A slight change in a card fold – and what a difference!
My cards are not usually over complicated, and I do always like a nice, clean layout. For Stampers Club in May, I designed a card that showcased some of the new Stampin’ Up! Colours, and used some Rose Gold Foil for a die cut because shiny is always good in my books!! I liked the first version I came up with, but a little tweak and what a difference!
So this was the first version…
Showing off the Artistic Dies and Rose Gold Specialty Paper, on a background of Moody Mauve and Pebbled Path, on a Crumb Cake cardbase. I do love the effect, and putting an Adhesive Sheet on the back of the Rose Gold Specialty Paper before diecutting makes adding the intricate die cut to the cardfront so much easier. I didn’t add a sentiment to this, but was thinking I could add something in Pebbled Path ink at the right corner below the focal piece.
I did think it was a bit “ordinary” though, so using the exact same cardstock pieces, I just created a gatefold card rather than a side fold card, and added two strips of Rose Gold Specialty Paper to the edge of the cardstock and LOOK – what a difference! I think it makes it look so much more special and interesting!
Also an unfair advantage perhaps – what a difference lighting makes! The angle that I had to photograph the card really emphasized the shininess of the foil which you can’t see as much in the other card photo. HOWEVER, I do think that the gatefold card for this kind of a layout makes a much more striking impression, don’t you?
So there’s an idea for you for if you think your card design is “okay” but you want to give it a bit of a lift – try changing up the fold! Instead of scoring your 8.5″ x 5.5″ cardstock at 4.25″ for a side or top fold card, score 2.125″ (2-1/8″) in from each edge of the card, and make a gatefold card instead! (Just make sure you only adhere the focal piece only on one side of the card….otherwise you stick your card shut).
My Stampers Club is meeting online via Zoom, and members have access to the recording so they can make their cards at their own leisure. The advantage of “virtual” club is that club members don’t have to be local to Burlington! Club members join for a 6 month period. Club requirements are a minimum product order each month using either the club host code or by emailing me with their order. We meet online once a month to assemble that month’s club cards (project kits are either picked up or mailed via Canada Post); once during each membership period, club members will earn the host benefits from that month’s club orders (aka FREE product! Guaranteed minimum $20). Check out the YamStamps Events Page for dates and more information, and message me if you’re interested in joining us or want more information!
This is a one colour wonder card – I love the monochromatic look!
I love the clean look of single colour cards – I think of them as one colour wonders – like this card! There’s something simple and elegant about the effect, but it’s not so simple that it’s boring.
When I am keeping the colour scheme very simple, I like to make sure that there’s still a lot of eye catching details – so using texture really makes a one colour wonder from being boring. In this case, I used one of the Basics 3D Embossing Folders to create the background – I think this is my favourite out of the three. These Embossing Folders are part of the Online Exclusive Offerings from Stampin’ Up! so you won’t find them in the catalogue – but you will see them in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada Store. You can see the online only offerings by typing “Online Exclusive” in the search box. I just checked the online store, and while you can see the folders, you can’t order them at this moment since they’ve been so popular! Looks like they’re going to be available again in a week or so, though (fingers crossed). Yay! They are available again right now!
The flower, shell, leaf and snowflake are from the Chic Dies, and the sentiment is from the coordinating Seasons of Chic Stamp Set. These are carried over from the last Annual Catalogue (and I’m very happy that they are still around! So versatile!). As a Demonstrator, I like to be sure to share all the new and exciting products that are released in the catalogues or online, but I also like to make sure that some of my existing favourites get the attention they deserve!!
I die cut the layers from Basic White Cardstock, and layered the coordinating images before adhering them to the card front. I decided to use Crumb Cake ink for the sentiment on this One Colour Wonder Card because I felt it added a touch of colour without being overpowering.
The other thing I love about the one colour wonder approach – it makes my crafting easy because I don’t have to think about what colours to put together! If you like to avoid crafting brain strain, you may also want to consider signing up for a YamStamps Sketch System Subscription. Subscribers have told me that they love how easy it makes their cardmaking! Week One brings the sketch and the first sample to your email inbox, and over the following three weeks you get a different take on that sketch. The sketch and samples are tools to spark your own creativity – so that you can enjoy the process and the results without having to work too hard!! It’s just $9.99CAD every four weeks – get more information and start now by clicking here, or message me if you have any questions! Paper Crafting doesn’t have to be difficult to be impressive!
Celebrate Star Wars Day with a fun light saber card
Fun creating this card to celebrate Star Wars Day! Quick and easy….
Found the sentiment online and printed it onto regular paper, then fussy cut it. I used my sponge daubers to add a layer of Whisper White Craft ink onto the Starry Sky Cardstock background and then added a bit of Tahitian Tide ink on top to create a blue hue glow. I also daubed Tahitian Tide ink to a piece of vellum before adhering it in place. I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere the vellum in place, and I actually don’t mind the bit of “show through” – I think it makes the light saber look more dimensional.
To make it look more sky like, I used my water painter with a bit of White Craft Ink and splattered it onto the cardstock. I did share another fun galaxy sky technique in my Just Add Ink Online Class, so you can check that out if you want to learn more! Good for your Star Wars Day card or any other day!
I really wanted this to be a fast card, so I didn’t fuss too much with it….I don’t think that every card we make needs to be over the top – sometimes it’s more important to get it done and shared!!
Sharing the TikTok video I made – because it’s faster than the version on Instagram (I couldn’t figure out how to speed up the video on Instagram….).
Happy Star Wars Day! Still time to make a quick card to share with your family and friends who love Star Wars! (Or just love a good pun).
Have you checked out the new Stampin’ Up! Canada Annual Catalogue? You can see the online version here, or fill out this form if you would like a hard copy! Online shopping is 24/7 at YamStamps.com/shop or you can message me if you would like assistance placing an order, or want to pay by etransfer.
Stampin’ Up! has a number of larger dies that can be used to create backgrounds or main elements for your paper crafting projects. I used the large die from the Two Tone Flora Dies to create this shimmery die cut card. The dies include the large die, as well as smaller dies that coordinate with the large die and with the Two Tone Flora stamp set. Right now, they’re available in a discounted bundle, but that option will disappear after 1 May 2023. The individual products will still be available for purchase, though!
For this quick and elegant shimmery die cut card, I used the large die with the Fine Shimmer Paper Pack (also retiring – available until 1 May 2023/while supplies last). I love the shimmer paper for adding some bling but not being over the top (and also not leaving glitter/shimmer everywhere). To make this even easier, I applied strips of the adhesive sheet to the back of the Fine Shimmer Paper before die cutting.
Tips for die cutting thicker layers/detailed dies: I make the “sandwich” according to the instructions on the cutting plate, and run it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine a couple of times. I also have found that if I have the die/paper on a slight angle (rather than lining it up straight on the cutting plates), it tends to cut more efficiently (plus it’s easier to feed through the machine). I definitely use both of these approaches if I have adhesive sheet on the back. I usually find that it may not cut all the way through the liner, but when I pull the adhesive liner off my die cuts, the little bits also tend to pull away at the same time.
I added a Stylish Shape die cut label and stamped “Celebrate” in Crumb Cake ink, which I thought complemented the tone of the Shimmer Paper. The sentiment is from the retiring Framed Florets stamp set (see previous disclaimer about retiring product…).
You could make a whole bunch of these shimmery die cut cards ahead of time, but just add whatever label was appropriate for the occasion!!
If you’re looking for more card making inspiration, information and tutorials, be sure to be signed up for the YamStamps Newsletter! New subscribers get a free video tutorial as well. Sign up using the box at the top of the website, or click here.
A quick and fun stripes and spots card that’s easily customized!
I love how it’s easy to get a custom card by swapping out colours or sentiments. That’s the case with this stripes and spots card! It’s a fun celebratory card that could be used for any number of occasions.
For this card, I used the NEW Core Colour Fresh Freesia. Yes, the same Fresh Freesia that is a 2021-2023 In Color – it’s sticking around and becoming part of the regular Stampin’ Up! colour offerings! I combined it with Pale Papaya and Polished Pink, also 2021-2023 In Colors, but those ones are retiring 1 May 23.
You could easily take this stripes and spots card design, and use it with any cardstocks and embossing folder you have on hand. In this case, I used the spots folder from the Basics 3D Embossing Folders package – which includes 3 different Embossing Folders which are great for all occasions. They are one of the Online Exclusives – so they don’t actually appear in any catalogue, just in the online store.
The sentiment is from the Eden’s Garden stamp set (available until 1 May/while supplies last) and is stamped in Fresh Freesia ink – because you know I like to coordinate my colours! I used a die that had angled edges because it made it easy to angle my sentiment across the cardfront. It’s actually from the retired Frosted Flurry dies….but apparently I couldn’t keep track of that and used it anyway LOL! I don’t feel it’s fair to use retired products here because they aren’t always available (though obviously this one will show up at my retired product garage sale if you’re able to attend!). There are other angled dies that would do a similar job – like the Something Fancy Dies or even the Sentimental Park Dies. Or you could go old school, cut a long rectangle and then once you’ve adhered it in place at an angle you like, just trim off the overhang!
If you’re looking for other card design ideas to help you get creating more quickly and easily, subscribe to the YamStamps Sketch System! Subscribers have been loving how quickly they can create cards based on the sketches! You get the “blueprint” or sketch of the card, including measurements, the first week, and then in the following weeks you’ll get samples (and a supply list) using the same sketch, showing different takes on it! For only $9.99 CAD a month that’s a lot of inspiration – and it’s exclusive to the program. Find out more and start your subscription here!
So for the super easy fancy fold card part…the Crumb Cake a “Z fold” card. Take your cardstock (8.5″ x 5.5″), fold it in half, and then fold one side in half again. Arrange it so it opens to the right, and then adhere it inside a 8.5″ x 5.5″ piece of Balmy Blue Cardstock that’s folded in half.
The impressive part comes from cutting a circle in the front of your Balmy Blue/DSP card. Take that circle, and with the entire card structure closed, adhere the circle on the fold of your Crumb Cake cardstock. It looks a lot trickier than it actually is!! Don’t you think it lives up to the Super Easy Fancy Fold Card title?!
For this card I did use the Layering Circles Dies with my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. The layering circles dies are retiring – so they’re only available until 1 May or while supplies last (whichever comes first). I am having a retiring product garage sale here in Burlington on Saturday, 6 May 23, but these dies will NOT be part of that – because I’m hanging on to them!!! If you don’t have these in your stash, you may want to grab them before they’re gone, or if you are recreating this card, you could easily use a circle punch, or another shaped die you have in your craft area.
(otherwise, garage sale in my garage Saturday 6 May 23 (EDIT) SATURDAY 13 MAY from 9am til noon, and yes I’m aware it’s Coronation Day, but you can still watch and then come by….or PVR it and come early). (also – it will probably be re-broadcast multiple times that day!!) Message me for more details and exact location!
If you’re interested in more easy and impressive card ideas, be sure to be on the YamStamps list – I send out weekly ideas, information and tutorials! Use the sign up box at the top of the YamStamps site, or click here. If you’re new to my list, you’ll get a free video tutorial when you sign up!
