321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Halloween Scenes Fun Fold Card

I loved making this card with my Stamp Clubs this month! It's got a fun Z-fold technique with both the card base and the die cut fence strip folded in a way that makes for a cool Halloween scene.

Here's how it looks closed:

And a close up of the fun detail of the front panel and pop out Vampire. (It's a standard pop out mechanism made from card stock to make him pop out when you open the card. It just takes a little strip of card stock, scored and folded into a square that you attach to the vampire's arm and then attach to the inside card panels right at the fold)

Here are measurements:

Black card base: 4-1/4" by 11" - Score at 5-1/2" and 8-1/4" (you will be folding it so the 5-1/2" panel is on the right side and then the other scoreline folds back so the front where the tree is winds up 2-3/4" wide by 4-1/4" tall)

 

Black strip to die-cut fence: 2-1/8" by 11" (Die cut the fence three times in a row across the strip by lining it up for each cut with the section already cut. Because it does not cut at the bottom you can make the hill a variety of heights)

 

To score the die-cut fence: with the right side of the fence facedown and the flat bottom edge flush against the top of the Simply Scored, score at 5-1/2" and 8-1/4" (die cuts have a "right side" based on the cut edges appearing smoother)

 

Black panel to die-cut tree: 2-1/2" by 4"

 

Gray panel for front: 2-1/2" by 4"

 

White panels for inside: 2-1/2" by 4"  and 5-1/4" by 4"

 

Thick White card stock strip for pop-up square behind vampire: slightly wider than 1/4" by 3-1/2" -- score at 3/4"; 1-1/2"; 2-1/4" and 3"

 

Don't be intimidated as this style card is really not tough to make and it's simple stamping and some die cutting for the decorations.

Spooky Fun Photopolymer Bundle
$36.75

Ghoulish Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$20.00

Cookie Cutter Halloween Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$17.00

Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper
$5.00

Halloween Night Enamel Dots
$4.00

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch
$18.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$9.00

2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch
$18.00

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2015-2017 In Color Sneak Peek & Pop-out Swing Card

Stampin' Up! is known for our color coordination -- and for freshening up our colors each year with a set of five new In Colors. We always have two sets of five going at a time, with one set rotating off each year. So here is a look at the new Fab Five that will be around through 2017 starting June 2.

The image has the color names right on each card (and that butterfly is another sneak peek from the new catalog that goes live along with the new colors on June 2). There's only one way to get these new colors before June 2 and that's as a demonstrator because we can preorder them to be ready for June. If you're interested in the Demonstrator opportunity, click here to learn more. And get in touch with me if you want information on how you can even include the new In Colors and a selection of other new catalog items in your demonstrator starter kit. To do that you need to get in touch via the email button or leave a comment.

Now on to a fun fold card idea.

I've seen this called the Pop-out Swing Card, Z-Fold Pop Out card and probably a couple of other names. I decided to make one (with my own added variation) after it was a weekly project idea through the wonderful Stamping School. And I had also seen the idea through fellow demonstrator Julie Davison and Dawn Griffith who both shared videos for the basics of the card. (If you watch their videos, just know that I used different measurements for my insides and will share those below).

It's a fairly simple concept: a z-fold insert inside the card has a small panel attached that sticks through the hole you die-cut in the front.

What I added was the red arrow on the left side of the focal point: it serves the important job of encouraging the panel with the tree to stay outside of the hole. Trust me, it made a huge difference to add that tab in the operation of the card. And the little Candy Dot embellishment on the arrow calls just the right attention to it's role: it almost says "pull here."

You can see how the inside parts can simply come out so the arrow tab helps it arrive -- and be opened -- properly with that panel sticking through the hole.

Here's the arrow doing its job.

I can see making this at Christmas with a punched or die cut small snowflake as my added tab. A circle would also work great -- any shape basically that you attach behind the front panel or even on top of it so that it overlaps the left side of the card front.

Here are my measurements:

- Crumb Cake card base: 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" folded in half. The die cut square hole uses the 6th square out from the middle of Stampin' Up's square framelits set. (It's a little bit over 3 1/4")

- Chocolate Chip panel: 3 1/4" square

- White Front panel: 3" square

- Inside folded card: 6" wide by 5 1/4" tall - scored at 2" and 4"

This is a fun card and I love the Sheltering Tree set that is the focal point. It comes with beautiful script style words, but for the sample in this post I used words from the set Guy Greetings. I love trees for masculine cards, but it's an easy card style to use with other focal point images on that front square and inside.

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set
$24.95

Squares Collection Framelits Die
$26.95

What's Up Punch
$8.48

Glue Dots
$4.95

Liquid Multipurpose Glue
$3.95

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock
$8.50

Chocolate Chip 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock
$6.95

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock
$6.95

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock
$6.95

Neutrals Candy Dots
$5.95

Brights Candy Dots
$5.95

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Gift Card Slider Photo Tutorial

The sliding element of this gift card holder is not a new idea -- but the clever way to make a flap to hold it closed was thought up by fellow demonstrator Jackie Topa. Then Linda Heller of stampingschool.com took Jackie's tab idea and adjusted the measurements a little. I was inspired to then change up the stamps and come up with my own version. This was a big hit at October classes.

Here's the front -- with ornaments courtesy of the Christmas Collectibles stamps and matching ornament punch. The greeting is from Sassy Salutations. The smaller ornament punched out with the Mosaic punch is from the Verry Merry Tags set. (item #130402)

Open it and you can see how the gift card pocket slides up -- the greeting on that is "Ho Ho Ho" from the set called Oh Goodie!

A side view lets you really see that slider in action -- it's so fun to watch it move in person and have the gift card and the greeting appear.

Here are the steps to make this and a photo tutorial to guide you.

Card stock pieces:

- Crumb Cake Card Base - 4-1/4" by 11", with the 11" side horizontal, score at 1-3/4" from left end

- Crumb Cake Slider piece: 3-1/4" by 6-3/4" - again horizontal in the Simply Scored and score at 1/2" and 5"

- Olive mat for front - 3-1/4" by 4"

- White for greeting - 1" by 4"

- Season of Style Designer Paper behind greeting 1-1/2" by 4"

Once you've scored the card base, you want to use the Envelope Punch Board on the unscored end to punch tabs/notches 1" from each side. Here's what that step looks like.

Next put sticky strip on the side edges of the scored end to make a pocket. Here's that step.

Once you've sealed it to make the pocket, tuck in the tab and use a bone folder to the crease the card where it should naturally fold. (you can look back at the finished card to see how the tab looks when tucked in).

Here's what the slider looks like when scored and with the Sticky Strip where it should go on this piece. The bottom where it says sample will become the pocket to tuck the gift card in. One the other end the tape goes right above that 1/2" score line.

Seal the bottom to make the pocket on the slider but leave the red liner on the other tape -- fold that scoreline back and forth so it's moving well. Then insert it into the larger pocket you made on the card base. Here's what that will look like once it's tucked all the way to the bottom and centered between the card sides -- the top of the slider is flat, meaning nothing is folded under.

Last step is so easy -- you remove the red liner and simply close the card -- it will attach itself to the slider right where it should be and pull up just fine when you open the card.

Here's one more look at the card:

And then here is the handmade envelope I made using the Envelope Punch Board and designer paper.

The ornament "to/from" tag is out of that same Christmas Collectibles stamp set -- click here to see that set and matching punch as a specially priced bundle in my online store. the Cherry Cobbler ribbon is item #132135 -- you can buy it separately but it's also discounted right now as part of these very nice packaging bundles that you can view in my online store.

These slide-up gift card holders are so fun to make and they pack a wow factor without really being difficult (that's your little secret!)

A Flip Card the Easy Way

I love cards that move! It's so fun to know that the recipient will be amused and want to open it again and again to watch the surprise movement.

Stampin' Up's new Flip Card Thinlits make it so easy. I wrote about them first and had a link to a video about them back in this post. Today I'm going to show you a birthday theme card that was a big hit at my stamp clubs this month -- plus share an easy tutorial for adding the printed paper and getting a custom cut as you die-cut the card base.

I love the Birthday Basics paper that's on this card. Create a Cupcake stamps and the matching punch dress up the left flap and the greetings are courtesy of the new "Remembering Your Birthday" stamp set. Those greeting layers were stamped and then punched out with the 2 1/2" circle punch which fits perfectly on the card base.

Here's what happens when you open it -- a flip, and the inside circle appears.

See the right side and how the paper is perfectly cut with the curve of the opening where the circle flips? I first got the idea of how to do this from fellow demonstrator Mary Brown. I took her idea of using the metal thinlit itself as sort of a template so you'd know where to put tape....

... But I wanted to find a way to make it faster at class so that each person did not need to use the one thinlit circle card metal die for BOTH the taping template and to cut their card base. So I just made a template by cutting out a card and cutting off the right side panel -- it was easy to add tape to the right side of the Bermuda Bay card around the top, bottom, right side AND around the curved left side where my cut would later be.

Now I've added my paper, I'll add my top cutting plate, roll it through the Big Shot and when it comes out, I'll have a perfectly cut and taped in place right panel, with the curved divot cut out! The card base is 5 & 1/2" tall and 5 & 7/8" wide -- cut it to that size ahead of time and you save paper as the thinlit die just fits right over and it then cuts the inside circle and makes the score marks.

I even lined the envelope with matching paper thanks to another new Thinlits die for Envelope Liners.

These cards pack a wow factor and the dies make them SO much easier to make than you would think. All the cutting and scoring is done by the thinlits die -- you just cut, fold and decorate.

Be sure to check back for my next two posts which will show Halloween and Christmas variations with a twist.

You can click each item used to see more info and images or to order it.

Circle or Label Thinlits Die sets & video

Create a Cupake clear mount stamp set

Cupcake punch

Remebering Your Birthday stamp set

Birthday Basics Designer Paper

Graduation Cap Fun-Fold Card

This is the cutest graduation card ever. First a shout out to my friend and fellow demonstrator Dawn Olchefske who made this card three years ago and shared a video on her blog. She said then she CASEd the idea from Pam Hoffman. My adjustment is to use the Diagonal Simply Scored Plate that you use with Stampin' Up's great SImply Scored board to make this so much easier to make. You can watch Dawn's video here for background and tips -- and then my version and adjusted directions are below.

I used the great current stamp set Pure Gumption from the current 2013-14 Stampin' Up catalog.

Here's the inside when it's unfolded:

And here are my instructions:

Navy card stock piece: 4¼” by 9¾”

- Put this in the Simply Scored horizontal (with no added insert plate -- just the straight, built-in lines) and score at the 5½” mark (rubbing card stock with wax paper can help stylus glide easier)

- Insert the Diagonal Plate, arrow on the back pointing up. Put the blue piece back in with the 5½” straight score line you already made matched up with 5½” marker again.

- Score diagonally with your stylus starting at the marker that’s at 3 & 3/8.” Flip the card stock over so you can score the other way diagonally to make an X, again with the straight score lined up with the 5½” marker. You're scoring all the way around the card stock each time.

- Fold on straight line so right sides are together; unfold, then fold each diagonal separately so the insides are together. Push in your folds and you've made your base.

- Now you nead to cut the top into a diamond shape to make the cap. Mark top of Navy card at center point – 2 &1/8”. Line up diagonal score mark and the 2 & 1/8" tick mark to cut diagonal and repeat for other side of top of cap. This turns it into a square.

Inside layers: White CS: 2½” square; 4” by 5¼” rectangle. Mark one end of larger rectangle piece at 2” center mark then 2” down the side from each top corner. Use tick marks to line up and cut diagonally.

Inside Designer Paper mat: 2¾” square.

Ribbon Tassel: 8” piece of Taffeta or Grosgrain. Fold in half and tie an overhand knot at folded end. Cut off one selvage edge and pull vertical threads to make tassel strands. Repeat on other tail, trimming off leftover parts to just leave the vertical threads you pulled loose. The last pieces you trim off look like eyelashes and would be great to use as trim on the dress die.

Enjoy and like I said -- watching Dawn's video may help my adjusted directions make more sense.