Christmas Parade of Cards Part Three

Hi and welcome to my blog.  Today I want to share a really super easy and delightful fancy fold called the Double Z Accordion Card.  I came across this fun fancy fold by Karen Titus on Youtube.  After watching the video I immediately went to my craft room, got out my dsp and cardstock and started making this style of card.  I was hooked.  

In this photo you can see how the long portion of the accordion cardstock strip is attached to the left and right hand side of the card.  I've added a simple layered stitched circle made with coordinating designer paper and basic white cardstock for the focal. Remember it doesn't matter what shape your focal is, it can be a square, a circle, a rectangle or other shape as long as it fits the design of the card.

  

In this photo you can see how the accordion fold bends and the six small dsp squares are layered onto the cardstock. The six squares could be a matchup of designer papers and cardstock, they could could be embossed, or an alternate color.  Once again, there's no right or wrong way and no limit to the combinations you can come up with. 

Here I've used coordinating designer paper for a mat on the back side of the card.  Although I would anticipate writing my greeting on this side of the card, and there's sufficient room to write a message, I could also turn the card and write my greeting on  the white space panels on the right.  In fact, I've stamped my logo on this portion of the card and you'll see that in other samples, as there was no where else for it to go. 

In this view you can see that I've staggered the patterns on the small squares.  

Here's How You Make This Card:

Card Base:

• Cut a 7 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of basic white cardstock for the card base and score it at 1 1/2" and 3".
• Burnish the fold lines - mountain on the 1 1/2" and valley on the 3". 

Cardstock Strips: 

• Choose a coordinating color of cardstock that works with whatever patterned paper you are working with and your card base.  
• Cut three 7 1/4 x 1 1/2" and score these at 1 1/2" and 3" for Z fold.

DSP Strips and Squares:

• Cut three 4" x 1 1/4" strips of designer paper.  Adhere these to the three cardstock strips 
• Cut six 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" squares of designer paper.

Assembly:

• Lay the card base flat with Z fold on left side.
• Attach cardstock strips with the Z fold on the right.  Start with the first strip at the top of the card and put adhesive on the left side first leaving a small margin at the top and side, then  do the same on the right side.  Adhere the next strip at the bottom edge of the card doing the same thing, and repeat for the last strip by adhering it in the middle of the card base.  
• Adhere the DSP squares on the right side.  

To finish the card create a focal point to go on the front of the card. 

So how does this relate to my Christmas Parade of Cards? 

    

The first card in this group started with scraps from the Christmas Tags and More Specialty Designer 6x6 Paper.  I simply added some gold foil, a piece of Basic White that was embossed with a retired snow embossing folder and gold snowflake.  

Card #1:

The following cards were made using Stampin' Ups! North Pole Delivery Designer Paper.  What better way to use up some of the scraps I was accumulating.  

Card #2: 

Card #3: 

Card #4: 

Well, that's it for this parade of Christmas cards.  I hope you enjoyed it and that you'll try out this fancy fold.  I think once you try it you'll be like me "hooked".  It really is a very special and fun card to make.  In closing here are a few additional samples 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up Demo since 2006

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Pop Up Birthday Cards with Adorable Owls

 Today's post includes a couple of cards made with Pop Up techniques and feature the following products:

• Adorable Owls stamp set - Sale-A-Bration Level 1 FREE with $60 purchase* #160269

• Dandy Designs DSP - Sale-A-Bration Level 2 FREE with $120 purchase* #160836 

Here is Card Number One:

This is called a Pop and Flip fancy fold card and is an ideal card style for birthdays of any age.  It never fails to bring a smile when the card is opened.  This one features one of the beautiful plaid paper designs in Calypso Coral, Pale Papaya and Fresh Freesia colours, from the Dainty Designs 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper.

I really like this Pop and Flip design because it's quick and easy to assemble and has a real WOW factor for anyone receiving the card.  You can check this post for a masculine version of the card I made in December.  My inspiration for this card Pop and Flip card came from Dawn Griffiths.  Here is the link to her video.   

Here is Card Number Two:  Pop Out Swing Fold Card

This second card is also a fancy fold action card.  It's called a Pop Out Swing Fold. and there are many versions and tutorials on Youtube.  The one that inspired me was again created by Dawn Griffith.  Click here to view how to make this card.

This sweet little owl is coloured with Stampin' Blends. I used Crumb Cake Light and Dark for the Owl, light and dark Pale Papaya  for the beak, inside the ears, a little colour for the cheeks and the owl's feet.  The sweet little bow tie was coloured with light and dark Calypso Coral blends. 

Dawn Griffiths and the link to her Youtube instructions is here.  

I really like this last card style.  Although I didn't take a picture of it, I have added two Whisper White panels on the reverse side of the folded section for writing a message.  This works better and for me than adding a writing panel over top of the DSP.  

This is an example of one I made for an anniversary this month.  I've used papers and stamps from Stampin' Up's Everything's Rosy retired suite.  On this card I added a Whisper White panel that measures 3" x 3 1/2" and scored at the center for the message.  

I hope you enjoyed today's cards and will try out "pop up" cards in future.  They're fun and add a bit of zest to  birthday and other occasion cards.  I'd love to hear about your favourite fancy fold style so drop me a comment and I'll get back to you.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNYTOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo 

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