Designer Series Paper - Simple cards

Here's an introduction to basic cardmaking and sizes. 

There are many patterns. The A2 base card measures one half of a standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of cardstock.  So one piece yields two card bases, whether you cut it portrait or landscape.  In the United States, this is called an A2 card, so that when folded in half, the card is 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.  Learning this size is helpful for planning your design and for cutting layers of coordinating patterned paper which can be 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch smaller, in increments, as you desire.  

Learning that these are the sizes to give a framed accent will enable your colors and patterns to pop when combined into your design.  Most card bases are of solid color, but I have seen the card base out of patterned cardstock, and the layers of solid color.

With Stampin' Up products, the patterned paper is called DSP - Designer Series Paper.  Each May a new large catalog of coordinated products begins, with smaller specialty catalogs happening in August and January.   Check out this link for info on the catalogs.

One piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) is 12x12 inches square, although there are some patterns that are only sold in 6x6 pieces. There are a variety of cutting patterns to get the most pieces for your card layers out of one 12x12 piece. You may have seen the "one sheet wonders" idea, where several different sized pieces are cut from one to form many components of card styles.  You can check out Karen Titus tutorial here for the one sheet wonder.

But the two ways to cut the DSP that I use most often for quick assembly cards are to cut one 12x12 in four 6x6 inch pieces or  in six 4x6 pieces. 

Here is one idea on cutting the 6x6 pieces of DSP to make cards.  This card base is called a "mini- slimline" meaning that the card base itself is a 6x6 inches square, and scored in half at 3 inches. I also like this triangular pattern because once they are cut, the triangles can be used on an A2 card with just a little additional spaces between them.

Even though this is cut for the Mini Slimline, which fits in a regular envelope, the size you would send a letter in; if you push the triangles apart a bit, you can arrange them to fit an A2 card which measures  5 1/2 x 4 1/4.  Either put a flower in the middle, cut out from this paper, or a tag for a sentiment.

  

This piece of 6x6 DSP is used by cutting it at 4 inches, leaving a 2 inch piece.  Cut 1 inch off the length, which leaves the remaining piece 5 x 4 inches.  Use the 2 inch piece on the right for another card, or glue it to the outside flap of the envelope to decorate it to match the card.

Use the one inch piece that you've cut off of the length inside at the bottom of the right side to accent the inside.

Because this is DSP, Designer Series Paper, it is color coordinated. So this card layer is made simply by tearing or cutting the rectangle in half and flipping one piece over.  Put a piece of ribbon or another color coordinated piece of DSP as a border, or leave it as is.  Add a sprig of greenery or a flower, or any die cut you wish such as a bird or a balloon to declare the intent of the card. Add a tag with the sentiment or put the sentiment inside.

Cards such as these are easy to put together when the color coordination is taken care of by the designers in advance. 

Choosing the DSP Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up is a good product to get to start to make cards if you don't have a great deal of supplies.  

Get yourself some DSP to design your A2 or Mini Slimline cards - I know you'll love the double sided designs that are color coordinated with all the other papers, inks, embellishments, markers and more.

Find someone to be a friend to today - send them a hug with a fold in the middle - a card, as our CEO Sara says.  If you don't have a demonstrator I'd love to help you discover the joy of making and sending cards.  And I'd love to see what you make.  Leave me a note or picture in the comments below.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Blessed!  sb

Card Making - a little at a time

When you begin a new hobby, or are upgrading your supplies and tools like I did in the summer of 2020, take some time to decide your intention for getting more supplies and tools.   If you're a new hobbyist, beginner card maker, or casual paper crafter and just came to this post to discover what basic supplies you need to be a card maker, skip on down to the red words and read the supply list.  But I'm telling you, you should read the whole thing, because you might need this wisdom some day.  😀

Am I going to make cards and paper crafting projects regularly? How will I use the projects I make?

How old are the products I already have?  Will I find that using the old products and tools are more of a hindrance than a help?

Will I have the space to store them properly for care, and for use?

Am I prepared to replace the consumables (Paper, embellishments, glue, ink refills) regularly?

What is my long term goal for accumulating stamp sets, dies, and tools?

Beginning in the spring of 2020 when all of  our lives changed - we were staying home more than some of us wanted (Me!) and eventually working on projects we'd put off for that "rainy day" when we might have more time or interest (that meant now!). One of those tasks for me was out a lifetime of craft supplies and organizing my craft room. Now it wasn't just cleaning - you know, like vacuuming the corners and walls, but opening every cupboard door and drawer and box lid. Yikes!  You mean I really have had that for ten years and never opened it once?!  

I started a "I don't use this" box and another, "I guess I've realized I'm not interested in doing this anymore" box which was really hard.  It didn't fill up as quickly as I had hoped.  $300 later - the result of selling my useable craft supplies, not only gave me more space, but a new outlook as to what I really wanted to spend my time doing - making cards.  Also 2020 had opened up my mind (and probably yours, too) to the necessity of sending cards to so many people in need, as I say, to "cheer up the world, one card at a time." 

I began to watch Stampin' Up Demonstrators and others of every paper crafting product and company teaching how to make the most amazingly beautiful cards. I was still under the belief that YouTube was for wacky things and old, old television shows. Boy! was I wrong! There's probably still wacky things and old television shows, but now I was learning the latest card making techniques, and the tools and products needed to do them. I was hooked on the fun folds. Here's some samples of ones I've made:

Cube Card

and the Z folds and the pocket cards, and ......and......good thing I had already asked myself the questions, so I'd know what direction I needed to go. 

If you are at the point where you should clean out your supplies - just get started with the questions because the boxes will come next and you'll be able to fill them up. It really is freeing - yes, you can do it - tell yourself that someone else will be delighted to get a box of products for their new hobby. Why do all that, soul searching questions and boxes, you say? so I wouldn't end up with every paper crafting product from every company under the sun and in 10 years have to go through this mess again!  

 Even if you've never been a craft collector like me, and are just getting started, this post is for you too!  Here's the list of what I would recommend for a beginner card maker (or what basic supplies to keep from your lifelong list of craft collectibles). Click on each link to see the product and read the description below it.

Basic White Cardstock  $9.75/40 (U.S. prices) (you can get 80 cards out of 1 pkg)

Basic Stamp Set Or a stamp set that will give a variety of uses and icons $5.50 - 23.00

Black Ink pad $6.00

Ink Spots and Ink Refills $9.00/5 of the mini "spot" pads for you to add your choice of color; $3.75 for the refills  and two or more colors

Of course you would need envelopes for the A2 (5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch) card.  Or make the mini slimline that uses a regular letter envelope or the slimline that uses a No. 10 business envelope.  You can make your own envelopes out of a variety of paper as long as its not too thin.  I often use old calendar pages, but make sure to use a white label so the postman can read the address clearly.  You'll find envelopes here. $7.50/40

You will need a good pair of scissors, a cutter with measurements  and adhesive and glue. This glue gives you a few seconds to reposition your item before it adheres completely.  It is very strong and also  recommended for its fine tip on one end and wide tip on the other.

 If you didn't want to invest in the ink colors, or a detailed stamp set in the beginning, you could start with the black ink pad for a sentiment, and DSP - designer series paper which is double sided, and could yield as many as 72 cards out of one 12x12 pkg. ($11.50 - $15.00)

There are two other ways to make cards without investing in too much in the beginning: kits.  The kits come with precut designs that are double sided, and of course, coordinating colors; pre-printed sentiments and tags, envelopes and all the pieces you need to make cards and for a reasonable price.

                                                                         $10/50 cards  

                                    You might also like the monthly subscription kit, Paper Pumpkin, 

                                    

This kit includes everything needed to make 6-8 themed cards.  This is also a fun activity for kids.  Get one month. Two months, six or more. Save money the more months you subscribe to.  This is also a good way to increase your variety of inks, and stamps which are not included in any other catalog.  

There's alot to think about here, but I can assure you, after making cards for 30+ years, that there is great enjoyment in making cards to include in a gift, to give to a friend, and to have on hand for the many events that surprise us which we need a card for.   

Card making - a little at a time - is how this can be done.  Some crafters fall in love and want it all, all at once. Some crafters enter the hobbyist stage acquiring a few supplies and intend to add to their collection. 

Whatever your interests or goals, I hope you find this helpful.  Come and join the community of card making. Watch videos, look at scads of designs and ideas from card makers around the world, then use your imagination to create a cheerful greeting; and help to "cheer up the world - one card at a time" as I say.   

I hope you find these suggestions helpful. (thanks for reading to the end!😮)  I'd love to know if you are a card maker. Will you share your project below?  Thanks for stopping by!  Be Blessed!  sb