HEXAGON SUNSET - MEMORIAL DAY

This "Scenic Coast" paper is the most beautifully designed paper I've ever worked with (available through Stampin' Up! in the May - Aug 2026 catalog)  

This hexagon punch is the focus for today's card. 

When I saw the sunrises and the sunset views of these papers, I thought of a photo from a cruise I took with my daughter's - this is leaving Miami, Florida, USA. 

This paper also made me think about today, Memorial Day in the United States. And though not all branches of the US Armed Forces include service on the water, I'm partial to the US Navy where my son serves.  Memorial Day is specifically about remembering the sacrifices made by those service men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms.  

                                           

Here's the link for today's card inspiration  - Facebook .  

And here's my first card of the inspiration design.

This card design uses both the positive and negative pieces of the hexagon shape.  The positive piece is the die cut shape.  The negative shape is the punched-out hole in the card stock.  

You could use a square or a diamond shape as long as the pieces interlock like the hexagon pieces do here.   

The very basic design of this card is made by doing one punch in the front of the card base and then attaching a scenic view on the inside that will show through this punch out. 

You could either glue a Scenic Coast print to the back of front behind the punched space or glue it to the inside so that when you open the card you see the full view of the print - then just sign your card above it. 

You'll find that by using the many coordinated prints in your paper packet, that it is like putting a puzzle together - you are choosing which prints look the best in each space.  

Have fun with this.

Add one of the anchor charms, available (May - September 2026) or leave it off.  

                                        

Thanks for stopping by!  Visit my YouTube Channel here.   Be Blessed! sb

Card #4 KNOW YOUR 4 - Z FOLD

Hello there Crafty Friends - Its Week #4 of KNOW YOUR 4 - Any Reason Any Season.  This week's design is a Z Fold. 

My KNOW YOUR 4 is my Original Idea. Its four (4) of my favorite designs that I can make when I need a quick card.   You know, when we are running late for a birthday party; or when we have a funeral and no sympathy cards made up in advance.  This happens to all of us, so don't think you are alone in this.  Life happens.........it surprises us. 

Each KNOW YOUR 4 card is a basic design that beginner card makers can assemble with little supplies or preparation.  PLUS each of the 4 will also have a variation that will include more folding or layers.  

The Z Fold is my #1 all-time favorite of these four, because it’s easy AND there are many variations.

Do you have a favorite card design that you make often?   

Let's get to it, OK?

Let's start with the basic design instructions.

The card base folded is 5 1/2 inches high by 4 1/4 inches wide with the fold at the left.   To make the "Z", score and fold the front of the cardstock base at 2 1/8" which is half of the front.  Fold it back on itself.  You'll see the Z when you look down on the card as it is standing up.  

The front layer can be done 2 ways:

#1 Front of the Z Layer is 1 7/8" wide by 5 1/4" high.  As always make sure your patterned paper design is going the direction you want for the theme of your card.  The inside layer can be a coordinating print that is visible from the outside, 5 1/4" x 4".  The area for your signature is the inside of the 2 1/8" x 5 1/4", where you can add white if the color of the cardstock is too dark. 

#2 Layer could be a 5 1/4" x 4" piece that is glued to the outside half of the Z, and covers the whole front, with a white layer on the inside.  (This paper is "Scenic Coast", Stampin' Up! May - Aug 2026 catalog)

Both of these designs can use just the paper; OR could include a circle, oval, square or rectangle tag on the front with die cuts, ribbon, that is stamped with a sentiment.

VARIATIONS:

Z Fold with Bridge.  Make the card base for a Z Fold.   But before you add the printed paper layers, cut a piece of same color cardstock, 1 inch by 8 1/2".   Score this piece in half and 4 1/4" and then score at 2 1/8".   

The purpose of this bridge piece is to add a die cut or a sentiment tag that stands out and creates a focal point for a themed card.  There is a trick to attaching this that seemed backwards to me the first time I attached it.  Look at this example.   Note that the 2 1/8" section does NOT attach to the 2 1/8" wide front, but it attaches to the card base on the far right.  Then the 4 1/4" section is attached to the front Z section.  

                                                                              

If you're going to include a gift card, gift certificate or currency with this gift you might wonder where you would put it.   Here's what I did:  I placed my folded currency under a piece of ribbon on the inside Z section.   Can you see it here?

           

 You want to make sure that when your card with this bridge piece closes, that it folds flat to go into the envelope.  It may also need extra postage due to the bulk. 

For this card I cut the paper along the pattern.

Here's the first card that I made like this, was for a 16 y.o. boy for his birthday.  I used mountain view papers, and on the bridge, I put a die cut of a red truck, which was his new truck for his birthday.  

Look at your papers and see if you have scenery papers that you don't want to cover up with any layers or die cuts.  

I think you can see that this design is another one of the "KNOW YOUR 4" that truly could be used for any reason any season.

Decide if you want the bridge to hold a die cut, or sentiment tag.  Then decide how far up or down you want it to go to make an impact on the design.   

                                

I'd say glue it at 1 3/4" up from the bottom. This example shows a bridge made of the window sheet (Stampin' Up!) or clear acetate sheets.  I have found that overhead projector sheets are thick enough to use for a clear piece. 

                                

Add your die cuts or whatever you choose to make your focus piece.  Fold it a couple of times to make sure it folds flat.  If so, add your top layer on the front of the Z.  

VARIATIONS

Double Z fold, the card base is 5 1/2" high by 8 1/2" long. Score from the left at 1", 2", 3", 4".   These create the mountain and valley peaks as shown, as well as the remaining 4 1/2" main section.  With some of these Z Folds, like the Double Z, its appropriate to sign your card on the back.  If you wish to add a layer of white, cut it at 5 1/4 x 4 or smaller yet.  Who doesn't turn a card over to see the back? Kind of out of habit.  

Layers are 3/4" wide by 5 1/4" high.  

This is a good design to use the many coordinated pieces of a themed paper package, and to make a more deluxe version, one that the receiver may wish to stand on a shelf.   As with the basic Z Fold design, cut the layers 1/4" less on the width and 1/4" less on height of each of the Z sections.  

The pop out piece is a deer in the woods die, which I attached to the two mountain peaks.  If you add a pop-out section like this, make sure to close the card before gluing so you make sure that the pop out will not stick out farther than the card's edge.   For this design, I attached a white layer to the back and glued it on 3 sides so I could slide a gift certificate inside.

                            

This Double Z design is one I made for a neighbor's 100th birthday - Augie Baggiore - in 2023.   He passed away shortly after that, though he hadn't been ill till the last two months of his long life. 

Find me on YouTube to watch the instructions for a Z Fold  Card #4  Z Fold Know Your 4 

Thanks for stopping by! Be Blessed! sb

KNOW YOUR 4 - Card #1 - April 27, 2026

 Hello Crafty Friends!   I haven't posted for awhile but I'm glad to be back, since writing is my #1 enjoyment right next to crafting.

Here are some current photos that go along with my Youtube and Instagram posts from today, April 27, 2026.  You can also find my original post on my KNOW YOUR 4 card designs here:

Card ConnoisSUEr - Susan Boback: "Show Off" Card Design #1 - Know Your 4

While I still love the beautifully coordinated Stampin' Up! products, some of the products I use and create with are various other brands.   In 2026, the three craft hobbies that come together for me are sewing, cardmaking and junk journaling.   I have to agree with creator Anne Kenlon (junk journalist) that making junk journals really brings together all her favorite crafts!  and that's a Me Too!

I invite you to join me on Instagram, YouTube, Face Book and here on my blog, though my blog name is spelled a little differently.   While I use variations of Card Connoisseur Susan Boback on the other three platforms, my blog name here is cardconnoisSUEr like my name - its the first platform I used to share my card making ideas years back.   Don't forget, then, that I'm the ......SUEr  here on the blog!

                                

Here are the two cards I featured on today's video on Youtube    KNOW YOUR 4 Series: 4 for Any Reason Any Season

These are the "stepped up" versions.   

Here are the basic design - Card #1 of KNOW YOUR 4

Take an "A2" size card - that's 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, scored in half at 4 1/4"

Shown here is the front of the card.  From the fold over to the right, cut 1 1/2" off.  Set that aside.

Now with your printed paper, cut a piece (make sure to check the direction of the print) that is 5" wide x 5 1/4" high.   Cut off 1 inch of the pattern as shown.

Here is a photo of the 2 pieces of printed paper for the front, which you will attach to the cardstock.

Make sure to attach the 1" strip to the 1 1/2" section of the blue cardstock.  Then add glue to the inside of the 1 1 /2" cardstock and press the 4 x 5 1/4" print paper in place.

This is the basic card that you can leave just like it is.  "Let the paper do the work" is exactly how this design is - nothing else is necessary to complete this card.   

Now here's how to make the "Stepped Up" version, which includes another piece of cardstock and few extra folds.

                                                            

Use the piece that you cut off of the front as shown.   Score it in half width-wise at 2 3/4". 

You can punch a hole in it as I have down or you can stamp an image or add a sentiment.  Using this flap gives more dimension and interest to the front.  Center it on the inside and glue.  Then layer it with a white layer - 5 1/2 x 4 - to cover where it is attached.

                                                            

    

          Here's the completed card with the punched-out design of this Scenic Coast paper.   

                                                             

 
And here's one more with the Valley in Bloom papers, both are Stampin' Up! and available in the new catalog as of May 4, 2026.

                            

Thanks for stopping by to view CARD #1 of my KNOW YOUR 4 - Any reason, Any Season card designs.   

Use these when you need a card in a hurry - one you don't have to measure for.   Or look at your own favorites and plan to make your own KNOW YOUR 4 or maybe even KNOW YOUR 2.

Be Blessed!   Go Get Creative!

 

                                                    

"Show Off" Card Design #1 - Know Your 4

                                      "Show Off" Design   OR  Stepped-Up Version

                    This design Shows Off both sides of your Designer Papers

Hi there!  I'm glad you stopped by - I'm Susan Boback, the Card Connoisseur

         

EDITS (4/27/26) I've been a cardmaker for nearly 40 years.  I no longer have a Stampin' Up! website, though do love the beautifully coordinated inks and papers.  I encourage you to use your favorite products - this card needs a double-sided paper design.   

Show Off - its the name I'm giving to this design.  It's perfect - the design shows off both sides of the Designer Series Paper.

Show Off is #1 of the "Know Your 4" Focus this month.   Know Your 4.   What are your four (4) card designs that you choose from when you need a card?  You need a quick card for your brother-in-law or young child? or the sudden loss of a friend? or one who has a difficult diagnosis? or how about a 90th birthday celebration?!

Know Your 4 shows a basic design and then ways to step it up with die cuts, stamped images or adding other folds. 

For Beginners in cardmaking, I've included the basic instructions on how to measure, score and cut a basic card base.  The photos below and simple instructions will show you how to begin. Or skip down to the bold print KNOW YOUR 4 card pattern to get right into it.

Card base:

*cut and score the cardstock for an A2 card

A2 is a U.S. Postal Description of the Invitation size card.   An A2 is 1/2 of an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock or paper.  An A2 card is the above card, folded in half.  To make a nice crisp fold, you need to make a score line.  

To make a Score Line, make a deep line with the scoring blade: it does NOT cut through the paper. 

In this "Show Off" Design, you're going to cut a portion of the front part of the card off, by lining up your fold at the 1 1/4" mark as shown above.

The blue dot in the above photo shows the score line that has been lined up at the 1 1/4" mark. While these are basic instructions that you will use to make most cards: measuring, scoring and cutting with the use of a paper cutter and scoring tool, you will learn these measurements and in time, not have to read them to follow step by step.  

Beginners:  Keep at it!  Learn the sizes as you do the steps over and over.  Don't get discouraged!

In my "Show Off" design, we set aside this larger piece of the front.   You can use this as a background layer for your sentiment tag, or add it as an extra folded piece as shown in the "Stepped Up" version below. 

*Cut a 12x12"  Designer Series Paper or DSP: double-sided color coordinated 

Here is a photo of the 12x12 with measurements, without the instructions:

*Cut a 6x6 DSP 

Know Your 4 - #1 Design, the Show Off

1.    Start with an A2 card base, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" with the fold on the left.

Cut the front off the card base, from the fold 1 1/4" 

Set aside the 3 x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock to use as a layer on your sentiment tag or as an additional fold. (Instructions at the end)

2.     Designer Series Paper, front layer:  if using a 12x12 piece of DSP, see instructions above.

With ONE piece of 4 x 5 1/4", cut 1" off the length, so that it measures 3 x 5 1/2".   With the 1" strip, decide if you want the whole piece to attach to the cardstock at the fold - use it face up or use the reverse side to bring interest.  OR cut the 1" piece in half, and attach the 1/2" x 5 1/4" piece to the left cardstock piece at fold; AND on the inside of the card for further interest.  

3.   Inside:

Add die cuts or stamped images to the inside left, optional. 

Add a white layer to the inside right, if your card base color is dark.  The white is 5 1/4" x 3" or wider depending on your design.

 4.  Front Layer:  Add a sentiment tag, die cuts, or stamped images to coordinate with your theme or keep it simple. 

Stepped-Up Design: 

Add an additional folded piece.  Use the 3 x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock you cut off the front of the card base.    Score it in half on the 5 1/2" side, at 2 3/4".  Glue this to the inside card base so that the fold is at the outside edge on the right, and so that it folds over the front layer.   

I used the 1 3/4" punch, then embossed it for texture, and colored it with the a white water-color pencil.  Then I added the deer to the front, visible through the circle.   

  

Add tree die cuts with one deer, to carry the theme to the inside, then "show off" of this card. 

Follow for more at Instagram 

(Card Connoisseur Susan Boback - YouTube

Thanks for joining me - Be Blessed!sb