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.
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
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!
