ONE MATTED STRIP - ANOTHER REALLY SIMPLE LAYOUT FOR QUICK SUMMER CARDS

Hi Stampers!

Wow! June is gone! That means we are halfway through 2026! That seems impossible, but here it is July. Here in the United States we are preparing to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday! Our family and neighbors will be gathering for some fun, food, and fireworks. This will be the ninth year we’ve done this, and it is always a blast. (Pun intended.) There is a lot of preparation for the weekend’s activities, but of course I still want to create a few cards. So, today’s layout is another one from my quick and easy file. All that’s needed is an A-2 card base and a matted strip of patterned paper. Add an image and / or a greeting, and the card is finished. Let’s take a look at the sample cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2626

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - A-2 size; Cut cardstock at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” score and fold at 4 1/4” or 11” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 5 1/2”. This card is made in landscape orientation.

* Patterned Paper - Two patterns that coordinate. Cut the mat piece 5 1/2” x 2 1/2”. The top panel is 5 1/2” x 1 1/2”

* Inside Panel - White or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Stamps, dies, ink, other cardstock for images and greeting, embellishments, adhesives

WHAT TO DO

* Prepare the card base. 

* Cut mat, top panel, and inside panel

* Stamp sentiment images, etc on inside panel and adhere to inside of card. 

* Adhere top panel centered on mat. You can adhere it with tape runner/ glue or pop it up on foam rape for a bit of dimension.

* Adhere matted panel to card front. It can be centered or be placed closer to the top or closer to the bottom to allow room for different sized greeting should you decide to stamp a greeting directly on the card front.

* Add images and greeting

* Add embellishments. Normally I say these are optional, and same holds here, but I do feel 3-5 little dots really add a lot to this card layout.

FISHY BIRTHDAY

The matted panel is centered, the top panel is on foam tape to add a level of dimension. The die cut fish are also on dimensionals. I stamped a greeting directly on the card front.

(Stamps, patterned papers, inks - Catherine Pooler; Embellishments Simple Stories; Cardstock - Stampin’ Up!)

BIRTHDAY CHECKS & STRIPES

This matted strip is once again centered. This time the top panel is glued flat. The image and greeting are on dimensionals.

(Stamps, inks, cardstock - Stampin’ Up!; Patterned papers- Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories)

HONEYBEES & DAISIES

This card shows how those adhesive dots really add to the card! Once again the matted strip is centered, and I stamped the greeting directly on the cardstock. 

(Stamps, ink, die cuts- Stampin’ Up!; Patterned papers - Pink & Main; Embellishments - Simple Stories; Cardstock - Scrapbook.com)

GINGHAM HOWDY

This time I moved the matted strip more toward the top to allow room for the die cut greeting at the bottom of the card. 

(Greeting dies, cardstock for base - Scrapbook.com; Other cardstock - Stampin’ Up!; Pocket Paper - Doodle Bug Designs; Gingham paper - Pink & Main; Embellishments - Altenew)

VIDEO CARD

SUPPLIES

GONE CAMPING STAMPS

GONE CAMPING DIES

TRAIL MIX PAPER

CATCHING RAYS INK

SUNNY BIRTHDAY SENTIMENTS

STYLISH SHAPES DIES

COASTAL CABANA CARDSTOCK

BASIC GRAY INK

POOL PARTY STAMPIN’ BLENDS

SMOKY SLATE STAMPIN’ BLEND

SIMPLE STORIES FUR BABY DOTS

NOTE - Links for video card are provided as a reference only. I receive no compensation from any company, manufacturer, or other entity. 

THIS WEEK’S CARDS

There you gave it a matted strip layout, that lets you create cards in no time. I like that this layout allows for a bit of flexibility. I think that is what I like most about it. Why not give this one a try?

Thanks for checking in. Until next time. . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

THE JOY (FOLD) OF SUMMER; AN EASY FUN FOLD CARD

Hi Stampers!

Today we are going to create a Joy Fold Card. This is one of my go to fun folds . I can usually funds scraps of patterned paper to use for the panels. The card is easy to create, and is a nice break from the usual A2 card. The card base measures and is scored a bit differently from a standard A2 base, and there is a smaller card that provides the focal point for the card front. If you happen to have larger scraps of cardstock it might be possible to use them for the small card. Let’s take a look at today’s sample cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2625 (JOY GOLD CARD)

WHAT YOU NEED 

* Cardstock for card base, small card, and panels for small card (see chart above for measurements)

* Patterned paper for inside card and front card panel (see measurements above)

* Stamps, dies, inks, adhesive, etc.

WHAT TO DO

* Cut out the card base, small card, and cardstock panels. Score and fold card base and small card. Go over folds with bone folder.

* Cut out patterned paper pieces. Adhere to inside of card and front of card.

* Create focal piece on one of cardstock panels. This will go centered on the front of the small card. 

* Stamp a message or images on other cardstock panel. This will go in the inside of the small card.

* Adhere the panels to the small card - Remember the small card will open from left to right.

* Adhere small card to card base. Put adhesive on back side of small card Open card base, center small card on inside of card base, and adhere. Open up small card. Close card base flap over, then fold small card front over that panel.

* Add any embellishments you might like.

SOFT SUMMER BIRTHDAY

INSIDE

(Patterned paper - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies Stampin’ Up!)

BIRTHDAY GEARS

INSIDE

(Stamps, inks, cardstock, dies, punch - Stampin’ Up!; Snap and Slide - Pear Blossom Press)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA

INSIDE

(Patterned paper - Echo Park; Stamps with dies - Honey Bee Stamps; Cardstock, ink, banner die - Stampin’ Up!)

LAND THAT I LOVE

INSIDE

(Patterned paper - Echo Park; Stamps and dies - Honey Bee Stamps; Cardstock and ink - Stampin’ Up!)

GERMY GET WELL

INSIDE

(Stamps - Paper Smooches; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

FUN IN THE SUN

INSIDE

(Patterned paper - Catherine Pooler; Sentiment - Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

VIDEO CARD

INSIDE

LINKS FOR VIDEO CARD SUPPLIES

ALL A FLUTTER BUNDLE

GOLDEN GLOWCARDSTOCK

VERY VANILLA CARDSTOCK

GOLDEN GLOW INK

EARLY ESPRESSO INK

CHARMED PATTERNED COLLECTION

SIMPLE STORIES EMBELLISHMENTS

NOTE - I am not affiliated with nor do I receive compensation from any company, manufacturer, or other entity. I provide links to products used for the video card as a reference. 

TODAY’S CARDS

The Joy Fold Card is one I keep in my folder of  “Classic Card Folds.” Each of these card folds is tried and true; like Z Folds and Gate Folds! Like the Z Folds and Gate Folds, the Joy Fold card can be created in a portrait orientation, the dimensions of the small card can be altered to your liking. Turn the card 180 degrees and the small card will open from the right as opposed to the left. The Joy Fold Card is a classic, can help use up scraps, can be created in different orientations, and can be altered to fit your needs! What more could you ask for? Why not give this card fold a try?

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

Stamp Happy!

Kim

EASY DOUBLE PANEL LAYOUT FOR QUICK SUMMERTIME CARDS

Hi Stampers!

Today’s cards are so quick and easy to make! The layout is simple, but interesting, is great for using larger scraps, and is perfect for a quick summer card making session! The card layout is two patterned paper  panels mated on cardstock and a greeting adhered to a card base. Believe it or not, for all of today’s cards I used white card bases! More about that later. Let’s take a peek at today’s cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2624

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card base - 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4. (I used white card bases, but you can use any color.

* Mats - cardstock- cut one at 5 1/4” x 1 3/4”and another at 4 1/2” x 2 1/4”

* Patterned paper - two coordinated designs - cut one at 5” x 1 1/2” and another at 4 1/4” x 2”

* Greeting of your choice

* Stamps, dies, inks, adhesive, dimensionals, etc

WHAT TO DO

* Cut, score, fold the card bases. Go over fold with bone folder. 

* Adhere patterned paper pieces to cardstock mats, center the papers on the mats. 

* Adhere panel 1 to the left side of the card front leaving an even border along the top, bottom, and left side. 

* Adhere panel 2 to the card overlapping panel 1about 1/2” or so on the left. Center the piece at the top and bottom.

* Place your greeting on the card in the place of your choosing. I used dimensionals to adhere mine to the card.

* Feel free to add focal images or embellishments if you like.

HELLO ORANGE

(Patterned Paper, white cardstock - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

THINKING OF YOU LADYBUG

(Patterned paper, white cardstock - scrapbook.com; Greeting / die - Waffle Flower; Ink and cardstock - Stampin’ up!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESENTS

(Patterned paper, white cardstock - Scrapbook.com; Greeting / die - Waffle Flower; Ink and cardstock - Stampin’ Up!)

BERRY BEST

(White cardstock - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

EARTHLING BIRTHDAY

So, I have been listing links to products for the video card. I messed up and put the video card together! The card put together in the video includes supplies no longer available. Here are the links for supplies used for this card.

SUPPLIES

* STUDIO WHITE CARDSTOCK

* COSMIC PATTERNED PAPER

* WE’VE COME FOR THE CAKE STAMPS

* WE’VE COME FOR CAKE DIES

* TIMID TIGER CARDSTOCK

* TIMID TIGER INK

VIDEO CARD

(White cardstock - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

WHY THE WHITE CARD BASES?

This card layout is quick and easy. It is great for when you have a short amount of time to create cards. White card bases go with almost everything. Pre-make the card bases and they will be ready when you are making quick cards. 

For a while now, I have been searching for white cardstock for card bases. I am not the biggest fan of white card bases, but I admit they have a place and sometimes are the most logical choice.  I have tried a few different brands, and I have finally found the one that works for me. I wanted a smooth, bright white cardstock that would cut, score, and fold without a lot of fuss. I wanted to stamp on the card base and know the ink would not show through to the other side at all - even with darker colored ink.  (I’m talking dye ink here.) And finally, I wanted all that for a decent price. I found what I was looking for - Scrap book.com Studio White 120lb. cardstock. You can see it HERE

TODAY’S CARDS

Summertime can get really busy, with picnics, ballgames, gardening, vacations, and all other manner of activities, but I still carve out time for card making. Sometimes that time is 30 minutes. That is when a quick and easy card layout, like this one, comes in handy. You can keep it simple, or add a focal image and embellishments if you like. I used larger scraps to create each of these cards, which always makes me happy! Quick and easy, plus a scrap buster! What could be better?

That’s all for today! I hope everyone is having a terrific summer! Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim