Learn how to create an easy fun fold and do some heat embossing!
Triangle Point Belly Band Card
Hello! Let’s get right to the “point” – this week on my Facebook Live Class, I taught how to create this Triangle Point Belly Band card. It’s an easy fun fold that closes with two points and a belly band. I CASEd the fold from Jackie Bolhuis over at Klompen Stampers, and I think it’s a lot of fun!
To start, it’s just an easy 5 ½” x 11” piece of cardstock – so it does use more cardstock than a regular card base of 5 ½” x 8 ½”. But I promise it’s worth it! You’ll score at 3 ½” from each end. Then, make a few cuts with your Paper Trimmer. Boom! You’ve got the foundation of a neat card.
When we’re talking fun folds, I always say that a non-crafter needs to be able to open it without an engineering degree – and I never want the inside writing to be visible on the outside of the card. This fold fits the bill completely.
I used the beautiful Delicate Desert Designer Series Paper for this project. I really like that I was able to incorporate THREE different patterns! Sometimes you can only use 1-2 patterns before it feels too busy.
The Delicate Desert DSP features Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Cajun Craze, Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent, and Gray Granite. Individually, some of these colors don’t appear in my crafting very often. But somehow, Stampin’ Up! has put them together and created something wonderful! The patterns are full of texture, and several patterns remind me of textiles you’d find in the American Southwest.
I took inspiration for my project’s colors from the Designer Series Paper itself and used Gray Granite, a color that I tend to struggle to use. I think that, since it has both gray and brown undertones, I’m never sure what colors will mesh well. With the Soft Succulent in the Designer Series Paper, it’s gorgeous! And of course, I had to incorporate a pop of pink!
As far as techniques in this card, I did a simple heat-embossed sentiment. For the flower, I don’t know what you’d call the technique, but I used my Stamparatus and stamped in Gray Granite – it is a light enough color that it allowed me to see the image to color but not really stand out. After coloring with my Stampin’ Blends to get some variations in the depth of color, I stamped the image again in Versamark ink and heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder.
The fonts in the Irresistible Blooms stamp set are so lovely! And the line images for the flowers are seriously so gorgeous. I have used this stamp set A TON since they released it to demonstrators back in February, and there are still so many projects I want to CASE or design on my own!
If you haven’t gotten Irresistible Blooms for yourself yet, I can’t recommend it enough. And when the dies come back in stock in a couple of weeks, you’ll want to grab those, too – they cut out the stamp images, and there are also a couple of detailed dies that are “irresistible”! I think the beaded curtain piece (at least, that’s what I’m calling it) is my favorite, but the circle window with beading is really great too.
Do you struggle with card design inspiration? Or just enjoy watching others create to find some ideas for your own crafting? I’d love to have you follow me over on YouTube. Click this link to watch the video for this week’s project, and be sure to subscribe to my channel while you’re there! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I’ll be back soon with more design inspo for your crafting!
Looking at cards is a great place to find inspiration.
Beautiful card ideas using different layouts and materials.
Every card design starts in the same place: with a piece of cardstock. For a standard A2 card base (in the United States), your card will measure 4 ¼” x 5 ½”. This can be achieved in many ways, and this is honestly where the fun begins.
We’ll start with the basics: you’ll want to cut a piece of 8 ½” x 11” piece of cardstock in half, either horizontally or vertically. Both cuts will result in an A2 card once scored and folded in half again. The difference is in how the card opens and the orientation (portrait or landscape) that you plan to use. In the case of a portrait orientation card, this choice is purely preference.
If a standard fold seems old hat to you, check out my post on fun folds. There, you’ll find several ideas for different ways to cut and assemble cardstock and Designer Series Paper to create a beautiful project.
Designer Series Paper…
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Designer Series Paper (also called printed paper or DSP) is any piece of paper that has a design printed on it. Stampin’ Up! sells DSP that is two-sided, meaning that one side has one pattern and there is a different pattern on the other side. DSP from Stampin’ Up! is much thinner than the cardstock, so using it doesn’t add as much weight or thickness to your projects.
Aside from their high quality, Stampin’ Up! products overall are wonderful because of the color coordination across all product types. This means that the colors of cardstock match the colors of ink, which match the colors in the Designer Series Papers. DSP is sold in packs with several designs, sized in 6”x6” or 12”x12” pieces. The colors within a pack of DSP all coordinate and are consistent throughout the pack. You can use a piece of your favorite pattern of DSP to start your creative juices flowing.
Stampin’ Up! has amazing color coordination!
Your chosen piece of DSP can be one of several layers on your card, the main image on your card, or just a small piece that also inspires your card’s color palette. Using multiple patterns of DSP on your project incorporates visual interest. The more you use your DSP, the more you’re going to love it! And, as Kylie Bertucci (an independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in Australia) says, if you “Love It, Chop It!” Determining exactly how to cut and use DSP to maximize its impact can be intimidating, however, so make sure you check out my suggestions!
Layers
Have you looked at a Hallmark card rack lately? Layers are NOT the first thing you think of, are they? Grocery store cards tend to be flat and two-dimensional, featuring a picture of some sort along with a sentiment/phrase. Layers are truly an easy way to distinguish your handmade creation from a typical grocery-store card.
A layer is any cardstock or Designer Series Paper that is added to the card base, that original piece of cardstock you cut to start your project. There are probably as many approaches to layering as there are layers you can add to a card! But to get us started, I’ll talk about a couple of options.
First, I often keep my layers proportional to my card base. So, for a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card base, my first layer might be 4” x 5 ¼”. I center this on the card base and proceed to the next layer. At this point, you might decide that your card only needs a stamped focal image and/or sentiment to feel complete. Or, you might want to add a second rectangular layer before finishing it up. In this case, I recommend shortening each side by the same amount. So, as an example, your layers would be 4” x 5 ¼” and 3 ¾” x 5”.
Second, layers can be different shapes, such as circles, squares, hearts, etc. For these shapes, punches and dies are my favorite ways to achieve the look you desire. This layer is where I typically stamp a focal image.
Embossing Folders
Embossing folders can add so much to your project, and they’re quite simple to use once you have the right tools. Embossing folders add depth to your card without adding a lot of colors or distracting images. The folders usually show either a repeating pattern (like gingham), a texture (like woodgrain), or a focal image (like a spray of eucalyptus), so you can choose which style you’d like to use for your project.
Stamped panel of cardstock with dry embossing for texture.
The embossed panel can be used as a background layer or as the focus of your card. You can emboss any color of cardstock (or even a piece of designer series paper!), so you can always customize it to suit your current project. The texture provided really enhances your project and makes it look and feel so much more special to the recipient.
Die Cuts and Punches
As I mentioned above, die cuts and punches are extremely useful for adding pieces to your card that can’t be made by cutting and scoring. Depending on the size of the piece, die cuts and punches can be used to create focal images or accents.
While some dies and punches can stand alone (e.g., a branch of foliage or a heart), others are designed to cut out a specific stamped image. The stamped image provides all the detail of the piece, and the fact that it is cut out makes it really stand out from the card’s other elements. Adhering these die cuts/punches with dimensionals (foam pads that provide some elevation from the rest of the card) enhances the piece even more.
Background Stamps
If you’re looking for a way to add texture without using a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, look no further than your stamp collection! Background stamps are typically large (slightly larger than an A2 card front) and allow you to cover the entire panel of cardstock with one stamp. Depending on the look you’re hoping to achieve, you can stamp in the same or slightly darker color as the cardstock, or you can use bright colors on Basic White cardstock for a more dramatic effect. I have a few tips on how to successfully incorporate background stamps in your projects.
You can also choose smaller stamps to create your own background. For this method, I like to choose two or three different sized stamps and repeat them across the panel, rotating the stamps each time to avoid looking too uniform. One of my favorite examples of this uses a flower, a leaf, and a small texture (like a cluster of dots for a flower center) scattered across the panel. This becomes very similar to creating your own piece of Designer Series Paper.
Stamp your own background design
Ribbon
Remember when I mentioned color coordination earlier? Stampin’ Up! ribbons match the ink/cardstock colors! Being able to decorate a project with a coordinating ribbon gives your project a polished look when it’s complete. You as the crafter will feel so talented, and your recipient will be honored to receive such a special card.
Stampin’ Up! ribbons in many different textures, widths, and colors.
Stampin’ Up! ribbons come in lots of colors, as I mentioned, and there are also many different materials, textures, and styles, so you always have a ribbon for your needs. Finally, there are several ways to use the ribbon on your project. This blog post provides more detail on the different uses of ribbons.
Embellishments
Embellishments are where your project can really get interesting. If you can dream it, Stampin’ Up! probably has it! Some embellishments come with adhesive already attached to the embellishment (typically in the form of a glue dot), and others are loose in a container and will need to be attached either with your own adhesive or with twine or another ribbon option.
Embellishments come in various shapes, colors, and sizes.
Embellishments come in a multitude of colors (and match regular Stampin’ Up! colors of cardstock and ink), some are metallic, and some are shapes. Additionally, the depth of the texture added by any given embellishment varies. This becomes important for several reasons, and you do need to be aware of postage implications of the different types of embellishments as well.
The Take-Your-Pick tool is a great addition to your crafting tool kit, as it has a putty tip that will help you pick up these embellishments and then release them on your project just where you want them. It also has a spatula end that I use for picking up embellishments that ended up where I don’t want them.
Using the Take Your Pick tool makes embellishing projects easy!
Foil is a one-sided piece of paper that can be used for most projects. Whether you decide to cut a rectangle to use as a layer or get a little fancier with how you use it, foil on your project is sure to draw the recipient’s eye due to its reflective nature. Stampin’ Up! also carries foils in several different colors and finishes, so you’ll find something that coordinates with the other elements on your projects.
Foil works well for both die cutting and dry embossing. It cuts easily with dies, allowing you to add a sprig of foliage, a special shape, or even a banner cut from the foil. Dry embossing really stands out on foil, too, and can make a big impact without much effort.
I also recommend trying a strip of foil along one edge of a layer, which gives a lovely effect without using a large piece of the foil you’ve chosen.
Finally, stamping is another potential use for your foil. Pigment ink is the way to go here, although be aware that this will need significant drying time before completing and mailing your project. Currently, Stampin’ Up! carries a white pigment ink.
Vellum
Using vellum on projects is one of my favorite things to do! Vellum is a sturdy but elegant material that is amenable to many techniques normally used on cardstock. I especially like to use it as a layer to tone down a flashy piece of DSP or as a die cut to enhance the other parts of my project.
Not sure where to start with these ideas?
The Tic Tac Toe board below can help! Select a line of three squares and incorporate each of those elements into your project.
Design Tic-Tac-Toe
Now that you’ve had an overview of design components in card making, are you inspired to get into your craft room? If you love the ideas I’ve shared, but you still don’t feel confident enough to design your own project, I’ve got you! Sign up to receive my weekly emails with card tutorials, links to all of my classes, and Stampin’ Up! specials! I promise not to spam you or sell your info (because really, who has time for all that?!), and as a thank you for signing up I’ll send you my FIVE favorite card sketches! Never used a sketch before? I can help you learn how to implement sketches – and my sketches include all the dimensions you need, so you’ll have beautiful projects of your own in no time!
