What should we do with those 1/2" strips we create almost every time we create a card... toss or keep?

I'm pretty inclined to toss them (yes, I feel guilty every time!), but if I keep them, they just lie around. I think I'm going to do something with them, but never do!

Today was an out of the ordinary day. I actually did something with them! Lost Lagoon, Pool Party and Barely Blush 1/2" strips were glued every which way, simply across the paper, others started in the center, while other went two different directions. I created three background pieces and then turned them into these three extraordinary cards! 

I used the Holly Jolly Bundle (#167280) to add the the whimsy of the card and the Tile Garden dies (#168573) to add some fun details. 

 

Calling all paper crafters! If you love creating with paper, ink, stamps or creating cards with pre-made kits, then I don't want you to miss out on this AMAZING Stampin'Up! deal! It's a once a year kind of deal, let's see why.

Join Stampin'Up! For only $100 but you get SO much more!

• Get a coupon for $125 to purchase anything you like from either online or a current catalog. 
• Get $50 in Reward Points added to your online Stampin'Up! account. Use these Reward Points along with the $125 coupon or save them to use in the next 3 months on another order.
• Get a Welcome Box valued at $50 sent to your house as a Thank You gift for joining Stampin'Up!
• Get a free stamp set on your birthday valued at up to $25 from me, Stacey Cogswell.
• Join a whole new family of crafty friends and my team! Get a 15% discount on everything you purchase or sell. Get access to new products before the public in product pre-orders. Attend Stampin'Up! events with lots of other crafty friends from all over the world!
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So, if you add it all up....that's $250 worth of goodies for only $100! It's just too good of a deal to pass on, and you don't have to do anything else if you choose not to have classes or sell. You can simply enjoy the discount and if after 6 months, you don't want to purchase anything else. Keep all your goodies and owe nothing! I joined Stampin'Up! up over 21 years ago and I still love it! 

It's super easy to join, just click here Time is running out though; there are only 7 days remaining! This deal is only available until October 31st!

2026 Card Sketch #38

This multiple layer card sketch is a little more involved to use, but the end results are worth it! To make cutting the DSP a little simpler, I came up with a "cut a stack" way of cutting the DSP. This method allows you to cut the DSP for three cards at the same time! Again you can use any element for the circle. 

 

"Cut a Stack" diagram

Stack three pieces of DSP measuring 3" x 4 3/8" together and cut according to the diagram.

The first card using the Creative Celebrations Celebration DSP (#168499) for both the main paper and the center element. I love the bright colors of this DSP and the cute squirrel! I chose a greeting from the Dreamy Snowflakes stamp set (#168378) to tie greeting to the scarf & mittens on the squirrel. 

This card used the Sunflower Fields (#168351) for the main paper and the center fussy cut flower. I added in a greeting strip just to change things up.

Lastly, I created 18 more cards using the "cut a stack" method of cutting the DSP. It still took me a bit of time to cut all the cardstock, but the end result was a pile of beautiful cards!

 Card Sketch #37

This is super easy sketch that can be made vertical and horizonal. The circle can also be replaced with any element you like. The hardest part of this sketch is the 1/16" cutting measurements, but once you get past that, the cards come together super fast.

For the first card, I use the Autumn Opulence DSP (#168336) for both the main paper and the center element. I fussy cut around the pumpkin pre-cut to reduce the white border a little. The cut apart greeting is from the Painted Pumpkin stamp set (#168431)

Just like the prior card, this beautiful card uses the Violet Dreams DSP (#168186) for both the main paper and the center element. I left the white border around the center flower because I thought it look nice with the white grid behind it. The greeting is from Botanical Expressions (#168150) 

Finally, this bright cheerful Christmas card uses the Creative Celebrations DSP (#168499) for the main paper and the Wreath. I fussy cut around the wreath and then added a Blend colored popped up greeting from Pretty Poinsettia stamp set (#168140) 

                                   2026 Card Sketch #36

This was a fun sketch to play with, in fact I had so much fun that I made 5 card samples all with different DSP! You can change up the sketch by removing the rectangle and add another square. You can always step up the sketch by adding embossing or other die cuts.

 This first card using the Scenic Coast DSP (#197773) and the Sunset Coast Bundle (#167781). I thought it would be fun to cut the paper so that it still retained the scene that was on the DSP. I think it worked pretty well. I did remove the rectangle for this one. 

This card uses the Nature's Walk DSP (#166912), Gear & Textures Bundle (#166854) and the Framed & Fabulous stamp set (#170573) for the greeting. I love the look of this card. All the different textures and colors are just so appealing to my eye. 

Next I pulled out the Velvet Meadow DSP (#167904) to create this beautiful floral card. I used a greeting for the Radiant Sunflower stamp set (#168352) I stamp the greeting and then separated the words.

For this card I used Moonlit Flora DSP (#167737), removed the rectangle, added another square and instead of randomly placing the prints, I put them in a pattern. I created a flower using the Radiant Sunflower (#168352) and the Sending Salutations stamp set (#167857) for the greeting.  

The next two cards use DSP that was in my stash and is retired, but I was having so much fun creating with this sketch that I couldn't help myself! These two papers were two of my favorites and they created super cute cards.

 My three variations of card sketch #35

I created a very simple tutorial with the measurements and products used that doesn't include a step by step instructions, but I think you will be able to figure it out!

Click here for a Printable Tutorial

Card #1: Opens like a regular A2 card

Card #2: Only the center section of the card opens

Card #3: Z fold swing opening in the center of the card

The pre-printed image in the Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Kit are SO beautiful! 

I wanted to keep as much of the image as I could, but create a super cool double fun fold card, let me show you how to make this card or scroll down to find a printable tutorial.

The only extra things you need that are not in the kit are: 

Three pieces of Pecan Pie cardstock, a scrap of Basic White and Blends for coloring.

Card base: 5½" x 8½" scored at 4¼"

Center "card":3½" x 7 7/8" scored at 4"

Bridge: ½" x 5½"

Basic White: 3¼" x 3¾"

Scrap of Basic White for stamping leaves

Cut and score your Pecan Pie card base, cut out the top center by cutting a 1¼" strip up to the center score line of the card base. With the card base from the kit and the first thing I did was cut it in half, then cut the card front down to 4"x 5½", cutting an 1/8" of an inch off each edge. I then cut 1" off each of the sides with the trees and this left me with a 3½" x 4" piece for the center. Glue the two printed 1" pieces to the card base side strips. Adhere the ½" x 5½" "bridge" piece on the back of the two card base strips. Stamp the greeting and add to the front of the "bridge" piece. Stamp and color a leave and add to the front of the card with dimensionals. 

Now for the second inside card. Using the remaining White piece from the kit card, cut it down to 4" x 5¼" and adhere it to the inside of the Pecan Pie card base. Cut and score the 3½" x 7 7/8" piece of Pecan Pie card stock and adhere it to the center of the open card base over the white piece you just added. Adhere the remaining piece with the printed trees to the front of this smaller card. Stamp a greeting and leaves to the smaller Basic White piece of cardstock and adhere to the inside of the smaller card.

Add a couple of the gems included in the kit and you're done! What do you think? 

One extra thing, if you want add one more step to your card, you can add some ink splatter.  I used a Blend to tap a little splatter onto my stamped leaves and inside the card. This is a technique that is easy to do, but may require a little masking and practice. It's hard to control where the splattered ink goes, some make sure you down have anything in the area you don't want ink on!

Click here for a printable tutorial: Aspens of Gratitude Tutorial

Have any questions, let me know.