Sassy Stems "File Folder" Card

So... Who is ready for Spring?! I know I am. But I guess we will have to wait a few more months (even longer here in MN). In the meantime, we can create some hopeful anticipation of Spring with our cards!

I call this a "File Folder" card because it opens at the bottom like a file folder - a new and different layout. This card starts with the card stock for the base (Wild Wasabi in this case) cut to 5 1/2" x 7 1/2". It was scored at the typical 4 1/4" mark but because it is 1" shorter than the typical half sheet of card stock, when it is folded upward, the one edge is 1" short of meeting with the other edge.

The corners were all rounded using the 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch. A piece of Uptown Designer paper (top corners rounded) was layered on the front. A sentiment (in this case from Hugs & Wishes Stamp set) was stamped in Basic Grey ink in the upper right corner.

The image from the now retired Sassy Stems stamp set was stamped in Basic Grey (waterproof) classic ink and colored in using Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Markers. This image was layered on So Saffron card stock.

I have two suggested ways to get the slit punch placement correct. One way is to glue the layered image in the desired location on the card front. Then mark with a pencil lightly a line to show the desired placement of the slit punch location and use that mark to help you punch in the right place. Another way is to punch the slit first at the top of the card before gluing the layered image onto the card. Then insert the layered image into the slit, place adhesive on the back on the layered image and press it onto the the card front.

The placement of photo corners punched out of Almost Amethyst card stock using the Photo Corner Punch finishes off this card.

I hope you enjoy the fresh Spring colors!

Theresa

All Supplies are from Stampin' Up! You can now order from the NEW Spring/Summer Big Idea/Catalog!

Sale-a-bration starts February 1st! Check out the stamp sets and Rub Ons you can get for FREE with your orders during Sale-a-bration! Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog.

Valentine's Tag Card

Valentine's Day will be here before we know it! Here is a possible card for that occasion although it could be used for a variety of other purposes too.

I actually designed this card a couple of years ago and just changed some colors to use it for one of the December stamp club projects. A funny thing when you make a card and go back to it much later - you don't always remember exactly how you made it! Getting the tag punched out right in the center had me stumped for a while. I had stamp club use a template and trace the punched out part to help them punch it in the right spot. BUT... it later all came back to me! Sorry, there is an easier way than how I had some of you do it! So now I will explain the easier way - better late than never, right?

Use an oversized piece of white card stock (in this case 3" x 2.75" worked well). Punch the tag out of approximately the center of that piece as shown in the first photo below (it does not have to be exactly the center). Now line up any inside edge of the tag on the 1/2" marking of the paper cutter as shown in the second photo below and cut. Shift to the next inside edge of the tag, line it up at 1/2", cut again. Once you have lined up each of the 6 tag edges at the 1/2" mark and cut, you end up with the tag "negative" with a 1/2" border all around it as shown in the third picture below.

Once you have created the tag portion of the card, the remainder is fairly self-explanatory. The base of the card is Bravo Burgundy. The now retired background called Word by Word was stamped in Pretty in Pink on Whisper White card stack.

Words from the Everyday Flexible Phrases set were stamped randomly around the 1/2" border of the tag in Pretty in Pink classic ink. The slot at the top of the tag was punched using the Horizontal Slot punch. Bravo Burgundy grosgrain was put through the slot and a piece of Pretty in Pink grosgrain was knotted around the Bravo Burgundy.

The "Love" word in the center of the tag is also from the Word by Word background stamp. The area of the background stamp with that word (the very corner of the background stamp) was inked up in Bravo Burgundy and a scrap of Whisper White card stock was placed over that corner and then it was trimmed with scissors to get just "Love".

The tag and the word "Love" were layered using pieces of foam tape to give the card some dimension.

Theresa

Happy New Year! Criss Cross Card

Here is a new twist on pocket cards. These cards are called Criss Cross cards, and they are fun to do. They are a great way to showcase the beautiful 2-sided designer papers. These cards have all kinds of uses, for example, slipping in a gift card, invitation information, or a photo in the pocket.

The Splitcoaststampers website has a great Criss Cross Card Tutorial that gives directions and dimensions for making these cards. However, I made some changes to the method in making my card to save on card stock and the weight of the final card. In the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) tuturial, 2 pieces of 4 1/4" x 11" card stock are used, and you end up doubling up the back layer of the card. There are also 2 large triangles of card stock that get cut off and not used. I used just one piece of 4 1/4" x 11" card stock, the back of the card is not a double layer and there are no scraps in the cutting.

Shown in the photo below is the single 4 1/4" x 11" piece of card stock (shown in white below, but Always Artichoke was used in the Frosty card above). As the photo shows you score a 3/8" tab at the far left (click on the photo to enlarge to see detail better). Score again 5 1/4" past that first score line (scoreline will be at 5 5/8" total distance from the left edge).

Then cut diagonally from score line to score line.

Turn the cut triangle with the tab over and upside down and place at the right end as shown in the photo below.

Glue the 3/8" tab to the back of the large central region of the card. After gluing this tab to the back, you will have the two triangular portions to layer the patterned paper on and to then criss cross.

The rest of the directions to complete the card pick up at Step 6 of the SCS Tutorial. Another minor change in my card is that the card band that wraps around the card is 1" wide rather than 1 1/2 wide shown in the SCS tutorial.

Once you make one of these cards, you will be hooked and want to make lots of different color combinations!

Theresa

**The NEW Spring/Summer catalog is on-line!

**January Customer Special - Valentine's Bundle - get the ribbon for free!

**January Hostess special too! Hold a workshop of $350 or more and choose any one stamp set from our Spring-Summer Preview Brochure 2008 FREE (up to a $29.95 value)!

Supplies for the Frosty Card (all Stampin' Up!):

Frosty stamp set (retired)

In the Spotlight (retired)

Wishing you Cheer (the Happy New Year sentiment was obtained by inking only that portion of the larger sentiment with the Bashful Blue marker)

Always Artichoke card stock

Certainly Celery card stock

Wintergreen Designer paper (retired)

Bashful Blue classic ink pad

Always Artichoke classic ink pad

Stampin' Write markers (Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery)

Scallop Circle punch

Round Tab punch

3/16" Corner rounder punch