Aloha, all!
When I talk about a card that has a fun fold, I really like to give the fold a name. Usually I don’t have a problem with that because I’ve seen the fold in other places, and the name is right there with the card. In this case, though, I had no such luck. After I figured out how I was going to make this card, I went looking (on Pinterest, of course) to see how other people had made a similar card. I found several great examples of this fold – but no name!
It Looks Like a Standard Card
When you first look at this card, it looks to me as if it’s a card with just an interesting layer over towards the left. Then, when I pick up the card, that layer begins to flip open. It’s a Little Surprise. So I’m calling this card a Little Surprise Fun Fold.
Do you see what I mean? Lying down, this card looks like it has a delightful layer over towards the left whose colors complement the colors on the card front.
It’s Not What It Looks Like!
Pick the card up and that “layer” flips open! It’s a surprise to see that layer move. Even more surprising is that under the front of the layer is actually the inside of the card. That 4-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card front is actually the whole card itself.
But Is It Quick and Easy?
Quick and Easy are the main criteria for September Tuesday’s Techniques. Another is that the card has to stand up by itself so that the recipient can display the card on a desk or table.
Let’s Stop for a Quick Story…
I’ve always thought that a card that can’t stand up on its own is just not going to stay around for long. If it won’t stand up, the person who received it lets it lie on a table or shelf and eventually something else gets put on top of it. Out of sight, out of mind. One of my sister Stampin’ Up! demonstrators made a card like that – gorgeous in every way! But it wouldn’t stand up. She said, in a very nice tone of voice, “It’s a great card. Get over its not being able to stand.”
Yesterday I was talking with a friend to whom I recently sent a card. She’s a school teacher and is teaching remotely. She told me that she took my card and stood it up on her desk in front of her screen. Every once in a while she’d notice it and it helped improve her state of mind. If that card had been lying on her desk, I guarantee there would have been papers on top of it. I was so glad that I made it so it could stand up and give her some pleasure, even if intermittently. End of story.
Back to the Quick and Easy
The card base itself is simply a piece of cardstock cut to a standard (in the USA) A2 card size – 4-1/4″ by 5-1/2″. The cardstock is Stampin’ Up!’s Early Espresso Cardstock. The printed paper that forms the background is a 4″ x 5-1/4″ print from the Gilded Autumn Designer Series Paper set.
The little card that forms the layers on the card starts with another piece of Early Espresso Cardstock, 8-1/2″ x 2-1/2″, folded in half to form a little card that’s 2-1/2″ x 4-1/4″. The printed paper on the front of this card is from the same Designer Series Paper set. I think that the print and the stripe go well together because they both feature the same colors – Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Mint Macaron. This piece of paper measures 2-1/4″ x 4″, as does the Very Vanilla Cardstock inside the card (for writing a note).
Where to Place the Little Card
You form the card by simply adhering the back of the little card to the front of the card base. I placed my little card over towards the left. But I’ve seen this design with the little card in the middle, towards the right and even flush up against the left or right side. I think they all work depending on your other design elements.
The Pumpkins and the Sentiment
Now to the stamp set. For this card I used the Gather Together Stamp Set. I stamped both pumpkins from this stamp set onto Cajun Craze Cardstock using Early Espresso Ink. Believe it or not, I fussy cut those pumpkins all by myself. I needed some time just to sit and rest and what better way to rest than fussy cutting a circle! I adhered the larger of the pumpkins onto the little card front using Stampin’ Seal+, and the two smaller pumpkins using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
For the sentiment layer, I first tied two strands of Linen Thread around the little card front. Then I created the sentiment layer by stamping on Whisper White Cardstock with Early Espresso ink. Then I punched the ends of both the stamped layer and a strip of Early Espresso Cardstock using the Banners Pick a Punch.
The Bottom Line
This Little Surprise Fun Fold is a great go-to fun fold when you want something different, and don’t have the time to go to too much trouble. But it will look to the recipient of the card that you did because of the surprise!
Let me know if you make one of these cards. I’d love to feature it on one of my blog posts over the next two months!
Happy stamping!
