Slimline Cards

I have moved from my long-time (almost 40 years) home in Woomera to the serenity of the Adelaide Hills. Unfortunately it means I have moved away from my craft group as well, so I won't be posting very often, not that I was a regular/frequent blogger anyway. But if/when I try new techniques, I will try to remember to add a blog entry in case someone else would like to try it.

One of the latest trends is the Slimline Card. These cards fit into a DL/business envelope and can look really awesome. I made these ones a few months back and unfortunately the Designer Series Paper (DSP) and stamps sets were from the first 2022 Mini-Catalogue and are no longer available. But there are other DSPs that will provide the same great backgrounds. Alternate DSPs and card measurements below.

Card 1. 

DSP: New Horizons (retired)

Stamp Set: Seas the Day (retired)

Card 2

DSP: New Horizons (retired)

Stamp Set: Kite Delight (retired)

Card 3

DSP: New Horizons (retired)

Stamp set: Nuts & Bolts (retired)

Card 4

DSP: New Horizons (retired)

Stamp set: Awesome Otters (retired)

Card 5

DSP: New Horizons (retired)

Stamp Set: Kite Delight (retired)

Designer Series Papers

As I said, the New Horizons DSP was fantastic for these cards. I just had to add some stamps and a sentiment and they were good to go. Thankfully Stampin' Up! make appropriately sized envelopes, Slimline Envelopes come in three great colours (Smoky Slate, Soft Succulent and white) with 5 of each colour in a pack.

Some current DSPs that would work really well, especially some of the 'backs':

Flowering Fields 12" x 12" DSP

Bloom Where You're Planted DSP

Beauty of the Earth DSP

Hues of Happiness DSP

There are others, and there are more coming up soon in the first Mini Catalogue for 2023. Keep an eye out for one called Rain or Shine! The new catalogue is available from 5 January 2023.

Card Measurements

Card base (use a cardstock that matches the DSP): 8-1/2" x 7" (fold so the card measures 8-1/2" x 3-1/2")

Mat 1 (use a cardstock that coordinates with the base and the DSP): 6" x 3"

Mat 2 (the DSP): 5-3/4" x 2-3/4" 

For a different look, try:

Mat 1 (cardstock): 8-1/4" x 3-1/4"

Mat 2 (DSP): 8" x 3"

I just stamped the sentiments directly onto the card base or the DSP, apart from the dark one - I added a label for that.

Anyway, give them a try. They're easy and they look really cute.

Happy crafting!

Side Gate Fold Card

It's been a while, but here I am with a new (for me) card fold: a Side Gate Fold Card. These are really easy and not too fiddly, excellent for a quick card with a bit of pizzazz.

Click on the item names below to go to them in my online store.

Materials

• A4 Cardstock (card base and label)
• Designer Series Paper or Specialty Designer Series Paper (card front)
• Coordinating Cardstock (front label mat)
• Adhesive

Equipment

• Paper Trimmer
• Bone Folder
• Image and Sentiment stamps
• Embellishments, as required

Instructions

1. Cut A4 Cardstock in half (at 5-7/8" on the long side) to make the card base.

2. Score at 2-5/8" from one end and 1-1/2" from the other end. Make sure the ends meet evenly before burnishing with a bone folder.

3. Cut two pieces of Designer Series Paper (as below) and adhere them to the card front. They could be different designs as long as they coordinate.

• 2-3/8" x 5-5/8"
• 1-1/4" x 5-5/8"

4. Create front piece. You can make it any size or shape that you like. The one in my photo is:

• Larger piece of cardstock (mat): 3-5/8" x 2-1/2"
• Smaller piece of cardstock (label): 3-1/2" x 2-3/8"

5. Stamp a sentiment and image on the label and adhere to the mat.

6. Adhere the front piece to the card being careful to only place adhesive on the parts that adhere to the left (larger) side of the card. otherwise you won't be able to open the card!

7. Embellish as desired.

I made a couple of Mother's Day cards using this design. The stamp set is long retired, but I didn't have any current stamps with me that had "Happy Mother's Day" on them. This is the second card that I made.

The Designer Series Paper for both cards is from the Abstract Beauty Suite Collection (see my last blog entry). It's such a beautiful DSP having the gold highlights on it. 

I won't be blogging as often as I used to. I've moved house and don't have a craft group or classes any more. But I'll post things that I find interesting or that are new.

Happy crafting

Abstract Beauty Suite Collection

 I needed four birthday cards but am away from my craft supplies at present. Fortunately I had just received the Abstract Beauty Suite Collection (click on the name to see it in my online shop) and was able to cobble together some basic cards.

This collection contains lots and lots of cool stuff:

Abstract Beauty Cards & Envelopes

Abstract Beauty (4" x 6") Designer Series Paper

Abstract Beauty Ephemera Pack

Beautiful Shapes Dies

Hello Beautiful Stamp Set

Adhesive-Backed Hexagons

I used the Cards and Envelopes, the Ephemera Pack, the Designer Series Paper, and the Hexagons and created some pretty cards with no-so-pretty sentiments (I had to write them by hand, lol). Here's what I came up with.

The DSP is so pretty and each sheet has gold accents.

You could do worse than getting a hold of this collection and see what YOU can create!

Happy Crafting!