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

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

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Supplies Used and where to buy

Springtime Scenes Bundle

take your pick tool

Ladybug Garden Epoxy Shapes

Let's make a Split Front Trifold card

 

Hey crafty friends I'm excited to share this month's card for the Totally Techniques blog hop.  It was fun to make although as you'll see in the video it doesn't always go to plan, but a butterfly can save the day.

This month the team are sharing split front trifold card ideas. This idea was chosen by Sandra Black our German team mate and I've enjoyed the challenge dispite my hiccups.

Here is my video to show you how to cut the base card and place the pieces of DSP etc. You'll note from the picture above I added a little more stamping than the video shows and some brushed gold butterfly embellishments to 'enhance' or should I say disguise my inky fingers mishaps. 

Here you can see one of the closing flaps of the card for ideas of how to decorate your fancy fold card.  Simple stamping with a limited colour palette is quick and easy to do. 

The top layer of your fancy fold could look like this or you could adjust the size of the pieces of card you use.  

When you open both flaps you can decorate the centre space and leave room for hand written messages or stamp a sentiment and more flowers for your recipient. For mine I used a new stamp set called Layered Thoughts that will be available to Stampin' Up! fans from 6 May 2025.  

As you can see from the alternative example below you can adjust the measurements of your decoration to change the look of your card. 

Thanks for popping by today.  Do give this funfold card a try. 

Happy stamping 

Zoe x

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Supplies Used

Labeled with love stamp set

paper trimmer

paper snips

ink pads

Easel Card Tutorial with sneak peek Tulip Fields Bundle Stampin' Up!

 I'm very late, but joining in the Moving Along with the Times monthly challenge of sharing fancy fold cards. I've gone with the simplest of easel cards and will share how it's done below.  I'm also sharing a sneak peek of a gorgeous suite of products coming in the Spring Mini catalogue.  It's called the Flowering Fields Suite and includes papers, dies and stamp sets that are just beautiful.  

I started by scoring a piece of card 10.5cm x 29.7 cm at 7.5 and 14.85 on the long side ie landscape form of the card piece.  Fold the card at the 14.85 score line and then create your easel by folding and moving the card upwards at the 7.5cm score line.  The card will fold flat for posting, but in it's easel position you can make it stay in place by adding a raised sentiment.  Raise the sentiment with Stampin' dimensionals under the white die cut shape.  

To create the flower fields I used the Tulip Fields stamp set. It's best to start with the yellow using a double ended triangle stamp for want of a better description.  Then using a larger triangle stamp add the central block of flowers in coral and then move outwards on both sides creating the effect of looking across a beautiful field of dutch tulips.  The fence and windmill are die cut and the sails of the windmill are added with a brad.  

The new Spring Stampin' Up! catalogue launches on 4th January and there will be gifts with purchase available for every £45 or more orders.

Keep safe and keep stamping 

Zoe x

Shop products

Stitched So Sweetly Dies

Round and Square Brads

Cute Snowmen Handmade Christmas

Time for another Christmas Card Club challenge today and my are the weeks flying by.......

We are empty nesters this weekend with Charlie now settled at Uni for over two weeks and Liv is away with friends so we've enjoyed the peace, but missed the chat.  Good to have a taster before it happens full time one day.  

Our challenge today is to feature snowmen or a single snowman on our creations and I've used this very old stamp set, but I love it and I've enjoyed just adding a little colour and adding the die cut image to a simple fancy fold card base. 

For the card base I use a piece of thick white card to create a standard tent fold and then folded back the card front half way to create the base. I've then used a narrow approx 3inch embossing folder to decorate the back layer of the card base but it leaves space for writing on without having to worry about the embossing.  

Simple addition of some patterned paper (DSP) and a matt layer to the die cut image and a white embossed sentiment.  

Such a lovely weekend here weather wise it seems crazy to be sharing snow images.  I hope the warmth and sunshine last a little longer.  

Have a great start to the week and thanks for popping by. 

Keep safe and keep stamping

Hugs Zoe x

 

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Beautiful Autumn for Card Class

I've decided that I really like this type of card with this central panel as you can make it look so varied by either stamping, adding die cuts, some dry embossing with a lovely folder and of course water colouring that you can see in the same type of card in my tantalizing stamper post. 

This version is a card we made in my online class this week. I send kits to everyone and they follow along using what they have at home with the kit I have supplied. It's great fun and we have a lot of chatter and lots of giggles.  We're always open to welcoming more people to the group as it's definitely a case of the more the merrier.  

So I used the colours Terracotta Tile, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso and Soft Suede and stamped lots of images from the Stampin' Up! Beautiful Autumn set.  To create the outer splatter patterns I used the corn grain stamp but used second and third generation ink and also used a couple of markers for ink splatter.  

 I also added a flourish of Bumblebee gingham ribbon prior to adding my simply stamped sentiment also in the set onto a stitched circle die cut.  

The measurements for this particular card are as follows. 

Card back in Terracotta Tile  14.8 x 10.5cm

Embossed layer in Vanilla 14.3 x 10 cm

Card fold in Terracotta Tile 28.9 x 7cm scored on the long side at 14.8cm

Stamped layer in Vanilla 14.3 x 6.5cm 

The great thing is that you still have room to stamp inside and write sentiments. One of the card club ladies wasn't happy with her embossing layer so she moved the folded panel to one side and that looked great too.  Here are most of the cards.

It's simple to do so I hope you'll have a go. Via my other share you can also link to Linda in my team to see where I got the idea and the beautiful version she did with Forever Fern. 

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to ........

Keep safe and keep stamping.

Hugs Zoe x

Beautiful Autumn 

Beautiful Autumn Bundle

Watercoloring on embossed image using Stampin' Up! So Much Love stamp set

WOW I'm really chuffed how this random card turned out. I love it when you tinker and you end up with a card that you are so pleased with it, you want to send to yourself.   I will part with it of course, but I never thought I could watercolour, but with a bit of play, ink, water painters and kitchen towel you can do anything. The good thing is ONE SHEET IS PLENTY when it comes to the kitchen towel too!

The  layout of this card or perhaps you'd call it the fancy fold was taken from a beautiful swap that I received from team member Linda Gilbert at Linda's Craft Room.  I really liked her Forever Fern version and have done several using different stamps and colours, but this one I'm particularly fond of. 

I've used a super cute simple stamp set called So Much Love and stamped partial images onto watercolour paper using Versamark ink, added white embossing powder and heated it.  Once cool I think used the pack of 3 water painters in the Stampin' Up! AC to take ink from the inside lid of Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green ink pads to colour the images.  I find it easier to do if you use one brush to first add a watery layer to the part of the image you want to paint before adding ink with one of the other painters.  It helps the ink move around more freely and allows for novices like me to recover if there is too much or too little ink.  You can mop up over enthusiastic adds with the kitchen towel.  I moved around the image allowing parts to dry before going back to their neighbouring petals/leaves.  Once dry I went back to some parts like the flower buds to add more ink to deepen the colour.  

Linda used embossed card for the stripes down the sides of the bottom layer, but for this one I stamped on the inside of the base card before adhering the art work section.  

The sentiment I did in the same way, embossed it first then cut to size before watercoloring the background.   I love the additon of a simple bow in gold trim from the Forever Greenery trim pack. Just be sure to knot the end of the roll as it can fray easily. Here I wanted the ends to unravel but you can also add a knot to each end of the bow for a more formal finish. 

I also like to sometimes add some detail by stamping a partial image in the main colour on the inside of the card. 

I hope you like my watercolored card.  If you have any watercoloring tips please do share them in the comments. 

Thanks for visiting 

Keep safe and keep stamping 

Hugs Zoe x

 

So Much Love stamp set

Forever Greenery Trim

Water Painters 

Flirty Flamingo Ink Pad