Are you thinking about making some card sets for gifts this year?

When my kids were young – and even now – I want to create gifts for some of my special friends.  There is a call for thank you notes – especially in professional settings.  It is great to have a beautiful card in your top desk drawer that you can write a quick note after a colleague or other associate has done you a favor – or shared a lunch together – or had a conference that was particularly valuable? 

Yup.  Thank you notes are not just for personal settings anymore!

Today’s cards are meant to be gift sets.  They are pretty – and easy to make – and look professional.  And they will use a lot of that Designer Series Paper that we all tend to hoard.  Do not hoard it!  Share it.  Decorate it.  Feature it.  (Oh…sorry…that was all “self-talk.”)

The measurements are easy.  The stamping is quick.  And if you are a staunch Blingologist, these are just heaven!!

The triangles will virtually assemble themselves, as these cuts are so easy to do.

I assembled the triangular pieces first – but then dry-fit them to the card base.  I did this so that I could be sure that I placed the sentiment properly.  And because I do like to make these cards in batches, I use my Stamparatus for this.

How much do I love my Stamparatus?  OMG, I cannot say enough about it!  I am a poor stamper, even after a couple of decades doing this.  But once the industry brought stamp placement tools, I started to get better.  BUT THEN, Stampin’ Up! developed this amazing contraption that allows the stamping plate to move – and multiple plates to be set up at once…GAME CHANGER!

Ok, back to this design.  I used a tone-on-tone ink on the Melon Mambo card base for this one.  But I am thinking that the message would be stepped up with white embossing powder – or gold – or silver…as the design calls for. 

I used the “Thanks a bunch” sentiment from the Stampin’ Up! Celebrate Sunflowers stamp set.  But any sentiment that is a long, single-line format would work – and there are lots of them to choose from.  Use whatever you have – or whatever works best.

I chose to leave the inside panel blank so that there was a lot of space for a message.  But I like a white panel for writing messages when the card base is a color.  The DSP strip steps it up as well.

It is time to play with Bling – and I chose Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels for this selection.  But again, use what you have and what matches the DSP that you decide to use.

I create sets of 5 or 6 notecards for each gift set.  The matching Medium Envelope – either Basic White or Very Vanilla – are quality envelopes for your notes.  I generally use plastic boxes with metallic stretchy cords to package them – and voila!  A beautiful handmade gift!

Stampin’ Up! used to sell these clear boxes and cords but we do not seem to have them available anymore.  They are available online through retailers like Amazon, Envelopes.com, ClearBags.com, and many others.

I CAS’d this card from, Susan Campfield, an awesome Stampin’ Up! demonstrator who creates amazing designs and is a super teacher!  I changed this design to make the margins much finer, as that is my taste.

And you KNOW that I have made a bunch of these cards using a lot of different Designer Series Papers:

Surprised?

Really?  Lol…

Thanks so much for checking in on today’s post – and maybe entertaining the idea of sharing your creations with others – kids’ teachers, neighbors, friends, – your mom…I think that they are a wonderful way to send your love to someone important to you!

Here is my list of supplies – including that amazing Stamparatus, just in case you have never seen this amazing goodie!