Hi Stampers!
This is the first week of my Stamp Happy Holidays series for 2025! This year will be a bit different. There will still be plenty of ideas for treat holders, tags, gift card holders, and of course cards! If life gets really crazy and busy, we’ll even talk about super quick and easy projects I call “Christmas In A Hurry!” My projects will include samples for various holidays that will be celebrated over the next few months! For example, today’s cards are Floating Gate Fold Cards. The samples cover Halloween, Fall, and Christmas, plus we’ll make a Hanukkah themed card together. Of course the Floating Gate Fold Card can be used to create a card for any holiday or occasion! So, let’s get started! Here we go with STAMP HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2025! Here are the sample cards for today!
VIDEO
FLOATING GATE FOLD CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WHAT YOU NEED
* Card Base - cardstock cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”
* Inside Panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”
* Patterned Paper - for flaps - cut 2 at 5 1/4” x 1 7/8” (optional- cut 4, 2 for front of card and 2 for inside card)
* Floating Mechanisms - white cardstock (or color of choice) - cut 2 at 4 1/2” x 1/2”
* Other - stamps, inks, die cuts, other cardstock, embellishments, adhesive, etc to complete card - you will need a focal image and images and / or sentiments to be the “floating” pieces.
WHAT TO DO
* Prepare focal image and images/ sentiments for floating pieces, put aside.
* Score card base along 8 1/2” side at 2 1/8” on each end (or at 2 1/8” and 6 3/8”), and crease score lines with bone folder
* Score each mechanism along 4 1/2” side at 1”, 2 1/2”, and 3 1/2” and crease score lines with bone folder.
* Adhere the patterned paper strips to the outside (and inside if using) of the card.
* Open card and put inside panel in place - no adhesive. Place the “floating” images on the inside panel anywhere you like as long as they do not go above or below the card base and have enough space between
them to pass with out touching. Many place one image at the top left edge and bottom right edge. The”floating mechanisms should be placed near the center of the image. Use a pencil to mark this point on the top left flap and bottom right flap (or where ever you are placing the floating image(s).
* With the images lying in place do any stamping you plan to do.
* Adhere the inside panel to the card
* Adhere the floating mechanism to the upper left area of the card. Look at the mechanism - there should be a 1” section, a 1 1/2” section, followed by two 1” sections. Fold the single 1” section toward the center of the piece, place adhesive on it. Center the piece on the pencil mark and adhere it on the gate fold flap right along the top of the score line, press into place. Fold last section of the mechanism inward, apply adhesive, with gate fold flap open, press mechanism inward place on the inside panel.
* Add the floating mechanism to the lower right area in the same manner as for the top. This time the single 1” area will be to the right as opposed to the left.
* Close card and adhere focal image to card front. Remember to put adhesive only on one side of the image, so as not to glue the card together.
NOTE: I use mostly Stampin’ Up! Products, some are retired and are noted as such. Products from other companies are also noted as such. I encourage you to use supplies you have on hand to create you very own versions of the cards.
HALLOWEEN FLOATING GATE FOLD
INSIDE
* Cardstock - Granny Apple Green, Basic White, Basic Black
* Patterned Paper - Hey Pumpkin (Doodlebug Designs)
* Stamps - Spooky Treats, Tricks & Treats and dies (both retired)
* Ink - Gorgeous Grape
* Adhesive and dimensionals
NOTE - Focal panel card stock is cut at 4 1/4” x 3”, the patterned paper layer is cut at 4” x 2 3/4”.
FALL FLOATING GATE FOLD CARD
INSIDE
* Cardstock - Crushed Curry, Basic White
* Patterned Paper - (retired)
* Stamps- Nuts About Squirrels, Banner Year (both retired). Peeking Yorkie an d dies (Catherine Pooler)
* Dies - 3 1/2” circle die, 3 1/4” circle die (Spellbinders)
* Punches - 1 1/2” circle, 1 3/4” circle(retired)
* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Balmy Blue,Early Esspresso; Stampin’ Blends - Crumb Cake, Petal Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Timid Tiger, Daffodil Delight, Darling Duckling, Poppy Parade
* Blending Brush - use to put a bit of Balmy Blue for Sky on focal panel
* Adhesive, Foam Tape (Scrapbook.com)
NOTE - I used the 3 1/2” and 3 1/4” circle dies to create the base for the focal panel.
CHRISTMAS FLOATING GATE FOLD CARD
INSIDE
SUPPLIES I USED
* Cardstock - Real Red, Basic White, Granny Apple Green
* Patterned Paper - Real Red (retired), Candy Cane Lane (Doodlebug Designs)
* Stamps - Pocket Full of Sunshine, Brightest Glow (both retired), Snowmen Peekers and dies ( Pink and Main)
* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Real Red; Stampin’ Blends - Real Red, Granny Apple Green, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink; Glimmer Brush - clear (Scrapbook.com)
* Dies - Pocket Framelits (retired), Holly and Berries (unknown), Layering Ovals - 2 3/4” and 2 1/2” (retired)
* Adhesive, Foam Tape (Scrapbook.com)
NOTE - My focal panel is build around a pocket shape die cut. The die is no longer available, but there are several available through various companies such as Pink and Main, Papertrey Inks, Lisa Horton, Taylored Expressions, etc. The jean pocket shape is easy to create with just a paper cutter and a ruler. The instructions are below.
CREATING THE POCKET WITHOUT A DIE
* Cut cardstock 3” x 2 1/2”
* Along the bottom of the cardstock (the 2 1/2” side) mark the midpoint (1 1/4”)
SUPPLIES I USED
* At the bottom left measure up 3/4” and mark. Do the same on the right side.
* place piece in paper trimmer line up midpoint and one of the 3/4” mark in cutting trough and cut. Do the same on the other side.
* Use a fine tip black marker (or any color)to add stitching.
VIDEO CARD
HANUKKAH FLOATING GATE FOLD CARD
INSIDE
* Cardstock - Azure Afternoon, Basic White
* Patterned Paper - DIY
* Stamps - Celebrate the Miracle (retired), Kibitzing Sampler (Paper Smooches - retired)
* Inks - Azure Afternoon, Balmy News, Crushed Curry
* Dies - 3 1/4” circle die (Spellbinders), 3” circle die Stylish Shapes
* Punches - 1 3/8” circle, 1 3/4” circle
* Embellishments - Gold Pearls (retired)
* Adhesive and Foam Tape (Scrapbook.com)
FLOATING GATE FOLD CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The Floating Gate Fold Card is a truly fun, fun fold card! The card takes just a little bit longer to make than other cards, but it is worth the extra time. I hope you give this fun fold card a try!
This wraps up the first week of Stamp Happy Holidays for 2025! Thank you so much for joining me. I’ll be back next week with another Holiday project! Until next time . . .
Stamp Happy!
Kim
