Time for Thanks

Here is one of the Thank You cards I just sent out. I don't know what this fold is called, double flap fold maybe? You lift up the image flap, fold down the inner flap, and inside is the sentiment.

I wrote a little note under the stamped sentiment, but didn't want to show it here. Trust me, the polka-dot flap flips down and there's more.

Retired DSP was used here, but you can certainly use current stuff if that's what you have. After the boots were stamped in Soft Suede, they were colored with Copic markers, then masked so the spatters could be stamped.

Measurements
Card base: 4-1/4" x 8-1/4", scored and folded at 2-3/4"
Designer Series Paper: 2-1/2" x 4" for flap and 4" x 5-1/4" for inside

Smaller flap: 3" x 8-1/2", scored and folded at 4-1/4"
Contrast cardstock: 2-3/4" x 4" (I used the piece trimmed off the card base)
Image panel: Whisper White 2-1/2" x 3-3/4"
Inside panel for sentiment: Whisper White 2-3/4" x 4"

Product List

Country Livin' Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Thankful Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Dapper Denim 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Marina Mist 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

Dapper Denim 3/8" (1 Cm) Ruched Ribbon

Metallics Sequin Assortment

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

Christmas in August

This is what we made for this month's Christmas Club. You should have been here! We had Christmas music playing on Pandora to get us in the holiday mood (despite the heat and humidity outside), cookies and cold spiced cider (because hot spiced cider didn't sound like such a terrific idea, lol).

This is a fun-fold card, inspired by a swap I got from Cris McCarthy at Convention. It is so cool, and it was quick and easy to do, too! (Measurements given below.) The belly band slides off to reveal an accordion folded card. There are all kinds of possibilities for finishing the inside, with lots of room to write a personal note, as well.

The Christmas Club meets the second Monday of the month at 2:00 PM and again at 7:00 PM for the people who have daytime jobs. The card du jour is emailed out in advance (ideally) so people can decide how many they want to make before they get here. Here's the other two options:

There's always room for more, so let me know if you want to be added to the class email list. Time's a-wasting to get those cards made; the holidays will be here before you know it!


Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Pacific Point DSP, Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP, Red Glimmer Paper, Silver Glimmer Paper, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Early Espresso, Midnight Muse
Accessories: Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1" Square Punch (banner ends), Merry Minis Punch Pack, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here are the measurements for the basic card, just decorate as desired! 
     Card base: 5½ x 12, scored at 2,4,7, and 9
     Belly band: 1¼ x 8½, scored at 2¼ and 6 ⅜
     DSP: 2¾ x 5¼ (x2) and 1¼ x 5¼ (x1) for card base
     DSP: 1 x 3 ⅞ for belly band

Fancy Fold Pop-Up Birthday

Here is one of the cards we made in the Fancy Folds class last Wednesday. I was inspired by Lisa Young's card and tutorial. Since my grandmother just celebrated her 97th birthday, this is the card she's getting (a little late, sorry Milligram!).

The pop-up inside makes the card a little bulky, so being able to rely on the design of the paper rather than a lot of layers on the card front helped to reduce the bulk.  The Patio Party DSP was just perfect for this, not only for the front, but the different designs made great pop-up "presents" inside!

I am so behind on projects, and don't see catching up in the near future. There are a million bazillion Convention swaps to finish (well okay, really only about 100, but it feels like more), roomie gifts to make, granddaughter's birthday present to make, Mom's birthday card to make early, since I'll be at Convention when I should be working on it, not to mention all the regular daily grind stuff that needs doing (DH wants to eat every darn day, can you imagine?!).

Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP
Ink: Midnight Muse
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Paper Cutter, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Sponges, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Bring On The Cake

I first saw this style of card on Gina K's Stamp TV blog, and thought it would be a great card for a fancy folds class because it is quick and easy to do.

It's a fun gate-fold card with a twist - it has flaps on both sides!

Since I'm always in need of birthday cards, I made several to have on hand.  The patterned paper used was from the (now retired) Domestic Goddess DSP. The masculine version of the card, shown below, was the same sheet of paper, just the reverse side! Notice, no bling - just another strip of ribbon to balance the other side.

Stamps: Bring on the Cake (both the image & greeting)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Domestic Goddess DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels

Double Dutch Fold

This is such a fun card to make and, for all the WOW factor, it's really easy, too! It's called a Double Dutch Fold, probably because it somewhat resembles Double Dutch Doors. (Ya think?)

What really made this super simple was doing the scoring with the Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Just place the markers where you need them, and you could crank out a bunch of these beauties in no time!

I have been somewhat giddy the past few days, because I made my reservation to go to the Stampin' Up! Convention this year FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME! Woohoo! Yes, I am a Convention virgin, lol.  I'm going to get to meet lots of online stamping friends face-to-face, shop the Memento Mall, create some gorgeous make n' takes, shop the Memento Mall, get free stamp sets, tour the home office, shop the Memento Mall, learn strategies to help make me a better demonstrator, get my picture taken with Shelli Gardner, shop the Memento Mall, and possibly be a lucky Prize Patrol winner (I hope)! It's four days of stampin' fun, and I cannot WAIT for July to get here!


Stamps: Just Believe, Elementary Elegance (retired SAB)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze Textured, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Lucky Limeade and Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pads, plus Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Square Nestabilities die, Oval Punch, 2011-2013 In Colors Brads, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels

Happy New Home, FMS28 and CQC130

My cousin just moved to a new place, and I wanted to create bright, cheerful card to celebrate this happy event. This week's ColourQ Challenge #130 fit the bill perfectly; I couldn't have chosen happier colors!

And (now don't fall off your seat!) I combined it with another challenge, using the fab sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches #28.  As soon as I saw this sketch, I saw a Z-Fold card!

Not having any house-type stamps made it necessary to improvise, but I think the paper-pieced house turned out kinda cute.

So, if you're mojo seems to have left the building, as mine has this week, pop on over to either (or BOTH) of the challenges and get some inspiration!

Stamps: Baroque Motif, Party Time
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, plus Daffodil Delight DSP and Melon Mambo DSP (retired)
Ink: Certainly Celery and Basic Black Classic
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Small Heart Punch, Pearls Basic Jewels, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi

Team Meeting & a Sneak Peek

This is the card we made at my downline meeting last night. We used the Summer Smooches DSP, which is so bright and cheerful - I just LOVE it!  If you join Stampin' Up!, you can pre-order this paper (and a bunch of other stuff) now; if you are a customer, you'll have to wait until April 1st for the promotion to start. (For more details, click on the top button on the left.)

This is a Joy Fold card, with the top flap option. (If you scroll down the SCS tutorial, you'll find the measurements for this option right under the YouTube video.) The top flap is held in place by a 1" circle, stamped, popped up on a dimensional, and barely peeking out from under the blossom.

There are actually two sneak peeks on this card - the Summer Smooches DSP and the Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads!

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Perfect Punches
Cardstock: Island Indiso, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Island Indigo, and Daffodil Delight Classic
Accessories: Blossom Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

Folded Star/Snowflake Tutorial

Today I am grateful that so many people liked the Snowflake/Star I posted yesterday! Since there were some requests for how to make it, here ya go.

It is really simple to make, but precise measurements are important for success. Once you've made the first one, you'll be able to whip a bunch out in no time! Edited to add: Yapha Mason greatly simplified the instructions HERE. Thanks, Yapha!

For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be drawing heavy lines with a Sharpie, so they can be easily seen in the photos, but you will be drawing light ones with a pencil and erasing later.

Supplies you will need:

• 10" x 10" lightweight cardstock, like Designer Series Paper
• Stampin' Up! grid paper (102787), or a grid mat
• Bone Folder (102300)
• Sharp pencil and eraser
• Ruler (quilter's ruler works great)
• Paper Cutter (104152) with cutting and scoring blades

1) On top edge of cardstock, make a pencil mark at the halfway point (5" from either end).

2) Lay cardstock on grid, having edges even with lines, then draw a light guide line down 1½" from original pencil mark, using the ruler to make sure the line is perpendicular to top edge. (Ruler should be on the same grid line at top and bottom of paper.)

3) Now draw an angled 10" line from the lower right corner to intersect the guide line. Have the end of ruler at the lower right corner of your cardstock, and rotate to make the 10" mark on the ruler intersect the guide line. Making sure the ruler hasn't shifted, draw a light pencil line from guide line to corner. Repeat for the left side.

4) Place cardstock in Paper Cutter with 10" pencil line exactly centered over cutting groove. (You can lightly slide the blade without pushing and cutting to check that the center of the blade is going to follow your pencil line.) If it lines up properly, go ahead and cut from one end of the paper to the other.

5) Repeat for the other line. You should now have a 10" equilateral triangle, and the hard part is done!

6) On each 10" side, make a pencil mark at the halfway point, 5" from each end.

7) Using the scoring blade in the Paper Cutter, lightly score between the marks. (Yes, I know the cardstock is different in this pic. It's from the completed sample at the top. I forgot to take a picture of the turquoise shtuff.)

8) Fold up one flap and place crease under the 1½" mark on the ruler. Use edge of ruler to form new flap, folded back. Flatten with bone folder. (Note: If your ruler isn't the 2" wide quilters style, use the grid paper instead. Have the fold on a grid line, count 6 squares up = 1½" and place ruler there.) Repeat for other sides.

9) That's it, just decorate and you're done!  To close the star, fold the flaps in, like folding flaps on a box top. The last one gets tucked under the first.

 Have fun making these!