Cards by A Cook

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2023 January - April Mini Catalogue

Enjoy the Journey Triple Panel Z Fold Card

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The Enjoy the Journey 12"x12" Designer Series Paper is just wonderful! I love the colours used along with the mountain scenes and sunsets. Today's card is a triple panel Z fold card and it is easy to create! I used the cards from Rachel Tessman, a very talented stamper, as inspiration.

Make sure you scroll down to see the inside of the card. The inside is where this card shines!

I used the "Covered in Sunshine" stamp set by Stampin' Up! for the main image on the front of the card. The inspirational sayings in the Covered in Sunshine stamp set are simply wonderful. To continue the inspirational message I used the Charming Sentiment stamp set on the inside of the card.

Covered in Sunshine
Charming Sentiments

Neither of these stamp sets have distinctive images. Using sentiment focused stamp sets allows the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper to stand out! I would love to see what other Stampin' Up! paper you would use fro these Triple Panel Scenery Z fold cards. Please share in the comments below the instructions.

Enjoy the Journey Triple Panel Z Fold Card

Amy Cook

www.cardsbyacook.com

Easier than it looks! Send this inspirational card to a friend today!
Print Instructions Pin Recipe
Level of Difficulty Intermediate
Total Time 20 mins

Tools

Supplies
  

Stamp Sets

Paper

Ink

Other

Instructions
 

Cut paper to the following sizes:

  • Gorgeous grape (card base): 8 ½” x 5 ½”, scored at 1 ½” and 4 ¼”
  • Highland Heather (layer): 1 13/16” (or just a bit over 1 ¾“) x 5 ¼ ”
  • Basic White (sentiment): 2 ¾” x 2 ¾”
  • Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper (mountain): Start with a piece 6” wide by 5 ¼“
  • Cut into 3 sections: 2 ¾“ wide, 1 ⅛“ and 2 ⅛” . Cut the sections in that order, starting at the left hand side, so that the scene is maintained.
    *See the picture at the bottom of the tutorial.

Stamping and Assembly

  • Fold the Gorgeous grape (card base) on the score line to create a Z fold card base.
  • Stamp the sentiment on the bottom of the Highland Heather layer with Gorgeous Grape ink.
  • Adhere the Highland Heather layer to the inside of the card on the far right. Be sure to leave an even border.
  • Adhere the right-hand strip of the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper to the inside of the card.
  • Close the card and put adhesive on only the left-hand side* of the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper. Adhere it to the card front so that it overlaps the Highland Heather card inside and creates an even border with the Gorgeous Grape card front.
    *This piece is only adhered on the left-hand side.
  • Open the card back up, adhere the small strip to the middle. Be sure it is not too close to the fold or the card will not close properly.
  • Using Gorgeous grape, stamp the hexagon shaped sentiment on Basic White (sentiment).
  • Cut the Basic White (sentiment) with the Beautiful Shapes dies.
  • Adhere the Basic White (sentiment) to the card front by using adhesive on the right hand side only.
  • Embellish with Iridescent Pastel Gems on the Gorgeous Grape cardstock on the far left of the card front.
  • See this picture to help with the cutting directions.
Keyword 2022 Stampin' Up! July -January mini Catalogue, fancy fold
Create this card yourself!Buy stamping supplies here
Click HERE to contact me with any questions.

Way to Grow Stampin' Up! Friends Cards

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Do you love plants? Do you have friends that love plants? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then you will love the new Way to Grow stamp set from Stampin' Up! The Way to Grow stamp set is photopolymer which means that it is easy to line up all the coordinating images. Mix and match all the plants and pots, its hard to decide which will be your favourite.

Here is a preview of all of the cards, scroll down to see supplies and more details.

plant greeting card featuring a woman holding plants
greeting card featuring hexagons and plants

Way to Grow Card #1

greeting card featuring a women holding plants

Did you notice how the plant she is carrying has a two tone look? Create the colour variation by stamping the left side with full strength ink and then stamping off on the left side before stamping it. You could use two different colour greens for even more colour variation.

All three of my cards today use the same main colours:

What a fantastic colour combo! I did use some Night of Navy for the blue jeans as green pants would have been a bit too matchy even for me. I added small bits of colour to the women with my Stampin' Blends. Notice how the plant pot, the arms and the handbag have been coloured with the alcohol Stampin' Blends. Most of the images do not need to be coloured, making this a faster card to create than it appears.

See the supplies needed HERE
Way to Grow Stamp Set

Way to Grow Card #2

I have been having fun with hexagons lately. I couldn't resist trying to stamp a medley of plants and then using the hexagon dies from the Beautiful Shapes Dies to create a fun card.

greeting card featuring plants and hexagons

Create the two toned plants easily by using two different stamps. The photopolymer clear stamps make it easy to line up the images. Stamp the pots and plants without needing to colour (although I love using Stampin' Up!'s alcohol markers) I added some dimension with Stampin' UP! alcohol blends markers around the plants with light pool party and below with some brown. Be sure to colour some ground as well to prevent your plants from floating in midair.

I almost used the saying "Hope your surrounded by friends on your birthday" on this card. I can think of a couple people who would get a laugh from the humour this implies - and a few that might be offended - so I thought it was best to go with a different sentiment. The friends saying does, however, fit nicely into a hexagon.

Cut out the hexagons quickly and easily using the beautiful shapes dies. This fun set is very versatile. I did opt to cut out the saying by hand with my paper snips scissors.

See the supplies needed HERE

Way to Grow Card #3

The last card featured today is cased from the talented Jackie Bolhuis. It showcases the Fancy Flora 6x6 paper from Stampin' Up! The gorgeous colours and paint strokes create vibrant patterned paper that makes gorgeous cards.

Create the image by stamping the "shirt" of the three friends first. I overlapped the shirts to keep the shoulders close together but don't worry, after cutting the image out with the Stylish Shapes Dies you won't be able to notice the overlap. Stamp the hair next. I then stamped the sentiment as close to the people as possible without touching. Lastly, I coloured the shirts in coordinating Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Soft Succulent.

The rest of the card is easy to create using the Fancy Flora 6x6 designer series paper by Stampin' Up! Layer a strip of Soft Succulent cardstock beneath the image. This helps highlight the white baker twine bow detail.

See the supplies needed HERE

Make it Yourself!

Here is a supply list for all 3 cards. More details can be found above on the "supply buttons"

Click on any of the photos to be directed to my online shop.

Way to Grow Stamp Set
Fancy Flora 6x6 Designer Series Paper
Beautiful Shapes Dies
Calypso Coral 8 ½ x11 Cardstock
Crumb Cake 8 ½ x11 Cardstock
Soft Succulent 8 ½ x11 Cardstock
Basic White 8 ½ x11 Cardstock
Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
NIght of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Evening Evergreen Classic Stampin' Pad
Soft Succulent Classic Stampin' Pad
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
Soft Succulent Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Combo Pack
Light Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Do you live in Canada?

If you need any stamping supplies from Stampin' Up! Canada, please click on any of the links to be directed to my store or please contact me. I am always happy to answer questions and help stampers. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Enter this month's host code to your order to receive my free set of monthly tutorials, complete with instructions, supplies and measurements. For help ordering, see my SHOP page or email me.

May 2023 Host code:  Z377VETR

Happy Stamping!

Amy

Simple Thank You Card Sneak Peak

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Create this simple thank you card with any patterned paper you have. I chose Stampin' Up! Dandy Designs 12x12 Designer Series Paper that you can earn free during Sale-a-bration. During the months of January and February 2023 only, you can choose this paper free with a $120 order. I love the bright colours and simple graphics in the paper. The Something Fancy bundle and the Sweet Citrus bundle used are from Stampin' Up! and are in the January - April 2023 Mini Catalogue.

Thank you card featuring patterned paper
Simple Thank You Card featuring patterned paper

Choosing the colours was easy as I simply matched to the paper. Calypso Coral is paired with Mango Melody - two colours that I would not normally pair together - but they work when you coordinate to the paper.

The flowers and leaves are from the Sweet Citrus Bundle by Stampin' Up! I stamped them in Mango Melody and then coloured them with Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Combo pack and the Mango Melody Stampin' Blends Combo.

The sentiment is layered on the Something Fancy dies. I like being able to mix and match different die cuts to highlight the saying. Scroll down for the full tutorial.

Do you live in Canada?

If you need any stamping supplies from Stampin' Up! Canada, please click on any of the links to be directed to my store or please contact me. I am always happy to answer questions and help stampers. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Enter this month's host code to your order to receive my free set of monthly tutorials, complete with instructions, supplies and measurements. For help ordering, see my SHOP page or email me.

May 2023 Host code:  Z377VETR

Thank you card featuring patterned paper

Something Fancy Thank You card

Amy Cook

www.cardsbyacook.com

Choose your favourite Stampin' Up! Designer Series paper to create this simple and fun design.
Print Instructions Pin Recipe
Level of Difficulty Beginner
Total Time 30 mins

Tools

Supplies
  

Stamp Sets

Paper

Classic Ink Pads

Misc.

Instructions
 

Cut paper to the following sizes:

  • Calypso Coral (Base): 8 ½” x 5 ½”, scored at 4 ¼”
  • Dandy Designs 12x12 DSP: 3” x 4” thencut into 3- 1”x4” strips.
  • Basic White (die cut): ~4” x 2 ½”; scraps for flowers and leaves
  • Mango Melody (die cut): ~ 4 x 2 ½”

Stamping and Assembly:

  • Fold the Calypso Coral cardstock in half to form the card base.
  • On the 4” x 2 ½ ” piece of Basic White cardstock, stamp the sentiment in Basic Grey on the right hand side. Die cut the saying out with the rectangular die using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine.
  • On the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine, cut out another of the rectangle die cuts using Mango Melody cardstock.
  • Cut the Mango Melody die cut in half on a horizontal, diagonal from corner to corner. Layer underneath the Basic White die cut and adhere.
  • Stamp some flowers with both Mango Melody and Calypso Coral ink. Add Basic Grey centres.
  • Use the Blends markers to colour in the flowers.
  • On the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine, die cut out the coloured flowers with the matching die.
  • Stamp the leaves with Granny Apple Green ink on the Basic White cardstock.
  • Die cut out the leaves with the matching die using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine.
  • Adhere the strips of the Dandy Designs patterned paper to the left side of the card base -leaving small gaps between the 3 strips as shown.
  • Attach the stamped and die cut sentiment to the left of the card front using Dimensionals.
  • Using a combination of dimensionals and mini glue dots, adhere the leaves and flowers to the sides of the sentiment.
  • Add three of the Iridescent Pastel Gems to the front of the card as shown.
Keyword January - April 2023 Mini Catalogue
Create this card yourself!Buy stamping supplies here
Click HERE to contact me with any questions.

Christmas Double Z Fold Card

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Double Z fold cards are easier to make than they look and the possibililities are endless. Today's design features the Storybook Gnome designer series paper by Stampin' Up! The cute gnome scenes on the paper make a cute card front to the double Z fold Christmas card. Make sure you scroll down for a a full tutorial, with card measurements for this adorable Christmas Gnome card. See another example of a double z fold card HERE.

Storybook Gnome Christmas Card by Stampin' Up

True confession time, I don't like the Gnome set by Stampin' Up! but I do love the paper, so I bought just that. The Storybook Gnomes 12x12 designer series paper has the cutest little deer and foxes featured! The patterns and colours are wonderful. The patterned paper features Pool Party which is my current favourite colour. I even have a kettle that matches!

The saying "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is from a new, limited edition stamp set called Framed & Festive. It is available to demonstrators now and will be released to everyone in November. IF you can't wait, consider joining my team and see all the perks there is to being a demonstrator. Check it out HERE.

I used the All Bundled Up stamp set for the background snowflakes. It is another adorable set!

Make it Yourself!

The Double Z fold card can be put together easier and faster than you think. After making the first, they come together quite quickly. When looking down on the cards it looks like this:

Tips:

  • Stamp the background snowflakes before folding the card base
  • Tie the ribbon either vertically or horizontally on the front. Choose whichever placement best draws attention to the gnome scene.
  • Be careful when applying adhesive - only the far-right and far-left of the small Z are glued down to the larger Z card base.

Keep scolling for the printable tutorial!

Happy Stamping,

Amy

Do you live in Canada?

If you need any stamping supplies from Stampin' Up! Canada, please click on any of the links to be directed to my store or please contact me. I am always happy to answer questions and help stampers. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Enter this month's host code to your order to receive my free set of monthly tutorials, complete with instructions, supplies and measurements. For help ordering, see my SHOP page or email me.

May 2023 Host code:  Z377VETR

Storybook Gnome Double Z Fold Christmas Card

Amy Cook

www.cardsbyacook.com

Impress your friends and family with this fancy fold that is easier than it looks!
5 from 1 vote
Print Instructions Pin Recipe
Level of Difficulty Intermediate
Total Time 30 mins

Tools

Supplies
  

Stamp Sets:

Paper:

Ink:

Other:

Instructions
 

Cut paper and score as follows:

  • Pool Party: 4 ¼ x 11” (score at 5 ½", 8 ¼")
  • Bermuda Bay Cardstock: 3 ¼“ x 10" (score at 4 ½”, 7 ¼“)
  • Basic White: 2 ½“ x 3”
  • Designer Series Paper: 4 ¼“ x 3” (front piece)
  • Designer Series Paper: 2 ½“ x 3” (inside)

Stamping and Assembly:

  • Stamp the snowflakes from the All Bundled Up stamp set in Pool Party on the front of Pool Party card base.
  • Fold the Pool Party card base to create a Z.
  • Adhere the Pool Party sheer ribbon around the Storybook Gnome Designer Series Paper. Attach the ribbon either vertically or horizontally – whichever placement best highlights one of the cute scenes on the paper.
  • Adhere the paper to the Bermuda Bay cardstock as shown below. Also adhere the middle piece of paper.
  • Stamp the saying using Pool Party ink onto the Basic White rectangle. Adhere as shown above.
  • Fold the Bermuda Bay cardstock along the score lines. Add adhesive under the far-right rectangle. Fold the Z closed. Line up with the middle of the inside back of the card and adhere.
  • Add adhesive to only the far-left half of the underside of the Bermuda Bay front rectangle. Carefully fold into a Z, line up to middle of far right of Pool Party piece and adhere. When complete the card should like this. (see below)
  • Tie a bow with the Pool Party ribbon. Adhere with a mini glue dot to the ribbon on the front of the card.
  • Add 3 Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels to the front of the card and to the inside (if desired).
  • Enjoy!
Keyword Christmas, fancy fold, gnomes
Create this card yourself!Buy stamping supplies here
Click HERE to contact me with any questions.

Warm Welcome Housewarming Card

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Stampin' Up's new Warm Welcome contains so many cute images to colour. I used it for a Congratulations card for a friend that moved into a new house. I also just found out the friend is expecting - so I will need to make a new Congratulations card! Looking forward to using the little shoes for that one.

I must admit that the little shoes and the cat are my favourite images in the Warm Welcome Stamp set. Hmmm, maybe the friends sharing a coffee is my favourite? Its so hard to choose! It would have been tempting to buy it just for those, but the rest of the set is fantastic too. The Warm Welcome stamp set comes with coordinating dies making it easy to cut out all the cute images. The dies also come with cut outs for the welcome sign I used on the housewarming card. Die cuts for a closed door with a door knocker and door knob are also included. The designers even thought of adding little numbers!

Make it Yourself!

This is a good set if you want to learn how to colour using alcohol markers. The images are small and easy to add touches of colour too. The door is large enough to try some shading. I used Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends but you could experiment with different fun colours such as Real Red or Night of Navy. When using blends, stamp a few images and have fun playing with colouring and then use whichever colouring turned out to be your favourite.

I chose to use Pool Party as the accent colour with a bit of Early Espresso. I love browns with Pool Party. Grey would work as well but I think the brown gives the look of a wood door which I liked. The Brick Embossing folder was the obvious choice for the wall.

One trick that is hard to see in the picture is I adhered the door opening flat onto the card, but used a couple Stampin' Dimensionals (or poppy uppy things as I call them) underneath the door to give it the illusion of really being open.

Do you live in Canada?

If you need any stamping supplies from Stampin' Up! Canada, please click on any of the links to be directed to my store or please contact me. I am always happy to answer questions and help stampers. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Enter this month's host code to your order to receive my free set of monthly tutorials, complete with instructions, supplies and measurements. For help ordering, see my SHOP page or email me.

May 2023 Host code:  Z377VETR

Happy Stamping!

Amy