pleated prism fun fold

pleated prism fun fold

Inspiration can come from anywhere!

I often look at Pinterest, other demonstrators work and websites and Facebook and Instagram reels – this card popped up on my Pinterest board from a sideline demonstrator named Susan C. – thanks for the inspiration!

This card is called a pleated prism fun fold and starts with a 4″ square of DSP – grab one from your stash and follow along with me!

Measurements:
BASE: Old Olive CS: 4 1/4″ x 11 scored at 4 1/4″
scraps for two die cuts
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and (2) 3 1/4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for snowflake dies
DSP: 4″ x 4″

Emboss the three Basic White layers in the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder.
Score the DSP piece at 2″ and then mark with a pencil at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″, and 3 1/4″ on both the top and bottom of the DSP piece.

Score from the top mark at 3/4″ to the bottom mark at 3 1/4″.

Score from the top mark at 1 1/2″ to the bottom 2 1/2″ mark on the bottom.

Score from the top 2 1/2″ mark to the bottom 1 1/2″ mark.

Score from the top 3 1/4″ mark to the 3/4″ bottom mark.

Fold the score lines into a Valley-Mountain-Valley-Mountain-Valley so that the first middle and last scores are valley folds and the second and fourth lines are mountain folds. Use a bone folder to make all of the score lines crisp.

Using the Stampin’ Seal + and placing the tip of the fold on the center of the score line for the card base – run a line of tape from the Stampin’ Seal + on the outside flat edge opposite to the pointed edge – adhere the flat outside edge to the inside front of the card base.
Run a line of tape down the outside flat edge of the pleated prism DSP piece and close the back of the card base over the DSP mechanism. Rub on the outside of the card over where the tape is adhered to the card to secure the pleated prism DSP piece.
Take a scrap of Old Olive CS and stamp a sentiment from the Snowflake Kisses stamp set and die cut with the Textured Notes dies.

Die cut the line of small snowflakes from the Snowflake Kisses die set and place three Glue Dots on the die cut around the sentiment and adhere the snowflakes.

Take a second scrap of Old Olive and die cut the second largest square die from the Stylish Shapes die set and add some snowflake dies to the top corner.

Adhere the two 3 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed layers on either side of the pleated prism DSP piece.

Adhere the Old Olive square die cut to the right hand side for a place to write.

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed Basic White layer to the card front and pop up the Old Olive sentiment die piece in the center.
Add three Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the outside of the card to finish it off with a little holiday sparkle!

Try this easy fun fold with your stash and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

photopolymer tricks

photopolymer tricks

Did you hear the announcement?
Stampin’ Up! will be transitioning to photopolymer stamps for our entire line!

We will be discontinuing our signature red rubber stamp line for several reasons.

Cling Stamps (Red Rubber)
We’ve decided to discontinue our cling stamp line due to key raw materials becoming increasingly difficult to source, with some no longer being manufactured at all. We will continue to offer a wide range of photopolymer stamps to support various artistic styles and techniques.

Other product line updates:

Stampin’ Write Markers
We have also decided to discontinue Stampin’ Write Markers. With the growing popularity of Stampin’ Blends, we’ve seen a steady decline in sales of Stampin’ Write Markers. One of the primary techniques unique to Stampin’ Write Markers is coloring directly on cling stamps—a technique that will become less relevant as we transition away from cling.

New and Improved Stamp and Die Packaging
As part of our transition away from cling stamps, we’re excited to introduce updated packaging for stamps and dies! Because photopolymer stamps are thinner, we’re able to offer sleeker, slimmer packaging that saves space. Both stamps and dies will now come in the same size and style of packaging, making it easier than ever to store bundles and coordinating products together. The new packaging is similar to our current die packaging—durable, clear plastic envelopes—but with an exciting improvement: Die packaging will now feature printed artwork for quick and easy identification! Stamp packaging will continue to display artwork as well.

One of the exciting things about photopolymer stamps is their ease of use – being clear it is easy to see where and what you are stamping as well as line up the image in relationship to other images already on the paper!

Because these stamps are flexible you can manipulate their shape to a certain degree. Today’s project uses this tip and trick – I am using the Everyday Arches stamp set which already has a natural curve to the stamp image but I wanted to use it in conjunction with the Sunshine Vibes rainbow dies!

Here is the original shape of the stamp – I am using the “you are simply fantastic” sentiment.

Measurements:
BASE: Poppy Parade CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″, scrap for rainbow die
Calypso Coral CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for die
Basic white CS: 3″ x 4″ for the rainbow base die
Crushed Curry CS: scrap for rainbow die
Pumpkin Pie CS: scrap for rainbow die

Manipulate the photopolymer stamp into the shape desired and place on the acrylic block.
Place the largest rainbow strip on the white base for a guide and then stamp the sentiment in Poppy Parade ink to match the card base.

Adhere the rainbow strips to the Basic White CS rainbow base.

Emboss the Calypso Coral layer in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the So Swirly embossing folder using the BASE plate #1, and (2) cutting plates #3 as this is a regular width embossing folder.
Tie a 1/4″ white ribbon knot on the lower third of the embossed layer.
Adhere the embossed layer to the card base.
Pop up the rainbow focal point onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere above the ribbon on the embossed layer.
I used the white Starburst Sequin to finish off this fun card that showcases just one of the cool things you can do with photopolymer stamps!

Try you hand at bending and stamping a photopolymer stamp into a different shape and go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – cloud cover, fresh freesia and highland heather

more color mondays – cloud cover, fresh freesia and highland heather

For today’s More Color Mondays Color Challenge I pulled from last week’s Sketch Challenge #110 and did a simple card using the Florals in Bloom Designer Series Paper which features pretty floral designs in Bubble Bath, Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Peach Pie, Petunia Pop, Pretty In Pink, Secret Sea, Shy Shamrock, Strawberry Slush, Summer Splash, Timid Tiger

I picked the Cloud Cover striped B side of one of the choices of Designer Series paper and a complementary floral pattern for the two DSP pieces!

Measurements:
BASE: Cloud Cover CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ and 2″ x 3 3/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fresh Freesia CS: scrap for the sentiment die
Highland Heather CS: 2″ x 3 3/4″
DSP: (2) 1 3/4″ x 3 1/2″

PLace the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer in the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder. Place the folder in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the #1 base platform and the #4 embossing plate. Emboss the layer.
Adhere the Cloud Cover striped DSP piece to the Cloud Cover matte.

Adhere the floral piece to the Highland Heather matte.

Pick a sentiment from The Right Words stamp set and pick a suitably sized Spotlight on Nature circle die.

Stamp the sentiment onto a Fresh Freesia scrap
and die cut with the Spotlight on Nature die using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the #1 base, #2 thin die adaptor plate and 2 cutting plates #3’s.

Using the Highland Heather ink and a blending brush color the edges with the ink.

Adhere the Basic White layer to the card base leaving even borders.

Adhere the Cloud Cover DSP piece vertically to the left side of the White embossed layer leaving an even border on the left-hand side.

I adhered the floral DSP layer perpendicular to the Cloud Cover piece positioning it higher on the card so that I could adhere the sentiment piece below and at their junction of the the pieces forming a triangular shape which is appealing to the eye!
Pop up the sentiment piece onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the junction of the two DSP pieces.
I added three Purple Fine Shimmer Gems to finish off the card.

Sketches are a simple way to find your card or project inspiration – try picking out a card sketch today and design a card or scrapbook page from the sketch design! Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

corner in bloom sale-a-bration wedding card

corner in bloom sale-a-bration wedding card

Today’s blog post features a wedding card made with the Corner in Bloom Level Two Sale-a-bration stamp set. Typically a “corner” stamp set is traditionally used in well the corners LOL of the card! But today I am pivoting and using those corners stamped twice in a diamond design to form a lovely floral backdrop for the sentiment!

Measurements:
BASE: Gorgeous Grape CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″ pieces
scrap strip for the sentiment

Emboss one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers of Basic White CS with the Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder.
Stamp the smaller flower corner image in Tuxedo Black Momento ink and match up the open ends and stamp again creating a diamond shape with the two corner images.
Because Gorgeous Grape is such a deep hued purple we do not carry the Stampin’ Blends. The Highland Heather is the same hue but in a lighter shade so this is a wonderful compliment to this project. I colored all of the flower petals in Light Highland Heather Stampin’ Blends marker and then highlighted the centers and edges near the stem in Dark Highland Heather Stampin’ Blends marker.
I colored over the petal areas in Light marker and blended the petals for a more even look.
I colored the leaves in Dark Granny Apple Green and highlighted in Dark Old Olive Stampin’ Blends marker for a nice shaded look.
Adhere the embossed layer to the Gorgeous Grape base card.
Fussy cut the floral diamond out.
Using a Blending Brush and Gorgeous Grape ink pad highlight a diagonal area above to the right and below to the left where you will adhere the diamond image.
Adhere the floral image over the blended area.
I stamped the “lifetime of love” sentiment from the Linked Together stamp set from the 2025 January to April mini catalog release on a scrap 1/4″ strip of Basic White CS. Using a Paper Snip scissors I cut a banner edge on both sides of the sentiment and colored it with the Blending Brush and Gorgeous Grape ink. I popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhered it between the two corner images.
I added Purple Shine Shimmer Gems to finish off this easy and lovely card perfect for a Spring Wedding or an anniversary!
I also made one with Berry Burst Stampin’ Blends as an alternative coloring sample – Which do you like the Monochromatic (Highland Heather) or the Analogous (Berry Burst) Color design?

Try some out of the box stamping and use one of your stamps in an unexpected way! Now go and create some unexpected artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and early espresso

more color mondays – real red, pumpkin pie and early espresso

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Early Espresso with a Peek Throught card.

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for the sentiment piece
DSP: 3″ square
Early Espresso CS: Scrap for trees die cuts

Die cut a large circle from the Stylish Shapes in the upper third in the center.
Emboss the Basic White layer with the Birch Wood 3D embossing folder.
Die cut the Early Espresso CS scrap with the three trees die.
Adhere the three trees die behind the circle
and then the DSP piece under the Basic White layer and the trees.
Pop up the Basic White embossing layer.
Stamp the birthday sentiment in Real Red ink and brush the edges of the banner die from the Stylish Shapes die set.
Adhere five Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs on the card front.
Designer Series Paper peek through cards are so much fun and such a great way to find colors that look great together!
Try looking for great color combinations in your paper and go and create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie