You can copy the ideas exactly, or put your own spin on it. I find that the more I CASE other stampers' cards, the more I start to formulate my own ideas. If you're new to stamping, it's a great way to get started. When I find myself with a little Stamper's Block, I CASE some cards and quickly find myself stamping away again. 
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Today's tip for the weekend seems like a no brainer, and maybe all of you are already doing this, but it was a light bulb moment for me while making cards yesterday. 

However, when designing cards, proportions are really important. I always want to know how an image or a group of images will fill the card front. Since I was designing some single-layer cards, this was particularly pertinent yesterday. Then it dawned on me, why not cut down my scrap paper to card front size. Then I could try out a card design before I stamped in on card stuck. Well, duh, why had I never thought of this before? 

Since copy paper is so thin, I could cut multiple pieces at once, and with just a few swipes of my paper cutter, I had a small stack of 5.5 x 4.25 inch pieces of scrap paper, perfect for practicing card fronts. 

So, have you had any "well, duh" moments while stamping? I'd love to hear about them!

I recently received the beautiful Friend Like You stamp set from a fellow stamper. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail, but I was knee deep in some other projects at the time and had to set it at the back of the stamp table. But today I pulled it out and made three awesome cards that go from simple to Wow!

All stamps and supplies used for these cards are available from Stampin' Up! If you are not already working with a demonstrator, I would love to help you purchase these supplies for your own craft room. Just send me a note.

First, I stamped the clump of leaves and stems using Old Olive ink. I stamped once and then stamped a second time further up and to the right to create a more faded image. Then I re-inked the stamp and stamped a third time, again, further to the right, but this time at a height between the first two. ​

To ink the flowers, I very carefully used the corner of my ink pad to ink the flowers in the desired color. This seems tricky, but with this set, it was pretty easy and I didn't experience trouble with ink on the wrong flowers. However, I don't think you could use this technique to get the flowers that are the same color in the samples in two different colors. They are just too close together.

I carefully lined up the images over the leaves I had already stamped. Since these are clear photopolymer stamps, it's easy to see through them to get perfect - or nearly perfect - placement. This stamp set is very forgiving, and if the flowers and the stems don't line up exactly, you won't really notice. Like the leaves, I stamped the flowers a second time to get the more pastel version you see in the back. Then I re-inked and stamped a third time.

Finally, I added the greeting in Rich Razzleberry and tied on a little ribbon. The polka dot tulle adds a great touch and is very easy to tie. I absolutely love it and find it works on so many projects. 

The DSP and the greeting strip are trimmed to match the edge of this embossed cardstock on the left. As you can see, on the right, they are staggered in length. 

On the piece of vellum, I very carefully scored a line 1/4 inch from each side. Then I flattened the vellum back out because it tended to curl up. This left a very subtle line framing the outside of the layer. 

Whether you're short on time or supplies or you want to go all out and make a Wow! card, the Friend Like You stamp set is a perfect vehicle for you creative juices!

This card uses Stampin' Up!'s retired Falling Flowers stamp set (I really miss these easy to color bold flowers!) and the May Flowers framelits, as well as the Layering Circles dies.  The card base is Granny Apple Green with a circle of Bermuda Bay card stock and Whisper White for the greeting and flowers. 

I then stamped the flowers on Whisper White cardstock using the Jet Black Staz-On ink pad. I colored the flowers with Stampin' Blends in Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Highland Heather. I cut them out using my Big Shot and the coordinating Framelits.

To create the thin Bermuda Bay circle frame, I used the largest and the second to largest circles in the Layering Circles dies. I started by cutting the smaller circle first. Then, I carefully laid the larger circle over the opening ensuring that it was centered. I used a couple of pieces of washi tape to hold it in place while I was cutting. 

Now comes the slightly tricky part. I attached the Whisper White circle to the front of the card but only put glue on the right half (this will be the left half of your white circle when it's upside down). Then I attached the Bermuda Bay circle frame to the front but glued only the left half. Now you can see how the card fits together to open and close. 

Finally, I arranged my flowers on the front of the card and carefully glued them in place. It's important to only put glue where they will touch the Granny Apple Green or Bermuda Bay cardstock. You don't want to glue any of the flowers to the Whisper White cardstock as this will prevent the card from opening. I finished the whole thing off with a few of the enamel dots I had previously made. 

If you have questions on creating this Wow! card, leave a comment. Or, show me your own gate fold cards. I love to see your creations! 

Have questions?
Comment below or contact me at [email protected]. 

Already have Paper Pumpkin? I would love to see your creations. Share a photo in the comments section.