ThePowerOfACard: Super Sized Dotted Circles 3D Embossing Folder

Embossing folders have been around for many years, but each year, Stampin' Up! surprises me and comes out with new and unique folders! This year, we have two new ones that are super sized! They each measure 6" x 8-1/2"! The one I am featuring today is called Dotted Circles 3D and I have lots of different ways to use this folder. You just might be surprised at what I have in store for you!

I decided to make a slim line design for my video. While I've made this type of card before, I am not sure I've ever shown it in one of my videos. The cards I will be showing use a mix of new products from the Annual Catalog released earlier this month, and some "encore" products that you're probably familiar with. As I was preparing the samples, I found it rather fun to return to some old favorites, which sometimes get overshadowed by all the new stuff.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Crumb Cake 8-1/2" x 7-1/2", 8-1/4" x 3-1/2"; Basic White 8-1/4" x 3-1/2" and 4" x 5-1/2"; Old Olive 2-1/2" x 4-1/2"
Stamp Set: Cheerful Daisies
Dies: Cheerful Daisies
Ink: Old Olive, Smoky Slate, Pecan Pie
Embossing Folder: Dotted Circles 3D
Pecan Pie Stampin' Blend
Ribbon: Linen Thread 10"
Adhesive and Tools

A nice thing about this card is that you use a full sheet of cardstock for the base and front panel and there's only a tiny bit of scrap left over. Start by scoring at 3-3/4" parallel to the short side of the 8-1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock, then cut at 7-1/2". Crease this with the bone folder to form your slimline base. Trim off 1/4" of the remaining piece of Crumb Cake so the final dimension is 3-1/2" x 8-1/4".

When I embossed this panel with my super sized folder, I positioned the piece near the left edge so that the circled dots were not symmetrical on the panel. Of course, you could place it wherever you would like it to be - the length is at the maximum for the folder, but the width has lots of room to place it side to side. Attach this to the card front, using plenty of adhesive to minimize warping.

Using the daisy dies, cut out the pieces needed to make the flowers - I used the large connected piece (I didn't use the attached leaf, so when placing it on your Basic White panel, it can hang off the edge) and the three detailed pieces. Make sure you save space to cut out the label. From the Old Olive piece, cut out three sprigs of greenery.

Trim off the part of the leaf that is attached to the large daisy. Before adding the the detailed pieces on top of the cluster of flowers, color the centers with the light Pecan Pie Stampin' Blend marker. Pop this cluster of flowers up with Stampin' Dimensionals and tuck under two of the greenery sprigs. Stamp the sentiment on the remaining scrap of white and cut out the label. Add this to the front of the card, tucking in the remaining sprig and adding a Linen Thread bow with a Mini Glue Dot.

On the inside panel of Basic White, stamp the friendship sentiment in Old Olive. For the daisies and leaves, I used Smoky Slate, Pecan Pie and Old Olive, all stamped off to give a soft look. This card will fit in the standard letter sized envelope, something you can get at any paper goods store.

For my samples, I wanted to do more than just a 4" x 5-1/4" panel. I know this will look great in any color, but I wanted to think outside the box just a little. For my first card, I used a rainbow of colors and blending brushes to color a Basic White panel with the circles offset from center. Happy Little Things was used to make Love You, which was stamped on a circle of Basic White cut with the Spotlight on Nature dies. I wrapped some black Baker's Twine about the embossed panel before adhering it to the card base. I decorated the inside with "you are incredible" and surrounded those words with a rainbow of little hearts (borrowed from the Hooray for Surprises stamp set). I always love a good rainbow card!!

On the next card, I also embossed the panel of Basic White panel with the circles offset. To add color, I used my Brayer and Peach Pie to lightly color the raided dots. Then I colored a Basic White circle cut with one of the Hooray for Surprises dies with a Blending Brush and Peach Pie, making the center lighter than the outside edges. I stamped my sentiment from the Simply Said set, then added Peach Pie Bordered Ribbon in a zig zag behind it before adding it to the embossed panel. I used another die and sentiment from the Hooray for Surprises stamp and dies for the inside.

Rhino Ready is the star of my next sample! Before embossing my Basic White panel, I inked the inside of the embossing folder on the side with the Stampin' Up! logo with Shy Shamrock ink. To help the panel be centered, I had another piece the same size underneath the folder positioned where I wanted. Then I carefully added the piece on top of the inked surface and closed the folder. On a circle punched with the 2-3/8" punch, I stamped the grass. Then I stamped a rhino and colored him with Stampin' Blends. I had the dies that were originally released when the stamp set was, but if you don't, he's not difficult to fussy cut. The label is from the Unbounded Love dies and the embellishments are Basic Gray and Smoky Slate Pearls. A little knot from the Shy Shamrock Bordered Ribbon complete this adorable critter card.

My next three cards use embossed pieces (not full panels) and they are just so lovely, you don't really need much else to make a gorgeous card! I used the Latte Love Bundle to make the first one and feature Pebbled Path (Blends, ink, cardstock and jute trim). The embossed panel is 2" x 5-1/2". For the next one, I used three 2" squares embossed in different positions in the folder. I positioned them on a panel of Thoughtful Journey 6" DSP (such stunning paper!!). A simple flower (Translucent Florals) stamped in Pretty Peacock and cut with the dies of the same name are added to the Unbounded Love label. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. And lastly, I cut a variety of circles from punches I had (some of them are retired) and embossed them. I place them on a panel of the Country Lace DSP which was added to a base of Misty Moonlight. I used the Sentimental Park dies to make the flowers and used Tinsel Gems Four Pack for the centers. The sentients are from Simply Said.