Faux Step Card with Cute as a Bug designer series paper

 

Fun folds can seem complicated. Today, I bring you the Faux Step Card. It has big WOW factor but is simple to make. I love breaking down fun folds and making them easier for you to copy. For this one, I used Cute as a Bug designer series paper by Stampin' Up!®. I just love all the little bugs and scenes on the paper. 

Instructions:

1. Cut card base. 4 1/4" x 11". Score at 1 1/2", 3" and 7". Fold smaller flap like an accordion fold. See video for tutorial. I used Mossy Meadow cardstock. Crease the folds well with a bone folder. 
2. Cut layer for card base (fits in the 4 1/2" x 4" space behind the step card base). 3 3/4" x 4". I used Petal Pink light two tone cardstock.
3. Cut Faux Step card base. 2 1/2" x 8 1/2". Score at 5 1/2". I used Cajun Craze cardstock. 
4. Cut faux step card base layer. 2 1/4" x 5 1/4". I used the checkered squares pattern. Adhere to the step cardstock base.
5.  Circle die cut layer. 2 1/2" or 2 3/4". Adjust to the size you need. I used the second largest circle from Spotlight on Nature dies and Basic White cardstock. There are several edge patterns to choose from in this set. 
6. Greeting layer. approximately 1/2" x 2". Adjust to your greeting. I used two different die cuts with Basic White cardstock for my cards. Smallest stitched rounded rectangle from Nested Essentials dies (hello friend from Sweet Bugs) and smallest narrow banner greeting label from Stylish Shapes dies (hello from Simply Said). Both greetings are stamped in Old Olive classic ink. 
7. Layers on die cut circles are cut from Cute as a Bug dsp. Fussy cut the characters you want with scissors and layer them on the white circle. 
8. Adhere Petal Pink layer to Mossy Meadow card base. 
9. Adhere dsp to faux step card base if you haven't already.
10. Adhere faux step card base to the bottom of the accordion fold. Apply a small amount of adhesive along the bottom of the step card base. Line it up with the bottom of the card base. Then apply a small amount of adhesive on the back of the top of the step card base. Fold it over and adhere to back of card. See tutorial video. 
11. Adhere bug scene to white circle die cut if you haven't already. 
12. Stamp greeting onto a layer of your choice.  For the card in the video I used the narrow stitched banner label and a few extra bugs I fussy cut from the dsp. 
13. Adhere circle die cut to card front. It will adhere to the step card layer and the bottom. Do not put adhesive on the areas that hang over or your card will not move and pop out to stand up. 
14. Adhere greeting layer with dimensionals. Be mindful if you put it in an area that hangs over the edge of the step card base. You don't want adhesive on any parts that hang over or the card will not stand up properly. 
15. Cut a Basic White cardstock or White Willow cardstock layer for the inside. 3 3/4" x 4". You can stamp this layer or use dsp to dress it up. I used a strip of the checkered square pattern. Adhere it to the layer and trim off any excess. Then adhere to the inside of your card. 

Have fun with this paper. The little bugs are so cute and there are tons you can cut and use from the paper. You can also get the coordinating Sweet Bugs bundle (stamps and dies) to create your own little bugs. Shop in my online store for this bundle and other greeting sets I used. 

Quick Measurements:

• Main Card Base: 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 1 1/2", 3" & 7"
• DSP/cardstock layer for main base: 3 3/4" x 4"
• Step Card Base: 2 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 5 1/2"
• DSP/cardstock layer for step base: 2 1/4" x 5 1/4"
• Circle layer: 2 1/2" or 2 3/4"
• Greeting layer: 1/2" x 2 3/4" (adjust for your greeting)
• Inside layer: 3 3/4" x 4"

Have fun creating using this faux step card design with any of the beautiful designer series papers by Stampin' Up!®. What's in your stash that would work with this fun fold card? 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my faux step card. I love this fun fold because it has a ton of WOW factor and is simple to assemble. 

Shop for Stampin' Up!® products in my online store. 

Happy Creating!

~ Beth 

Grateful for you card with layered die cuts

 

Today, I'm sharing a simple card with layered die cuts. Designer Series Paper helps bring in some color for my background. Look through your die sets. Do some contain stand-alone dies that you can use for elements on a card? The flowers for this card were made with the Sweet Bugs dies. I die cut the stems, flower petals, middle (actually one of the berries) and a snail from Basic White cardstock. Then I added color with Stampin' Blends markers [dark Darling Duckling, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, light Gray Granite, Natural Tones 100 (deep), Natural Tones 300 (medium deep) and Natural Tones 500 (medium)]. You could use two tone or regular cardstock for this step. I used Basic White cardstock die cut with the stitched rounded rectangle from Nested Essentials dies to hold my flowers. 

The flag layers were created from the flag dies from Nested Essentials dies and Country Woods designer series paper by Stampin' Up!®. I used the second smallest with the Misty Moonlight patterned paper. Cut two and make it look longer by layering them behind the rectangle. For the smaller flag, I used the smallest flag die and a wood patterned paper. I also cut two of these. Adhere the flag pieces behind the rectangle. 

Adhere the flowers together with glue dots and then adhere on the white rectangle. Place the tiny snail with your take your pick tool putty end.  Adhere this layer onto a Thick Basic White cardstock base (5 1/2" x 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"). 

The greeting is from Amber Autumn stamp set by Stampin' Up!®. It's stamped in Basic Gray classic ink onto a Basic White cardstock die cut label banner from Stylish Shapes dies.  Adhere this to your card with stampin' dimensionals. 

You can leave your card blank for a message inside or use left over flag die cuts or flowers to decorate the inside. 

Here's a close-up of the flowers and the little snail. I love when Stampin' Up!® includes stand-alone dies in our die sets. Stand-alone means it doesn't coordinate with a stamp. These dies help you create unique layers and elements for your cards. Check out your stash and see what stand-alone dies you have. Use them to make some simple layered cards. 

You can add color to white cardstock die cuts with Stampin' Blends markers, Water Painters and Classic ink pads, Watercolor Pencils, Blending Brushes and Classic ink pads, or die cut from colored cardstock or two tone cardstock.  The possibilities are endless. 

I made this card on a Facebook live. Check out the video tutorial on my YouTube Channel. 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my card. I hope you're inspired to use those extra stand-alone dies included in some of the Stampin' Up!® die sets. 

You can browse dies and bundles (stamps and coordinating dies) in my online store. 

Happy Creating!

~ Beth 

Quick Cards with paper scraps

 Today, I'm sharing a few more cards made with paper scraps. I tend to collect loads of pieces of designer series papers. I grabbed my pack of Beautiful Gallery designer series paper by Stampin' Up!®. I have made a ton of cards with this beautiful paper and I am left with strips of scraps of various measurements (1/2", 1", 2", 3" etc). You can trim them down to any size. I like to make mine 5" and I work with whatever width they are. 

Mix and Match patterns and colors. I did tuck in a designer series paper strip from another pack on my Sending Love card. Nature Walk designer series paper (dsp) has some of the same colors as the Beautiful Gallery dsp so I used a strip that mixed well with my floral pattern. What papers do you have in your collection that you can mix and match?

                                                                                                                                                                           

My first card uses two patterns from Beautiful Gallery dsp and one pattern from Nature Walk dsp. The Secret Sea grid from Nature Walk mixed so well with the textured Cloud Cover pattern. The floral piece has bits of Mossy Meadow, Cloud Cover, Secret Sea and white. I adhered them on a thick Basic White cardstock base.

I cut down the 6" pieces to 5". The widths vary. I cut the floral piece down to 2" and adhered the left over piece on the inside of my card. 

"Sending Love" greeting is stamped on a scrap Basic White cardstock strip in Secret Sea classic ink. This greeting is from Fabulous Sayings stamp set. It's an exclusive stamp set you can opt to buy in January 2026. Every month there is a new Product of the Month and it's while supplies last. When you spend $75 you can buy the exclusive product of the month for $5. Grab it before it's gone. I love the handwriting look and the greetings are bigger size. 

My second card uses three patterns from Beautiful Gallery dsp. I trimmed the pieces to 5" and left the strips whatever width they were. I'm guessing 1" to 2" pieces. I used Mossy Meadow cardstock for my base and light Basic Beige two tone cardstock inside.

I put the floral pattern in the middle to change it up and then stamped my greeting directly onto it. The greeting is from Beautiful Motifs stamp set and stamped in Mossy Meadow classic ink. I used a stamp positioner to stamped the greeting. It allows me to restamp if it doesn't stamp well or needs reinked. 

Stampin' Up!® is releasing a new Stampin' Positioner tool. Demonstrators were able to pre-order this product before it's available to customers. February 3 to March 2, 2026, anyone getting the starter kit will get this new product free as a bonus. It's an amazing deal. You get $125 in products for $99 plus tax. You pick the products! Join here and get the Stampin' Positioner free. The tool will be available to customers at a later date (TBD).

You can watch my Facebook live replay over on my YouTube Channel Stamp and Create with Beth. If you haven't subscribed, please do. 

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're inspired to get out some of those beautiful papers sitting on your shelf or tucked away in a drawer and use up the scraps. Make cards to send out and cheer up someone who needs it or simply say You've been on my mind. We all love a little happy mail. 

You can browse Stampin' Up! products in my online store. Enjoy!

Happy Creating!

~ Beth