See-through Card front with Vellum

 Who doesn't love a fun, unique, see-through 

Christmas card?

This is a fun technique and it creates a WOW card. You can pair any stamp sets and greetings you have on hand with a vellum layer. I love using this technique to create wintry scenes. The embossed Vellum adds loads of texture and detail to your see-through layer. 

For this card, I used Yuletide Village and Trucking Along stamp sets to create a cute little holiday scene. The image outlines are stamped in Basic Gray classic ink. The truck is a two-step stamp so I stamped the solid truck in Cherry Cobbler. I absolutely love this classic truck image. The Yuletide Village trees and houses are colored with Stampin' Blends markers in Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock and Cherry Cobbler. The greeting comes from Trucking Along and is stamped in Pretty Peacock classic ink. 

After I stamped my layers, I used a Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker to create snowy hills and land lines. This helps separate the white layers a bit. I used light Smoky Slate blend marker to create some snowy shadows and then lightened and softened the edges with the color lifter blend marker. The lines are also a cutting guide for the layer. I used snips to cut around the drawn lines and stamped images. I only cut along the top part of the layer. 

Because the vellum is slick and we embossed it, you'll want to use a strong adhesive. I recommend tear & tape for the top flap that holds the vellum layer. For the bottom layers I used liquid glue. You could also use Seal + adhesive. 

Did you notice my fun color combo? Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Smoky Slate and Basic Gray. Give it a try. I love it with any wintry theme. 

Measurements and cutting instructions:

1. Cut base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", score at 4 1/4". Slide base down and cut at 4 3/4". This creates the 1/2" flap for your tape to hold vellum layer.

2. Use remainder cardstock from base to create a layer. Stamp as desired and cut or die cut around the top edge. *see video

3. Cut another layer for front. 5 1/2" x 2 1/2" (or desired height)

4. Cut cardstock layer for backside/bottom of vellum 5 1/2" x 2"

For all the stamping, cutting and assembly instructions, check out the video:

Supplies Used:

• Yuletide Village and Trucking Along stamp sets
• Cardstocks: Basic White and Vellum (retired SU)
• Classic inks: Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler and Pretty Peacock
• Stampin' Blends Markers: Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Smoky Slate and color lifter
• Stampin' Write Marker: Basic Gray
• Tools: Cut & Emboss machine, Softly Falling embossing folder (retired), trimmer and snips
• Embellishment: Wink of Stella
• Adhesives: Tear & Tape and liquid glue

I hope you'll give this technique a try. Enjoy! You can find Stampin' Up! products in my Online Store.

Happy Stampin!

~ Beth

Whimsical Color Combo with Winterly Tree Tops

 Do you like to try different color combos?

Here's a whimsical color combo for you.

Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam, Pool Party and Pretty Peacock make a soft, whimsical color combo with a little pop. I like to add in some neutrals to complete my color combo. I usually add in Basic Gray, Basic White and Smoky Slate. What neutrals would you add?

The birds from Winterly Tree Tops were perfect for this whimsical and fun color combo. They were stamped in Basic Gray classic ink and colored with Smoky Slate and Pool Party Stampin' blends markers. Adding layers is a great way to bring in the different colors in the combo. I love the bold Pretty Peacock card base. It helps draw attention to the soft colors and add a fun pop of color. The berries were colored with Petal Pink and Soft Sea Foam blends and the branch was colored with Smoky Slate blends. I added some light Pool Party blend marker to my Basic White rectangle. Then I smoothed the edges with my color lifter blend marker. 

For this card and layout, I wanted to add a small greeting (Artful Amaryllis) so the birds remained the focal point. It is stamped in Pretty Peacock classic ink. I am a big fan of using general greetings like Hello. The card can be for any occasion. I love this Petal Pink polka dot patterned paper. It's from the Flowering Zinnias designer series paper. The Soft Sea Foam die cut banner helps add a little color between the layers. 

Recreate this card with your own supplies.

Measurements:

• Card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Designer Series paper layer: 5 1/4" x 3"
• Die cut rectangle: 1 3/4" x 3 1/4" (Everyday Details dies)
• Die cut banner: 2 3/8" x 1 5/8" (Nested Essentials dies)
• Greeting: 1/4" x 3/4"- adjust to fit your greeting
• Die cut birds from Winterly Tree Tops. Use whatever images and dies you have to create this layer.
• Inside layer" 5" x 3 3/4"

You can view the Stampin' Up! products I used here.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you give this color combo a try.

Enjoy!

~ Beth

Make 5 cards with a 6" x 12" piece of patterned paper

 Do you get paper shares? I find myself wondering what to do with the 6" x 12" sheets and how to cut them up the best way to maximize them. After all, we want to use most of it with little waste. 

I love chopping up my patterned paper based off a template. This set of cards was made with a template I created for my 6" x 12" sheet.  

Download the One Sheet Wonder template 5 and use it with your favorite patterned papers. The pdf has all the measurements. 

You can keep the cards simple if the patterned paper is really busy or layer them up with fun and beautiful images and die cuts. 

I really like using this template for busy patterns that you may feel nervous about cutting or wonder how to use it and tone it down. This one sheet wonder 6" x 12" version is great. I hope you give it a try.

Grab this paper or browse my online store for more Stampin' Up! products for your crafting adventures. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog and checking out my cards. 

~ Beth 

Hot Cocoa themed Pocket Card

 Do you give gift cards or cash for the holidays?

This cute pocket card is for you! I give tons of gift cards around the holidays and for many other occasions. You can create pocket cards and decorate them up any way you like. 

For this card set, I used Cherry Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Pool Party, and Pretty Peacock. I love to use fun color combos. My hot cocoa themed pocket cards feature the More than Autumn bundle. The bundle includes a stamp set and coordinating dies. It's super cute and covers many occasions. I stamped my cups and marshmallows in Basic Gray classic ink. (You could use Smoky Slate too) Then I colored them with Pool Party and Pretty Peacock blends. I didn't add any coloring to my marshmallows. You could add in shading if you wanted. The stamp set includes the cute little images of a candy cane and gingerbread man. I colored those with blends as well- light Cherry Cobbler and Pecan Pie. If you're not familiar with Stampin' Up!'s alcohol markers, they come in a combo set of a light and a dark. 

The background was created with the Sketched Plaid background stamp (seriously one of my favs!). I stamped it in Pretty Peacock classic ink onto Basic White cardstock (5 1/4" x 4"). Then I added some colors with my Stampin' Blends markers. I love customizing this stamped image. I used light Pool Party, light Cherry Cobbler and light Pecan Pie. 

I love that I can dress up the pocket any way I like and customize it to the recipient. Add a gift card to the little pull out notecard along with a little special message. If you need more room for your message, you can add a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock to the back.  

You can see the products I used on my website here. I have all the products I used loaded into a cart for your convenience. If you already have something, you can remove it. 

Here's a close up of my cute pocket layer

Change it up and use fun color combos for your seasonal cards. I used a Cherry Cobbler base and pocket on this card.

I've created a Hot Cocoa themed Pocket Card pdf with all the measurements.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this pocket card. Please leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Happy Stampin' 

~ Beth

Zig Zag Z fold card

Have you tried the Zig Zag Z fold card?

This fun fold is sure to WOW whoever receives it. I just love the possibilities. You can layer it up or let the designer series paper (aka patterned paper) do all the work. 

I'm so in love with how this one turned out. The new Yuletide Village stamp set is one of my absolute favorites. I paired it with the Forever Forest stamp set and coordinating dies to create this layered scene. My other favorite is the Nests of Winter designer series paper. The colors and patterns are just beautiful. To add a little distressed look behind my greeting, I tore a piece of Two-toned Pool Party cardstock. If you haven't checked out the new two-toned cardstocks- you're gonna want to! They are fabulous and great for tearing techniques. 

Grab the Zig Zag Z fold pdf for measurements.

Watch a live tutorial if you need more of a visual.

My house image is stamped in Basic Gray classic ink. Then I colored it in with Stampin' Blends markers. I love that you can use the classic inks with the blends markers. Stampin' Blends colors I used: light Pretty Peacock, Cherry Cobbler and Smoky Slate. **Blends come in a combo of a light and dark marker.

The trees from Forever Forest were stamped in Old Olive. I used a little Mossy Meadow on a sponge dauber to add a little depth to my trees. Then die cut with the coordinating dies. I trimmed a tree off and then layered it on top of the taller tree. 

Don't you just love the new two-toned cardstock? I love the expanded colors and the distressed look of a torn edge. 

All my bits are layered onto a stitched circle die cut. 

The greeting is from the retired set- Itty Bitty Christmas. Use whatever greetings you have on hand with the Yuletide Village set. 

Here are some other zig zag z fold cards I've made. 

Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper, Winterly Tree Tops stamp set

Take to the Sky Designer Series Paper
Adventurous Sky bundle

Give this fun fold a try! It's a great WOW card.

Head over to my Stampin' Up! website and see what products I used on my Yuletide Village zig zag z fold card here.

Want to check out the new two-toned cardstock? Browse my online store.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this card and are inspired to give it a try. I'd love to hear from you in the comments. 

Happy stampin'

~ Beth 

Cards featuring the new two-toned cardstock

 Have you checked out the new two-toned cardstock? 

Two-toned cardstock adds great texture to your cards and expands coordinating colors too. 

Recently, I saw a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and immediately I thought of the new two-toned cardstock. Two-toned cardstock has a white core because the color is actually printed onto the paper. This allows Stampin' Up! to add a color from all the color line and a lighter color of the same on the reverse side. This really expands the colors we have to play with. I'm really excited about that aspect. Also, when you tear this cardstock, it leaves a white edge. I love this texture! There are four colors available in single colors packs (Pool Party, Real Red, Garden Green and Basic Black) and four variety packs that coordinate with the new scrapbooking workshop kits. You can check out all the colors available now in my Online Store. 

So, I grabbed my favorite new stamp set, some new two-toned cardstock and got busy. Yuletide Village just released in September and I've fallen madly in love with it. It's great for all occasions and any winter themed cards. I paired it with Forever Forest stamp set. I also used a variety of greetings, retired and current. 

I inked my trees (Forever Forest) in Old Olive classic ink and then swiped the Mossy Meadow classic ink over spots to create some dark areas. My stamp must have been a little dirty from the last use because it had a little brown on it as well. That happens sometimes. I'm not disappointed with the result. In my tutorial video below, I go over different ways to add inks to your cling stamps. 

After I finished this card, I decided to try the same layout and elements with die cut trees (Forever Forest dies) instead of stamped trees. 

Another card featuring the same layout but with Merry Christmas


Check out my video tutorial of the Christmas card featuring two-toned cardstock:

Grab my Winter Card pdf tutorial with all the measurements for the Merry Christmas card.

I love the effect the two-toned cardstock gives my card. It's a great layer to build elements on. So naturally, I had to try out another stamp. The sled is a great winter image that can be used for a variety of card occasions. Here's my results after adding different items to my two-toned cardstock layers. 

One of the things I love to do is get out my favorite products that I've added to my collection. We buy things we love and therefore should use them. Here's a card I worked up with some retired sets that you may have in your stash. I used Coming Home and Beauty of Friendship stamp sets. I used a Misty Moonlight card base and Cajun Craze two-toned cardstock. Blues and Oranges work well together because they are complementary colors. You could use Peaceful Evergreens or Frosted Forest and Humble Home to recreate this card.

Here's an up-close pic of those torn edges. The texture is great and you can use one sheet and have a little difference in color or mix and match colors. 

I hope you've enjoyed the ideas with the two-toned cardstock. I started with a sketch and added different elements with the two-toned cardstock. I plan to work up some more with this general layout and two-toned cardstock. What sets/images would you use?

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my cards. 

~ Beth

Accordion Z Fold Card with Yuletide Village

 Do you love fun folds? 

Here's one to try- the accordion z fold card.

I love trying new things. Fun folds can seem really complicated and scary. Here's one I found that I love. It's like one of my other favorite fun folds- the z fold card or double z fold card. The difference is the front part is an accordion fold instead of folding the front flap (or panel) back on itself. Cool right? 

Measurements:

• Card base #1: 5 1/2" x 11". Score 11" side at 1 3/4", 3 1/2". 5 1/4" and 7"
• Card base #2: 2" x 6". Score 6" side at 3"
• Layers for base #1: 1 1/2" x 5 1/4" (4) and 3 3/4" x 5 1/4"
• Layers for base #2: 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" (2)
• Add any layers or die cuts you'd like

This card is a quick and easy fun fold that has a ton of WOW. You can keep it simple or layer it up. It's up to you!

Grab my printable pdf here.

You can use any patterned paper and stamps you have on hand. 

Need more of a visual? check out my tutorial video. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my fun fold card. Want to grab this cut stamp set (Yuletide Village) or this gorgeous paper (Nests of Winter)? Hop on over to my online store and browse for those products. 

Check out more samples with this fun fold:

                                  

Give this fun fold a try! Happy Stampin' 

~ Beth