AN EASY PATTERN LAYOUT FOR SQUARE CARDS OR ANY CARD

Hi Stampers!

This week I am sharing one more layout based on a quilt pattern. What is that pattern? I saw a quilt called “Bricktown” made with this pattern. Maybe that is the name, but I do not recall it being named that. I don’t recall it having a name, although it surely did. I just remember this pattern on a quilt we had when I was a kid. Whatever its name it is a great pattern for a card design, and as with last week’s pattern, it looks great on square cards. It is easy to create, and it does use patterned paper scraps! Let’s take a look at the sample cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2632

Today’s card layout is easy, and is perfect for a 4 1/4’ square card base. You can also put it on an A-2 card base as well.  You will need EIGHT pieces of patterned paper cut at 2” x 1”. The pieces can be 4 of one design and 4 of another, or each piece can be a different pattern - it’s up to you.  Four pieces will be vertical and four will be horizontal.

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base -cardstock color of choice cut at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4”, scored and folded at 4 1/4”.

* Inside Panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at 4” x 4”.

* Printer Paper -can use patterned paper - it will not be seen- cut at 4” x 4”. 

* Patterned Paper Scraps - 8 per card; 4 will be placed vertically on the card and 4 will be placed horizontally on card, cut accordingly. On most of the sample cards I used 4 pieces of one design and 

4 pieces of a second design. On two of the cards I used several different patterns.

* Embossing Folder

* Adhesive

* Stamps, inks, dies, embellishments, and other supplies needed to finish card

WHAT TO DO

* Prepare card base, use bone folder to create a crisp crease on fold.

* Adhere inside panel to card.

* Place pattern paper pieces on printer paper. Start with upper left side. Adhere two pieces vertically. Move on to bottom left and adhere two pieces horizontally. Go to top right and adhere two pieces horizontally. Finally adhere the final two pieces vertically at bottom right.

* Place this piece in an embossing folder and run it through the die cut machine.

* Adhere the piece centered on the card front.

* Add greeting and / or images to front.

* Add embellishments.

SAME PAPER - DIFFERENT SIDES

Each of the cards below were created using double sided patterned papers. Sometimes the designs on each side work really well together.

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

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

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

DIFFERENT PAPER PACKS - SAME COMPANY

Papers from different paper packs, but containing same colors and made by the same company will have coordinating colors.

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

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

(Embellishments -Simple Stories; All other supplies needed- Stampin’ Up!)

(Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies needed- Stampin’ Up!)

SAME PAPER PACK

SAME PAPER PACK - MULTIPLE PATTERNS

Scraps from the same paper pack always look good together! It is a great resource for mixing and matching patterns.

(Patterned paper - Simple Stories; All other supplies needed- Stampin’ Up!”)

(Patterned paper - Doodlebug Designs; Embellishments; All other - Stampin’ Up!)

VIDEO CARD

PECAN PIE CARDSTOCK

PECAN PIE INK

BASIC WHITE CARDSTOCK

NESTED ESSENTIALS DIES

WILLOW LANE PAPER PACK

SIMPLE STORIES ENAMEL DOTS

ADHESIVE FOAM DOTS

TODAY’S CARDS

I enjoy making square cards, and the layouts this week’s  and last week’s (HERE) are perfectly proportioned for square cards. These little cards are perfect for saying hello, checking in on a friend, and offering encouragement. They are also great for creating cute cards for kids! They fit inside an A-2 envelope, so no special envelope or extra postage needed. Grab your scraps, and give this layout a try! I think you’ll like the results! Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

CREATE A QUILT PATTERN CARD PANEL PERFECT FOR SQUARE CARDS

Hi Stampers!

Today’s card is a square one. The layout is quite basic, but the focal panel adds plenty of interest. Add a greeting, a few embellishments, and that basic layout really wows! The focal panel is based on a quilt pattern called Disappearing Nine Patch or Disappearing Nine Square. It is easy to create, uses scraps of patterned paper, and the card fits in a regular A-2 size envelope. Of course you can use the focal panel on an A-2 card, but this panel is perfect for 4 1/4” square cards.  Let’s take a look at the sample cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT #2631

This designs starts with nine 1” squares. Two simple cuts make the nine squares disappear! A series of squares and rectangles take their place. The most difficult part of this card is selecting the patterned papers to use! It is so much fun mixing and matching patterns and prints!

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - Cut cardstock at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4”, score and fold at 4 1/4”on 8 1/2” side

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

* Mat -cardstock to coordinate with card base - cut at 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”

* Patterned Paper - Use scraps of paper, nine designs, cut a 1’x1” square from each scrap

* Backing - Printed paper - cut two at 3” x 3” (See note)

* Adhesive

* Embossing Folder (optional, but strongly suggested)

* Other - Prepared greeting (stamps, ink, dies, etc), Dimensionals, Embellishments

[NOTE - One of the two pieces of printer paper can be replaced with one 3” x 3” piece of adhesive sheet.]

WHAT TO DO

* Prepare the card base, score, fold, and go over fold with bone folder.

* Stamp message or image on inside panel if desired. Adhere panel to inside of card. Put card aside.

* If you are using the printer paper, take one piece and put adhesive on it in strips getting adhesive on as much of the paper as possible. If you are using the adhesive sheet, peal the backing off one side.

* Place the 1” squares on the paper or adhesive sheet. You will have 3 rows of 3 squares. And the piece is a 3” square.

* Place the 3” square in the trimmer at the 1 1/2” mark and cut. You now have two pieces that measure 3” x 1 1/2”.

* Place one of the 3” x 1 1/2”pieces in the trimmer with the 3” side at the top, slide over to 1 1/2” and cut. Do the same with the remaining piece. You now have 4 1 1/2” squares.

* Adhere these pieces to the remaining piece of printer paper arranging them in directions that suit you. 

* Put this piece in an embossing folder and run through die cut machine (This is optional, but strongly recommended.)

* Adhere this piece to the mat.

* Adhere the mat to the card base. 

* Adhere the greeting to the card. I used dimensionals to add a bit of height.

* Add embellishments. 

DISAPPEARING NINE PATCHES IN PURPLES

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

DISAPPEARING NINE PATCH WITH MASCULINE PATTERNS

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

DISAPPEARING NINE PATCH IN TEALS

(Greeting — Waffle Flower; Embellishments - card on left - Hero Arts; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

DISAPPEARING NINE PATCH IN GOLD

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

VIDEO CARD

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

TODAY’S CARDS

There you have it, the Disappearing Nine Patch card layout. It is easy, looks great on a square card, and helps you use some scraps. Remember these cards fit in an A-2 envelope! I hope you give this card a try. Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

ONE MORE ASYMMETRICAL CARD LAYOUT - THE PORTRAIT VERSION

Hi Stampers!

Today we are taking one more look at an asymmetrical card layout. This week’s card is the portrait version of last week’s card.  If you missed that post you can see it HERE. Just like the landscape version, the portrait version helps you create two cards. Let’s take a peek at the sample cards:

This layout offers opportunities to try different color combinations. I decided to try some combinations that are a bit outside my comfort zone. I think they are growing on me!

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT #2630

WHAT YOU NEED

* A-2 Card Base - Cut cardstock, color of choice - 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

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

* Bottom Panel - Cardstock, color of choice, cut at 4” x 1 1/2”

* Two pieces of cardstock - one should be white or light colored - cut each at 4” x 3 3/4”

* Stamps, dies, inks, embossing folder, adhesive, embellishments and other items needed to complete the card.

WHAT TO DO

* Fold card base, go over fold with bone folder.

* Prepare inside panel and adhere inside card

* Stamp or emboss or otherwise prepare bottom panel. 

* Take one 4” x 3 3/4” panels - the 4” sides will be the top and bottom edges. Measure over 1 1/2” across the top left, and mark. Then do the dame on the bottom right edge.

* Place both pieces of cardstock one on top of the other. Put in trimmer and line up the two marks in the cutting tray and cut. Match 1 of each color with its opposite.

* Place bottom panel on card front, leaving about 1/8”border on all three sides.

* Line up left panel along bottom panel and adhere. Line up right panel along left panel a bottom panel and adhere. 

* Add focal images and stamp greeting.

HALLOWEEN FUN CARDS

The teals and orange is a bit different color combination for Halloween, but I like it. Both of the cards have a lot of shimmer, but it doesn’t show up in the photos. I stamped the spider web with a light gray ink, went over it with a white gel pen, the went over it with a clear shimmer pen. The die cut sentiment and the spider also were gone over with the shimmer pen. I used the shimmer pen on the tree, mom, and cat’s eyes on the card on the right. The tree is adhered to the card front with 1mm foam tape, but the branches are loose. I stamped a background design on some of the card panels.

(Clear Shimmer Pen - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

This color combination was REALLY stepping out of my comfort zone! I like the navy blue card base and ink. It tones things down a bit. I really like the greeting placed on that bottom panel. I think the colorful flowers tie all the cardstock colors together. I also think the neutral colors of the sea shells ties everything together as well. 

(Floral stamp - Trinity Stamps; Navy Enamel Dots - Simple Stories; All other - Stampin’ Up!)

VIDEO CARDS

(Stamps & dies, ink for fish - Catherine Pooler; embossing Folder - Darice; 

All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

TODAY’S CARDS

I enjoy making cards with asymmetrical layout. The asymmetrical aspect adds a fun twist to the card background. This layout gives you an opportunity to try new color  combinations. You can also use different techniques on the panels. Stamp a small design on them with a coordinating ink for a tone on tone look, or use a darker color ink for a more dramatic look. Stamp before adhering the pieces to the card base. You can emboss the panels with an embossing folder. It is best if you emboss the asymmetric panels, embossing not as the embossing will change the size slightly. Adhere the pieces to 4” x 3 3/4” piece of printer paper. Emboss, then adhere to card front as one piece. There are many other techniques and options. The possibilities are truly endless! What techniques will you use?

That’s all for today! Thanks for stopping by. Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim