IT ALL STARTS WITH THREE - A STAMP HAPPY HOLIDAYS POST

Hi Stampers!

Have you ever run out of ideas for a card layout? I certainly do from time to time. One strategy I use to help me create a design is something I call “start with three.”  It is based on the rule of three.  This theory posits humans process information through pattern recognition, and 3 is the smallest number that allows for pattern recognition. We tend to see groups of 3 as pleasing to the eye and balanced. 

So, how do I practically apply this theory to my cards? Like I said, it starts with three - three images. They can be stamped or die cut, they can be the same image or different, whatever you want. The size of the images can help determine the card size. For example if the images are smaller they can be placed on a 4 1/2” square card, or a mini slimline cards. Larger images look better on A-2 cards or even a regular slimline card. Without using adhesive, place the images on the card to get an idea of what to use as a background. This also helps  to determine if other image might be added for balance and what sentiment to use. Before long the card layout is completed and you’ll find yourself wanting to make more cards!

Let’s take a look at my sample cards:

VIDEO

IT ALL STARTS WITH THREE 

A STRATEGY FOR CARD LAYOUTS

THREE BUBBLE SNOWMEN CARD

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card base Azure Afternoon cardstock 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folder at 4 1/4”

* Focal panel and inside panel - Basic White cardstock each cut at 4” x 4”

* Basic white cardstock for stamping and fussy cutting

* Inks - Distress Oxide - Tumbled Glass, Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin’ Blends - Pumpkin Pie (light), Poppy Parade (light & dark), Lemon Lime Twist (light and dark), Smoky Slate (light and dark)

* Blending brush or sponge

* Stamp Sets - Bubble Snowmen, Holiday Cheer (sentiment)

* Embellishment - White Loose Snowflakes

* Adhesive. liquid glue, and dimensionals

ASSEMBLY

* Focal panel - use the Tumbled Glass ink and blending brush to add a bit of color to the center of the panel

* Inside panel - Use the Memento ink to stamp the sentiment and a snowman head. Color snowman’s nose with Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blend. Adhere to inside card

* On white cardstock stamp three snowmen, color with Stampin’ Blends, fussy cut and place dimensionals on back side. Adhere in place.

* With Memento ink, stamp the greeting.

* Adhere panel to front of card.

* Use small drops of glue to adhere snowflake embellishments to card front

HO HO HO! SILLY SANTA CARD

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card base - Poppy Parade cut at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Focal panel and inside panel - Basic White cardstock 4” x 4” each

* Embossing folder - Snowflake Sky

* Basic White cardstock for stamping and die cutting, Poppy Parade cardstock for die cutting

* Ink - Poppy Parade

* Stamps set Silly Santa’s with coordinating dies

* Adhesive and dimensionals

ASSEMBLY

* Stamp the Santa image and sentiment on inside panel with Poppy Parade ink 

* Adhere inside panel to inside of card

* Emboss focal panel with embossing folder.

* Die cut Santa and Ho, Ho, Ho and background. Adhere the Ho Ho Ho to backgrounds with glue

* Adhere Santa and sentiment -pieces to focal panel with dimensionals

* Adhere card front to card base

THREE GIFTS CARD

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card base - Basic White (thick) cardstock cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Mat - Gold foil cut at 5 3/8” x 4 1/8”

* Folcal panel - Basic White cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Basic White cardstock and gold foil for stamping and die cutting

* Ink - Versa Mark, gold embossing powder, metallic gold watercolor

* Paint brush

* Stamps - Holiday Cheer and dies

* Other dies - Sending Cheer

* Embossing folder - no idea the name of this one, I’ve had it for a really long time. It is from Sizzix.

* Embellishments - Gold pearls -3

* Adhesive and dimensionals

ASSEMBLY

* For focal panel - use some water on paintbrush with gold metallic watercolor paint - ta- on paint brush with bone folder, pencil, or finger to create gold spatters on the white cardstock.

* If you like use a die to cut out center area of gold foil, then adhere focal panel to cover cut away area of gold foil.

* Stamp greeting with Versa Mark, cover with embossing powder, heat set.

* Die cut greeting, the gifts, and bows.

* Adhere bows to gifts.

* Use dimensionals to adhere gifts and greeting to card front.

* Add three gold pearls to card.

IT STARTS WITH THREE CARDS

The next time you are stumped for a card layout idea, remember - it all starts with three! Page down to find resource list for products used to create today’s cards. Thank you so much for stopping by today. Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

SUPPLY RESOURCES

STAMPIN’ UP!

* All Cardstock and Gold Foil (all colors are current)

* Stampin’ Blends (all colors are current)

* Poppy Parade Ink (current)

* Sending Cheer Dies (retired)

* Snowflake Sky Embossing Folder (current)

* White Loose Snowflakes (current)

SIMON HURLEY

* Silly Santa’s Stamp Set & Dies (current)

WAFFLE FLOWER

* Holiday Cheer Stamp Set & Dies (current)

WOODWARE CRAFT COLLECTION

* Bubble Snowmen Stamp Set (current)

TRY A TENT TOPPER CARD FOR SENDING CHEER - A STAMP HAPPY HOLIDAYS POST

Hi Stampers!

Can you believe December is less than one week away? I am very close to having all the Christmas cards I need for this season. I hope you are close as well. If not, it is okay. There is still time to create and mail festive Christmas cards. Today’s card idea is perfect when you need to create a stack of cards and you have limited time. Today’s sample cards are tent topper cards, sort of - they are a slight variation of a tent topper card I was taught to make years ago. Let’s take a look:

TENT TOPPER CARDS

The basic tent topper card I was taught to make consists of a square card base (8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 4 1/4”)  and a focal image on a circle or square, or other shaped die cut. The focal image is affixed to the card base so as to make the card 5 1/2” tall. These cards fit perfectly inside an A-2 sized envelope (Stampin’ Up! ®️ medium sized envelope).  Here is a sample of a basic tent topper card:

BASIC TENT TOPPER CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Stamp set - Beary Cute

* Card base - Balmy Blue cut at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Other cardstock - Basic White - cut two at 4” square (one to mat dap for front of card, and one for inside panel; scrap for focal point - die cut with Stylish Shapes Dies - circles, 2nd largest; Balmy Blue scrap - cut with Stylish Shapes Dies -circles, largest

* DSP - A Walk In the Forest - Balmy Blue with trees, cut at 3 3/4” square

* Ink - Pretty Peacock - achieve variation in color by Stampin off on scrap paper, then stamp the image on the cardstock

* Embellishment - Adhesive backed Glitter Sequins - blue, 8-9, or embellishment of choice

* Adhesive and dimensionals

VIDEO

TRY A TENT TOPPER CARD FOR SENDING CHEER

SENDING CHEER TENT TOPPER CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Sending Cheer Bundle

* Card base - Poppy Parade - 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Other cardstock - Basic White - cut one for card front mat and one for inside panel - 4” square; scraps of Basic White to stamp the gingerbread men and for the greeting; Poppy Parade - scrap to die cut hearts and larger scraps to die cut 2 gingerbread man shapes for back side of focal images

* DSP - Merry Bold & Bright - Fa La La La La pattern cut at 3 3/4” square

* Inks - Pecan Pie, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade; Stampin’ Write Marker or Stampin’ Blends - Real Red;

White gel pen

* Adhesive and dimensionals and liquid glue to adhere hearts

MERRIEST TREES MERRY CHRISTMAS TENT TOPPER CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Merriest Trees Bundle & Rocking Horse (greeting)

* Card base - Balmy Blue - 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored & folded at 4 1/4”

* Other cardstock - Basic White - cut 2 at 4” square - one for focal panel mat and one for inside panel, large piece to stamp and die cut tree, and scrap for greeting Balmy Blue - large scrap to die cut tree shape

* DSP - A Walk In the Woods - snowflake pattern 3 3/4” square

* Ink - Balmy Blue

* Stylish Shapes Dies - largest banner

* Embellishments - Rhinestones - 8-9

* Adhesive and dimensionals

WARM WISHES TENT TOPPER CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Merriest Trees Bundle and Beary Cute stamp set (greeting)

* Card base - Garden Green - cut at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Other cardstock - Basic White - cut two at 4” square, one for focal panel mat and one for inside panel, scrap for greeting; Garden Green - piece to die cut tree for back side of focal piece and piece to mat greeting

* DSP - A Walk In the Forest - striped pattern cut at 3 3/4” square; Die cut tree from this pack of paper

*Ink - Garden Green

* Embellishment - Adhesive Backed Soeckled Dots - Mossy Meadow -3

* Stylish Shapes Dies - circles 3rd and 4th smaller

* Adhesive and dimensionals

TENT TOPPER CARDS

Thanks for checking in. I hope you will give the tent topper card (or a variation of it) a try! This card style is great for Christmas cards, but it work well for all occasion cards! That is it for today. Until next time. . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2023 Stampin’ Up!®️

NOTE - The Stampin’ Up! September - December 2023 Mini Catalog sales period will soon. Some items used to create the cards might no longer be available.

BE A CHEERFUL GIVER WITH THE SENDING CHEER BUNDLE - AN IN DETAIL POST

Hi Stampers!

As promised, we are taking an “In Detail” look at the SENDING CHEER BUNDLE from Stampin’ Up!®️. You can find this bundle in the current Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalog or in my online store HERE. The bundle include a stamp set with coordinating dies. It is designed with gift tags in mind, but of course the stamped or die cut images work just as well for cards, scrapbooking, or other paper crafting projects.  Let’s take a look at some cards I created using this bundle:

And here are some tags I created using the bundle:

* To view supply lists for the tags see previous post HERE.

SENDING CHEER STAMP SET

SENDING CHEER DIES

VIDEO

THE SENDING CHEER BUNDLE - IN DETAIL

SENDING CHEER WITH GINGERBREAD MEN

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Sending Cheer Bundle

* Card base - Pecan Pie - 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Basic White cardstock - 5 1/4” x 4” cut 2; one for the inside and one to emboss for background panel

* Basic White cardstock for stamping and die cutting 

* Real Red cardstock scrap to die cut hearts

* Pecan Pie cardstock to mat greeting

* Pecan Pie 1/2” Bordered Ribbon - about 5 3/4”

* Christmas Tidings embossing folder

* Radiating Stitches Dies - circle & Stylish Shapes Dies - circle 1 3/4” diameter (Online Exclusive)

* Inks - Real Red, Pecan Pie, Versa Mark and white embossing powder

SENDING CHEER & JOY CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Sending Cheer Bundle, Rocking Horse Stamp Set

* Card base - Cherry Cobbler 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4

* Shining Christmas DSP (Online Exclusive) 5” x 3 3/4”

* Inside panel - Basic White cardstock cut at 5” x 3 3/4”

* Cherry Cobbler cardstock    about 3 1/4 -3 1/2” to die cut

* Basic White cardstock for stamping gift

* Iridescent Pearls - 3

* Inks - Cherry Cobbler, Versa Mark, White embossing powder

* Adhesive and dimensionals

SENDING CHEER IN A STOCKING CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Sending Cheer Bundle & Beary Cute stamp set

* Card base - Basic White (thick) cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Shining Christmas DSP (Online Exclusive) 5” x 3 3/4”

* Silver & Gold Adhesive Backed Paper (Online Exclusive)

* Basic White cardstock for stamping

* Deckled Rectangles Dies - 2 5/8” x 1” and 3 1/4” x 1 3/4”

* Festive Pearls - 5

* Ink - Versa Mark and Gold embossing powder

* Adhesive and dimensionals

SENDING CHRISTMAS CHEER CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD

* Sending Cheer Bundle & Beary Cute stamp set

* Card base - Shaded Spruce cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Mat layer and inside panel - Basic White cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4” ( cut 2)

* One Horse Open Sleigh DSP cut with Radiating Stitches Dies - Rectangle 4” x 2 5/8”

* Radiating Stitches Dies (Online Exclusive)

* Basic 3-D Embossing Folders - Crosshatch design (Online Exclusive)

* Inks - Shaded Spruce and Real Red

* Adhesive and dimensionals

SENDING CHEER PROJECTS

That’s all for today. Thank you for checking in. Until next time. . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2023 Stampin’ Up!®️

SENDING CHEER WITH TAGS AND A FOLDER - A STAMP HAPPY HOLIDAYS POST

 Hi Stampers!

 

Welcome to week two of my Stamp Happy Holidays series! Today I am sharing Christmas gift tags I made using the SENDING CHEER bundle. I am also sharing a little folder I created to place the tags in and give them as a gift. The SENDING CHEER bundle can be found in the Stampin’ Up!®️ September - December 2023 Mini Catalog. Let’s take a look at today’s project:

SENDING CHEERS STAMP SET

SENDING CHEER DIES

VIEW SENDING CHEER BUNDLE DETAILS HERE.

VIDEO

SENDING CHEER WITH TAGS & A FOLDER

SENDING CHEER TAGS

SUPPLIES FOR THE TAGS

* FOR ALL TAGS - Sending Cheer  stamp set & dies, Basic White cardstock, adhesive, ribbon it baker’s twine.

(I made 4 tags of each design)

GINGERBREAD MAN TAG

* Items above plus 

* Poppy Parade cardstock for heart buttons

* Versa Mark, Basic White Embossing Powder for face, Poppy Parade ink to stamp “to / from” on back of tag

* Linen Thread 6” per tag

Note - die cut the gingerbread man and another one in Basic White - adhere the two pieces back to back to make the tags more sturdy.

STOCKING TAG

* Inks - Poppy Parade & Lemon Lime Twist

* Baker’s Twine - Basic White - 6” per tag

* Note - die cut the stamped stocking and one in Basic White- adhere the two back to back to make the tags more sturdy. Stamp the “to / from” on the backside of the tag. 

PRESENT TAG

* Merry Bold & Bright DSP (cut a tag -rectangle die, from the DSP and one from Basic White cardstock to adhere to back of DSP.

* Melon Mambo & Granny Apple GreenFoil Sheets

* Inks - Melon Mambo and Granny Apple Green

* Dimensionals to attach die cut gift to tag

* Metallic Woven Ribbon -  Sweet Sorbet and Parakeet Party, about 6”

TAG FOLDER

SUPPLIES FOR FOLDER

* Lemon Lime Twist cardstock cut at 6 1/2” x 6” scored along the 6 1/2” side at 3” and 3 1/2” and along the 6” side at 2” Fold on score lines and burnish with bone folder. See chart below to see section to remove. You will also need 2 pieces of Lemon Lime Twist cardstock cut at 1 1/2” x 1 7/8” score each piece at 1/2” and 1”. Fold accordion style.

* Merry Bold & Bright DSP cut at 3 8/8” x 2 7/8 for front cover of folder.

* Ribbon - Real Red &Burlap Ribbon Combo Pack 21” of Real Red

* Inks Lemon Lime Twist and Melon Mambo

* Dimensionals to attach present, glue dots to hold ribbon in place, and Stampin’ Seal + or Tear & Tape

* Note - watch the video above to see how to assemble the folder.

Once your tags are completed, place them inside the folder, close the folder, and tie the ribbon in a bow.

SENDING CHEER TAGS AND A FOLDER

Thank you for stopping by! Until next time. . .

Stamp Happy

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2023 Stampin’ Up!®️