THE “FUN FOLD” CARD THAT BOGGLED MY MIND

Hi Stampers!

Have you ever come across a card fold that makes you ask, why did they do it like that?  It hasn’t happened to me often, but there is one fun fold that truly boggles my mind. That fun fold has several names; Quick Fun Fold, Easiest Fun Fold, Minute Fun Fold, etc. Let’s call it the Fast Fun Fold. I like alliterations. Every time I see the Fast Fun Fold I think, “Why?” Now, don’t get me wrong, the results are lovely. It always seemed to me there is an easier way. And, yes, there is an easier way to get the same look. So today I thought we’d look at two ways to get the same (or nearly the same) results, and I’ll share the pros and cons of each. Let’s look at the sample cards:

THE ORIGINAL VERSION

FAST FUN FOLD (MY WAY)

As you can see, the card has a partial front. The original version achieves this with a score line and a folded flap that is glued down. That is what boggled my mind! Why score, fold and glue down, when trimming off 1 1/4” from the right side of the card front give the same look?  Honestly, this card is a great example of why I enjoy card making. We can create cards our own way, and do what works for us as individual card making. 

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WHAT YOU NEED

* Cardstock - for card base one piece cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” plus cardstock needed for greeting, images, etc

* Patterned Paper - Pattern 1 cut one at 5 1/4” x 1” and another at 5 1/4” x 1 5/8” 

                                Pattern 2 cut one piece at 5 1/4” x 1”

* Inside Panel - cut white or light colored cardstock at 5 1/4” x 2 1/2

* Other - stamps, inks, dies, markers, adhesive, embellishments, and other items needed to finish card.

WHAT TO DO

* Score card base at 4 1/4” along 8 1/2” side, then score at 1 1/4”  or cut at 1 1/4”.

* Fold along the 4 1/4” score line and go over with a bone folder

* If you chose to score the cardstock at 1 1/4”fold the flap toward the left and adhere the flap to the card base. 

* Adhere the piece of pattern 2 paper on the  adhered flap or along the right side of the card front. Leave an equal border on all sides.

* Adhere the narrowest piece of patterned paper to the far right of the card front- the right hand side of inside the card.

* Adhere the remaining piece of patterned paper to the left side of the card, leaving an even border on all sides.‎

* Add greeting and any images you like.

* Stamp greeting on inside panel.

CUTTING / SCORING & ASSEMBLY

Fold the card base on the 4 1/4” score line, go over the fold with your bone folder.

With the 1 1/4” score line to the right, fold it back (toward the left). Go over the fold with the bone folder.

Open the fold and but glue on the back of the folded piece. 

Press the flap down to adhere to front of card, and the card base is completed.

Time to add the patterned papers and the inside panel.

The first panel is one of the 5 1/4” x 1” pieces. It goes on the glued down flap. Leave a border on all 4 sides of the patterned paper.

Place the other 5 1/4” x 1” pieces to the right of the center strip. It actually is adhered to the inside part of the card. Add the 5 1/4’ x 1 5/8” pieces to the left side of the card front.

Stamp a greeting on the inside panel or leave it blank. Adhere it to the inside of the card toward the left.

An alternative to the card base above is to score the card base at 4 1/4 as usual, then cut 1 1/4” from one end along the 8 1/2” side. Decorate as above.

Add a greeting, images, embellishments, etc to finish the card.

WHICH IS WHICH?

Can you tell which card is the original version and which one is my version?

MERRY SNOWMAN

(Patterned paper - Simple Stories; Greeting - Waffle Flower; Snowman -Pink & Main; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

COZY SNOWMAN

(LANDSCAPE)

(Patterned paper, multicolor - Scrapbook.com; Patterned Paper, pink with dots - Simple Stories; Greeting- Waffle Flower; Snowman - Pink & Main; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

BIRDS IN WINTER

(Patterned paper - Scrapbook.com; Greeting - Waffle Flower; Embellishments- Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

BIRTHDAY FLORALS

(Patterned papers - Scrap ok.com; Greeting - Waffle Flower; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

*(The original card fold samples are all on the left. My versions are on the right.)*

THE ORIGINAL VERSION

PROS OF THE FAST FUN FOLD

1.  Super easy to create

2.  Uses the entire card base, no scraps

3. The fold leaves a nice clean finished edge.

4. It is possible to use some larger scraps for the pieces of patterned paper panels.

CONS

1. The card requires a score line a fold and gluing down the card (extra steps).

2. The fold leaves a bit of a bump in the center of the card, if items on dimensionals or certain embellishments are placed on that fold, it could be an issue for mailing.

3. The landscape version does not stand up on its own. *

FAST FUN FOLD - MY VERSION

My version of this Fast Fun Fold card is not actually a fun fold card. It is more like a fun cut card or a partial front card.

PROS

1. It is a very easy card to create

2. Requires fewer steps than the original.

3. The 1 1/4” strip cut from the card base can be used to match a greeting or for another project.

4. It is lighter than the original, no need to be concerned about additional postage - unless you heavily embellish it.

5. It is possible to use some larger scraps of patterned paper for the panels.

CONS

1. The cut edge looks nice, but does not have the same finished look as the folded option.

2. This version does leave a scrap of cardstock that measures 1 1/4” x 5 1/2”.

3. The landscape version does not stand up on its own. *

* I have seen a solution for this issue. One card maker simply added a piece of acetate to extend the card front and allow it to stand, but keep the look. I think it would be easy to turn the landscape version into a gift card holder by adding a pocket to the inside. My own personal solution is to just not make it a landscape card. 😁

VIDEO CARD

TIMID TIGER CARDSTOCK

BASIC WHITE CARDSTOCK

EARLY ESPRESSO INK

SWEET BOO PAPER PAD

FAITH STAMP

FAITH DIES

ENAMEL DOTS

How do you feel about this card fold? Which version do you prefer?  I think either one looks great. This is what I enjoy about card making, there is no one way. Finding another way to create a card can lead to other discoveries and new card ideas. 

 

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

Stamp Happy!

Kim

IN A CARD MAKING RUT? GIVE THIS A TRY!

Hi Stampers!

Have you ever found yourself in a card making rut? You pull out cardstock, ink, stamps, and maybe a bit of patterned paper. You create the card base, stamp, maybe even do a bit of die cutting, put it all together, and call it good. The card looks nice, but you feel it looks just like the last ten cards you’ve made. What to do? What to do? We are going to answer that question today, and it all begins with the cards. Let’s take a look:

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CHANGING THINGS UP

When it comes to card making we all have our comfort zones, but sometimes the comfort zone starts feeling boring. Not to worry. It is easy to put some zip and zing back into your cards. Here are a few things I do when I feel I am in a rut.

1. Use the supplies I have on hand in a different way, or a way I’ve not used in a while.

2. Add metallics - spatter some gold, mat a greeting with metallic cardstock, add a strip of gold or silver glimmer paper, use metallic embellishments, etc.  (I sometimes forget about my metallic supplies.)

3. Use something new with something you have had for a while. Most of us have more supplies than we need, but a new stamp or die set, a new embellishment, or a new ink color can jazz things up a bit. The new item might remind you of something you have, but have not used in a while. 

4. Try a new to you technique. Trying something new gives you a fresh perspective, and energizes your creativity.

5. Get out those embossing pastes (and similar products). Yes, they can be messy and you need to have a plan for clean up, but it is so worth it. 

6. Clean your crafting space.  As you go through drawers or bins, or clean off a shelf, you just might run across a supply you forgot you had! And you just might find that card making rut is long gone.

USE YOUR GO TO SUPPLIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY

Embossing folders are an easy way to add texture and dimension to any card. I use them often, but rarely do I add to the embossed panel. I tried something different with this embossed panel. Instead of embossing on plain cardstock I embossed an ink blended panel. After embossing I used a sponge dauber and a bit of brown ink to lightly go over each leaf.  Next I used a glitter brush (clear) to highlight areas of the leaves and add a bit of shine.

(Supplies - Glitter Brush - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies Stampin’ Up!)

GLITTER BRUSH

ADD METALLICS

(Supplies - Hello dies - Scrapbook.com; Gold spatters - Gansai TAMBI; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

GANSAI TAMBI GOLD WATERCOLORS

SOMETHING NEW & SOMETHING OLD

I have had Distress Oxide inks for two or three years. For some reason I don’t use them much. I bought a great set of leaf dies, and I realized those inks would help me create lovely fall leaves. I love the results!

(Supplies Leaves dies - scrapbook.com; Greeting - Dare 2 B Artz; Blended inks - Tom Holtz/ Ranger; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

LEAVES DIES

TRY A TECHNIQUE YOU SAW DEMONSTRATED

Oh my goodness! How did I not think of this? Just spread glitter glue (Stickles, Pops of Color, etc.) over a stencil! Let it dry, and you have a great background. Trying something new is invigorating!

(Supplies - Stencil -The Crafter’s Workshop; Greeting - Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

GLITTER GOLD

TRY A (DIE) CUT AND PASTE

I had these die cut leaves sitting on my table. I almost put them in my leftovers bin, but for some reason I did not. Instead I pulled out a stencil, and right there beside the stencil file sat this prism paste! So, I used it, and I loved the background with the leaves.i was so excited.

(Supplies - Leaves - Scrapbook.com; Prism paste - Sizzix; Greeting - Trinity Stamps; All other supplies -Stampin’ Up!)

PRISM PASTE

TODAY’S CARDS

When you find yourself feeling like you are in a card making rut try mixing things up a bit. Use your supplies in a different way, try a new technique, use supplies you might have forgotten you have, add something new to your stash and pair it with something you have. If you feel you are still in that rut - clean your craft space! I promise you will have a renewed enthusiasm and be out of that rut!

That’s all for today. Until next time …

Stamp Happy!

Kim

LET’S TALK COLOR COMBOS FOR HALLOWEEN CARDS - OR ANY CARDS!

Hi Stampers!

Today we’re talking color! Specifically colors for Halloween cards, but the conversation goes beyond Halloween. Years ago Halloween meant orange and black; Thanksgiving colors were browns, golds, and oranges; for Christmas we pulled out the reds and greens with gold and silver and just maybe blue and a bit of white for a snowman theme - right? Those are considered classics and traditional, but when I look back through colors and trends over the decades I find it was common to use any number of color schemes for all holidays. Granted there are practical, traditional, and cultural reasons certain colors have become synonymous with individual holidays, but there is no rule demanding we use those colors. So today I am sharing cards with some traditional Halloween colors with a few not so traditional hues.  Let’s take a look at the cards:

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CARD LAYOUT # 2635

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - A-2 size. The front of the card measures 5 1/2” x 4 1/4”

* Mat - patterned paper, cardstock, etc cut at 5 1/4” x 4”9

* Panel Mat - cardstock cut at 4 1/2” x 2 1/4”

* Panel - patterned paper cut at 4 1/4” x 2”

* Cardstock for greeting, mat, die cut images

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

* Stamps, dies, inks, coloring tools, adhesives, embellishments, etc

WHAT TO DO

* Choose your color scheme and prepare your card base.

* Stamp a greeting, prepare images, stamp a sentiment on the inside panel if desired.

*Adhere inside panel in place.

*Adhere mat to front of card base.

*Adhere panel to panel mat

*Adhere this piece to the left side of the card with an equal borders on the side, top, and bottom.

*Adhere greeting, images, etc.

*Add embellishments.

CLASSIC COLORS WITH A SPRINKLE OF OTHERS

I used embossed orange cardstock as a mat for this card. The other cards in this post are matted with patterned paper.  I just really like this embossing folder! (Swirls of Magic - Stampin’ Up!)

COLORS - ORANGE, BLACK, WHITE

 LAVENDER BOOS

My new favorite ghost die! (Catherine Pooler)

COLORS: VANILLA, LAVENDER, BLACK

BATS AND TATTERSALL

What in the world is tattersall? It’s what the design is called on the paper used for the mat. Why do I know that? No idea - I just do.

COLORS - BLACK, GOLD, PURPLE

SPOOKY PINK

Do you have alphabet dies? Do you forget to use them? I have several sets, and I am trying to remember to use them more often.  Halloween cards give me a good opportunity to use the dies, because words like Boo, Eek, Scary, Spooky, and Beware make fun one word sentiments for card fronts!

COLORS - PINK, BLACK, VANILLA

HAPPY AND BRIGHT HALLOWEEN

COLORS - ORANGE, MAGENTA, LIME

SOFTENED TRADITION

I really like these papers. The card is classic Halloween colors, but muted a bit. I love those pops of black used for the birds and bats. These papers are part of a paper pack. Paper packs are a great source for color themes and matching papers. *Disclaimer - not all paper packs contain coordinating patterns, but the vast majority of them do - at least the ones I have. (Yes, I have a lot of them.)

COLORS - PEACH, BLACK, RUST

VIDEO CARD

Bright colors are perfect Halloween, especially neon colors! These colors go well with black and are lots of fun - just like Halloween!

COLORS - MAGENTA, LIME, BLACK

BLACK CARDSTOCK

LEMON LIME CARDSTOCK

HEY PUMPKIN PAPER

OH MY FRIGHT STAMP SET

EMBELLISHMENTS

TODAY’S CARDS

I used these color combinations for cards, but they would be great for treat boxes / bags as well. Remove the ghosts, bats, cats, jack-o-lanterns, and treats, and the layout and colors can be used on cards for other occasions! As you begin creating your cards for the upcoming holiday, remember use colors you like. If they are traditional - great!  If you select less or non-traditional colors, that is great too!! Remember - there are no color police! 

That’s all for today. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim