A Card Folio to Gift Away

Dropping a Valentine on a friend’s doorstep may not be a custom any longer, but with today’s project, you can hang a set of hand-crafted greeting cards on a friends door as a gift that shows you love them.

I get my best ideas when I should be asleep, and this one came just as I was laying down last night, so I made a quick note on the notepad next to my bed and woke up ready to try it!

All you need is a 12″ x 12″ piece of non-directional (meaning there isn’t a top and a bottom to the design) Designer Series Paper (or DSP), a Simply Scored board, adhesive and 24″ coordinating ribbon:

Instructions (also in video):

  • Fold DSP diagonally from corner to opposite corner, with the pattern you want facing out.
  • Lay fold (longest side) of your folded paper (a triangle shape at this point) along the left side of the Simply Scored board and score at 1/4″. Turn and do the back side the same way.
  • Turn folded side to the top edge of the board and score at 6″ and 11″. Flip the triangle over and score the back side on the same measurements.
  • Open up your paper and fold along the 1/4″ score lines just off center.
  • Open again and fold the outside points (along the 6″ and 11″ lines) IN towards the center. Flip and fold the top points back-to-back, with the center folds at the bottom, creating two pockets on the outside.
  • Punch at hole (or two) at the top to tie together (leaving a loop to hang from is optional).

I used up a lot of the bits and pieces of the Softly Stippled Designer Series Paper I’ve had left over from other projects to create four simple cards (plus envelopes) to go inside the folio:

1″ x 3″ pieces of Designer Series Paper + your favorite punch
Or use a die with two contrasting patterns as background (Everyday Details Dies – NEW!)
Blend color on the plain Designer Series Paper images and emboss a greeting
Layer on 5-1/4″ strips from the same package of papers in varying widths and finish with focal point.
Don’t throw away the images on your Designer Series Paper that are on the edges! Cut them out and use them on the inside of your card!

2-1/2 weeks left of Sale-a-Bration ~ still time to collect your favorite SAB products FREE with qualifying purchase, and so much to choose from:

I appreciate the opportunity to serve you. If you find that I have taught you something, please order the supplies from my store and support a small business!

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Consider yourself invited to join my Stampin’ Up! team! During February 2024, purchase the STARTER KIT and choose an extra $30 in products in your kit ~OR~ select the Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio (as shown in the video) as your bonus option:

“Extra” Sweet Favor (and EXTRA rewards)

Have you ever stayed overnight where a candy or special small gift was left on your pillow? Those little touches are called “pillow gifts” and makes you feel fancy!

When I saw watermelon-flavored Extra gum while checking out at the grocery store, it made me think of the Watercolor Melon Sale-a-Bration stamp set, and how I could create along a theme:

A perfect size to drop off as a “thinking of you” gift- or leave on a pillow for guest – you pull on the ribbon and out slides the pack of gum:

This do-it-yourself project is simple and sweet, and I’ve got the video to prove it:

Slider box dimensions: 7-3/4″ x 3-1/4″ piece of card stock, scored at 1/2″, 1″, 3-1/2″ and 4″

Sale-a-Bration continues through February 29th; since it’s leap year, you have an “EXTRA” day to earn free products with each $50 purchase in my Stampin’ Store!

Did you also know there are TWO “Extras” you could choose from when you invest in the Starter Kit?

OPTION ONE: The first is that you may choose the Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio,

~OR~

OPTION TWO: Choose an EXTRA $30 in products in your Starter Kit! Usually you get to choose $125 of product in your kit for just $99, but through February 2024, you may select $155 (and pay only $99) if this is the option you decide on.

The Starter Kit is an offer ANYONE may select, and you will get a 20% discount while you also get to peek behind the curtain of being a demonstrator. There are no obligations to try it, so why not??

Watermelon Bites & NEW SAB Choices

If you can’t find fresh watermelon during February, watermelon sour bites may satisfy your cravings:

The Scalloped Gift Card box can also hold things aside from gift cards, so I designed this one for a treat box with the Watercolor Melon set (a free option with $50 order from my store through February).

You stamp on the box while it’s flat, then assemble and fill it. Since there are no words in the set, feel free to find the one that fits from your collection! I added the sentiment from the Sweet Citrus stamp set, or anything “sweet” will work! I just learned that you can punch out the WHOLE watermelon *AND* the slice from the Modern Oval punch:

It’s the midway point of Sale-a-Bration – Stampin’ Up!’s biggest party of the year – and they have added NEW options to choose at the $50 and $100 spend threshold. Remember you can mix up your options to equal the total of your order:

Ready to make a box of watermelon bites? Here’s a tutorial to print and you can shop the supply list at the link below.

Starting From A Sketch for SAB DSP

As we approach the half-way point of Sale-a-Bration (or SAB- the biggest party of the year for Stampin’ Up!), it’s time to show a little love for the Designer Series Paper (DSP) you could choose free with a qualifying order…and stick around for a late-January-ONLY offer!

Giving your creativity a few parameters makes it EASIER to use your imagination, and a SKETCH helps to narrow down your options.

Measurements for this sketch (you can adjust sizes to work for you):

  • Card Base: 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
  • Layer One: 4″ x 5-1/4″
  • Layer Two: 2-3/4″ square on a 3″ square mat
  • Layer Three: 2″ x 3″ on a 2-1/8″ x 3-1/8″ mat
  • Layer Four: 3-1/2″ x 3/4″

Once you’ve found a fun template for a card, just plug in the pieces, and nothing could be easier than patterned paper!

You don’t need overalls to build this first card, just the Trusty Toolbox Designer Series Paper. Cut a tool from the paper for a focal point.

A version for mom using the Softly Stippled DSP. Substitute the strip on top with a length of lovely ribbon. The Brushed Brass Butterflies pull the gold thread from the bow to help catch mom’s eye.

Be BRAVE: Turn the sketch sideways or flip-flop it and it looks completely different! Flight & Airy DSP is delicate and delightful, the fluffy birds being my favorite! The sayings for the previous 3 cards all came from the Heartfelt Hellos stamp set, which is also a Sale-a-Bration option.

Next, the Sunny Days Designer Series Paper was delightful to pair with the “Playing in the Rain” bundle for a card to uplift and bring sunshine!

Finally, the Most Adored Specialty Designer Series Paper has Red & Pink patterns on one side, with gold foiled designs on the opposite sides: Use them for Valentines or Weddings! I embossed sentiments from the Heartfelt Hexagon stamp set on both cards.

I walked through making most of these cards with tips to help you choose patterns and layer nicely in this video tutorial:

SO WHAT’S THE SPECIAL OFFER??

While all of these papers are available through the end of February (while supplies last), for the next 3 days – through January 31, 2024 – place a $50+ order from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive a 4″ x 6″ piece of EVERY Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper as a thank you from me! That’s 30 pieces total.

Thanks for visiting and learning all about using a card sketch. Now get off the computer and get your fingers inky!

Quilted Cards

Greeting card crafters know how similar their art is to quilting: Matching patterns, colors and textures of little pieces of paper gives us a quicker satisfaction on a smaller scale than a quilt!

This card not only patchworks paper together, it ALSO HAS A QUILTED TEXTURE!

I paired the Softly Sophisticated Sale-a-Bration bundle with the Softly Stippled Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper for this card.

INSTRUCTIONS & MEASUREMENTS: Stamp images & sentiment on the Wild Wheat textile patterned paper (2″ x 3-1/4″) then adhere it to the center of a 5-1/4″ x 4″ piece of Wild Wheat card stock, with two 3/4″ x 3-7/8″ pieces of Designer Series Paper on the top and bottom and two 3/4″ x 4-1/8″ pieces of Designer Series Paper on the sides (adjusted measurement from the video). Emboss all the layers with the Softly Sophisticated 3-D Embossing folder before mounting it to the card base.

Follow along and craft with me- you can pause as you stamp & assemble:

The Softly Sophisticated Bundle is a set of stamps & embossing folder you can choose FREE with a $100 order before 2/29/24 for Sale-a-Bration!

I didn’t stop with the first card, but pulled out some supplies from the Annual Catalog to make a few handmade hugs (gatefold cards):

TIPS FOR THIS CARD: Cut a 3-1/4″ x 4-3/4″ piece of each pattern in the Countryside Inn Designer Series Paper. You can cut two sheets at a time with the Sunburst die, but you may want to go forward and back through the Cut & Emboss machine. You can flip pieces over, since the top and bottom of the design are the same size/shape and get ALL 12 designs in the starburst!

This card also used the Softly Sophisticated 3-D Embossing Folder, then I tried a few other textures:

3-D Embossing folders used left to right: Softly Sophisticated, Layered Florals, Basics Floral

These are the supplies I used for the blue sunburst hug cards:

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I’ll be sharing some of these cards with new team members during Sale-a-Bration – if you would like to start a crafty adventure with Stampin’ Up! I’m here to help. There are two bonus options if you choose to give it a try before the end of February, and the Glass Mat Studio is one of them!

Spiral Pop-Up Cards, Valentine Edition

Crafter problems: Losing sleep over a project that you’ve dreamed up! That was the situation last night because I was too excited about making this idea come to life:

But I’m getting ahead of myself…

This simple pop-up card uses WINDOW sheets (spiralized) to make the bees buzz with a message of love on Valentine’s Day! The front of the card:

I actually made TWO versions with the Bee My Valentine suite AND a Sale-a-Bration specialty paper (which I’ll show you after the video). They are very easy to create and will be buzz-worthy when my grandkids open them!

Here’s the tutorial video:

It’s your last chance to sign up for my January VIRTUAL Class, featuring the Bee My Valentine bundle

-OR- stamps and punches you may already have! Click the image for more info:

Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration is in full swing, and you could choose the Most Adored Specialty Designer Series Paper as a free product with $50 order before it ends on 2/29/24 (or the paper is sold out), in which case, you could ALSO make this version of the Spiral Pop-Up Card:

One side of the paper is Flirty Flamingo and Real Red and the other side is white and GOLD FOIL, which will be perfect to have on hand for wedding season and anniversaries.

When you checkout from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll be prompted to choose Sale-a-Bration product(s) you qualify for! Here’s a cart I’ve started for you (add or take out, as you wish):

Use a 6″x6″ Designer Series Paper for This Card!

Some patterned paper comes as 12″ x 12″ and a few of our fancy designs are 6″ x 6″, so today (and to help you use up your Paper Share!), I’ve got a fun fold slimline card which uses a 6″ x 6″ piece of Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper:

On the left is the card closed flat, and on the right, it’s open to see all the panels.

Cut two 2″ wide and two 1″ wide pieces from one 6″ x 6″ piece of pretty paper to fit into each section. You’ll also need a 1″ x 6″ and 2″ x 6″ panel of card stock to fit where you will write a message. The finished size is 3.5″ x 6.25″ when folded flat.

Here’s a different version with a piece of the Lighter Than Air Designer Series Paper, which already comes as 6″ x 6″-

I created a belly band for this one to keep it closed, then when you slide it off, it opens to wish you a Happy Birthday:

If you didn’t snag a stack of patterned paper in my Designer Series Paper Share, I have a few left! Get one piece of EVERY paper in the 2024 Jan-April Mini catalog for $18 (if you pick up from me in Hurricane, UT) or $22 shipped to you, while supplies last. Both pieces used on these cards ARE INCLUDED IN THE SHARE.

Need more ideas to try for 6″ x 6″ paper?

I love making Sour Cream treat containers or use the Corner Angle card technique to get 4 cards from one piece of paper!


The Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper (and Perennial Lavender suite) coordinates with the January Paper Pumpkin craft kit! Subscribe by January 10th to receive the Lovely Lavender kit:

Make love-themed cards for special occasions, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and more with this all-inclusive kit that arrives in your mailbox in January. The kit includes a unique photopolymer stamp set and ink spot and…

• Makes 8 cards: 4 each of 2 designs with 8 coordinating envelopes

• 4 bonus tags that punch out from the card front

• Precut paper pieces and linen thread

• Coordinating colors: Garden Green, Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Berry Burst

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Bee Mine Catalog CASE + 2024 Paper Share Open NOW!

Stampin’ Up! catalogs are the first place I look for crafting inspiration! Today I “CASED” a card from the 2023-2024 Annual catalog, but used a completely different set of products!

This was my inspiration (from page 101 of the catalog and the Seaside Bay stamp set):

The “Bee Mine Valentine” suite will arrive on January 4, 2024 for customers, and demonstrators got to pre-order it (a lovely perk of joining!), so I used the stamps, punch, ribbon and Designer Series Paper from the suite of products to copy the layout above. Here’s my version:

The face on that bee just makes me giggle. I imagine he feels like I do occasionally when I tell my husband, “I’ll always love you, I just don’t like you right now.”

Rather than stamping the background, I used a piece of the Bee Mine Designer Series Paper. It’s adorable bees, flowers and honey images on one side are complemented by the opposite side by whimsical, brightly colored designs.

Patterned paper is one of those crafting staple products that help make every project perfect, and you may want a piece of EVERY design in the new mini catalog…don’t worry, I’VE GOT YOU!

  • 48 6″x6″ pieces of Designer Series Paper: One of EACH paper in the mini catalog, including specialty papers!
  • Only $22 shipped to you (U.S. addresses only) or $18 if you pick up from me in Hurricane, UT.
  • Deadline to reserve your paper share: January 6th, 2024

Here’s the 15-minute video of how I CASED my card layout from the catalog (faster, if you change the speed in the settings!)

Watch for details coming soon about a virtual class where you can use the BEE MINE bundle -OR- stamps you may already have!

Slide-Up Gift Card Holder for All Occasions

The Trucking Along bundle (an Online Exclusive in my Stampin’ Store) is an all-occasion crafting set of stamps and coordinating punch and today I’ll demonstrate how to make a slide-up gift card holder to present gift cards, money, gift certificates or other flat items for ANY occasion:

This is the outside of the holder and below you’ll see the holiday version we created at the Christmas Card Class in Cedar City a few weeks ago. When you open the card, the pocket slides up to show the gift inside!

You probably noticed the coordinating envelopes…as long as you are stamping the truck for the front of the card, you may as well stamp a second time on the envelope to make it festive!

Cutting and scoring instructions:

Card base (I used Fresh Freesia for the birthday version): 11″ x 4-1/4″ scored at 1-3/4″ and 7-1/4″, plus the same color card stock 3-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ for the mat on the top layer.

Sliding insert: THICK white card stock 6-3/4″ x 3-1/2″ scored at 1/2″, then flipped to the back side and scored at 5-1/4″ (I explain why in the video)

Designer Series Paper: 4″ x 3″ for top layer, 3-1/2″ x 4″ for top part of card and 1-1/2″ x 4″ for bottom section.

Watch for the tips to make this easy to assemble:

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If your significant other starts asking what YOU WANT for Christmas (because it is now less than 2 weeks away 😆), did you know I offer gift certificates? They can be used on an order through me and/or toward one of my classes or events! Send them my way and I’ll take care of them (and you).

If they are really early, they could take advantage of a JUST ANNOUNCED one-day of FREE SHIPPING on December 14th (on orders over $75):

Make It Yourself: Paper Snip Gift Box

Just as bakers are always thrilled to receive a new spatula (my favorites are from Pampered Chef), CRAFTERS are delighted to add another set of scissors to their collection! The Paper Snips from Stampin’ Up! are essential for fussy cutting, plus you can make a second pair “ribbon only” scissors.

The trick is how to WRAP a gift that’s triangular shaped, and I have just the tutorial for you today!

This box is PERFECT for SNIPS and can be created for the holiday season OR any other time of gifting.

Start with a 12″ x 3.5″ piece of card stock OR Designer Series Paper, then follow the instructions here (warning: I make a mistake at the 6 minute mark, but quickly get back on track!). The layer starts with a 5.5″ x 3″ piece of card stock or Designer Series Paper.

Tip to make this box for any size: Measure the triangular object you want to wrap and add 1/2″ to the length and double it, then add 1/2″ to the width. That’s how I got the size of paper to begin my box with!

Here’s the box opened:

If you start with card stock and add Designer Series Paper, keep the two sides you trimmed off and layer them on the sides of the box- they fit perfectly and keep the “scene” wrapping around the edges:

I’d love to hear if you make these boxes- comment or tag me on social media @creativejuicebyloni on Facebook or Instagram.

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