Stepping up your card ideas for the New at SU blog hop

Welcome to my take on the New at SU blog hop for September 2026.  The theme for the hop is Simple to Stepped Up card making.  I've used a very easy fun fold and added to it to step it up and added different elements too.  It's easy to make with just stamps, ink and paper or you can step it up with embellishments, layers and die cuts with a little stamping too!

The simplest version of the card created with Daffodil Delight DSP and Lemon Lime Twist stamping.  
 

You can simply step up this basic version with some more colours and embellishments.

Colours used for version 2 are Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist and Coastal Cabana.  I've added some dots for a little more detail. 

Version 3 which is stepped up with an additional folded piece, die cuts and dots to cover my stamping bloopers!  I used the Holly Jolly Branches and Welcome Noel dies to create my focal point. 

The measurements for the card are as follows

Metric

Base card   23 x 15cm  score at 14 cm

First flap    13 x 11cm  score at 11 cm

Second flap 10 x 5cm score at 8cm  

DSP

Base 14.5 x 13.5cm

First Flap  10.5 x 10.5cm

Second Flap if required 7.5 x 4.5 cm

Imperial 

Base card 9 x 6" score at 51/2"

First Flap 41\4 x 5" score at 41/4"

Second flap 4 x 2" score at 3/4" 

DSP Imperial

Base 51/4 x 53/4"

First flap 4 x 4"

Second Flag if required 3 x 13/4"

I've had lots of fun with this card and I think the possibilities are endless.  It is perfect for using lots of different off cuts of DSP, different stamps and lots of occasions.   I'd love to see what you make. 

Enjoy the blog hop

Hugs Zoe x

SHOP PRODUCTS USED

Cardmaking idea for your favourite gardener

 In my last post I shared a tutorial for creating a water colour wash and then using the result to die cut pieces to create designs and also how to enhance the water colour wash with metallic embellishment.  The video I shared shows how to create the wash and some ideas including embossing paste and embossing powder to enhance what you create. 

At the time I also created this card using the Scalloped Bloom dies to die cut the flower heads and leaves and used gold foil card to add my metallic embellishment as leaves and also some Flower Accents in gold for a little more sparkle.  

The flower pots are dies from the Help Me Grow bundle which is currently on the last chance list, but buy the stamps and dies separately you might find a little more discount from the usual bundle 10% off.  

Before die cutting the pots I used a blending brush with Cajun Craze ink to add soft colour to white card.  It's a great tool for adding shading by putting more pressure on your brush to add deeper colour.   I then gently spritzed it with water and blotted it off almost immediately to create the detail to the pots. You remove quickly so as not to make the white card react to the moisture.  I also used a retired Cajun Craze marker to add splatters once I had die cut the pots.  

With a journalling pen I add stems to the flowers free hand which once the leaves were added looked better. I'm no artist that's for sure.  

My sentiment and many used in my previous post are from a set called Sending Salutations, which at first look it didn't grab me, but now I'm finding it really useful and I love the script font mixed with the modern block capitals. 

Check out my video in my last Stampingscene post. 

Using different colour combos you could create some similar, but varied cards using this idea. 

Have fun trying

Zoe x

COMING SOON ON 1st September

Shop Supplies

Sending Salutations

 

Help Me Grow dies

Help Me Grow stamp set

SHOP ALL STAMPIN' UP!

Ideas for metallic embellishment with water colour wash tips

 

I have really enjoyed creating for this blog hop, mainly because I love to tinker with ink and see what I can do.  Our theme is Metallic Embellishment and many I'm sure will share some fab ideas for using the new Hot Foil Machine that Stampin' Up! has recently launched. However I don't have this yet and so decided to share some different metallic embellishment ideas with you using embossing powder, embossing paste, flower accents gems and water colour washes.  I hope you like the simple ideas to create some rather different designs.  

Watch the video tutorial to see versions of both these cards being created and a bonus idea at the end.  Enjoy the blog hop.

Thanks for joining our monthly Totally Techniques Blog Hop we share a technique and lots of ideas on the last Friday of each month usually.

Have a great weekend.

Zoe x

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Available to buy from 1st September 

Shop Supplies

Embossing paste

Fluid 100 watercolour paper

secret sea ink refill

Cajun Craze Ink card page

Flower Accents

wow metallic embossing powder bundle

How to do die cut masking using Springtime Scenes Bundle

 

As summer continues to keep us bathed in sunshine I've made a card to send you sunshine using the Springtime Scenes bundle to share a simple example of the die cut masking technique for the Totally Techniques blog hop.  

This bundle has proved to be a favourite for me as I particularly like the sentiment I've used in my video and who doesn't love a card with a ladybird or two.  

My card also features a fun fold that has a hidden little panel that only shows when you open the card.  I hope you enjoy it and think about what you could use to create something similar.  This bundle if perfect for all sorts of designs as the dies lend themselves to other uses as well as the obvious cut out the coordinating images.  

Continue with the hop below.

Have a fun week as I'm sending sunshine your way.

Zoe x

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Supplies Used and where to buy

Springtime Scenes Bundle

take your pick tool

Ladybug Garden Epoxy Shapes

SImple Fancy Fold card idea with New at SU bloghop

 

I'm back with the New at Su blog hop and sharing a card using a very simple fancy fold along with an idea for those ever challenging cards for the men and boys in our lives.  Gardening may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it often happens in most of our lives even if it's just cutting the grass.  

For my card I've use the Help Me Grow bundle of products that gives lots of options for anyone with even the smallest interest in this age old pastime.  The plant pots come in two sizes and the smaller has a die that cuts a slit so they are easily stackable.  However for the larger one here at the bottom of the pile I used the craft knife add on from  my Take Your Pick tool kit, to cut my own slit 'carefully'.

 

For the background I've used up left over pieces from my craft table to create a colour coordinated backdrop.  It's a great way to get full use of all your lovely papers.  

The tool heads have a metallic effect by using Lunar Lustre specialty paper.  I layered three die cuts for each tool to give a little more strength to them.  The only thing missing is the mud I guess, but this gardener is only just about to get going.  

HOW TO CREATE THE FANCY FOLD

So you want to know the fancy fold.  Take your base card  fold it in half to create a book cover type of card base ie opens like a book.  Then all you need to do is fold the front cover back on itself so that the right edge meets the fold on the left.  It's the simplest you could imagine.  Your panel can then be adhered to the folded back layer.  How easy is that?

You can decorate your card to suit your theme and the decorated background stands out as the fold is opened for standing up on a table.  You can also add a bold sentiment, white embossing on black card,  to make the message 'pop' and adding simple trims like a piece of tied linen thread to the handle of the shears make all the difference too without being overpowering.  You can also just see that to calm the bright white layer inside the card I added some splatters using my Golden Glow Shimmer Pen which I tapped on the side of a bone folder.  Important tip though place your card in a box to do this so the splatters cover the card and not you or your work surface.  I make these mistakes so you don't have to......! ha ha.  

Thank you for joining me today and enjoy the hop.  You can find out more about supplies used below or use my contact form to join my mailing list.  

Happy stamping

Zoe x

Supplies Used

Help Me Grow Bundle

Lunar Lustre 12 x 12" specialty paper

In Color 2026 - 2027 12 x 12" papers

Golden Glow ink pad

Cut and Emboss Machine