It may be autumn, but I am still trying to hang on to summer! And this lovely card makes me think of our beautiful summers here in New Hampshire. This card measures 5” x 7” and folds flat to fit into a standard A7 envelope. It features the Stampin’ Up! Hand-Penned Bundle and uses the stamps, dies, and designer series papers.
It is also a bit of “Paper Engineering”!
The following measurements include all cardstock and paper needed for the card:
| # pcs | Measurement | ||
| Stampin’ Up Misty Blue Cardstock | 1 | 5” x 7” | |
| 1 | 5” x 5” | Scored at 2-1/2” | |
| 2 | 1.75” X 6” | Scored at 1-1/2”, 3”, & 4.-1/2” | |
| Stampin’ Up! Daffodil Yellow Cardstock | 6** | 1-1/4” x 1-1/4” | |
| 2 | 2-1/4” x 4-3/4” | ||
| 2 | 1-3/4” x 4-3/4” | ||
| 1 | 2-3/4” x 4-3/4” | ||
| Stampin’ Up Hand-Penned DSP | |||
| Pattern #1 | 2 | 2” x 4-1/2” | |
| Pattern #2 | 2 | 1-1/2” x 4-1/2” | |
| 1 | 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” |
**You can also use another DSP for these squares as they only serve to decorate the straps and are not particularly noticeable. I used the Hand-Penned DSP sheet that had a yellow side for these on the example card.
You will also need a piece of acetate measuring 1” x 8”. Score at 1-1/2” on each end and fold down.
You can use acetate from scraps that you may have from packaging or the Stampin’ Up! Window Stock.
Take the 5” x 7” Misty Blue panel and make a light mark at the halfway point in pencil along the 7″ edge.
Take the two cardstock strips (1-3/4” x 6”) and fold in half. Apply the adhesive (glue or Tear and Tape) on the end panel of each. Place the edge along the midline that you marked on the 5” x 7” panel.
Apply the 1-1/4” x 1-1/4” squares to the straps as follows:
Build the matted panels cut from the second cardstock color with their coordinating DSP panels.
Open the two straps that are adhered on the 5” x 7” panel and adhere the widest panel in the center and over the straps. Mounting this panel on top of the glued straps will give them more support as well.
Center and glue the coordinating panels to the right and left sides of the 5” x 7” base. (You will see that demonstrated in a photo above. The large center panel in the photo just above helps to anchor that strap further.)
It’s time to create the Book fold Center Panel that will be suspended and hold the sentiment.
- Center the acetate strip on the 5” x 5” card so that the ends are folded under and glue it to this panel.
- Center and glue the other matted designer series paper to each side of the 5” x 5” scored panel. These two panels will provide more support to the acetate strap if the ends of the strap tucke in under them.
To connect the 5” x 5” book fold mechanism to the card base:
- Apply glue or Stampin’ Tear and Tape to center squares of the Misty Blue straps on the 5” x 7” card base. Be careful not to get any adhesive on the card base.
- Flatten the card and place the 5” x 5” piece in the center of the card.
This is a top view of the card fully assembled:
- Create the decoration for the center of the acetate strip that will seem to float. I used the Stampin’ Up! Hand-Penned stamp set and colored the image with Stampin’ Blends to match the DSP that I used. Those colors included Daffodil Yellow, Blushing Bride, Balmy Blue, and Granny Apple Green. I die cut the image using Stampin’ Up! Penned Flowers dies that are included in the Hand-Penned Bundle.
- I did not include a message on the front of this version of the card. However, this is a perfect set up for a banner style message such as “Happy Birthday”, “Happy Anniversary”, or “Congratulations”.
Creating a message area:
- I decided to take a piece of Stampin’ Up! Basic White Cardstock and cut it down to 4-3/4” x 6-3/4” to be glued to the back of the main card base so that I would have a roomy message space.
- I used a thin strip of DSP cut to ½” x 6-3/4” as a decorative border.
The card will stand on its own nicely with the center decoration seeming to float in space.
This feat of “paper engineering” folds flat and fits into a 5” x 7” envelope perfectly! You can add a message banner across the center medallion as well, though I chose not to for this card. It would be a great birthday card – or a wonderful wedding or shower card. And actually, until this weekend, I did not want to show this card with its message, as it was for a surprise celebration for a dear lady who is a treasured colleague – Amy Koenders. She just reached a monumental attainment in her career and this was the card I sent to congratulate her. You can see how a message can work on this card:
This card was a lot of fun to make. The most time consuming part is cutting the panels. But once cut, it goes together quickly – I promise!
Thank you so much for stopping in to look at today’s design! I have listed all of the supplies and equipment that I’ve used below. If I can help you with any questions or with ordering supplies, please give me a holler – or click on one of the buttons below to get to my online store:
This. Is. WONDERFUL!! Beautiful and clever and so good! Now I need to CASE it!!