Wednesday, July 23, 2025

A CARD LAYOUT AS EASY AS 1 - 2 - 3!

Hi Stampers!

Today I have a card layout for you that is as easy as 1-2-3! Even better this layout uses scraps, but not just any scraps. Today we are using those 2” x 6” scraps left over after cutting 4” x 5 1/4” panels from sheets of 6” x 6” papers! I noticed my pile of these pieces was increasing, so I decided it was time to put them to use. I came up with a layout that is super quick and easy, and it uses three 2” x 6” scraps! This is a layout you can dress up, or keep it simple. Cards can be either landscape or portrait.  What’s not to like? Here are the sample cards:



VIDEO
A CARD LAYOUT AS EASY AS 1-2-3!





WHAT YOU NEED
* An A-2 card base (one half of an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of cardstock, folded in half)
* Three pieces of patterned paper each cut at 2” x 5 1/4”
* One piece of printer paper cut at 4” x 5 1/4” (optional)
* Inside panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4” (optional)
* Stamps, Ink, Punches, Dies - for images and sentiment
* Embellishments 
* Adhesive and dimensionals (optional)

WHAT TO DO
* Stamp sentiment on inside panel (optional)
* Prepare any stamped or die cut images and sentiment
* Adhere two of the 2” strips of patterned paper to the printer paper, or directly to the card front
* Adhere the third 2” wide panel to the card, center it over the other two pieces of patterned paper, or position it a bit more to the left or the right. Adhere this piece with liquid glue or tape runner, or use foam tape / dimensionals to adhere it.
* Decorate the front of the card.
* Adhere the inside panel to the card.

SAME PATTERN - DIFFERENT COLORS


SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Basic Black and Basic White (Stampin’ Up!)
* Patterned Paper - (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Stamps - Attention Shoppers (Stampin’ Up! retired), Essential Sentiments and Birthday Wishes (Waffle Flower)
* Dies - Stylish Shapes (Stampin’ Up!)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)

SEA STAR BIRTHDAY


SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Summer Splash, Basic White (Stampin’ Up!)
* Patterned Papers - (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Stamps - Sea Turtle (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Ink - Pecan Pie (Stampin’ Up!)
* Dies - Everyday Details (Stampin’ Up! retired)
* Embellishments - Glitter Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)

A LITTLE PRICKLY


SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Old Olive, Basic White (Stampin’ Up!)
* Patterned Paper - (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Stamps - Flowering Cactus (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Ink - Old Olive (Stampin’ Up!)
* Dies - Stylish Shapes - (Stampin’ Up!)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)

CHRISTMAS VERSION


SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Basic White, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up!)
* Patterned Paper - (Stampin’ Up! - retired) -SEE NOTE BELOW)
* Stamps - Holiday Cheer (Waffle Flower)
* Ink - Real Red (Stampin’ Up!)
* Dies - Layering Oval Dies (Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Embellishments - Black Sequins (Picket Fences). Black Twine - ?
NOTE - These patterned papers came in 12” x 12” packages. I cut half of the sheets in the package into four 6” x 6” pieces of paper each. It just works for me. Also, the center piece of patterned paper on this card has been shifted a bit toward the left as opposed to being centered.

VIDEO CARD


SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Basic White, Orchid Oasis - retired (Stampin’ Up!)
* Patterned Paper - Stampin’ Up! - retired)
* Stamps - Essential Sentiments (Waffle Flower)
* Ink - Orchid Oasis (Stampin’ Up! - retired)

EASY AS 1 - 2 - 3 CARD LAYOUT


I hope you will give this layout a try. It is so quick and easy, and offers so many options. It is a great way to use those 2” x 6” patterned paper pieces. 

Thank you for checking in. Until next time . . .
Stamp Happy!

Kim


Wednesday, July 16, 2025

THREE COLOR BLOCKING CARD LAYOUTS USING CARDSTOCK STRIPS

Hi Stampers!

Today I am sharing three different card layouts using strips of cardstock in different colors.  The color blocked panels all measure 5” x 3 3/4”.  All the cardstock strips are 1 1/4” wide cut at varying lengths. I chose bright colors for my cards, but any color combination will work. Once the panel is assembled I embossed it with an embossing folder, adhered it to a mat, and then to a card base. I added a greeting and a few gems to finish the cards. Let’s take a look!




VIDEO
COLOR BLOCKING CARD LAYOUTS 
USING CARDSTOCK STRIPS






WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CARDS

* An A-2 card base (8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4” or 11” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 5 1/2”)
* Cardstock strips cut at 1 1/4” x 1 1/4” , 1 1/4” x 5”, and 1 1/4” x 3 3/4”
* Printer paper or other light weight paper cut at 5” x 3 3/4”
* Cardstock for mat cut at 5 1/4” x 4”
* Embossing Folder - embossing the piece helps hold the pieces together, adds a little strength to the panel, and it looks great!
* Greeting
* Embellishments
* Adhesive of choice

My three sample cards are all in portrait orientation, but, the design can be turned to landscape orientation too.


COLOR BLOCKING WITH SQUARES


WHAT YOU NEED
* Card Base - A-2 size
* Inside Panel - White or light colored cardstock cut at 5” x 3 3/4”
* Mat -cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”
* Squares - Twelve 1 1/4” squares - I used 3 each of 4 different colors
* Backing for Squares - Printer Paper or light weight paper cut at 5” x 3 3/4”
* Embossing Folder
* Greeting (I used a stacked die cut)
* Stamp for inside greeting
* Ink for inside greeting
* Embellishment - optional
* Adhesive

WHAT TO DO
* Adhere squares to printer paper to form the focal panel.
* Emboss the focal panel with the embossing folder.
* Adhere the focal panel to the mat.
* Adhere matted panel to the card base.
* Add the greeting
* Add embellishments
* Stamp and adhere inside panel

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Melon Mambo, Basic White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly(Stampin’ Up!)
* Embossing Folder - Beautiful Butterflies (Stampin’ Up!)
* Greeting - Birthday Chick Dies (Stampin’ Up!- retired)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)

COLOR BLOCKING WITH LONG STRIPS


Supplies for this card are the same with the exception of the colored cardstock strips. I used 3 colors, one strip of each cut at 1 1/4” x 5”. Follow the basic directions for the previous card.

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Lemon Lime Twist, Basic White, BasicBlack, Melon Mambo, PumpkinPie (Stampin’ Up!)
* Embossing Folder - Sea Shells (Stampin’ Up! retired)
* Greeting - Happy Birthday Die (Pink & Main)

COLOR BLOCKING WITH SHORT STRIPS


Create this card layout exactly like the previous two layouts, but use three colors of cardstock cut in 1 1/4” x 3 3/4” strips.

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Basic White (inside), Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly (Stampin’ Up!)
* Embossing Folder - I don’t know the name, but it is an older one from Sizzix
* Greeting - Let’s Celebrate Happy Birthday dies (Scrapbook.com)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)

CHRISTMAS VERSION OF THE COLOR BLOCKING 


This is the landscape version of the layout used for the previous card. It is four strips of cardstock cut at 3 3/4” x 1 1/4”.  This time that colorful focal panel is now the background panel. It was adhered to the backside of the Merry Christmas cover plate die. The card front was then adhere to a white card base, so no need for an inside panel.

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock- Basic Black, Basic White (card base), Poppy Parade, Tahitian Tide (retired), Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo (Stampin’ Up!)
* Cover Plate Die - MerryChristmas (Scrapbook.com)
* Embossing Folder - Texture Fades, Quilted (Tim Holtz)
Embellishments - retired (Stampin’ Up!)


VIDEO CARDS

NO EMBOSSING FOLDERS? NO PROBLEM!


COLOR BLOCKING AND EMBOSSING INK WITH BACKGROUND STAMP


For this card I created my 3 3/4” x 5”panel with the three strips of  1 1/4” x 5” cardstock. Next I inked a background stamp with clear embossing ink, and stamped the image on the panel. This creates a watermark like effect. It is a subtle, but effective addition to the panel.

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Basic White (inside panel), Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie,Tahitian Tide (retired) - all from Stampin’ Up!
* Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Embossing Ink (Versa Mark)
* Stamps - Crackle - retired, (Stampin’ Up!), Essential Sentiments (Waffle Flower)
* Embellishments - Mat Dots (retired) Stampin’ Up!

COLOR BLOCKING WITH BLACK INK AND BACKGROUND STAMP


After completing my panel using 1 1/4” squares, I used a background stamp inked in black to add interest to the panel.

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Same as previous card
* Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento)
* Stamps - Dictionary (retired) Stampin’ Up! , Essential Sentiments (Waffle Flower)
* Embellishment - Black Gems - retired (Stampin’Up!)

COLOR BLOCKING - JUST CARDSTOCK 


It is always okay to skip the embossing folders and the ink. This card focuses on the strips of great color against the crisp black background. 

WHAT I USED
* Cardstock - Same as previous two cards
* Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento)
* Stamps - Essential Sentiments (Waffle Flower)
* Embellishment - Mat Dots (retired) Stampin’ Up!
NOTE - I flagged the end of the greeting and its mat to create the banners.

COLOR BLOCK CARDS USING 1/4” WIDE STRIPS OF CARDSTOCK





Color blocking layouts are easy to create, a great way to use cardstock scraps, and they are just a lot of fun. I hope you give these layouts a try, or come up with your own color blocking layouts!



That’s all for now. Until next time . . .
Stamp Happy!

Kim




Wednesday, July 9, 2025

SPLIT PANEL LAYOUT FOR CARDS IN A HURRY

Hi Stampers!

Today I am sharing a very basic card layout. It is perfect for double sided patterned paper, or for larger scraps of patterned paper. It is the perfect layout for when you need a card in a hurry!  All it takes is an A-2 card base, a 5 1/4”x 4” piece of double sided patterned paper, or one piece of patterned paper that is 4” wide  x 3 1/4” tall and one that is 4” wide x 2”tall, an inside panel, and a greeting. Of course you can add other elements to the card, keep it simple or jazz it up! You can change it up by switching the position of the two pieces of patterned paper. The layout can be oriented as portrait or landscape. This  is why I like basic layouts -use the layout, then make it uniquely yours! Let’s take a peek at the sample cards:

PORTRAIT VERSIONS



LANDSCAPE VERSIONS



VIDEO

SPLIT PANEL CARD LAYOUT FOR CARDS IN A HURRY





SPLIT PANEL CARD LAYOUT


This layout can be flipped. It can also be created in landscape orientation.

BASIC SUPPLIES
* Card Base -A-2 size; 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded on 8 1/2” side at 4 1/4”
* Card Panel - Double sided patterned paper (be sure to like the designs on each side) cut at 5 1/4’” x 4” Cut it at 3 1/4” on the 5 1/4” side. Flip one of the pieces over. OR cut 1 piece of patterned paper at 3 1/4” x 4” and another coordinating piece at 2” x 4”
* Inside panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at either 5 1/4” x 4” or 5” x 3 3/4” 
* Optional - divider to cover seam - can be ribbon a 1/4” - 1/2” strip of cardstock or patterened paper, etc.

OTHER SUPPLIES
* Greeting, stamped or die cut images
* Other Cardstock
* Inks
* Embellishments
* Adhesives, Dimensionals

SAMPLE CARDS

UNCOVERED SEAM


For this card I flipped the layout. Next, I simply adhered the paper pieces to the cardbase, making sure to leave no space between the two pieces.

SUPPLIES I USED
* Sentiment - Mini Birthday (Scrapbook.com)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up! ®️

USE 1/4” STRIP OF PATTERNED PAPER TO COVER SEAM


Once again, I flipped the layout and adhered the two pieces of patterned papers leaving no space between the two. I used a piece of coordinating patterned paper cut at 4” x 1/4”to cover the seem.

SUPPLIES I USED
* Stamps - Birthday Wishes (Waffle Flower)
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!

USE 1/4” STRIP OF CARDSTOCK TO COVER SEAM


No flipping the layout this time. I covered the seem with a piece of cardstock which is cut at 1/4” x 4”.

SUPPLIES I USED
* Stamps - Flippin’ Fabulous (Honey Bee Stamps)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!

USE RIBBON TO COVER SEAM


The card panel for this card was assembled on a piece of printer paper. The seam on this card was covered with two pieces of ribbon. Each piece of ribbon is cut at 5 1/4” long. They are adhered to the card panel with glue dots and secured to the back of the panel with tape. Then I adhered the panel to the card base.

SUPPLIES I USED
* All supplies for this card are from Stampin’ Up!


USE 1/2” STRIP OF PATTERNED PAPER TO COVER STRIP


To cover the seam on this card a used a coordinating piece of patterned papers cut at 1/2” x 4”.

SUPPLIES I USED
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots (Simple Stories)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!

CHRISTMAS VERSION OF LAYOUT


Here is a Christmas version of the layout. Once again I flipped it. I added a contrasting strip of cardstock to cover the seam. 

SUPPLIES IUSED
* Embellishments - Enamel Dots - Brights (Violet Studios)
* All other supplies from Stampin’ Up!

DOUBLE STRIP CARDSTOCK TO COVER SEAM


To cover the seam for this card I used two strips of cardstock. The wider one is 3/4” x 4”. The narrower one is 1/2” x 4”.

SUPPLIES I USED
* All supplies are from Stampin’ Up!

LANDSCAPE VERSIONS



SUPPLIES I USED
* All supplies are from Stampin’ Up!


SUPPLIES I USED
* Floral Patterned Paper - Florals Essentials Collection (Violet Studios)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!


VIDEO CARDS




SUPPLIES I USED
* All are from Stampin’ Up!



SUPPLIES I USED
* Patterned Paper - Bees & Butterflies Collection (Paper Rose)
* All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!


SPLIT PANEL LAYOUT CARDS









The split panel card layout, is easy to create, uses patterned paper scraps and cardstock scraps, is great for showcasing larger greetings, there are various options for covering the seam, and the layout can be flipped! The layout can also be used in portrait or landscape orientation. So easy, so many options! Why not give it a try?

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Until next time . . .
Stamp Happy!

Kim

NOTE
I use mostly Stampin’ Up! products. Products from other companies are noted as such. I am not affiliated with, nor am I compensated by any company, manufacturer, or other entity.i share where I get my supplies as a resource only.