Wednesday, December 4, 2024

O CHRISTMAS TREE! O CHRISTMAS TREE!

I have another fun fold card for you today that uses the Decorative Trees Bundle.  I have no idea what the official name of this Fun Fold is, but I'm calling it a Side Box Fun Fold.


I gave it that name because the left side of the card actually opens to a box shape allowing the tree panel to pop up.


This gives the card a little bit of WOW when it is opened!  It also provides a nice sturdy base for displaying the card.  The designer series paper (DSP) is from the Sentimental Christmas Collection.

I showed how to make this fun fold last week on my Learning with Friends Video Series.  If you missed it, you can still watch the replay.


The Thoughtful Expressions "medallion" that the tree is sitting on is made with two layers of beautiful Specialty Paper that adds some shimmer & shine and elegance to the card.  It is called Oxidized Copper, and I thought it worked nicely with the more country feel of the Sentimental Christmas DSP.

To keep the copper theme going I decorated the tree with Copper Foil trim that was die cut using more dies from the Decorative Trees Bundle.  Copper Sequins from Neutrals Adhesive-Backed Sequins add even a bit more bling!

When the card is opened, the sentiment is revealed on a second Thoughtful Expressions medallion assembly that was hidden behind the medallion on the card front.


Use this link to download a copy of the tutorial.  The link to the video is also included on the Tutorial, so you can easily access it later.

A list of the products used for today's card is shown below.  Click on any image to learn more or to place an order.


Product List

Monday, December 2, 2024

DECORATIVE TREES VARIETY

This week let's decorate our Christmas trees!  I will be using the fun Decorative Trees Bundle this week.  When I first saw it in the Fall Mini catalog last summer, I didn't think I needed another Christmas Tree set, but then I saw the die cuts for this bundle at a retreat I attended in August.  And that totally changed my mind!


This bundle has multiple decorative dies to put on your solid tree die cut, and I'm going to show them ALL to you today.  We made this simple little fun fold card at my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack in October, and since we were creating a "stack" of Christmas cards, the attendees made one card with each of the trees.  This first one uses the plaid die cut.

Before I show you the other three cards, let's look at the fun fold a little closer.  It is basically comprised of a card within a card and is a vertical version of a Joy Fold.  The smaller card in the center overlaps the fold of the larger card at the bottom.



First the small card opens and then the lower part of the larger card opens.  Super quick & simple to make.  The designer series paper (DSP) is the Take a Bow 6" x 6" DSP, and every piece of a 6" x 6" piece was used to make one card -- including the decorative strip on the envelope flap!

For all the details on this Fun Fold, here is a tutorial that you download.  It includes a cutting diagram to maximize the use of a 6" x 6" piece of DSP.

Now here are the rest of the tree design die cuts.

Here is the "striped" version.


Here is the version I call a Charlie Brown Tree.


And maybe my favorite -- the snowflake tree.

Which is your favorite?  They are all so cute aren't they?  The die set includes a die that cuts out 6 bows at once, so each tree got 6 little Real Red Bows.

Since the Take a Bow DSP has 4 different double-sided patterns, I used a different DSP pattern for each card which shows off all 8 of the different patterns.  The Basic White background behind the trees was embossed with the Snowflake Sky Embossing Folder.

Listed below are the supplies for each card.  A tiny double bow was made with Real Red & white Bakers Twine.

Product List

Friday, November 29, 2024

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

Today I am using the Shepherd's Care Stamp Set to create a new Fun Fold.  Well, there really isn't much in the paper crafting world that is new, but this Fun Fold was new for me.

I have no idea what the official name of the Fun Fold is, but I've named it a Side-Box Fun Fold That's because the part of the card on the left is box-shaped.

Maybe you can see the box a little better in the photo above.  It is really an easy Fun Fold to make, but it is not all that easy to get great pictures to show it off!

I demonstrated how to make this fun fold on my Learning With Friends Video this week.  If you are located here in the US, you were probably busy getting ready for your Thanksgiving Celebration when the video aired, but no worries, you can still watch the replay.


It's a great fun fold to send to someone who likes to display their cards because it stands up wonderfully!

The focal point on the front of the card is adhered to side of the little box section, so that also makes is easy for mailing as it lays flat to tuck in an envelope.

I used Deckled Rectangle and Deckled Circle dies for my focal point.  

The Designer Series Paper is the beautiful Season of Elegance Specialty Paper, and the gold metallic mats were cut from the Textured Metallic Specialty Paper.  I almost missed this beautiful Specialty Paper in the Annual Catalog.  You can see it better by clicking on the link in the product list below!  It comes in 3 different colors and is oh, so pretty.


The "inside" of the card is actually to the right of the "box-section" of the fun fold, and it is hidden by the front focal point.


Use this link to download the tutorial.  The PDF includes a diagram for cutting and scoring the fun fold, but the video will definitely help to understand how to assemble it!

See the Product List below to learn more or purchase the products I used.

Product List