Independence Day will be here before you know it!
In today’s Tuesday Tidbit, I’d like to share a quick tutorial on making 3D stars. These are easy to make, and you can add them to your Fourth of July Projects, or any project.
Learn to make 3D stars by clicking here.
If you enjoyed this quick video, please leave a comment. And, if you need any stamping supplies, just click on the link below to shop at my store.
Thanks for stopping by!
Last week, I showed you a card that we made in Stamp Club using the Scrappy Strip Technique.
I promised you a tutorial, so here it is!
SCRAPPY STRIP DSP TECHNIQUE
1. Choose DSP and prepare card base and layers using coordinating colors. I used Terra Cotta Tile and Early Espresso. My smaller layer of Terra Cotta Tile is 3 ¾” x 5”. This is optimal for getting the most from your DSP. Your DSP strips will need to hang over the edge, so cutting your DSP at 4” works well to get the most from your DSP. For my card size, you’ll need four strips of double-sided DSP (1 ¼” x 4”).
2. Cut the strips of DSP diagonally. You can cut these without measuring or you can cut them all the same. I used the lines on my paper trimmer, lining up the bottom with the first line to the left of the cutting track and the top with the first line to the right (1/4”).
3. Glue a strip of the DSP to the top of your smaller layer. It should hang over on the top and sides.
Back of layer
4. Glue the other DSP strips to the card layer, leaving just a sliver of cardstock showing between the strips. Alternate the strips so that the wide end is on the right, then left, then right, etc.
5. Flip the layer over and cut excess DSP off the edges.
6. Your panel is ready to be mounted to your card and decorated as desired.
If you’d like to see the list of products used in this project, click here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. I’d love it if you’d leave feedback in the comments!
My apologies for not posting lately. We had a death in the family, and have been spending a lot of time dealing with finances, insurance, etc.
I know you’ve all been waiting for the tutorial of the technique used in the cards from the last few posts, so here goes!
BAND STAMPING TUTORIAL
Create a colorful band of color on projects using this simple masking technique.
1. Determine where you’d like your color band. Cover everything except the band area with scrap paper (masks), using washi tape or painter’s tape to secure. I like to do this on grid paper to get these pieces lined up straight. If you use painter’s tape, be sure to remove some of the tackiness by patting it on your clothing a couple of times, so it won’t tear your cardstock.
2. Choose two or three ink pad colors, and apply the lightest color to the band area with sponges, daubers or blending brushes. Add the next color sparingly in smaller areas. I used Balmy Blue and Blueberry Bushel on my sample.
3. If desired, stamp images in the darkest color. I stamped the snowflakes in Blueberry Bushel.
4. Remove the masks to reveal your beautiful band of color!
This was the first card I made using this technique. It uses the Snowman Season stamp set, which was in the last Holiday Catalog. But, good news! It will be back in the fall!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. This is a very simple technique that doesn’t require a lot of supplies, but it can make a BIG difference in your cards. I’d love to see what you make with this!
Here’s the fixin’s:
If you are the lucky owner of a Stamparatus, you know how much easier it makes your stamping life! It helps eliminate those pesky “halos”, and if your image isn’t perfect, you can stamp it again in the exact same place!
Today I have a tip for using your Stamparatus with punched or die cut pieces, and how to get them stamped perfectly each time. And, you only need to set it up once, no matter how many pieces you need to stamp.
1. Cut or punch your shape out of a piece of cardstock. It helps if this is a piece with a corner, instead of an odd-shaped scrap.
2. Line up the piece that framed your shape and secure it in the Stamparatus.
3. Place your stamp over the cut-out area as close as possible to where you think it should be stamped.
4. Close the Stamparatus plate and press to secure the stamp to the plate.
5. Ink and stamp the image onto a piece of scrap paper UNDER your cut out. If it’s not aligned properly, slide another piece of scrap paper under the cut out and tweak your stamp placement until it is perfectly positioned.
6. Lay your cut or punched shape into the cut out and stamp it. It should be perfect!
7. Remove the stamped piece, put another piece in the cut-out and stamp until you have as many as you need.
It may take a bit of time to get it set up and positioned properly, but once you’ve got it lined up, you can stamp ten, or a hundred, and each one will be perfectly aligned!
I hope you enjoyed this tip! If you don’t have a Stamparatus, order one today at the link below!
The last couple of months have been rough ones for me. I lost my dad last month, and its’ been pretty hard to find my motivation. My family and friends have been so wonderful and supportive, and I’m finally beginning to get caught up.
We made this card at Stamp Club back in October, and I promised to write a tutorial. So, I’m kicking off my return with step-by-step instructions for this card.
The first step is to cut the window in your card front. I used a square. My card base is 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”, folded in half. If you want to emboss your card front, be sure to cut out the square before embossing. Save the square; you’ll need it later!
The inside panel is 5” x 8”. Score and accordian fold at 2”, 4”, and 6”.
Adhere the back fold to the inside back of your card, leaving 1/4” border.
Accordian fold the panel and secure it so that it doesn’t slip.
Close the card and use a pencil to mark the square on the accordian panel.
Here’s the tricky part. Unfold the card so the panel is flat and not layered with your attached card front. Using the same square die you used on the front of the card, line it up with your pencil marks (you might want to use a sticky note or washi tape to be sure it doesn’t slip). You only want to cut the panel that is marked with the pencil, so you’ll only be cutting half of the square. This is easy to do by lining up the edge of your cutting pad so that it covers only the half of the square you want to cut. The Big Shot won’t cut the part that’s not covered by the cutting pad. How cool is that?! If you find it easier, you can just use a hobby knife to cut your half square, too, and skip all of the above instruction.
When you’re finished cutting, it will look like this. I chose to cut the flap off, but you can keep it if you want to. It works either way.
Place adhesive around the window and on the lower area of this panel. Close your card to adhere the card front to the panel.
Place adhesive on the panel inside the window area. (If you chose not to cut the flap off, be sure the flap is open and put adhesive on the entire square.)
Remember the square we saved from the card front? Decorate it as desired and put it right back where it came from, adhering it to the panel.
All done! Your card should now look like my card at the beginning of the post. You can decorate and add any embellishments you wish.
Stamps: Painted Harvest
Cardstock: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive
Dies/Punches: Layering Squares Framelits, Leaf Punch
Other: Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Triple Banner Punch, Linen Thread
If you enjoyed this tutorial, or have any questions, please leave a comment below.
If you haven’t had a chance to get the amazing Big Shot, I’m sure it’s at the top of your Wish List. It’s an incredible machine that can add so much to your cards with Framelits, Thinlits, and TIEFs (Textured Impressions Embossing Folders).
But, even if you don’t have the Big Shot, you can still add texture to your cards. Using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool is a great way to add texture to your card fronts. If you don’t have this tool, you can also use your Stampin’ Trimmer with the scoring blade for these techniques.
For this card front, I simply scored five adjacent lines beginning about an inch from the bottom of the card.
You can also add diagonal lines to your card for a different effect. Simply turn the card at an angle to score. It’s important to hold the card securely.
You can create a diamond pattern, which makes a nice background.
Place the paper so that you are scoring from corner to corner. Leave a few spaces between your score lines (I scored every half inch), working from the center to the corner, then from the center to the opposite corner. Turn the card and repeat this pattern in the other direction. Be sure to hold your card securely when scoring!
Another way to add a nice textured background is to use your punches. In this example, I’ve used various sized circles punched from the same color cardstock, and glued them randomly on my card. I like to let some of them hang off the edge for a more “finished” look.
Flip the card over and trim the excess, and you’re finished! You could use any punches you have. Wouldn’t hearts be cute for a Valentine, or stars for a patriotic card?
I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas to add texture to your cards. I’d love to see what you create with this idea!
I’ve been having technical problems this week. First, my external hard drive crashed and all my files are gone. Second, I couldn’t get my photos to upload to the cloud so I could edit them, and I don’t know what’s wrong with our internet, but everything is working VERY slowly. Of course, all this happens when I actually have a couple of days to get some things done! Go figure!
We made this card at Stamp Club this month, and while I know I need to finish posting my Christmas cards, I promised to do a tutorial on this card, and I want to get it out in case my friends want to make more of these.
The outside is nice, but the magic really happens when you open this card.
Isn’t this a great card?! I can’t wait to use this design to make cards for other occasions.
Stamps: Frosted Medallions, It’s a Celebration
Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, VersaMark
Dies/Punches: Triple Banner, Large Letters Framelits
Other: Sparkle TIEF, Silver Embossing Powder
TUTORIAL:
It looks complicated, but it’s not as hard as it looks. But, I’m only showing you how to make the basic mechanism, and you can decorate it any way you want.
First, you’ll need two sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. I’m using purple and white just so you can see what I’m doing. Cut the purple sheet in half vertically at 4 1/4″. Cut one of these pieces at 2 3/4″, so you’ll have a piece that is 2 3/4″ x 11. You’ll only need these two pieces, so you can save the smallest piece for a future project.
Fold the 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece in half at 5 1/5″. This will be your card base. Score the 2 3/4″ x 11″ strip at 2 3/4″, 5 1/5″, and 8 1/4″. This will be the four panel piece. Fold it accordian style. It should look like a W.
Cut a 1/4″ strip off of the white sheet, so that it measures 8 1/2 x 10 3/4″. This will be our mechanism. You can discard the 1/4″ strip.
Score this piece in the center of the 10 3/4″ side at 5 3/8″.
Turn and score at 2 1/4″, 4 1/4″ and 6 1/4″.
Fold in half on the 5 3/8″ score line. Take a ruler and measure 1″ from the fold and use a pencil to mark the edge of the card stock. Repeat on the other side.
Measure 1 1/4″ from the fold on both outer score lines and mark with the pencil.
Using your ruler, draw a line from the 1″ mark to the 1 1/4″ mark on both sides.
Use your scissors to cut through both layers on the outer score line up to, and along the pencil line.
Open cardstock and lay flat. Bring the right “wing” across and line up the center score line of the wing with the center score line that runs the length of the card. Use your bonefolder to crease well. Repeat with the left “wing”. Try to keep the folds intersecting in the center of the card.
Open card and pull “wings” toward the center.
Flatten and crease (it will be in a house shape). Outline house shape with a good strong adhesive like Tear & Tape. Line up and adhere to base card with point toward center fold.
Outline other side of house shape with adhesive and close card to adhere.
Place strong adhesive on opposite points of “wings” as shown with X.
Close card. Open partially as shown and remove adhesive backing from X area. Center four panel piece inside card (with folds toward center fold) and press down to adhere to the X area.
Slightly open card enough to get the wing that has not been adhered on top of the four panel piece and adhere. One wing will be adhered to the top of your piece and the other will be adhered to the bottom.
That’s it! Open your card and watch the magic happen!
Whew! That was a lot of pictures to edit! I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions, let me know. I would love to see what YOU create with this fold!
Thanks for visiting, and if you need any stamping supplies, please visit my online store.
My Stamp Club members were so excited to make this card! It’s called a side-step card, and I have instructions below. It’s a lot easier than it looks!
There are dies to make this type of card, but I think it’s much better to customize your card to fit your stamps and dies.
For example, I was doing this card for a class, and needed to be frugal with my Designer Series Paper. I wanted to use a piece that was 2″ X 4″, so I could get several from one sheet of 12″X12″ paper with no waste. This meant I wanted the left front portion of my card to measure 2 1/4″ x 4 1/4″. My measurements and instructions are for my card, but you can change them to suit your own needs.
Step 1: Put your card base (8 1/2″ X 5 1/2″) into the paper trimmer at 2 1/4″.
Starting at the top, cut from 1″ down to 6 1/4″.
Step 2: Flip card over and turn it so the cut that is 1″ from the edge is on the left. Score on the 3 1/4″ side at 1″ (this lines up with the end of your cut), 2″, 3 1/4″, 4 1/4′ (score this one all the way across the card), and 6 1/4″ (this lines up with the other end of the cut).
Step 3: Hold the card with the 2 1/4″ side on the left, and the 1″ score line at the bottom right. Fold the right side of the card back on the 1″ score line, forward on the 2″ score line, back on the 3 1/4″ score line, forward on the 4 1/4″ score line and back on the 6 1/4″ score line (accordion style). The left side will fall into place and fold in the center.
Here’s the fixin’s for the card we made:
Stamps: Spooky Fun
Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie
Dies: Halloween Scenes Edgelits, Layering Circles Framelits
Other: Halloween Night Specialty Designer Series Paper, Stamping Sponge
If you have any questions about this card, let me know! And, if you’d like to purchase any of the supplies used, please visit my website for 24/7 shopping!
Thanks for stopping by!
1. Your mat (backing for the card) will be a 1/4 sheet of cardstock (CS) (5 1/5 X 4 1/4) in the color of your choice. Our card mat in class was Bermuda Bay. I’m using purple for this tutorial.2. Cut 2 pieces of white CS to 4″ X 5 1/4″. This will layer nicely onto our mat. Cut another piece of white CS to 3″ X 4 1/2″. This will be our “slider”. For the purpose of this tutorial, I am using purple for this piece just so you’ll be able to see where to place it in the pictures.
3. Stamp as desired on one of the two twin panels. Line the stamped CS vertically in your trimmer at 3 1/4″ and cut from 3/4″ to 4 1/2″. Turn panel around and do the same on the other side. You’ll have two slits as shown. Depending on your stamped images, decide which end of the card will be the bottom. Connect the two cut slits by cutting at 3/4″. DO NOT CUT between the top slits. This will create a flap in your card.
4. Insert the BOTTOM of your card (the cut end) into your trimmer and score between the cut lines at 1 1/4″, 2 3/4″ and 4 1/2″. Fold on the scored lines. The bottom one is valley fold, center is mountain, and top is valley.
6. Place the twin panels together and punch a half circle from the TOP so you’ll have a place to access your slider, once the card is put together. Put the “back panel” aside for now.
7. Turn front panel (with cut and scored flap) over to back side and put sticky strip or other strong adhesive on bottom of the flap. Be sure to use a STRONG adhesive like sticky strip, tear n tape, etc. Attach the smaller white panel to the back of the flap. It should overlap slightly on each side. Mine is purple for the purpose of this tutorial.
8. Place strong adhesive along side and bottom edges, and seal to the twin panel, sandwiching the slider panel between the two. Pull/push up and down on the slider a few times to get it working smoothly.
9. Your slider card is now ready to secure to your bottom mat, and decorate as desired!! In class, we rounded the corners of the top of the slider panel, punched a hole and attached a ribbon. We pulled the slider to the “open” position, stamped inside the revealed “window”, and attached balloons to the center scored and folded panel.
Note: If you do attach items to the scored panel, be careful to use adhesive only where the pieces will attach to the panel. Our balloons “stood up” beyond the edge of the fold, and if we’d placed adhesive all over the back of the balloons, our card would have stuck to itself and not opened.
Hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you make any of these cards, please post them on the Bluegrass Stampers FB page. If you’re not a member of Bluegrass Stampers, search for our group and click Join. If we haven’t met, please message me, too, as sometimes random people ask to join. If you’re not on FB, send me a photo and I’ll post it for you.
A big THANK YOU to my Stamp Club members!!
I had a request from Stacey, a Stamp Club member, wanting to learn to make a box card. So, this is one of our projects from December Stamp Club. I’ve seen several box cards on Pinterest, but I wanted ours to fit in a medium envelope, so I did change the dimensions a bit from the ones I saw.
Here’s the fixin’s!
So that you can see the measurements, I’ll be using white CS for my tutorial, but the Snowman sample is made with Night of Navy.
Our box base is a half sheet of CS (5 1/2″ by 8 1/2″). With the CS horizontal, score at 2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″.
Turn the CS to a vertical position and score at 2″.
Cut on the four score lines (2″,4″, 6″, 8″) on the “short” side (2″), up to the score line. Cut the 1/2″ x 2″ piece off, and cut a small angle off of the 1/2″ x 3″ piece, so it will adhere nicely.
Fold on the vertical score lines, and three of the horizontal lines (to make the box flaps). DO NOT fold the “flap” closest to the 1/2″ piece. This will be the back of the card and will stand up straight.
Place a strong adhesive (glue or tear & tape) on the 1/2″ flap and adhere to the other end of the CS to form the box.
Cut two strips of CS 1″ x 3″. Score each piece 1/2″ from the end.
Fold the ends, and adhere into the center of the box, one in front and one in back. This will be the base to attach your decorations.
Decorate your box card as desired. We used the Flurry of Wishes Bundle and the Snow Place Bundle. Ink colors: Memento Tuxedo Black, Marina Mist, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy.
Supplies for this card may be purchased by clicking on my shopping basket.
Until next time…….stay inky, my friends!
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