In today’s post, I’ll be sharing a fun fold card tutorial with a Christmas theme.
For today’s cards, I’ve combined the Santa Express designer paper with the Christmas Lights Bundle from the Lights Aglow product suite. The color scheme was inspired by the designer paper and includes, Shaded Spruce, Mint Macaron, Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink, and Poppy Parade. This is a color scheme I’d likely never come up with on my own!
I love how the Stampin’ Up! designer series paper provides great color combinations to play with!
I’ve made two versions of this simple Z-Fold card. There are just slight but notable differences between the two.
My Shaded Spruce card body is scored at 2-⅛” and 4-¼” to create the “Z” fold. When it’s folded shut it’s held closed with some Simply Elegant Gold Trim that’s tied around the bottom. I did NOT tack down the *cord so the recipient can simply slide the cord off the bottom to open up the card!
*TIP: By doing it this way, you can first tie a knot with the cord, making it easier to get a snug fit without having to tie the bow at the same time. It can be hard to do this and get BOTH a snug fit AND a pretty bow. The other benefit is the recipient doesn’t have to retie the bow if they want to put it back together. Lots of people struggle with tieing bows! 🙂
Here’s the first version of my card when it’s completely open:
You can also fold back the front flap and open the card as shown below. I love this Santa Express designer paper with piles of presents. So fun right?!
The inside sentiment is one of the elements that are different between the two versions of my cards. This sentiment is heat embossed with gold embossing powder onto a piece of Petal Pink cardstock and then die-cut using a small die from the Stitched Rectangle dies. It is backed with a piece of the Lights Aglow Gold Glimmer Specialty paper. This sparkly sentiment element is hidden inside the card making for a special little surprise when the card is opened.
By the way, the sentiment comes from the Celebrate With Tags stamp set from the July to December mini-catalog. I love this multiseasonal set! Check it out in the supply list at the end of this post!
Can you see all the different colors on my Christmas tree?
The most involved element on this card is definitely the focal piece, especially the Christmas tree. Here’s a close-up so you can get a better look at all the details:
Are you wondering how I added all the different colors to my tree?
In this fun fold card tutorial, I’ll be sharing step-by-step details for creating this colorful tree!
I started by adding Poppy Parade cardstock so that the garlands on the tree would all be red.
TIP: By allowing the white glue to dry a bit you can be assured that the glue won’t ooze out into the openings and make a sticky mess on the front of the tree. The glue in the photo on the left below started white and is clear in about 5 to 10 minutes depending on how much glue you put on.
Next, I strategically lined up some strips of cardstock in colors that coordinate with the Santa Express designer paper.
I intentionally put them on the diagonal to help spread out where the colors would show up on the tree. I also made sure to place the strips so that EVERY opening had one solid color showing.
TIP: Make sure the seams where two different colored strips meet are hidden.
Next, I used another die-cut tree as a base for the colored strips.
NOTE: When I showed this process in my Facebook Live video I actually die-cut the additional detailed cut-out shapes in the Mint Macaron tree base as well, which made the process a little bit easier.
To see why it’s easier, make sure to watch my video tutorial at the end of this post.
After all the strips are attached to the Mint Macaron tree you have two choices. 1) You can line up the tree die over the strips, directly over where the die-cut tree is underneath and die-cut (photo on the left below), or; 2) You can simply cut off the strips with scissors. Whichever method you choose your final piece with the colored strips will need to be a little smaller than the Shaded Spruce tree in front, so all the colored strips don’t show on the edges.
TIP: If you’ve die-cut all the details in the Mint Macaron tree (I didn’t do that in the photos below) then you will be able to see exactly what you can cut off and won’t cut off too much. If you cut off too much there will be no color behind some of the holes.
Watch my Video Tutorial at the end of this post for all the details and tips on how to do this part!
If you choose to die-cut this piece with the strips you’ll need to run it through three times. When you run it through the second and third times you’ll be cutting off just a tiny bit from the right edge (shown below) and the left edge.
Once your piece with the colored strips is ready, just add some glue and attach the pieces together!
I just love how this colorful tree turned out!
To finish off my tree I’ve added a gold glimmer die-cut star at the top, and a Champagne Rhinestone jewel to the center. Plus, I added three gold “Festive Pearls” in a few spots on the tree. The tree is attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals to the Mint Macaron layer. This layer behind the tree is die-cut using a Stitched Rectangle die and stamped with Mint Macaron ink with some of the images from the Christmas Lights stamp set. The larger Shaded Spruce layer is die-cut using one of the Deckled Edge dies.
As mentioned earlier, I made a second version of my card with just a few small variations.
Can you see how this card is slightly different from the first one?
Here are the two cards side by side:
For this second card, I’ve used the Very Best Trio Punch to create corner elements on my focal piece. It’s a simple extra touch that really adds a lot to the card! I’m loving this new punch!
The other element that’s different on this card is the inside sentiment. For this version, I’ve used Poppy Parade cardstock for the sentiment instead of Petal Pink.
While I like the sentiments in both colors I think I’m a bit partial to this one in Poppy Parade. It’s just bolder and more cheerful to me.
What do you think? Do you have a preference? Leave a comment below and let me know!
If you enjoyed this card you might really enjoy my Lights Aglow Stamp-A-Stack for Christmas!
The Stamp-A-Stack features the Christmas Lights Bundle shown below. The cards included will be simpler and quicker to make than the card shown today so you can get a jump start on your Christmas card making! Plus, the projects will feature the color scheme in the Lights Aglow Speciality Designer Paper.
There is BOTH a To-Go Option AND a LIVE IN-PERSON event as well!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my fun fold card tutorial!
At the end of this post, you’ll find project dimensions, a complete supply list, and a link to my fun fold card tutorial video!
Happy Crafting!
Melissa 🙂
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Fun Fold Card Tutorial Facebook Live video here:
The project demonstration begins at around 12 minutes in case you’d like to jump ahead.
If you watched this video here on my blog and enjoyed it, please go on over to my YouTube channel and give it a Thumbs Up, Share it with friends and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. I’d be so grateful! Plus, once you subscribe, you’ll have the option to click on the bell, to be notified whenever I publish a new video.
Project Dimensions:
- Shaded Spruce Card Body: 8-½″ x 5-½″ scored at 2-⅛” and 4-¼”
- Designer Paper Strip: 2″ x 5-¼″
- Basic White Inside Strip: 2″ x 5-¼″
- Basic White Inside Panel: 4″ x 5-¼″
- Designer Paper Inside Strip: 2-⅛″ x 5-¼″
- Gold Glimmer Specialty Paper: 2-½” x 1-⅛”
- Pieces for die-cuts: Petal Pink (or Poppy Parade), Mint Macaron, Shaded Spruce, Gold Glimmer Paper
- Scrap strips for behind tree: Petal Pink, Mint Macaron, Granny Apple Green
