Monday, August 20, 2018 Are you like me... always looking for a different way to fold a card? I get excited about cards that open in a different way, other than the traditional "fold on the left" format. So when I ran across several cards on the internet with a diagonal cut across the front, I just had to try making one. For lack of a better term, I'm calling this a diagonal cut card. I'm not sure who originated this idea. I'm not even sure it's that new. It has probably been around for a while and someone posted a card like this and others jumped on the diagonal cut bandwagon.
To make the base of this card, take a piece of 8.5 x 11 card stock and place it on your scoring board in the vertical position. Score it in half the long way at 4 1/4. Then turn the paper in the horizontal position and score it in half again at 5 1/2. Then you'll cut the paper in half diagonally, from point to point. This will give you two card bases. Note: If you have a Stampin'Up! paper trimmer, you'll be able to use it to make the diagonal cut, as it can make a cut longer than 12 inches. I use a guillotine cutter, which isn't long enough for me to make this diagonal cut, so I used a yardstick to draw a very light diagonal line, then made the diagonal cut with scissors. For the DSP panels on the front of the card, cut a piece of DSP that measures 5 1/4 by 4 inches. Then cut this piece diagonally from corner to corner. Here's what the card looks like opened...
The colors I chose for this card come from the Nature's Poem Designer Series Paper on page 144 of the annual catalog. The leaves are Blackberry Bliss and Grapefruit Grove. The stamps are from the Rooted in Nature stamp set on page 143 of the annual catalog. I inked the tree stamp in Grapefruit Grove, and then used a sponge dauber to add some Blackberry Bliss ink around the edges before I stamped the image on white card stock. The sentiment is also part of the Rooted in Nature stamp set, which is one of the largest stamp sets that Stampin'Up! has offered. Of course there are matching Framelits to go with this gorgeous stamp set. Because I used a dark color for the card base (Blackberry Bliss), I cut a piece of white card stock for the inside to provide a place to write a message. I used Blackberry Bliss and Grapefruit Grove ink and stamped some leaves to echo the DSP on the front of the card. This is one stamp set that won't find its way into next year's garage sale. Even if this set is discontinued after one year (which I highly doubt), I will be keeping this for many years to come. Stampin'Up has devoted three full pages to this amazing Nature's Poem Suite. Check it out on pages 142-144 of the annual catalog. I'm pretty sure that you'll agree that this is one of the best stamp sets that Stampin'Up! has offered.
Should you wish to place an order, here's the August Host Code: ANCPVQYF. You could win the host stamp set of your choice! The last day to enter the Host Code drawing is August 30th. Now I hope you'll get out some card stock and some DSP and try making a Diagonal Cut Card of your own. It is super simple and so much fun to have a new fold! Happy stamping, everyone! Make the week ahead a good one! Hugs to all, Susan
Pop of Petals is one of the most versatile stamp sets in the annual catalog! And along with its matching punch, it is also one of the most economical bundles in the annual catalog at just $36.00 for the Clear Mount version (red rubber that you adhere to a clear acrylic block). You get 12 rubber stamps, plus the punch. Right now I'm offering a Class-in-the-Mail when you purchase this bundle. You can see the stamp set and the punch on page 47 of the catalog. You can also see tons of cards made with this set simply by typing "Pop of Petals Stampin'Up" into the Google search box. When I see that you have placed an online order for this bundle using the August Host code of ANCPVQYF, I will send you all the cut and scored card stock and accessories you need to make three cards, envelopes included, along with complete written instructions. The three cards are FREE with your purchase! I'll also email you the photos of the cards so stamping and assembling will be a breeze! Here's another card I made with this fun set...
The card base is Whisper White, the next layer is Highland Heather (a new color that's part of the Subtles family). The foliage in the background is stamped in several colors of green... Mint Macaron, Pear Pizzazz, and Lemon Lime twist. Some of the leaves were "stamped off" on a piece of scratch paper and then stamped again to give a lighter shade. Two flowers were stamped in Gorgeous Grape, full strength and the middle (lighter) flower was stamped off first. The sentiment is from the Love What You Do stamp set, stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I'm in love with the new 1/4 inch Mini Striped ribbon in Gorgeous Grape. Three Basic Pearls add a nice touch to the center of the flowers. However, if you are mailing this card, it might be a good idea to skip the pearls... or use a bubble mailer. Those pearls do not work well in a regular envelope!! Here's a list of all the supplies, with item numbers to make ordering easier for you: Pop of Petals Bundle p. 47 #148385, Clear Mount $36 #148384, Wood Mount $43 Love What You Do stamp set, p. 177 #148042, $21 Highland Heather Card stock p. 186 #146986 $8.50 Whisper White Thick Card stock p. 192 #140272 $7.75 Gorgeous Grape Stamp Pad p. 185 # 147099 $7.50 Mint Macaron Stamp Pad p. 186 #147106 $7.50 Pear Pizzazz Stamp Pad p. 186 #147104 $7.50 Lemon Lime Twist Stamp Pad p. 183 #147145 $7.50 Tuxedo Black Memento Stamp Pad p.203 #132708 $6 1/4 inch Mini Striped Ribbon in Gorgeous Grape p. 200 #146940 $8 Basic Pearls p. 197#144219 $5. In a strange twist, I see that the forecast for Portland on Tuesday is 100 degrees, while our forecast in Woodland calls for 91. That sure doesn't happen very often! Whatever the weather in your little corner of the world, I hope that this week will be a good one for you! Looking forward to seeing all my Portland peeps at my Holiday Catalog Open House on Saturday, Sept 8th! You'll get your new Holiday Catalog!!! Have you signed up yet? My email address is sjrstamps@gmail.com. I'd love to hear that you can attend! Hugs and Happy Stamping! Susan
Monday, August 6, 2018 Wow! How did August arrive so quickly? The summer, like usual, is just flying by! When we lived in Oregon, I used to feel sad that summer was so fleeting, but since moving to the hot Central Valley, we are looking forward to fall with great anticipation. What we wouldn't give for a cooling rain about now that would help put out these terrible fires! It has been smoky here for the past couple of weeks and we've had several days of falling ash. More and more I find myself gravitating towards cards with a lot of white space. There's just something so clean about a white card. Here's the first card I've made with a set that carried over to this year's annual catalog... Oh So Eclectic (#143940, $23, p. 156).
It is a bit difficult to see, but I used the new Subtle embossing folder to add texture to the focal panel of the card (#143706, $10, p. 223). In the past, Stampin'Up! carried textured card stock like this in a variety of colors. Then it was discontinued and there was no option for textured card stock with a linen-like finish. Now, thanks to this new embossing folder, we can have textured card stock in any color we want, because we can make it ourselves! I stamped the flowers in Powder Pink and So Saffron. The flowers, leaves and the lacy pattern were cut with the coordinating thinlits , Eclectic Layers (#143774, $30, p. 217). I used Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.
The sentiment is from the new Itty Bitty Greetings (#146667, $36, p. 46). I used the 1 3/8 inch Scallop Circle Punch (146139, $16, p. 210) to punch out the greeting. Adding a bit of sparkle is the 3/8 inch Shimmer Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz (#144153, $7 for 10 yards, p. 200). With a change of sentiment, this card would be great for so many occasions. Why not whip a few of these, leaving the sentiment off until you know what kind of card you need? You can quickly stamp the desired sentiment, punch it out and adhere it with a dimensional or two and you're all set! Summer heat got you down?? Escape the heat with a tall glass of iced tea or lemonade and your stamps, ink, and paper. Your body will be refreshed by the cold liquid and your spirit will be refreshed by the time you spend being creative. When you're finished, share your work of art with a friend in need of a lift and it will be a win-win-win! Happy stamping to all! Susan
