Diagonal-Lock Fun-Fold Card

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024Leave a comment

Fans of fun-fold cards, you’ll love the simplicity of this idea, which I call a Diagonal-Lock card, because of the way the front of the card locks into the back of the card. Don’t miss the video tutorial in this post!

For this first version, I paired a muted piece of the Sweet Days of Autumn Designer Series Paper pattern that I could write a message on for the INSIDE of the card, while using the fun forest friends on the front of the card. The leaves and sentiment adorning the front are from the Changing Leaves bundle.

The recipient will “unlock” the card to open and this is what the inside looks like:

Basic card instructions:

Start with an 11″ x 4.25″ card, scored in half at 5.5″.
Adhere a 5.5″ x 4.25″ piece of Designer Series Paper to the front AND inside of the card.
Make a small mark in the center of the front and BACK of the card (at 3.5″ for this A2 card size).
Cut diagonally from opposite corners of the open card in to the mark.

The next version for any holiday celebration (this would be a sweet December birthday card) has a 5.25″ x 4″ Designer Series Paper layer for the front, and a diagonally cut HALF piece for the inside, which leaves a mat around the card which frames it nicely. This time I used my beloved More Than Autumn bundle with the Take A Bow patterned paper:

By using half a sheet on the inside, there is still room to write, even when the pattern is bold. PLUS, you can use the other half for a second card:

Grab a sheet of card stock and paper trimmer to craft along with this video tutorial to make a template for this card to keep in your “fun-fold” file:

Finally, since the Nests of Winter paper was sitting on my table, I used the Winterly Tree Top Dies to die cut the bird duo and fussy cut the small bird to craft this version:

Click any link to order supplies and create cards of your own!

I love hearing from you~ scroll to top to leave me a comment.

Don’t forget a Paper Trimmer, which also makes a wonderful gift for a teacher, a budding crafter or a student:

Counting Blessings Book Box Favor

October 29, 2024October 28, 2024Leave a comment

A great DIY is one that is prepared for you to put the finishing touches on, and these darling little book treat box accordion albums double as precious keepsakes, once you add photos and journaling of which blessings you are most grateful for.

The Book Treat Boxes give you the canvas to embellish, and I chose to use the back side of the lovely Splendid Autumn Designer Series Paper to cover my boxes, because it looks like colored leather or parchment, perfect for my vision of classic books:

Embossing the sentiment on the piece cut from the frame in the Splendid Autumn bundle adds a old-fashioned title to the album, and the Mini Alphabet dies personalizes the book.

You could fill these boxes with treats, but I chose to make a Gratitude album. Open it up and pull out the pages to add photos of who or what you are thankful for, and journal why they matter to you. You can add at least TWO strips of 3.25″ x 12″ card stock (scored every 2.5″) end-to-end to make long accordion pages, though this is just one strip:

Watch the video for tips and how to assemble, then add the supplies to your cart below:

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These albums look so cute lined up, too:

Hollyhock floating frame and Sentimental Wishes Christmas Card floating Frame

Learn Paper Crafting with a Kit

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024Leave a comment

If you can use scissors and glue, you have the ability to make pretty things with paper! All you need next is a kit: Lucky for you ~ the Stampin’ Up! Kit Collection is up to 30% off through October 31st:

Not only is a kit a wonderful starting point for any new paper crafter, they also give you ideas for further crafting, as I’m about to show you.

Playing with the Hello Hollyhocks kit (an all-inclusive, non-stamping kit), I demonstrated how to let the sketch for card #1 (on the left) inspire a future project (on the right):

Hello Hollyhock card sketch to Zinnia Card

Swapping out a hollyhocks for stamped and colored zinnias and creating your own splatter background made this “dupe” super simple.

Next, you can “step up” a card from the kit by cutting apart the card base and framing it on coordinating card stock:

Watch the video (below) to see what I did for the inside of the stepped-up version!

Finally, let a kit teach you a new technique to try, like this floating frame idea. The card on the left is from the kit, which inspired the Christmas card on the right:

Hollyhock floating frame card to Sentimental Wishes floating frame card for Christmas

Keep a few kits on hand for gift-giving occasions, too~ they are unique, thoughtful gifts!

SHOP KIT COLLECTION

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Hello Hollyhocks Kit

Simply Zinnia Bundle (English)

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack

Copper Clay Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

Copper Clay 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Three Twine Combo Pack

Everyday Details Dies

Sentimental Wishes Bundle (English)

Take A Bow 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Adhesive Sheets

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Hey Pumpkin card, Stampin' Up! Warms My Heart

Warms My Heart- Choose Your Own Adventure

September 30, 2024Leave a comment

A stamp set that covers multiple seasons and occasions is a good investment, and when it’s as cute as the Warms My Heart images & sentiments, there are so many stories to tell with it!

Do you remember the “Choose Your Own Adventure” book series? That’s what we did today during my Monday LIVE video on my Facebook Page & YouTube! I let those who were watching in real time CHOOSE the season, the background, the colors and the label shape for the card we created, and THIS is the result:

If you want to watch us make this card, here’s the video, and if you want to see some alternate options, keep reading:

This style of card would be just as cute with Designer Series Paper for the background, and created for Christmas!

With both of these cards (and the next) I colored the stamped images with Watercolor Pencils and blended them together with Wink of Stella, which is every crafters FAVORITE tool for adding a wash of SHIMMER & SHINE. However, it’s very difficult to capture in a photo! This one is as close as I could get: The texture you can see is really specks of sparkle!

Another option, still keeping it simple with the sentiment on a banner, but without the need to fussy cut (there are no coordinating dies for this set, FYI):

Just so we’ve used every piece of this set, here’s an autumn apple-picking version, in portrait:

When you purchase both the Warms My Heart stamp set and EITHER the Sketched Plaid background stamp – OR – the Forever Plaid 3-D Embossing Folder (back in stock the week of October 7th) during October 2024, I’ll email you a tutorial for another set of cards – one more for each season!

“Creating ART is an act of HOPE”

– Cody Spendlove (as explained in the video)

Supplies for the Choose Your Own Adventure “Hey, Pumpkin!” card:

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Additional supplies used on alternate cards:

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Build Creative Muscles – Get 40% Off!

September 23, 2024Leave a comment

When I taught piano lessons, I’d tell my students “Practice trumps talent when talent doesn’t practice”. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not creative,” believe me when I say CREATIVITY CAN BE LEARNED!!

The easiest way to become more artistic is to have a starting point. Paper Pumpkin – a monthly craft box kit subscription – gives you a place to practice. Let me show you how:

On the left is a card created as designed for the September Paper Pumpkin Kit (“Autumn Abundance”). It took me less than 5 minutes to make it, following the instructions in the box. I thought the colors were so pretty, I chose to use the same palette on another card. Using Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry and Night of Navy ink pads, I followed a sketch from the Stampin’ Up! Sept-Dec Mini Catalog (pg. 16) to make the second card. It was simply stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and used the Labeled with Love punch to make the trio of panels.

Each quarter, there is a coordinating die set available to add-on to the kits, so I used the same sketch & colors to create a second version with the die-cut leaves using the dies for last quarter. They are sold out, but you CAN order the Merry Tags & More Dies (which coordinate with the Oct-Dec 2024 kits) while supplies last.

Next, this Thank You card in the kit (left) had a beautiful base. What if you needed a small gift package?

Make it into a box, of course! I’m teaching you how to make all these alternate projects in today’s video, so watch here for instructions:

Also included in the kit this month was this third card project- it was a 4″ x 4″ Autumn card, then I looked at the window and it made me think of a shaker card:

The snail and leaves shake around inside!

The kit is terrific to get your creative juices flowing, and making the projects as intended, you will learn the basics of paper crafting. You can always make different projects with the supplies you have in the box, and I send an EXCLUSIVE email each month to my Paper Pumpkin subscribers with ways to use the stamp set and ink spot after the kit is complete!

HERE’S THE DEAL:

Try a Paper Pumpkin craft kit subscription with 40% off your first month (new subscribers only)! Use promo code HOLIDAY40 when you subscribe HERE by October 10, 2024!

You are peeking at the “Nest of Christmas” October Kit, which coordinates with the Nests of Winter Suite in the Sept-Dec Mini catalog, and you could try it at a discount! This kit will make 10 Christmas Cards.

While the September Autumn Abundance kit isn’t available as a full kit, the refill IS available in my store (limited supplies available) and you could use other stamps and ink pads you already have to make it. You must be a current Paper Pumpkin subscriber to order refills or add-ons, so sign up and then start shopping the extras, using the same email you subscribed with.

A Top-Flip Fun Fold Card

September 16, 2024Leave a comment

Simplifying an idea today with this flip-top fun-fold card! I wanted to use the “Warms My Heart” stamp set, which doesn’t have coordinating dies, so opted to use a panel I could stamp on as the focal point. The Everyday Details dies has these darling dots around the edge of the rectangles, and don’t need much dressing up. Plus, the beautiful pumpkin patch on the bottom of the patterned paper needs to be seen:

The top flap (with girl carrying pumpkins) flips up and there is a second message that matches the theme on the top of the card:

Finally, you open the card all the way and you can make a pocket with the other large piece of Designer Series Paper to slip a gift card in!

Here are the paper supplies you’ll need (with the ones I used for the card above in parentheses):

Card base: 8.5″ x 5.5″ scored at 4.25″ (Cajun Craze)
Flap for over top: 5.25″ x 2.75″, scored at 4.25″ (Cajun Craze)- watch video for paper-saving TIP!
Layer for inside card: 5.25″ x 4″ (B asic Beige)
Two rectangle “frames”: Largest die from Everyday Details (Basic Beige)
One rectangle matt: 2.5″ x 4″ (Pumpkin Pie)
Designer Series Paper: 5.25″ x 4″ and 5.25″ x 2″ (Splendid Autumn)

For the Pumpkin Spice drink layer, I used the More Than Autumn bundle (you’ll see more of that bundle on Wednesday!)

After this How-To video, you’ll find the Christmas version of this simple fun-fold card!

Here’s the same card pattern using the image of the woman with the holiday wreath:

While this version could also hold a gift card, I chose to make it a normal card and on the inside, and simply added a strip of the back side of the Designer Series Paper to the inside to make it fancy:

The Christmas Version features the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper which is our “Craft & Give Back” product: For each package ordered, Stampin’ Up! donates $3 to Firstbook.org to support Children’s Literacy. (Outside the US? Check with your demonstrator to find out where the donation goes in your country)

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BREAKING NEWS: Wednesday, September 18th will be a FREE SHIPPING DAY on orders over $75 USD!

Gratitude- Key to Happiness

September 3, 2024Leave a comment

All the research agrees: Being grateful – and showing it – leads to a happier and healthier life.

We already know creating something with your own hands brings joy and satisfaction, so combine the two and crafters are the most joyful folks on the planet!

The Splendid Autumn suite (arriving September 4th) provides the tools to both create and send gorgeous gratitude notes:

This card took only slightly longer to make than the 60 seconds shown in this reel, and uses a full sheet of the 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper on the outside, inside and envelope.

The Splendid Autumn Designer Series Paper is one of 10 different collections that you would receive a sampling of with the September-December Mini Catalog Paper Share, but TODAY (Sept. 3) is the deadline to guarantee your spot!

Send me a Share!

Busted Canvas Card Technique

August 19, 2024August 20, 20242 Comments

TREND ALERT! This technique was popping up in my social media, so I wanted to bring it to card-making: The Busted Canvas looks like the card is being unwrapped to reveal an image and sentiment, so while it’s not going to fit in a traditional envelope, it will look fabulous hanging out of a gift bag or handed to a friend personally.

The happy surprise behind the paper has an excited “feel”… like you were too thrilled to open the package to carefully undo the wrapping!

In the video tutorial, I share some tips and tricks, and one thing to note is that when you roll the Designer Series Paper out as tightly as you can, it doesn’t really *need* to be glued down, but if you choose to adhere it to the front, you’ll probably want to use hot glue. The pointed edges do adhere well flat using Tear & Tape, but the rolled pieces tend to pull away unless you use a glue gun.

While I stamped and colored in both my images with Stampin’ Blends, you could use a pre-printed image or more Designer Series Paper on the inside.

Before I share the video, here’s the second example using the Nests of Winter products coming in the September-December mini catalog:

The technique is too much fun to stop with one!

Okay, okay, here’s the tutorial! You’ll need an 11″ x 4-1/4″ card base, a 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ piece of white card stock and a 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper, plus your stamps, ink and coloring tools to craft along:

It’s a timely technique for the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper Sale during August 2024

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Stack, Cut, Shuffle, STAMP

August 12, 2024Leave a comment

So many marvelous Designer Series Papers, so little time? This technique for cutting a stack of patterned paper will have you making multiple cards at ONE TIME!

Begin by selecting 4 patterns of Designer Series Paper- I suggest using a maximum of two busy or bold patterns and add a subtle design and a tiny or monochromatic print, in 4 different colors (or different shades of the same hue). This will give you the CONTRAST you need when piecing them back together.

You can adhere the shuffled pieces edge-to-edge (as on the card, left) or leave a small space between them, giving a window-pane look (card on right). You may find that a design on the BACK of your paper works well, so go ahead and flip it over, if needed.

I used the Unbounded Beauty 12″ x 12″ pack- it’s part of the Designer Series Paper SALE this month, August 2024 and showcases the 2024-2026 In Colors, which are lovely together. With the few scraps left over, I added a piece to the inside layer and to the flap of my envelope.

Grab your patterned paper and follow along with me here, as you practice your cardmaking:

If you paper is directional, you’ll need to decide if you are creating PORTRAIT cards (tall) or LANDSCAPE cards (wide) **before** you cut your paper, and make sure it’s oriented the correct way.

The Unbounded Beauty cards were landscape, but I also needed some sympathy cards, and the blues in the Countryside Inn Designer Series Paper (also 15% off in August) seemed fitting. These are portrait versions of the Stack, Cut, Shuffle technique:

Inside the cards:

I’ll list supplies for both versions, starting with the Unbounded Beauty demonstrated in the how-to video:

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Supplies for the Countryside Inn Comfort card are below.

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Joseph’s Coat Technique (with Embossing Folders)

July 29, 2024July 30, 20241 Comment

Revisiting a classic stamping technique- this time with 3-D Embossing Folders!

The Joseph’s Coat technique has been done with heat embossing in the past, but Stampin’ Up!’s beautifully detailed and deep image embossing folders really make it easier than ever to create colors that seem to POP from a dark background.

This was the second card I created in the how-to video today using the Layered Florals embossing folder, and it shows the vibrancy of the colors you can achieve with this trick. I also made these cards into a Z-Fold style that stand up to display.

In a nutshell, the way to make this stunning background is to emboss a white or vanilla piece of card stock, then color in the RECESSED images using sponge daubers + Classic Ink Pads -OR- Stampin’ Write Markers. Once you’ve colored all the images, drag a dark ink across the top of the background. I used Night of Navy ink over my Petunia Pop water lilies on this version.

Watch to learn how: