Return of the super simple card! Here’s a variation on a simple card….
I’m not sure if it’s because summer is winding up (sorrrrryyyyy to mention that) or things are gearing up for back to school/back to routine but life seems to be a bit busier than usual right now – or is it just me??
I’ve been busy putting the final touches on the Shake It Up! Class, and truth be told, I have had the Taylor Switft song that I used for the Tik Tok video stuck in my head since I uploaded it! (haha video linked so you can share my ear worm…). In any case, here’s a variation on a simple card that stays still, which is a nice break for me after editing shaker card videos! *sigh of relief*.
I call this a variation on a simple card because of my previous post about the World’s Most Simple Card…it’s similar but different….
Have I mentioned that Masterfully Made is one of my current favourite Designer Series Papers?! Perhaps you’ve guessed that since it shows up on a semi-regular basis in my shared projects of late. In any case, a simple card that still looks impressive thanks to the patterned paper. I coordinated the backing cardstock (Pumpkin Pie) with the orange shade in the paper, and then added the die cut in Basic White to highlight the torn edges on the DSP and also to make it stand out on its own. I added Adhesive Sheet to the back of the Basic White Cardstock before running it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine with the leaf die from the Artistic Dies. I love that die for adding a large decorative element to my cards! The Adhesive Sheet makes it super easy to apply this detailed die cut to the card. As a bonus, often when removing the backing adhesive liner, it pulls out any little offcut bits that might remain in the die cut!
If you’re looking for a fun way to start the back to class season, you have until 7pm EDT tomorrow (Thursday 24 August) to grab Early Bird pricing on the Shake It Up! Online class. Don’t miss out on the extra savings! Even if life is a little hectic for you – you can purchase the class at a discount now, and access it later (well, after tomorrow evening when it launches) when you have a bit of time! Lifetime access means you have plenty of time to get through all the content, and re-watch it as necessary. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Create an eye catching Paper Strips Card – it’s easier than you might think!
There is nothing better than an eye catching design that is easy to create – and usually once you have the design, you can just swap out the supplies and get a whole new look! That’s the case with this fun paper strips card that only uses 3 long strips of cardstock for the striped design!
To create a paper strips card like this one, you have a backing piece of cardstock cut to the size you want your focal area. After that, you add the strips one by one and just trim to fit that cardstock. For me, it was easiest if I placed the longest strip first (so in this card, it’s the long Smoky Slate cardstock piece that has the Matte Dots on it in the picture). From there, I just lined up the other pieces accordingly, alternating the colours (Blackberry Bliss and Balmy Blue). The second section I placed was the one with the vertical(ish) strips, starting with the longest one and lining everything up accordingly. I didn’t worry too much about exact positioning, because it’s a “structured free form” kind of design, if there’s such a term. You could definitely play with this design and come up with countless variations.
I just eyeballed the spacing on this paper strips card, and then added some Classic Matte Dots and die cut labels from the Something Fancy dies for the sentiment from the Beautiful Balloons stamp set. SECRET TIP: (well, not so secret anymore, I guess) – stamp your sentiment on an angle so you don’t have to worry about it being perfectly straight
Potential Paper Strips Card Variations – change the pattern, use Designer Series Papers, emboss your cardstocks (some/all of them), use different colours….so many possibilities without having to work too hard!!
If you like being given patterns and ideas that you can take and make your own, you should subscribe to the YamStamps Sketch System! Each month brings you a sketch (card blueprint) with measurements, and a total of four weekly samples (with supply lists) based on that month’s sketch – directly to your email inbox. After four weeks, a new sketch and four new samples will be on their way! This monthly subscription to help your creative flow costs only $9.99CAD (billed every 4 weeks). It’s a month by month subscription, and you can stop your subscription at any point in time (though you’ll get the full set of samples for whatever sketch you’re on before you’re removed from the mailing list). I posted a bit more about the Sketch System in this previous post on YamStamps.com.
Check out this floral print fancy fold card – sure to impress!
I like fancy fold cards, but I love fancy fold cards that aren’t super difficult or time consuming to make!! This floral print fancy fold card fits that category for sure. It’s a Bay Window type fancy fold card, and Stampin’ Up! Canada’s Masterfully Made Designer Series Paper makes it even more eye catching. I love the colours in this paper!
If you’ve been following the YamStamps blog here, or YamStamps social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), you may know that I really like it when I can carry a pattern continuously across multiple cuts, so I was sure to continue that trend with this floral print fancy fold card. I cut the strips of Designer Series Paper in order from one side to the other, so that when they were adhered to the card front, the pattern would be carried through. This isn’t mandatory (the card will still look good even if you don’t carry the pattern through) but I love the end result, so I will take the time (and the brain work as need be) to cut accordingly. I just like the flow of the pattern. Plus if I do this, the card works with any patterned paper, including directional or larger image papers.
I sent out a detailed tutorial for this type of card in a previous YamStamps email newsletter (so if you’re a subscriber, check back a few weeks, if you’re not a subscriber, sign up so you don’t miss out on more ideas!), but essentially, you score a piece of 4-1/4″ x 11″ cardstock at 3/4″, 2″, 3-1/2″, 4-3/4″ and 5-1/2″. The DSP is cut to 4″ tall, and if you want the continuous pattern effect, you cut in strips from one side to the other: 1/2″, 1″, 1-1/4″, 1″, 1/2″. You can go left to right or right to left, doesn’t matter since the pattern is symmetrical – widest piece in the middle, narrowest pieces on the outside. I embossed another piece of cardstock that was 4-1/4″ x 3/4″ and that is adhered on the inside of the card at the edge, and acts like a “stopper”. The cardfront section closest to the fold is adhered in place to anchor the Bay window effect, and then the edge of the cardfront gets tucked under the stopper to hold the cardfront in place.
So no fancy tools required for the basic construction of this floral print fancy fold card, but you can pull them out to help decorating the finished piece! Be sure to be signed up for the YamStamps Email Newsletter to get lots of information, inspiration and ideas (and offers)! When you first sign up you get a free video tutorial for a fancy fold card too! You can sign up by using the box on the YamStamps website, or click here.
Like the card says, life is better when you’re crafting! Truth!
This is such a fun and bright card – and I love the little paper trimmer die cut! That is what tipped me over the edge when I was deciding on my recent purchases – well that, and theLife is better when you’re crafting sentiment!
I love this cute die cut! Word of warning – that “cutting blade” die cut portion is small and easily misplaced on a messy crafting table….ask me how I know this…LOL. I used a portion of a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional to attach it in place on the paper cutter die cut before I adhered it to the front of the card. Because…Life is better when you’re crafting…and when you can find your die cuts on your work surface.
If you’re looking to budget out your crafting purchases, one factor you may want to consider right now – Stampin’ Up!’s Bonus Days are in effect until Monday 31 July. For each $60CAD of product ordered in a single order (before shipping/taxes, after any discounts), you’ll receive a $6CAD coupon code to spend in August. Shortcut to shop is YamStamps.com/shop, or you can message me if you’d like to pay by etransfer or want assistance placing your order. (The Crafting with You Bundle would qualify you for a coupon code!). Because…Life is better when you’re crafting….and when you can earn coupon codes!
Presenting to you – possibly the world’s most simple card!
Because it’s a Monday, and sometimes Mondays can be a bit rough….so here’s a simple and still impressive card that you can send to someone for a little pick me up – for both of you! The World’s Most Simple Card!
You may ask – what makes the world’s most simple card so simple? The design on the cardfront is quite impressive…and it’s all in the paper. This is Stampin’ Up!’s Masterfully Made Designer Series Paper – so while SOMEONE spent a lot of time creating that 3D paper floral collage, it was NOT me! One of the talented artists at the company created this collage, which was then photographed and printed onto the Designer Series Paper. Isn’t it amazing? There are other eye catching and non-labour intensive patterns for the lazy crafter (aka ME) on the other sheets as well.
You might get a better idea from this close up angle view. All I did was cut the paper to size, stick it on coordinating cardstock and add some Rhinestone Basic Jewels. Tada!
The “usual” card size that paper crafters in North America create is a half sheet of 8-1/2″ x 11″ cardstock. This card is 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ of Lost Lagoon Cardstock, folded in half. For me, easy layers means stepping everything down by 1/4″. So – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ folds down to a 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ size. My cardstock background layer of Lemon-Lime Twist Cardstock is then 5-1/4″ x 4″, and the patterned paper is 5″ x 3-3/4″.
Simple, straightforward, and still impressive! The World’s Most Simple Card! Use this card design to show off your most eye catching patterned paper.
This is a fun stand up fancy fold card that is easier than you might think!
As a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I often get inspiration from other Demonstrators – like the inspiring swap cards I share every Sunday on the YamStamps Facebook Page and YamStamps Sunday Swap Page . My card was inspired by a design I saw from Connie Stewart, and I tweaked the decorating a little bit to suit my style. We made this in June’s Club get together.
The basic design is to take a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/4″ piece of cardstock, and score at 1″, 2″ and 3″ from either side. Add your DSP strips, and then for this version (which Connie called a “wow” version), you cut a slit at 1″ from the top and bottom across the inner two 1″ panels. My variation has DSP strips on the outer and inner panels, with the cut portion from the inner panel moved to the middle panel, so that when the card is standing up, the pattern flows continuously from top to bottom. The hack way of doing it is to only apply adhesive mostly in the middle of the inner panel’s DSP strip with only a bit towards the ends, so after you cut your slits, the cut portions of DSP are easy to peel up and move one section over! Trust me. I tried doing a measurement version, and I could never get everything accurate enough to fit. I think the hack way is the only way for this version of the stand up fancy fold card.
For the final version, the 3″ score line ends up as a valley fold. The 2″ score line end sections are mountain folds, while the middle, longer section is a valley fold. This card fits into a regular Medium Stampin’ Up! envelope, which is a typical requirement for any card I make. I know I could make my own envelopes, but I already made the card….and I usually need another cup of tea at that point.
My Club Members get access to recordings of our Zoom classes afterwards which is great for those who either can’t make it to the live get together or prefer to make their cards with the recorded version so that they can start and stop as they need. That’s one of the things that people have told me they like about my YamStampsMore Online Classes as well – the pre-recorded, edited videos mean that they can start/stop the video and re-watch as many times as they need! Check out my current collection of Online Classes – and watch for the next one which is launching next week! Pre-launch registration and Early Bird pricing start on Wednesday – so come back to YamStamps.com to find out more then!
