of packaging!) enhancing the sweet scene of  critters mailing letters to Santa!


...made a BEARY cute shaker card that's got so much dimension, texture and charm it's practically a gift all on its own!

♥♥♥

Many thanks to everyone who played along, we loved seeing every card! We'll be back at Midnight with a brand new prompt we hope will BLING on your holiday creativity!

Friday, February 21, 2025

CLEAR-ly Christmas

We're still creating cards with transparent and/or translucent items (think vellum, acetate, lucite) if you can see the light through it, it works.

Here's how we were CLEAR-ly Christmas this week:


Lauren says, "I love Sunny Studio's Build a Tag #2 Die Set and that's what I used to make the tags and reinforcers on this pair of A2 cards. I punched square windows into the tags, backed them with scraps of clear acetate, and made a little winter scene with Eyelet Outlet Glitter Tree Tape, Sparkle White Glitter Tape hills and Snowflake Sequins. I finished off with Snowflake Brads and Penguins or Snowy Trees; then added tag-shaped mats and panels adorned with Glitter Tall Tree Tape, sticker sentiments and a few more sequins. Gotta love an easy two-fer, right?"


Stephanie says, "I started with a Dina Wakley Pattern Play Media transparency, which I painted on the back with Dylusions Shimmer Paint.  Next I use puffy stickers to build a little scene on top (and give me places to use adhesive to attach the transparency to my card).  I finished with a die cut sentiment from Concord & 9th Jolly Holiday Greetings.

Remember, you have until 6pm EST on Wednesday, February 19th to link-up your CLEAR creations.