Cube pillar card introducing Golden Glow

 Every year Stampin' Up! Intoduce 5 new trendy colours.  Called the In-Color collection these colours are only available for 2 years. This year's 2026-2028 In-Color's are beautiful 😍! They range from a soft green colour to the palest pink and include shades sure to suit your projects. 

The range includes the new magnetic closure ink pads, reinkers, A4 (letter size) cardstock,  30.5cm x 30.5cm ( 12" x 12") two-tone cardstock, ribbon, embellishments as well as double-sided pattern papers, alcohol markers and amazing new Shimmer brushes!

To start this introduction of the colours I asked during my regular Monday Facebook live which colour to use and it was decided to go with the beautiful Golden Glow.  The soft yellow has orange undertones and a delicate feel to it.

The beautiful pattern papers used for this card are from the Bloom Boutique  pattern papers and the 2026-2028 In-Color pearlized paper

The card folds is remarkably easy. Called a cube pillar card it folds flat for postage, stands nicely for display and shows off your gorgeous papers so well! 

It all starts with a piece of cardstock measuring 14cm x 21cm scored at 5cm, 10cm, 15cm and 20cm.  ( 5" x 8½" scored at 2", 4", 6" and 8") . 

You'll then need a piece of cardstock measuring 10cm x 29.7cm scored at 7cm, 14cm,  21cm and 28cm. ( 5" x 11" scored at 2½", 5", 7½" and 10") next cut the panel into 2 pieces each measuring 5cm x 29.7cm ( 2½" x 11")

The final piece that you'll need is a piece of cardstock measuring 3cm x 9cm scored at 1.5cm and 3cm from each end. ( 1" x 3" score at ½" and 1" from each end) then cut into 2 strips each measuring 1.5cm x 9cm ( ½" x 3").

The stamps and dies used to decorate this card are called Lovely Arrangements.  

When I decorated my card I place a white mat on the reverse so that I could write my own message.

The other thing I like about this fold is that it fits into a standard C6 (A2) envelope as it folds flat.

You can see how this project comes together in the video here.

Here is another version of the cube pillar card made using one of the 2026-2028 In-Color Painted Patterns papers in Crisp Cantaloupe. The flowers on this card are from the stunning Artisan Sketched Garden papers and the sentiments from Paradise garden stamps and dies set.

Oh and top tip make sure your decorations on this card fits into the envelope before adhering anything down 😉😀.

Thank you for joining me for this fun project and I do hope you'll have a go yourself 😀. Until next time...

Have fun

Cary xx

Hexagonal banded pillar card with Gardens Poetry

 Hi and welcome 👋 if you're new here you might not know but I host a Facebook live every Monday at 5pm BST/ GMT over on my Facebook page Here. Then every Wednesday I share more directions about the project from Monday's live in a blog post here. So here's the project I made on Monday the 27th of April 2026.

In the video I have used the beautiful Garden Poetry pattern papers as well as dies and ribbon from the Garden Poetry suite collection . The amazing leaf die cut is from the Nature's Symphony dies.

The card starts as a piece of cardstock measuring 14.85cm x 18cm scored at 1.5cm, 4.5cm, 7.5cm? 10.5cm, 14.5cm and 16.5cm ( 4¼" x 6" scored at ½", 1½", 2½", 3½", 4½" and 5½") Then you'll need a piece of cardstock measuring 7cm x 17.6cm scored at 3.5cm, 7cm, 10.5cm and 14.cm ( 3" x 6¼" scored at 1¼", 2½", 3¾" and 5"). Next cut this piece in to 2 pieces measuring 3.5cm x 17.5cm ( 1½" x 6¼"). You'll also need a piece of cardstock measuring 14.85cm x 10.5cm (4¼" x  5½")

In the video further down you'll see how these4 pieces of cardstock are assembled to create this fun hexagonal banded pillar card.

Of course I decorated the back as a place to write my personal message. 

Here is the video 

I do hope you'll have a go at this fun card.  It's not as hard as it may look I promise 😀. If you do have a go please share your creations on my Facebook page  here.

Until next time ...

Have Fun

Cary xx

A double diamond fun fold card

 Were I live spring has sprung and the weather is sunny and the light evenings are lengthening which I love! With all this it brings to mind new beginnings. Last week I made new baby cards and this week it's wedding cards! The colour palette is predominantly white with splashes of colour. The fun fold is called a double diamond fold. Together these elements make for an elegant took perfect for such a special occasion. 

Here is the card I made in the video at the bottom of this post. Folded the card fits into a 15cm x 15cm ( 6" x 6") envelope. 

It starts with a piece of cardstock measuring 14.8cm x 28cm (6" x 12") . Then score along the long side at 7cm, 10.5cm, 17.5cm and 21cm (3",

4½", 7½" and 9").

Next you need to mark the center point top and bottom so 14cm (6"). Now mark along the first and last vertical scorelines at the center, so at 7.4cm ( 3") . 

Then score diagonally as shown below.

Once all scored cut along the center line from the first to last vertical scorelines. This picture shows how the scores fold . I think seeing the contrast between the pattern paper and the cardstock shows more clearly than just a diagram. 

The measurements for the decoration are 

4 panels ( 2 for the front and 2 for the back) each measuring 14.3cm x 6.5cm (2¾" x 5¾").

2 panels each 4.5cm x 4.5cm ( 1⅞" x 1⅞").

2 panels each 4.5cm x 4.5cm ( 1¾" x 1¾") cut in half diagonally. 

4 panels each 4.5cm x 4.5cm (1¾" x 1¾") cut in half then quarters diagonally. 

The best way to see how it comes together is to watch this video 

Here is another version of the card made using silver heat embossing powder rather than ink. For this and the card in the video I only decorated the outside panels and the center diamonds.

The foliage die cuts and the moths are from  the stunning Fern & Flora bundle. The bundle includes the stamps and coordinating dies. The embossing folder is from the gorgeous Paradise garden bundle. The sentiment is from a stamp set called Sending Salutations. 

I do hope you'll have a go at this fun fold.  I'm sure it will become a firm favourite. 

Have fun

Cary xx

Double expanding Woolly Friends stampin up double expanding Z fold new baby card Z fold card Woolly Friends

 I'm fortunate enough to live in an area of the country where there are open spaces a few steps from my front door. A few minutes in the car leads me to green fields and beautiful scenery. On Sunday I drove to my daughters to visit with her, my son-in-law and grandson. On the way I passed through so many beautiful signs of spring. There were cowslips and primulars as well as bluebells peeking through the trees and hedges that are all turning green now. There is a lot of farm land along the way and the fields were filled with new born lambs and very woolly sheep 🐑.  Inspired by the wonderful drive and a card created by Connie Stewart, an American demonstrator,  I came up with today's inspiration 😀 Of course I just had to include the adorable Woolly Friends stamps and punch to create a new baby card!

The colour palette for this card isn't the usual soft and gentle combination it has  more of a vibrant feel. The pattern papers are from the February 2026 product of the month from Stampin' Up! called Painted illusions. 

The card starts with a piece measuring 14.85cm x  21cm scored at 10.5cm ( 8½" x 5½" scored at 4¼") 

You'll then need 2 pieces of pattern paper measuring 14.4cm 21.5cm ( 5¼" x 8½" scored at 2¹" and 5"). As well as 2 piece of cardstock measuring 19.5cm x 9.5cm scored at 6.5cm and 13cm (7½" x 3½" scored at 2½" and 5")

To decorate the card you'll need 5 pieces of white cardstock measuring 9cm x 6cm ( 3¼" x 2¼") and 2 pieces of pattern paper 9cm x 6cm (3¼" x 2¼").

The woolly Friends stamps make making a simple sceen so easy! All I did was to blend some of the same shade of green found in the pattern papers on to a rectangle of card

I couldn't leave the back undecorated so here's another woolly friend 🐑. This is also a great place to secure the ribbon used to hold the card closed 😉.

The panels for the front of the card are made using the same panel but with a mat of cardstock measuring 9.5cm x 6.5cm ( 3½" x 2½") as well as pattern paper and cardstock mats as desired.

Here is the video that shows how this card comes together but in a pink colour palette 🐑.

 And here are the 2 samples side by side.

I hope you've enjoy this project and will give it a go. It's a good one for so many occasions and papers from your stash.

Have fun

Cary xx

One sheet wonder with a 15cm x 15cm piece of Cute as a Bug pattern paper

 Happy Friday 😃 The weekend starts today and for many TGIF, (thank goodness it's Friday) 😉 Do you have a busy weekend planned?  Or are you working? But still hope to grab some time to be creative?  Well let me share a great way to be creative when time is short... a one sheet wonder! 

There are lots of different ways of doing a One Sheet Wonder. One way is to create your own pattern paper using stamps and inks. Another is to use a template and this is the way I'm using it for today's inspiration. When I was at OnStage in Cologne we were fortunate to receive 2 templates. One was for a 30.5cm x 30.5cm (12" x 12") and the other was for a 15.2cm x 15.2cm (6" x 6") . These templates are a great starting point. You can find plenty on the Internet to inspire you as well. I've decided to make a 15cm x 15cm version inspired by a fellow demonstrator Heidi Collins' reel. 

I'll be using a piece of the Cute as a Bug pattern paper. These papers have been a fantastic source of inspiration for me lately 😃.

Now my template is in centimeters but it's not difficult to convert if the measurements are rounded to 2.5cm = 1".

The piece of pattern paper from  the Cute as a Bug paper pack was a piece left from other projects that just so happened to be 15cm x 15cm, so waste not want not  😉

Here is card A. This uses 2 pieces of paper measuring 7cm x 3.75cm ( 1½" x 2½") and 2 measuring 3.5cm x 3.75cm ( 1¾ x 1¾").

I have used a simple colour palette of basic beige, poppy parade ( a bright cheerful red) and blackberry bliss ( a decadent rich purple) for all the cards.

Card B is made using 3 pieces of pattern paper measuring 2.5cm x 7.5cm ( 1" x 3").

By keeping the designs simple these cards come together quickly. 

For card C you'll use 1 piece of pattern paper measuring 7.5cm x 5cm and another at 7.5cm x 2cm ( 3" x 2" and ¾" x 3") .

I've used a variety of sentiments from my stash so that I'll have 4 cards at the end of this process to have on hand for different occasions. 

And finally card D. This one uses a single strip of pattern paper measuring 2.5cm x 15cm (1" x 6"). Now this strip will be trimmed to fit as desired when you put the card together. 

All these images are just for inspiration.  You can change the orientation and layout to suite you style and the paper you've used.

They would also make a lovely gift as a set of 4 cards and envelopes. 

One Sheet Wonder's are a great stash buster as well as a fun way to create quick cards. They help us use that beautiful paper we are all have that is just waiting to be used! Will you give it a go?

Have a lovely weekend.

Have fun

Cary xx

Double tiered pull out card

 More fun with the adorable Cute as a bug pattern papers papers today! I just can't stop playing with them 🫣🤪. Does this happen to you too?

Well today's card is a fun fold one, another phase I'm in 🫣. I'm calling it a double tiered pull out card. If it has another name please let me know.

This card is a version of the one I made on my Live at 5 over on Facebook on Monday just gone. This card is a landscape orientation the one from Monday's live is in a portrait orientation. 

The mechanism and materials are identical.  It's just the way the card opens and which direction the decoration goes that makes all the difference! 

So start with a piece of cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 29.7cm scored at 14.85cm ( 4¼" x 11" scored at 5½") You'll need  to decorate one side of this card piece. In the portrait version I've added a mat as well as a layer of pattern paper. But in the landscape version I've only added a layer of pattern paper. Which ever way you choose to go here are 2 top tips. 1 only apply adhesive around the edges of the layers and 2 make sure that the orientation of the paper is right. For the portrait version you need to have the fold of the cardbase to the bottom so the print needs to work going up from there. For the landscape version the fold is on the left hand side so the paper needs to flow from there. Now this sounds very complicated but I promise it's not just watch the video at the bottom of the post to see how it all comes together 😊

Now with the panel decorated you're going to cut 2 very narrow slots in through the layers. This part doesn't matter which way the final card is going. You need to cut 2 slots one at 4cm (1¾") up and 2.5cm ( 1") in from the left along to 2.5cm ( 1") in from the right-hand edge. Next move the blade to 4.2cm (1 &13/16") and cut beside the first cut. 

Next cut in at 6.5cm ( 2½") and 6.7cm ( 2⁹/16") to create another slot as shown below.

Next use sharp scissors or a craft knife to remove the 2 very thin strips from the piece.

This sounds different so again watch the video as I'm sure it's a lot easier to understand when you see how it goes 🤪.

Once the slots are made you're going to need 8 1.3cm (½") circles. Fold 4 in half and with the fold in the center add them to the slots. Now adhere another circle on both sides. These should run easily up and down the slots. This is the mechanism that makes the pull out panels pull out!

Now cut 3 pieces of cardstock.  2 measuring 8cm x 10.5cm (3¼" x 4¼") and 1 measuring 5.5cm x 7.5cm ( 2¼" x 3") . Watch the video to see what to with these bits 👀. 

Once the front of the card is finished and working you'll need a further piece of cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 16cm scored at 14.85cm (4¼" x 5¾" scored at 5½") . This panel is adhered to the back of the card, in the appropriate direction,  to form the inside of the card.

I decorated both these cards using images either die cut or fussy cut from the cute as a bug pattern papers. You of course can decorate however you wish.

And here is the all important video that will make sense of all of the above 😀

And here's a short of the landscape version in action 🎬 

I hope you'll give this fun card a go. 

Take care and have fun

Cary xx

Cute as a Bug clean and simple gift bundle of cards

 Now whilst I'm loving using pattern  papers sometimes I want to go a different route.. and today is one such day! With the adorable Cute as a bug papers  scraps littering my creative table I was inspired to look not at the whole sheet but at the smaller bits. There are lots of ways to use scraps, indeed there are many examples on this blog 😉. But this time I was taken by the cute characters and started fussy cutting them out. Now fussy cutting isn't for everyone but I love it! For the non-fussy cutters amongst us I'm happy to report that many of the images on these papers can be die cut using the coordinating dies from the Sweet Bugs bundle 😉

So where did my fussy cutting send me? Well straight for a plain white card base and simple white mat to go on top. I decided to add a little colour behind my images by using a blending brush and a blue/ grey shade of ink. Called cloud cover this colour is a great neutral shade that worked well to ground my characters. 

First up let's me introduce you to knitting Nanny grasshopper...

Isn't she the cutest?

Then there are the bestie beasties having a tea party...

And finally introducing Mr Grateful Grace hopper... who maybe asking a lady grasshopper out ... oh my my imagination went overboard with these characters 🫣🤪

Once I had all 3 cards made I sorted through a variety of stamp sets to find suitable sentiments. The sets I used are Cutest Crew, Nature's symphony and Creative Haven.

I decided to add a little extra to these cards by decorating the envelopes with a piece of pattern paper to the flaps. I also thought it would be fun to make them into a gift . So created a cute tag and bundled them up together.

Wouldn't you be happy to reive this cute cards? I know I would and I had fun making them! They maybe clean and simple on design but they certainly have the wow factor I was inspired to create. 

Who's your favourite? 

Until the next time

Have fun

Cary xx