POCKET CARD

 

Hello crafty friends!   Our challenge today is to showcase a pocket card.  I love this design, inspired by an artist named Katie who makes these pockets for the journals she makes out of old books.

Use your own papers and products or find the Stampin' Up! products I used by clicking on the pink links. Today's project uses products found in the 2024 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog or Online Exclusive products found at www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net. 

2024 In-Color Cardstock, Petunia Pop - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Card Base

Basic White Cardstock -  3 3/4" x 5 3/4" Pocket Card

Nature's Sweetness Designer Series Paper - One 7 3/4" circle, plus die cuts from the papers

Tear & Tape - to fasten the folded edges to make the pockets

Snips - scissors to give a clean, precise cut

Grid Paper - to line up your folds for accuracy

Bone Folder - to crease your folds

Paper Trimmer - to score the folds, and to cut cards to insert into the pockets

Ink - Petunia Pop, Shy Shamrock 

Blending Brush or Sponge Dauber - to add subtle ink to the flowers on these die cuts

Tombo All-Purpose Glue - to attach die cuts

Glue dots - to attach corners and die cuts

Sentiment Stamp - "I couldn't be happier to have you as my friend" Irresistable Blooms "May the Lord bless & Keep you" Courage & Faith

The pocket design that inspired me, uses double sided paper cut into a circle as the main part, with sides folded in to meet in the middle and the bottom third section folded up.  This creates 2 pocket areas, with room to embellish the front with die cuts, and then is mounted to a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.   

Use a 7 3/4" Circle of Double Sided Paper.   You can make a pattern using any flat object.  Make it out of a piece of cardstock so you can trace it each time you use it.    If you have the Stampin' Up!  2024 annual catalog, you could trace the color wheel near the back of the catalog.  This circle is 7 1/2".

Cut one circle out of double sided paper that you like both side prints.  You'll see both sides of your paper in this pocket card.

Find the center of your circle by pinching the circle in half both directions BUT DO NOT fold the circle.  Now mark the intersection of these two folds with a pencil.  

Look at the direction of the pattern of your paper, and decide which pattern should be the lining of your pocket which you'll see at the top center; and which pattern you want to be the folded sides. (Refer to the photo on the top of this post)

You may wish to use grid paper to line up your edges to make sure your folds are straight and even.  

Fold the left and right sides in so they meet in the center at your mark.   Use your bone folder to crease the folds.   

Next bring up the bottom section and fold it at 2 3/4".  In this photo, I turned the circle side-ways so I could line the bottom fold line up with the grid line. Once folded, open it then cut on the fold line up to the fold line.

    

Fold these flaps in the opposite direction.  You may have to trim on the fold line.   

Optional: Make a Belly Band to go across the front - I found it adds structure to attach the die cut which becomes the focal point. Glue your die cut or punched art to the belly band.

Behind this front section, you have a small front pocket, and a larger main pocket.

Add a small card, currency or gift card to the front pocket; OR put any of them in the large pocket then make a slide out card for the larger pocket.

I made this card for my Secret Sister Prayer Partner, which includes a small card of encouragement and will include a note and a sweet treat.

Mount this double pocket on a single card base, measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" .  

VARIATIONS IN SHAPE AND SIZE:

After I made the first card, I decided to try the same concept on a 6x6", an 8x8, and a 12x12 square piece of double sided paper. The first 6x6 style that I tried is with the paper, Thoughtful Journey, found in the 2024-2025 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog. The next three are using retired paper, paper that I didn't care about to make my patterns.  I did end up liking the way the 8x8 and 12x12 sizes of this paper looks.

First, find the center and make a dot.

Second, score or mark, half of each half.  So if 6" is the center, then score from top to bottom 1/2 of that which is 3" .  Score at 3" on both sides (for a 12x12)

Turn your shape sideways and score 1/3 or less of the whole (4" for the 12x12) so that when you turn it upright, you've scored 1/3 of the whole across.  This makes the bottom pocket which you will fold up.   

Next you add Tear & Tape to the inside edges of front pocket to attach it to the whole piece and you're done with the structure, now just add some die cuts.

The 6x6 size makes a small pocket that is perfect to hold a gift card with room for a sweet treat in front.  

                                               

                                

Next I tried an 8x8" piece of double sided paper.  Remember that you need to check on the direction of the design with square paper versus round paper, which you can turn to any angle, and also with both shapes, which side you want to be on the outside and the inside (the side you might not care about as much). 

The 8x8 is my favorite of the square designs.  It would fit in a 5x7 envelope, and is perfect for a sweet treat, gift card, and slide out card as shown below.  

The third size I was inspired to try is a 12x12" - or one sheet - of paper.  The process is the same, whether you're using a round piece or a square piece of paper.  The 12 x 12 piece makes a pocket that is 6 x 9" overall.  This is actually like a gift bag that you can put a small flat gift inside the large pocket.  When I was putting it together, it reminded me of a "stuffed envelope" that fellow demonstrator, Melva Peters of Canada, demonstrated in spring of 2022. In this pocket I put a sweet treat and a gift card in the front, and a gift of four of my hand-made cards in the large pocket.  

I've had a lot of fun making these pocket cards, and am already thinking of the many uses for the three different sizes, in both the round and square shapes. 

I hope you enjoyed making a pocket card - round or square.   

Click on the links to follow the other creative crafters in our Stampin' with Friends Blog Hop.

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Visit my face book page.  If you try this design I'd love to see it.   

As an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I get a discount for each order I place, plus I love the fact that I can earn points for free products, and get the new products with each catalog early.   If you love paper crafting, color and making projects to cheer up the world, talk to me about joining my team, the Card Connoisseurs.  You can find all the products I've used on this double pocket card, my projects and the current catalog over here at my website www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net.

WATER COLOR ONE SHEET WONDER - Retiring In-Colors

                                                                                                    

WATER COLOR ONE SHEET WONDER with 2022-2024 In-Colors

Today's focus is on the retiring In-Colors, 2022-2024, Parakeet Party, Sweet Sorbet, Starry Sky, Orchid Oasis, Tahitian Tide.  If you're new to Stampin' Up!, these are shades of the four color families that are revealed each year when the new Annual Catalog comes out in the spring. These colors are the focus of many of the new Designer Series Papers (DSP), along with coordinating cardstock, ribbons, embellishments, inks and markers.  

As a fairly new Demonstrator, but a paper crafter since I was a child, in order to have all the current colors of inks at my fingertips, I purchase the Stampin' Write Markers in the new In-Colors each spring, then invest in the ink pads of my favorite colors.  I recommend this to all new crafters so that they can have the colors without the big investment all at once.

My project today is with the use of the 2022-2024 In-Color Stampin' Write Markers.  They are water-based, and can be used just like ink.  I am drawn to inky techniques, especially water coloring, and the Stampin' Up! Inks - Stampin' Write! markers and the liquid refills are just perfect for this.

The design of my card today has been called a "one-sheet wonder" which does also apply to many other designs made with one piece of paper. I was inspired by the technique but I do not know who created this 4-on-a-page design. This OSW (one sheet wonder) is unique to each person who does it - no two prints are alike. You are the artist.  You are creating one 8 1/2 x 11 print that you will divide into four or more top layers for your cards.

All design patterns are meant as an idea.  You take the idea and make it your own - that is expected, that's why we share!  There's an acronym, CASE, which you often see, that describes this: C is Copy; A is And; S is Share; and E is everything.  And while it is expected that you will CASE the millions of designs you see, it is also expected that you will give credit to the person who inspired you to create your design. I prefer to say that I "was inspired by".  

The products listed are what I used but you can use what you have or what you are inspired to try.

Click on the Pink text which brings you to the products. 

Here's the supplies I used:

1 - 8 1/2" x 11" piece of white cardstock, scored in quarters. Score at 5 1/2" on the 11" side; score at 4 1/4" on the 8 1/2" side - Do Not fold or cut.

Cardstock - white for the "one sheet wonder" print, 8 1/2 x 11", and one for your base - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" is what I used.

Stippled Rose stamp Set 

Stamp Block

2022-2024 In-Color Stampin' Write Markers - I made one page each of the Starry Sky and Sweet Sorbet; combined Tahitian Tide and Orchid Oasis on one, then used the green (Parakeet Party) for the leaves on each.  

Water Spritzer

Paper Trimmer

Sentiments, Ribbons, Embellishments of your choice

Ink the Stamp like this: 

Mount your stamp on a stamping block of appropriate size.   (I prefer to use my hand as the stamping block, which gives me the flexibility of moving it ever so slightly to fill in a spot.) With the stamp face up on your work surface, use the wide or brush end of the marker; hold on a slant and rub it across the stamp, adding ink to areas. Make sure not to be using the tip of the marker.        

                                                           

This process is done quickly, like scribbling.  Because its artful, water coloring look, you aren't taking time to make sure you get only the leaves with green (Parakeet Party) or the rose petals and buds with only the red (Sweet Sorbet) or any of the three other colors (Tahitian Tide, Orchid Oasis, or Starry Sky). Scribble fast.  

Stamp your image to make your OSW print:

Now pick up your block with stamp and move it away from your work surface, spritz with a few squirts of water and quickly turn it over and stamp along the center score line of your paper.   Do this once or twice with each time you ink it with the marker and spritz with water.  Repeat the process until you have the entire piece stamped the way you wish.                                                              

The stamped images will dry quickly.  Once the entire sheet is dry and you're satisfied with the look, cut them into 4 pieces.  Trim your design accordingly and mount as the top layer on white or coordinating cardstock.   Add a second stamped image, ribbon, embellishments, and sentiments according to your design.

Here's my OSW (one sheet wonder) in each of the four In-Colors that are retiring April 30: Orchid Oasis and Tahitian Tide,  Starry Sky, Sweet Sorbet, then using Parakeet Party on each for the leaves images. 

Here are the cards I made with one piece of each of the OSW's. 

                                                                                    

Use a coordinating cardstock for the base or white.  

Follow for more designs and monthly techniques: Instagram. Facebook. and my Stampin' Up! Website  www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net 

Thanks for stopping by! Be Blessed! sb 

 Follow the next crafter's page and see their designs with the 2020-2024 In-Colors!

        

Slim Tent Card with 2022-2024 Retiring Colors

 

CARD SKETCH 4-24 - Slim Tent - Susan Boback, Card Connoisseur

 Inspired by Tina Zinck, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Nova Scotia Canada                                                                 

This card is 2” wide by 11, scored in half at 5 ½” and designed to stand up.  You could cut 4 card bases with this pattern out of one 8 1/2 x 11" of cardstock. Add a die cut or punched piece to the front right as your focal point. The fun fact is that this piece will hide a similar image on the inside until its opened.

This design is appropriate for any reason, any season. Though the base is only 2" wide, the finished size is approximately the same as an A2 (4 ¼ x 5 ½) for envelope purposes.  

Card Base:  2" x 11”  scored at 5 ½” Blueberry Bliss cardstock.  I stamped the front with Stippled Roses Cling Stamp, VersaMark and used white embossing powder.  or  you could add a layer of paper to the front measuring 1 3/4 x 5 1/4".  

Here's the way it would look if you used only the VersaMark ink.

If you're new to heat embossing, I've included this photo below, so you could see how embossing looks.  Heat embossing is a process of using a sticky ink as a base, adding a fine embossing powder to it, then heating it with a heat tool (not a hair dryer) which causes the embossing powder to melt and become permanent on the paper. 

This photo shows the difference between the heat embossed roses (bottom) and the top roses with embossing powder before they are embossed.     Once you discover embossing, I think you'll enjoy the many ways to "step up" your cards. "Step Up" is adding more - texture, ink, embellishments, layers to your card designs.

Since we are focusing on Stampin' Up! 2022 - 2024 In-Colors, I used the Orchid Oasis and Parakeet Party, direct to stamp to add color to the roses, buds, and leaves.  I recommend getting the new In-Colors with each annual catalog.  Their uses are versatile, and having the five shades gives you coordinating colors to use with the new papers and embellishments without investing in all of the ink pads to start with.  Once you discover your favorites, you can order those ink pads. 

Direct to stamp is the way I prefer to add color.  I enjoy a water color look.  Don't take a great deal of time doing this.  Scribble back and forth with your marker on its side (as shown above) on the image and add the next color.  It does not have to be precise - it is art!

Then using the Spritzer with water, spritz a couple of times and quickly stamp your image on Water Color Paper. When dry, die cut or hand cut the roses image.  Don’t attach to the front till you glue on the inside image.

(The advantage of using the water color paper is that you won't see the stamped image on the other side when you open the card as shown below.) 

 

Inside bottom image: BEST if its slightly smaller than the front image, so its not visible till you open the card.  Decide what your inside image will be - it too will stick out to the right of the base - then you can arrange and glue the outside image so it will hide the inside image. 

NOTE: Both the outside image and inside image can be no wider that 2 ¼ to fit in an A2 envelope.   

Ribbon:  depending on your theme – tie around the top about 1 inch down from the fold. 

This last photo shows how the outside and inside images line up, looking from the back.   Once you make a Slim Tent, I think you'll be looking through your stamps and dies to see how to make a card that surprises someone.   

Sentiment:  add to the outside and inside. 

Here is another Slim Tent card I made with the 2022-2024 In Colors of Tahitian Tide and Parakeet Party.   I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Sea Turtle, clear embossing powder, cardstock and Stampin' Write Markers.  I'd love to know if you will try this design. Thanks for stopping by.  Check out more projects on my website, Instagram or join Card Connoisseurs - Card Making with Susan Boback on Face Book.

                                 

If you'd like to save 20% on your orders, or add to your collection of stamps, dies, embossing folders or update your colors to make beautiful paper crafted projects, I'd love to tell you about it.  I joined 3+ years ago to upgrade my tools, but the most enjoyable aspect is belonging to a creative community, world wide!   I love paper and crafting, and showing others that they can enjoy this hobby too.   Check out the latest of products and ideas by clicking the links on the right column of this page or by going to www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net.

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Blessed! sb

FLIP the STRIP - a paper quilt-look card design

     

                                        
                                                 

                                        "FLIP the STRIP" created by Susan Boback

Strip cards are one of my favorite card designs, especially for two reasons:

1)  Using up your paper pieces at the end of a season or catalog

2)  Putting together papers in a design that is revealed as it goes.

Strip cards can be by one color family or by using the various prints in one theme package of Designer Series Paper.

Take a look at these Strip Cards first.  Then I'll show you how to "Flip the Strip" and make a varied design, and how it came about.

Here are a few Strip Cards

                                            

 

So now that you've seen how Strip Cards look, you will understand the concept for my idea, "Flip the Strip".

After Christmas I sorted out the colors of papers, greens, reds, and blues.   Often the papers are matte prints on one side and metallics on the other. I was hoping to find a way so that I didn't have to cut the strips and then re-align the pieces to set them together in the pattern.

As I was lining up the strips, I folded one in half at a right angle, which revealed the reverse and made the strips look like two strips - this was the initial "Flip the Strip."

                                            

                                                

Take a 1/2" piece x 6" or longer.  Fold it in half at a right angle - now that reveals both sides of the paper.  Line them up in a "V" shape on a solid piece of cardstock that will reveal an "arrow" of color that makes the pattern too.   Use 4 or 5 pieces to build your pattern.   Add this finished piece to a layer or attach to an A2 or 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" base.   

The ultimate look to this is to emboss it to add texture which makes it look "quilted." Use a small, close design for this look.

                                                        

Thank you for stopping by. Visit my website to see other projects, current online products and have access to our catalog online.

Visit www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net or Follow on Instagram card.connoisseur

Be Blessed!sb

Next Blog

1. Mo Rootes - crafty-rootes UK

2. Diane Evans - Stampin With Diane (Canada)

3. Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance (USA)

4. Charmane Hopkins - Craft With Renee (USA)

5. Linda A Moore - Moore Fun Stamping and Creating with Linda

6. Susan Boback - Card Connoisseurs

7. Rebecca-Jo Unwin (Australia)

8. Joy Nelson - Stamp With Joy (USA)

9. Tricia Butts - Tricia's Stamping Creations (USA)

10. Lorraine Tierney - ChatnCraft with Lorraine (USA)