Triangle Fun Fold Swaps

I made a big stack of cards to swap at an event…that has been deferred. This was to have taken place a couple of weeks ago, and I was so discouraged that I set the entire project aside for a while, but they’re done now – and I’m quite happy with them, if I do say so myself:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

This is an exceptionally easy fun fold to do, especially with our paper trimmer. Score a sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ card stock both horizontally and vertically. Place it diagonally along the cutting edge of your trimmer, making certain that you’ve centered the top and bottom corners. (The “X” in the center of the scored lines should be along the cutting line of the trimmer as well.) Cut your card stock diagonally – the trimmer cutting edge isn’t quite long enough to make it to the ends, but if you slide the cut piece of card stock out of the trimmer, you can finish it up with your snips – it’s less than 1″ on either side.

Cut your DSP into 4″ x 5 1/4″ rectangles, and cut them diagonally as well. One design goes on one triangular panel, the other design goes on the other. A focal point/shaped image attached to one panel finishes the card and helps to keep it closed at the same time.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Here’s what it looks like with one panel open. And here it is with the other panel open:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

I used the Stamparatus to mass-produce those white die cut sentiment panels. It’s MUCH easier to cut them without the sentiment – you don’t have to position the die so precisely, and if it wiggles a little before it goes through the die cutting machine it’s NBD (No Big Deal). If you use the lighter weight Whisper White card stock, you can even cut two at a time!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Now you have a stack of die cut panels ready to be stamped.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Create a template by cutting your die cut out of the center of a good sized piece of card stock. Place your mass-produced die cut blank in the center of that template.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Align the clean sentiment stamp you have chosen on top of the positioned die cut and close your plate, picking up the stamp.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Add ink to your stamp, press the plate, and lift. Perfect placement every time – and you can do a stack of these in a hurry!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

Since this design was being mass produced for a swap, I used two different DSP combinations to finish them. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I oriented the card stock on the opposite diagonal between the batches, so they open differently. Here’s the second version:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

You can see the difference in the way the card opens:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

This opens up instead of down compared with the card above, but the side still opens to the left – the shape is just inverted.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Triangle Fun Fold

This card uses the gorgeous Peaceful Poppies DSP, and the sentiment is from Love What You Do. The two cards are the same layout, with the same embellishments. The difference is the DSP and color palette, and the sentiment on the focal point.

There are just a few more days until Sale-a-bration 2020 is in the rear view. We have one final release of SAB Rewards that include current catalog product, so be sure and take a look at the choices available as a free reward for your $50 purchase. You can start shopping HERE!

Love What You Do Fun Fold

Someone sent me a card using this layout for my birthday (Thanks, Louella!), and even though I’d seen images of this Fun Fold, holding it in my hand was a completely different experience. When I figured out how easy it was to put together, I was SOLD!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do

This is a half sheet of card stock, like any card, but it’s cut on the diagonal. I have a couple of trimmers, and none of them are large enough to cut the entire length, but if I cut through the center I was able to use my Paper Snips to complete the cut.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do

Score your full 8 1/2″ X 11″ sheet of card stock both horizontally and vertically before you cut it. Cut your DSP to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and then cut it on the diagonal as well. NOTE: If your DSP is directional, pay attention to how you cut it – for example, if you want your stripes to be horizontal, align them correctly before you cut.

You can make heaps of these in no time at all, and they’re a great way to use up your DSP. Round up all of those die cuts you have floating around because you cut an extra and didn’t know what to do with it, and you’ll have a stack of cards in a flash. Then SEND THEM!! As always, if you’re ready to shop, click HERE.

Addicted to Happiness Blooms

Happiness Blooms is absolutely addicting. It has such a presence that it practically makes the card all by itself:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Bloom By Bloom

. .

  • Color Palette: Night of Navy, Call Me Clover, Calypso Coral, Whisper White

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Bloom By Bloom

This card is just a few rectangular pieces of paper, one stamp, one color of ink, two short bits of ribbon, and some adhesive. The ribbon is made into loops and secured with Mini Glue Dots. The sentiment panel is raised on Stampin’ Dimensionals (which allows room for the ribbon to breathe). The colors are bright and suitable for nearly any occasion (except perhaps a sympathy card…I don’t think I would choose this design for that purpose.)

Pretty cards don’t have to be difficult! Have some fun with stamping. If you need supplies, check out the Happiness Blooms suite HERE.

The month of gratitude

Every month, every day is an occasion for gratitude, but November makes it official. I’m not consistently faithful to journaling, but this month I’ve made a commitment to observe and reflect, keeping a daily journal to record the process.

I’m tremendously grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had through Stampin’ Up! I’ve made amazing friends, traveled to wonderful events, and found incredible inspiration through this craft medium. I LOVE working with paper – it’s cheap! If you don’t like something you’ve made, THROW IT AWAY. I’m a bit of a hoarder, and it’s taken me a while to learn that one, but that’s my nugget of wisdom for today. If you don’t love it, pitch it. Don’t keep it around to make you crazy.

I also love where I live – Maui is a very special place – and I’ve chosen to celebrate Hawaii in my November calendar:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Waterfront DIY November 2018 Easel Calendar

  • Stamps: Waterfront, Love What You Do
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Tranquil Tide, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral
  • Accessories: Sponge Daubers

The Waterfront stamp set is one of the most versatile in the entire catalog. If I lived on an island in the middle of the ocean, this would be one of my keepers. (LOL. Obviously, it’s a keeper!)

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Waterfront DIY November 2018 Easel Calendar

I inked up the round shape in Waterfront with Daffodil Delight and daubed some Calypso Coral on one side to hint at a setting sun. I’ve tried creating sunset skies and been unhappy with the results (see above: they are history!). I’ll let the sun set on its own.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Waterfront DIY November 2018 Easel Calendar

This year, I’m selling the 2019 calendar PDF. You’ll get the calendar itself, a page of covers to print if you’re making gifts, and a cutting guide. Cost is $5. Leave a comment if you’re interested and I’ll send you an invoice!

Go find a little more joy with Cheryl and Crystal – they’ve also created November calendars for your delight.

Need Waterfront or any other fabulous Stampin’ Up! products? Shop HERE.

Technicolor Thanks

I love making custom cards, and I had a very special order a couple of weeks ago. I took my inspiration from the graphic design in a proposal to create these thank you cards for the team that put the proposal together:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Artistan Textures Love What You Do

  • Stamps: Love What You Do, Artisan Textures, Handcarved (retired)
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Lemon Lime Twist, Tempting Turquoise (retired)
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Subtle Dynamic TIEF (swoon), Watercolor Paper, Ink Refills, Brush, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Artistan Textures Love What You Do

First things first. When I first saw the Subtle Dynamic TIEF in the catalog, I thought it was just a titch TOOO subtle – I couldn’t see anything. But it really sounded like the sort of thing I would love, if it were what it seemed to be – get my drift?

Oh Em Gee.  It is gorgeous. I highly recommend giving your cardstock a very light spritz before running it through the embossing folder. I use rubbing alcohol because it dries very quickly, but you could use water. The results are stunning.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Artistan Textures Love What You Do

I was looking for some DSP to put into that angled section between the two Tempting Turquoise panels, and I started to play with water and ink and the light went on. I used an ordinary paintbrush with ink refills to draw lines across some Watercolor Paper, and I was thrilled with the results. Cutting it into sections really made it pop.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Artistan Textures Love What You Do

I can’t show you the source of my inspiration, but the graphics and colors are similar. (I hope you’ll forgive me for using Tempting Turquoise, but that was the best match and I still had some in my craft room.) There was a LOT of measure twice, cut once-ing and I still had a few things that went wonky on me, but this was a really fun project. You can find inspiration in the most unexpected places…

…but if you want to shop for supplies, it’s easy. Shop HERE.

 

 

June: Love What You Do

How can it be June already? Crystal got it right: May is like December, but without the presents.  And, I might add, without the cookies. The good news is that when the month changes, so does the calendar page:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do DIY Calendar June 2018

  • Stamps: Love What You Do
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, and Lemon Lime Twist
  • Accessories:  Blender Pen, Stampin’ Write marker

I am THRILLED that Poppy Parade has made a return to the Core Colors. It’s always been one of my favorite red tones – that vibrant, orange red that says LOOK AT MEEEE!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Share What You Love DIY Calendar June 2018

There’s a big, gorgeous new 2018-2019 Annual Catalog that goes live today – what’s on your shopping list??  There are so many new colors – returning favorites and brand new shades to love – and I want them all. Ordering begins by noon Mountain Time today (June 1st).

When you place your order, be sure to enter Host Code 32K6EETG for a special new catalog gift. Hint: it’s all about color!

Crystal and Cheryl have June calendars for you too – be sure and stop by!