SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT

Hi Stampers!

You might have noticed my weekly posts have been more like every 10 -12 days lately.  All is well. I have been busy working on a couple of projects that required a bit more of my time than expected. I decided to share one of the projects as it could be something you might consider doing. So, what have I been doing? I have been creating card kits. These kits are not to sell. The ladies’ mission group from my church will be visiting the residents of a local nursing and rehabilitation center. Several activities are planned including the opportunity for the residents to create Thanksgiving and Christmas cards they can exchange with other residents or give to family members. Here are samples of some of the cards we will be creating.

VIDEO

OCCASIONS FOR CARD KITS

* Activity Booth at community fair or festival

* Project for church groups (to start or add to a card ministry)

* Social activity for senior centers 

* Birthday Party Activity (make cards to give to the birthday boy or girl)

* Activity for baby or bridal shower (make thank you cards the mom or bride can use)

* Craft activity for camps and retreats

WHAT TO INCLUDE

* A card base that is scored or scored and folded (white, vanilla, beige, or other light color)

* Panels, if they will be matted I suggest you pre-mat them

* A greeting that is ready to adhere

* A stamped and matted image or a die cut image (optional)

* Pre-stamp the inside greeting directly on the card base or stamp and die cut or mat to be adhered to inside of card

* Embellishments - adhesive dots, sequins, ribbon, etc (optional)

* An envelope

THANKSGIVING CARD KIT CARDS

NOTES

* I keep the designs simple, but interesting.

* I place items for individual kits in a quart size ziplock bag.

* I provide each person with adhesive. I purchased some small tape runners that were about $1 each. Here is the link:

   SMALL TAPE RUNNER

   (If the participants are young children glue sticks can be a good option.)

* I provide at least one sample of each card design 

* I try to have helpers who are familiar with assembling the cards.

* The number of card designs and number of cards each person can create will depend on the event, the number of participants, and time allotted.

CHRISTMAS CARD KIT CARDS

OTHER TIPS

* Allow for individual preferences - participant’s cards do not have to be carbon copies of the sample.

* Use various colors and patterns for each individual kit. Kits offer a great opportunity to use scrap cardstock and scrap patterned papers. The design can be the same, but the colors do not have to be.

* Put those dimensionals and foam tape to work. A bit of dimension adds so much to a card.

* Remember to be encouraging, and have fun.

TURKEY DAY

* Card Base - A 2 size - portrait

* Mat - 5” x 3 3/4”

* Focal panel - about 3 1/2” x 2 3/4” - Nested Wavy Dies ( Scrapbook.com)

* Turkey Die - Scrapbook.com.

THANKFUL PUMPKIN

* Card Base - A2 size - landscape

* Card Layout - # 2626 (see pages > card layouts on left side of this page)

GIVE THANKS

* Card Base - A2 size

* Mat - 5 1/4” x 4”

* Center Panel - 5 1/4” x 2”

BLESSED CHRISTMAS

* Card Base - A2 size - portrait

* Navy Panel - 4 1/4” x 3 1/4”

* White Panel - 4” x 3”

* Gold Embossing Powder

CHRISTMAS PEACE

* Card Base - A2 - landscape

* Card Layout - #2626

MERRIEST CHRISTMAS

* Card Base - A2 - landscape

* Layout - # 2623

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

* Card Base - A2 size - portrait

* Layout - #2624

TODAY’S CARDS

Today’s video and post is a bit different. I felt the card kit idea worth sharing. Card making is a great activity for many occasions. The kits are also a great way to introduce others to card making.  That’s all for today. Thank you so much for stopping by. Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

ADD A LITTLE SPRING TO YOUR CARDS - IT’S EASY!

Hi Stampers!

Do you ever want to add a little more dimension to your cards, but you don’t want it to add to the cost of postage. Would you like to add a little something inside, but don’t want the hassle of a pop up element? Why not try a spring? They are easy to create and you have the supplies needed sitting right in your craft space. Let’s look at the sample cards:

VIDEO

CREATING THE SPRING

This is a basic pattern for the dimensional spring. The width of the cardstock can vary depending on the size of the image or greeting. 1/2” -3/4” is a good starting point. The spring can be cut into two or three springs. 

You will need

  * Cardstock - any color will work. Use scraps pieces.

  * Paper trimmer 

  * Scoreboard or trimmer with scoring blade

What To Do

  * For a basic spring cut a strip of cardstock 3 1/2” - 3 3/4” long x 1/2” wide (or any width you like). 

     If the cardstock is 3 1/2” long the glue tab will partially cover the under side of the first section of the 

     spring. If it is 3 3/4” long the glue tab will cover the entire under side of the first section of the spring.

  * Score as shown in the diagram above.

  * Fold as shown in diagram

  * Apply glue to top of end piece and slide this tab under first section of spring

  * If the spring is too wide, cut it in half - cut across folds.

  * Glue the spring to the image or greeting, then adhere to the card.

FORMULA FOR CUSTOMIZING SPRINGS

It is easy to customize the spring by using the formula  - section width x 5. and score the halfway point of the second and fourth sections. Here is an example:

* Section Length = 1/2”

* Length of cardstock - 1/2” x 5 = 2 1/2” 

* Width - your choice - let’s make it 1/2” too 

* Cardstock will be 2 1/2” x 1/2”

* Score every 1/2” (1/2”, 1”, 1 1/2” and 2”)

* Now score at the halfway point of the second and fourth sections - half of 1/2 is 1/4 so the halfway point between 1/2” and 1” is 3/4”. Move on to the section between 1 1/2”and 2”. Moving over 1/4” from 1 1/2 puts the score line at 1 3/4”.

* Fold as shown in diagram above - the M V M M V M pattern.

NOTE 

* I understand the spring construction and customizing the size might seem confusing and overwhelming. Watch the corresponding video. Make one. Make another one. You will get the hang of it. After you make a few customizing the size will make sense.  

* As for the glue tab - some people prefer it be shorter than the first tab, for various reason - to easily identify the first tab (far left) section from the glue tab, some feel it adds less bulk and makes the spring easier to manipulate late.  To me, it makes no difference. I gave you both options so you can decide for yourself.  Either way you will get the same result. 

FOR THE CARD

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - A-2 size- 8 1/2’ x  5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Mats & Panels for Portrait card 

   Larger one - Cardstock for mat - 4 3/4” x 2 1/2” Patterned Paper - 4 1/2” x 2 1/4”

   Smaller one - Cardstock for mat - 4 1/4” x 2 1/4”

* Mats & Panels for Landscape Card

   Larger one - Cardstock for mat - 3 3/4” x 2 1/2”. Patterned Paper - 3 1/2” x 2 1/4”

   Smaller one - Cardstock for mat - 3 1/4”x 2”  Patterned Paper - 3”x 1 3/4”

* Cardstock for greeting and images

* Spring (s)

* Inside panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”(optional)

*Stamps, dies, inks, markers, adhesives, etc

WHAT TO DO

* Adhere patterned papers to mats. 

* Adhere larger matted panel to left side of card base centering between the top and bottom. 

* Adhere smaller matted panel with its left side about the center of the card. It will overlap the other matted panel a bit. 

* Adhere the “spring(s)” to the back side of the focal image and / or the greeting and adhere to card

* Stamps inside of card or stamp inside panel and adhere to inside.

* Add spring to image for inside the card and adhere in place.

SPRINGY SANTA

PORTRAIT VERSION

The springs give the image and greeting a lot of dimension without a lot of bulk. Simply push down on the image and greeting and the card will slide right into an A-2 size envelope. I used one spring on the image and two on the greeting.

LANDSCAPE VERSION

INSIDE - SPRINGY SANTA

Using a spring to an image inside a card is a twist on a pop up image. The spring give the image dimension like a pop up image, but it adds virtually no bulk.

POLAR BEAR HOLIDAY

PORTRAIT VERSION

The greeting and bear image each have one spring adhered to them. There is a mini glue dot holding the bear’s ear to the greeting.

LANDSCAPE VERSION

I put s bit of glue along the bottom of the bear image to attach it to the greeting. This “grounded” my bear and kept it from looking like it was hanging in space.

VIDEO CARDS

PORTRAIT VERSION

INSIDE - SNOW GIRL ON SPRING

LANDSCAPE VERSION

INSIDE - SNOW GIRL ON SPRING

These cards were created using  SNOW MUCH FUN stamps, dies, and patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs. All other supplies are from Stampin’ Up!

SNOW MUCH FUN PAPER

SNOW MUCH FUN BUNDLE

TODAY’S CARDS

So there you have it, an easy, lightweight, and thrifty way to add dimension to the inside or outside of your cards.  The springs are a good alternative to a pop up when you just want to add a little something extra to your card. 

That’s all for today! Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

TWO OPTIONS SAME - RESULTS! MAKE THIS FUN FOLD YOUR WAY!

Hi Stampers!

Today we’ll look at an easy fun fold, but it is a fun fold with options. Make one cut and create two card bases or change the size of the cardstock, do a bit of trimming, and you will have one card base. Either method produces identical card bases. Three to four panels are needed for each card - you decide. The panels can be cut from patterned paper or cardstock.  The panels need to be trimmed to create a diagonal edges, and of course there are different ways to accomplish that. As usual this fun fold has more than one name. I call it a Diagonal Z Fold. Others call it a Diagonal Tri-fold.  Let’s take a peek at the sample cards:

VIDEO

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - For 2 card bases use one 8 1/2’ x 11” sheet of cardstock. For 1 card base use use a piece of cardstock cut at 5 1/2” x 11”

* Panels - Patterned paper - three pieces, can mix and match however you like. Cut them as follows:

Panel 1 cut paper at 3 1/2” long x 2 3/4” wide

Panel 2 cut paper at 4 1/4” long x 3 1/2” wide

Panel 3 cut paper at 5 1/4” long x 4 1/4” wide

* Inside Panel - (optional) cut white or light colored cardstock at 4 1/4” long x 3 1/2” wide.

* Bone folder, ruler, pencil, scissors or paper trimmer

* Stamps, ink, adhesive, embellishments, etc.

WHAT TO DO

* Prepare card base(s)

   For 2 card bases 

   - Use an11” x 8 1/2” piece of cardstock in landscape orientation

   - On left hand side measure 3” up from the bottom and mark

   - On right hand side measure 3” down and mark

   - Place in paper trimmer, line up the marks in the cutting tray, and cut

   - Two card bases are ready for scoring

  For 1 card base

    - Use a piece of cardstock cut at 5 1/2” x 11” in landscape orientation

    - On left hand side measure 3” up from the bottom and mark

    -  Place paper in trimmer, line up mark an top right corner in cutting tray, and cut

    - One card base is ready for scoring

* Score card base (s)- see instructions below

* Fold- 4 1/4 score line is a valley fold, the 8” score line is a mountain fold

* Use bone folder and go over folds to create crisp folds.

* Cut diagonal side on panels

    - Line up smallest panel on front flap, center it with about 1/8” border on left and right side

    - Push panel up so there is a 1/4” border at the bottom, hold in place and flip to draw a diagonal line using the top of the card for a pattern, then cut on line with scissors or paper trimmer, or once lined up, hold in place and cut along card top with scissors. Repeat this process with the remaining panels, including inside panel if using.

* Add images, greeting, and embellishments to finish card

MAKE TWO CARD BASES WITH ONE CUT

Both card bases below were created using one 8 1/2” x 11” sheet of white cardstock. 

SPOOKY BOO!

( Patterned Paper - Scrapbook.com, Ghost Die - Catherine Pooler; All other supplies - Stampin’Up!)

CANDY CORN TREAT

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

The following card bases were created using one 8 1/2” x 11” sheet of dark red cardstock.

DECK THE HALLS

( Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

WARM & COZY

(

(Patterned Paper - green - Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other - Stampin’ Up!)

MAKE THE CARD BASE ONE AT A TIME

HELLO AUTUMN

(Hello Die, Patterned Paper - scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

FALL HELLO

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

VIDEO CARDS

ONE CARD BASE CARD

JOY CARD

(Patterned Paper - Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

TWO CARD BASES FOR TWO CARDS

These two card bases were created in the video from an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of cardstock. I added the patterned paper and all after the video.

HOLIDAY CHEER

(Embellishments - Simple Stories;  Greeting - Waffle Flower; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

HOLIDAY CARD

(Snowman image - Doodlebug Design; Greeting - Waffle Flower; All other - Stampin’ Up!)

TODAY’S CARDS

I think it is great when we have options! It is great there is more than one way to create today’s card base, but the methods produce the exact same card base, not a similar one, but the exact card base! It is good there are different ways to make the diagonal cut on the panels. I feel the options that come with this card design allow more people to successfully create the card - the exact card, not a card with a similar look! That is a big plus for this design.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time …

Stamp Happy!

Kim