Graduation Diagonal Fold Card with Arch Slide Lock

February 27, 2026Leave a comment

Do you have a favorite card fold or sketch that you go back to time and time again? I’m going back to this diagonal fold with a double arch that you can slide in to lock because it’s so versatile for the Reasons & Seasons mashups I’m sharing this week!

Stampin’ Up!®️ Graduation Card using Seasonal Celebrations and Reason to Celebrate stamp sets

This fold was one I used for the Anniversary card created for a swap in January with the same two stamp sets, so I thought you would appreciate seeing how you can get more uses from it.

By layering two arches together (one on top of the other, separated by black stampin’ dimensionals on just the lower diagonal section) you create a locking mechanism: simply slide the top diagonal piece between them when you close the card:

Here are a few tips:

Make TWO cards at the same time: Score a full sheet of card stock in half both directions (lengthwise and widthwise) before cutting, then cut it diagonally and you’ll have two card bases.
The top layer (the one I embossed) is a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of card stock. Emboss first, then cut it diagonally to make the layers.
You could use two of the same size arches to create the lock, but I like the look of a larger arch behind the smaller arch, even though you only see half of it when it’s locked.
Remember to add an adhesive sheet to the back of your silver foil sheet *before* die cutting the star- peeling off the backing to stick it on is much easier/cleaner than using liquid glue! Use your embossing buddy on the points of the star that stick beyond the arch and those points won’t stick to the card.

When the card is open, I did include a Congratulations sentiment, and you can just ink up the “grad” part of the longer Graduation sentiment to get the shorter word.

This card is red & black because that’s the color of both the high school and local university, but you can use the colors for the school you are celebrating, obviously.

Another reason to celebrate is ready to be called into action and make this milestone memorable!

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If you’ve enjoyed the #celebrationcombination cards shared this week using the Stampin’ Up!®️ Seasonal Celebrations and Reason to Celebrate stamp sets, please leave a comment and I always appreciate the support when you shop my store.

For 2025 Grads: CASH in a Window Card!

May 12, 2025Leave a comment

There won’t be another opportunity to gift cash like this until the year 2050, so CREATE THIS CARD FOR EVERY GRADUATE YOU KNOW!

This clever card includes a pocket AND a window to see the gift, and I can’t think of another year that could be more ideal: You could give $45 (two twenties and a five) OR $27 (a twenty, a two dollar bill and a five). Either way, it spells “twenty-twenty-five”.

All the stamps and dies come in the Stampin’ Up!®️ Birthday Celebration Bundle:

I’ve walked you through exactly how to create this card in the video, and remember, you can always pause the video, slow it down or speed it up (click the gear icon on YouTube) and order all the supplies you need TODAY in time to make these cards for your 2025 Seniors.

You can modify this design to match the school colors of your graduate. While I used glimmer paper, you could also use foil sheets or Designer Series Paper – if you don’t have anything fancy on hand, peruse the specialty paper available now.

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Loyal customers are wonderful, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t let you know the BEST DEAL for any avid crafter is the STARTER KIT. Throughout May, it’s an even better value, for you can choose $165 in product (literally everything I used today…and MORE) for just $99 plus tax (shipping is included!).

It’s not “just” a great discount you’ll get on your future Stampin’ Up! purchases, it’s ALSO a family of creative people who cheer for you, experiences and events to look forward to, and personal growth that you will be grateful for.

There is no “catch”. There is nothing to “lose”…but a lot of JOY to GAIN!

Tell Me More About Joining Stampin’ Up!®️

March (Paper Pumpkin) Madness

March 18, 2016April 26, 2017Leave a comment

My March Paper Pumpkin kit came in the mail yesterday and so I pushed EVERYTHING aside to create (and by that I mean I literally shoved things off my desk and onto the floor…)

It was my goal to use EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. in the kit and I am proud to say “Mission Accomplished”!

I posted them over on my Creative Juice Facebook page individually, but here’s a collage to inspire your own creativity:

For one of the gift card holders, I made it into a Mother’s Day coupon book (lots of free printable coupons out there, but the one I used was from I Should Be Mopping the Floor and just printed them in B&W, two sheets to a page so I could cut and bind them in the middle.

Not a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber yet? Don’t miss another one (especially not the April kit, which will include a FREE GIFT to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Paper Pumpkin!):

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

I’m off to pick up the floor in my office now…

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Easter Eggs and Memory Albums

April 3, 2014April 26, 2017Leave a comment

Look at me! I actually finished a project BEFORE the holiday! Feeling pretty good right now 🙂 These little Easter Egg “thrones” are such fun to make with a few punches, stamps and the Big Shot!

So I don’t have time to make a lengthy tutorial, so let me give you a few tips for making them:

Cadbury eggs are too small. I found some larger eggs at Costco (they are hollow)

Cut a 8.5″x2.5″ strip from one end of your card stock and score it (down the long edges) at 1/2″ and 2″ (the Simply Scored board–item #122334–makes all your scoring SUPER SIMPLE). Then chop it up into 2″x 2.5″ pieces and punch a hole using the 1-1/4″ circle punch (#119861) in the middle like this—–>>>>
Cut the rest of the card stock into 2″x8.5″ strips. Score them at 3.5″ and 5″. Punch the ends with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (133324).

Line up the Designer Frame embossing folder (#123130) with the first score line from one end and run through the Big Shot —>>>>>

Punch the middle of the embossed frame out with the Large Oval Punch (#119859)

Adhere the “throne” piece between the two sides with SNAIL adhesive, add egg and embellish as desired! I used the flowers and punch from the Petite Petal bundle (#134821-wood or #134822-clear mount). As always, you can purchase these supplies from my Stampin’ Up! store!

And in upcoming events, if you have a mother, friend or grad that you need a thoughtful gift for, come to my Mini Memory Album class! You can bring your own pictures or come to create the book and add photos later. The cost is $17 and you MUST bring your own Scissors, SNAIL adhesive and Glue Dots. If you forget your adhesive, I will let you buy new ones from me 🙂 Please register below.

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Dads & Grads: Blue Ribbon Days!

June 13, 2013April 26, 2017Leave a comment

Quick share today! I used the Blue Ribbon stamp set to create a card for Dad:

And also a card for a Grad!

And here’s a little tip on how to use your 2-3/8″ Scallop circle punch to punch out the medallion without cutting off the ribbons: Just cut up the side of each ribbon first, then pull it out the top of the punch:

Whoever thought that one up deserves a ribbon!

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Cap & Gown: A Gift for Grads

May 24, 2013April 26, 2017Leave a comment

Today was a proud moment for a mother:

As my graduating senior had a few friends graduating with him, I came up with this fun gift which incorporated a few of his favorite things:

There must be an official name for the pocket than hangs off a bottle, but for today’s purpose, we’ll call it a pop-pocket, which I made from the Oval Accent Bigz die, the Big Shot and a few well placed score lines. For the owl, I added a few wings (with a scallop oval punch cut in half) to the owl punch (such a cutie) as well as a cap and tassel to dress him appropriately.

Project Recipe:

Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White and Smoky Slate card stock.
Accessories from Stampin’ Up!: Big Shot (113439), Oval Accent Bigz Clear die (127005), Simply Scored (122334), Brights Brads (119740), Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (123125 Punches: Owl Builder (118074), 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle (127811), 1-1/4″ Circle.
Other: Curling Ribbon

With Braden after the ceremony. his dad and I were very grateful for reaching this Milestone! It’s bittersweet to watch your babies grow up.
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G-RAD gifts!

May 23, 2011April 26, 20171 Comment

Well, it’s that time of the year when halls of the schools ring with Pomp & Circumstance, and if you are looking for G-RAD-ical gifts for those graduates, here’s an idea!

This notebook cover is created with an empty Clear Mount Stamp Case from Stampin’ Up! (Item 119105, $4.95 for 4 of them!!) The cool thing is that they are CLEAR so you can use double sided paper and it slides in the cover like this:

You will need to cut down the Jr. Legal Pad to 7″ x 4.25″ to fit inside (Kinko’s can do this with just two cuts on their industrial cutter). Then cover the top of the pad with coordinating Designer Series Paper (I used SU! Celebrations DSP). For the matching pen, use a scrap of DSP and a Pentel RSVP pen:

Super Simple. Super Fast. Totally Radical! My style of stamping! And think about all the other possibilities for creating a covered notebook that won’t get ruined when you throw it in your purse: Birthdays, Thank Yous, Party favors, Craft Nights, Teacher Gifts, etc.

Graduation Inspiration (Swap, pt. 2)

May 17, 2010April 26, 20172 Comments

Since it’s that time of the year, let me share some ideas for Graduation cards that were shared in our Summer Mini Catalog Swap, starting with a card by Tina Taves using both the Go, Graduate stamp set and Happy Grad single stamp. I really liked the window sheet peek-through:

Next is a card by Roseanne Urbanc from the Go, Graduate set:

And one from Ann Olsen (my Stampin’ Up! “daughter” and dear friend):

And finally, this beauty by Kimberly Meyers…I really like the fact that the Happy Grad stamp is only $8.95 and by adding a punched star and brad, you have a totally cool card: