We’re back for another colorful day at Hero Arts. Today we bring you our second of four unexpected color combos for your upcoming holiday cards, along with three new cards to get you inspired. Let’s get started!

The color scheme our three artists used for today is so yummy. Not your traditional holiday combo by a long shot but I think once you see the projects, you’ll see how well it works?

For my card, I stamped a background design onto dark brown paper and then embossed it with silver. I love how it gives just a hint of shine and shimmer to the card. I took the metallic factor up a notch by also using some of Hero Arts “metallic decor” scattered on the card. I kept the bold colors in the combo but used them sparingly to add just a touch of color here and there.

Supplies:

• Dots and Flowers
• Silver Metallic Decor
• Kraft Notecards
• Summer Mixed Notecards
• Neutral Mixed Notecards
• Memories Artprint Brown Ink Pad
  
• Silver Embossing Powder
• VersaMark
• Other: patterned paper (plum), chipboard accent (KI Memories), buttons (vintage), gemstone brads (Making Memories), scallop border (Doodlebug Designs)

Leslie’s Tips:

• I really like adding gemstones or metallic decor to my cards. Any easy way to make a uniform “border” like I did on the purple, is to use a dotted patterned paper and then just place a gem over top of each dot on the paper.
• Instead of sewing my buttons on, I put gemstone brads through the center holes of each button.
• Brown is a great neutral to use when working with challenging or non-traditional color combinations.

Next, check out this gorgeous creation by Sheri Reguly. I really like that she did a square card and it is just chock full of beauty and details. Sheri adds: “This unexpected color combination will give your holiday cards a fresh, new look. The touches of silver add a hint of holiday sparkle, while felt accents add both interest and dimension. Machine stitching and a touch of ribbon complete this modern design.”

Supplies:

• Antique Flower Background
• Joy
• White Notecards
• VersaMark
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Felt Trees
• Felt Poinsettia and Leaves
• Silver Metallic Decor
• Other: cardstock, glittered cardstock (Die Cuts With A View), circle/scalloped circle punches (Marvy Uchida), decorative edge scissors (Fiskars), ribbon (Pebbles), machine stitching

Sheri’s Tips:

• A clear embossed background on the blue paper adds a nice subtle detailing to the design.
• Using pre-cut felt embellishments makes assembling your holiday cards quick and easy.

Finally, to wrap up today’s inspiration, we have a great card by Robyn Werlich. Robyn “instantly fell in love with this color scheme that Leslie put together - it is so fresh and modern right now! They are the perfect colors for a modern Christmas card this year! I took the colors and put a traditional twist on this card with a die-cut ornament and a banner title. I’m thinking these colors are going to have to make their way onto my own Christmas cards this year!”.

Supplies:

• Antique Flower Background
• Holiday Sayings
• Raindrop Background
• Silver Metallic Decor
• VersaMark
  
• Embossing Powder Clear
• Chocolate Notecards
• Green Apple Notecards
• Lagoon Notecards
• Summer Mixed Notecards
  
• Other: brown ink, silver metallic paper, 1/2″ circle punch, white string, machine stitching

Robyn’s Tips:

• To re-create the look of snow, I stamped the polka-dot stamp with VersaMark Ink and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. By adding a few 1/2″ punched blue circles in a random order on top of it, it added to the winter feel of the card.
• Stamping in layers can really add to your cards. Cut up your papers and add on top of each other. I think that it adds additional depth and richness to a card when you see multiple layers of stamped images.

Now, let’s have a giveaway inspired by today’s cards. One name will be randomly drawn to win a set of notecards, the Antique Flower Background stamp, Felt Trees and a package of our Silver Metallic Decor. To enter simply comment on today’s post before 11:59pm PST on Thursday, November 5. We will post the lucky winner on Friday, November 6.

Thanks for another great day at the Hero Arts blog. I’ll see you tomorrow when you will be treated to a scrapbook layout as well as a terrific and always informative video by Jennifer McGuire.

Filed under: unexpected

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 am and is filed under Take Two Tuesdays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.