Variations on a Flip Flap Fun Fold

Making this fun fold is easier than saying the name of it!  I saw a demonstrator named Karen Titus show off this great layout and immediately knew I wanted to make a video on it!  The fun fold is easy and really shows off our lovely printed paper!  Once I made my first sample, I started thinking of all the variations I could do - changing up what I put on the flap.  There are so many possibilities when you think out of the rectangle!

Here is the basic formula - start with a half sheet of cardstock (5-1/2" x 8-1/2") and fold it in half.  Then cut off 1-1/2" from the front right side.  This strip will be cut down to make the mechanism to hold the flap.  Most of the time, I cut this to 2" and scored it at 1/2", but depending on what you put on the flap, you may need to make this shorter.  You'll need two pieces of Designer Series Paper (DSP) and often a neutral layer for the inside.  Then the flap piece is where you can be creative.  The rectangle is roughly 2-3/4" x 4" and of course, this will vary with how you layer it, or what shape you use.  

 Gather your supplies:

• Cardstock: Gorgeous Grape 5-1/2" x  8-1/2" (scored at 4-1/4", then trimmed to 5-1/2" x 7") ; DSP from the Halloween Memories Scrapbooking Kit: Stripes (2) 2-1/2" x 5-1/4"; Orange Dots 2-1/2" x 3-3/4"; White Willow 2-3/4" x 4" and 4" x 5-1/4"; Basic Black 2-7/8" x 4-1/8"
• Stamps:  Kindest Expressions, Happiest Day
• Ink:  Memento Black and Gorgeous Grape
• Embellishment: Glossy Dots Assortment
• Adhesive and Tools

Start by folding your card base and creasing with a bone folder.  Then cut off 1-1/2" from the card front.  I use this piece for the flap mechanism and cut it to 1-1/2" x 2", scoring at 1/2".  Now it's time to decorate the flap.  Stamp the sentiment in black onto the orange dots DSP and add the White Willow and Basic Black mat layers. 

Take the first piece of striped DSP and adhere this to the front of the card.  Now we can add the flap mechanism.  Attach this to card front, roughly in the middle with the small part of the flap on the inside and the large part of the flap folder over to the front right side of your card.  Only place adhesive on the small part of the flap.  Finish by adding the second striped piece on the inside front flap - this will cover up most of the mechanism.

This is now ready to attach to the flap.  For this card, I used glue to add the rectangle directly to the flap, but for others, I used Dimensionals.  Stamp the inside sentiment on the large piece of White Willow with Gorgeous Grape and adhere to the inside of the card.  The final decorative touch is to add some purple Glossy Dots to the front flap.  I used a sticker strip from the Kit to decorate the envelope and I am done!  See how quick and easy this layout is?? 

When I made my first card, I used the Sweet Days of Autumn DSP.  This is a pack that has both printed paper and a selection of our new Two Tone cardstock.  I thought the woodland animals were very adorable, so I fussy cut a bear, porcupine, deer and bird to add to the inside of the card and envelope.  I chose the Old Olive Two Tone paper for my flap and added a Stylish Shapes stitched circle for my sentiment.  The sentiments are from Caring Leaves and Best Family Ever.  The Pecan Pie and Clear Adhesive Backed Dots add a bit of sparkle.

Let's start changing up what the flap looks like!  I used a Deckled Circle Die cut in Blueberry Bushel.  This one measure 3-1/2" across.  I chose Basic Beige for the card base and flap, and Season of Elegance Specialty DPS for my two panels.  The Classic Wedding bundle has this amazing car and all the trimmings for the happy couple!

Turning this layout 90 degrees, I created this fun Christmas Card with the Filled with Cheer stamp set.  For the flap, I used the Nested Essentials dies to cut the hexagon shapes - the largest from Festive Glimmer paper and the next size down from Basic White.  I colored the gifts with Stampin' Blends in Real Red, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight and Copper Clay.  I popped this up on the mechanism with Dimensionals.  For my DSP panels, I used the Take a Bow DSP pack, choosing two different patterns (inside is stripes).  Then I decided to add another piece of DSP to the bottom of the card - this doesn't leave much room for writing, but sometimes, that is what we want!

The next variation is with circles (I used the 2-3/8" circle punch).  I made three circles from the Country Woods Paper and glued them together to form my flap.  While I did all three the same size, you could do a variety of sizes and more of them to form your grouping.  To compliment the natural feel of this card, I stamped and cut out a tree from the Peaceful Evergreens Bundle.  The sentiments are from the Hooray for Surprises Bundle and all the stamping was done with Misty Moonlight ink.

My next card was actually the first idea I had when I thought to change up the flap and I think it's my favorite of the samples.  I used the Sweetest Star Bundle to emboss the gingerbread cookies in White embossing powder (part of the Basics set).  I paired the Regal Distressed Patterns Specialty DSP with Pecan Pie and adore this combo!  It must be the richness of the two colors together or maybe just the touch of gold, but whatever it is, it works for me!  I did have to shorten my flap mechanism since the two cookies together aren't as wide as the typical flap.  Cherry Cobbler is my ink color, even for my snowflakes!

I don't know if you saw my last video, but if you haven't, check out the gorgeous Marbled Elegance Specialty DSP pack because it's simply stunning.  I used it again here with a Melon Mambo base.  Like my previous card, I did have to shorten the mechanism to hold the two hearts.  The bundle is called Hearts of Elegance and it's one of the new On-Line Exclusives.  Don't forget those Adhesive Backed Sequin Hearts - they add the perfect final touch!

My last card came to me at 5:30 in the morning, just as I was waking up over the weekend.  Up to now, I've used a combination of pieces - layered rectangles, circles, and other die cut shapes.  For this card, I used the Citrus Blooms Bundle and the large die to cut a cluster of oranges out of the Mediterranean Blooms DSP.  Because this is a lighter weight paper, I cut another piece of the same shape in Garden Green and glued the two pieces together for stability.  For the outside panel of DSP, I chose the subtle patterned paper from the Regals 6" x 6" pack because it really makes the oranges pop.  (Again, I had to trim down my flap so it wouldn't stick out beyond the oranges).  The inside of the card is another story as a bold piece full of oranges and blooms greets you when you open the card! 

This is such a great fun fold and I can't wait to hear what you make with this layout.  I hope I've inspired you, just as the demonstrator who posted on Facebook with this fun fold did for me.  Please share my video with your crafting friends and as always, I appreciate your orders!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Kindest Expressions Cling Stamp Set (English)

[161415]

$24.00

Happiest Day Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163605]

$20.00

Halloween Memories Scrapbooking Workshop Kit (English)

[166494]

$28.00

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146987]

$11.50

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

$11.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$9.00

Glossy Dots Assortment

[158827]

$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Paper Snips

[103579]

$12.00

Marbled Elegance Suite - What a Beautiful Collection!

I love when new Online Exclusives get released!  New products are announced three times a year, between printed catalog releases, which gives everyone something fresh and new to see and play with!  My favorite from the November selection is the Marbled Elegance Suite!  This collection is so very lovely and the paper is amazing!  While the set is aimed at Valentine's Day, you will see that I used it for a get well and Christmas card too.  

The collection includes a stamp and die bundle (Hearts of Elegance), the Marbled Elegance Specialty Designer Series Paper, Gold Twisted Thread, Adhesive Backed Heart Sequins (nice and flat for mailing!), and a Combo Pack of Gift Bags.  The DPS has gold foil designs on one side and swirls of Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo and Petal Pink, while the reverse side has subtle patterns.  Of course, it pairs well with Gold Foil paper (which you'll see in some of my samples), and Gold heat embossing.  

Here is the chart I made which shows all of the stamps (11) and dies (10).  The four plain hearts layer perfectly with the smallest one also cutting out the stamped floral heart.  The stitching on the other three hearts is quite lovely and you can pair them with some of the other hearts if desired.  

 Gather your supplies:

• Cardstock: Petal Pink 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"(scored at 4-1/4"); Basic White 4" x 5-1/4" and 2-1/4" x 2-1/4"; Marbled Elegance Specialty DSP (2) 3-3/4" x 2-7/16"
• Bundle:  Hearts of Elegance
• Ink:  Real Red
• Embellishment: Adhesive Backed Heart Sequins
• Gold Twisted Thread 12"
• Embossing Folder: So Swirly
• Adhesive and Tools

One of our SU Artisan team members, Su Mohr, posted a card she made with this layout and it inspired me to give it a try.  She didn't have any dimensions, so I reverse engineered it and used it for this video.  While it may look difficult to make, it's quite easy when you break it down into the components.  I started with a strip of that gorgeous gold foiled paper cut at 3-3/4" wide.  Then I cut off two pieces that were 2-7/16" height.  Place these two pieces on your work surface, next to each other, just like they were before you cut them.  With a pencil, make a mark in the middle, just a little bit off center to the right.  Now using your trimmer cut the top piece approximately1" from the top left corner to the pencil line.  For the bottom piece, cut from the left side, about 3/4" up from the bottom to the pencil line.  The triangles you cut off won't be used.

Glue these two pieces onto the white layer, leaving about 1/8" border.  You should have about that same border between the two DSP pieces and a big open white space to the left of them.  I chose to emboss this panel with the So Swirly embossing folder since the DSP was full of swirls.  If you don't have that one, you could use just about any folder in your collection.  Adhere this to the card front (I had previously folded and creased the card base).

Cut out the stitched heart and add Seal on the back side.  I took about 12" of the Gold Twisted Thread to zig zag it behind the heart to add another touch of the gold.  Add dimensionals and pop this up near the center of the card where the DSP pieces join.  For the inside, stamp the Happy Valentine's Day sentiment and adorn with the Heart Sequins.  Use the XOXO stamp to add a line of hugs and kisses along the bottom of the envelope.

I have to admit that I really struggled with which card I would demonstrate in the video and this next one was in the running.  (I will probably turn this into a Creativity in a Snap video soon.)  This fun fold really shows off the DSP.  I used both Gold Foil paper and Gold heat embossing to make this beauty.  It's a bit challenging to photograph because it likes to pop open!  So I took a picture as it was sitting open on the table, as well as one somewhat flattened open.  Want to see this one made in a video?

Because Valentine's Day is so far away, I wanted to show how this set could be used for other occasions too.  This one features three of the plain hearts cascading over the background made with the Distressed Tile 3D embossing folder.  Sending love is a great sentiment at any time of the year, but especially when someone is sick or recovering from surgery.  The inside sentiment is from the Comforting Thoughts stamp set.

To make this card, I folded my Thick Basic White base as normal,  Then I placed the large heart so that the very top of the heart hung over the fold by just a tiny amount.  You might think this wouldn't cut in one pass with the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine, but it does!  Cut another large heart out of the DSP to add on top.  This way, the heart is complete, but the card opens as a top fold.  This was another one I almost chose to demonstrate!

Pretty in Pink (one of our current In Colors) isn't one of the colors in the DSP pack, but it sure does make a pretty card!  I stamped the flower in the same ink color for the background panel.  Then I used the Countryside Dies to cut a label.  I stamped and cut two flowers with Pretty in Pink and Petunia Pop, and some leaves with Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist.  With the words stamped in black, I thought the card really popped on a Basic Black card base.  I can envision this card done in a wide range of colors, can't you?

On this next card, I chose the non-gilded side of the paper (even thought I kept wanting to use the other swirly side!).  I used some of the new two tone DSP in Real Red to cut a partial heart from the large heart with the rows of stitching.  By only having part of the heart, it doesn't dominate the card front while still having the feeling of the whole heart being there!   A simple sentiment adds all that is needed to complete this card that would be perfect for an anniversary, or any time you want to tell someone how much you love them.

This last card was inspired by a card made by Deno Rekow (my upline) and I loved it because it shows off both sides of the paper at the same time.  I decided to make a Christmas card and use the Hearts and Hugs bundle to make the little mouse holding the heart.  I also used the Peaceful Season (why I couldn't remember the name during the video, I have no clue!) bundle for the sentiments and Christmas die.  I love how the words about heart tie in so perfectly with this collection.  It just goes to show you that while this suite of products was designed for Valentine's Day, it is way more versatile than just that!

The last part of the collection are a combo pack of gift bags.  The largest one measures 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" x 2-1/2" while the small one is 3-1/2" x 3-3/4" x 1-3/4" and there are eight of each in the pack.  I chose to tie the bags at the top, but they would also look great with colorful tissue paper sticking out of the top.  One helpful tip is to use cardboard (I used the piece that comes in each of our kits) to place inside to give a nice surface to stamp against.  Otherwise, you have the folds of the bag that could hinder you getting a good stamped image.  I cut a piece 4-1/4" wide for the large bag and another about 3" wide for the small bag.  I loved how the four plain hearts layered to fit just right on the large bag.  In case you're wondering, the ribbon on the small bag is from the Petal Pink and White Combo pack of ribbon.

Take a moment to visit my store and see all of the other new Online Exclusive products that were released last week - there are some really nice ones.  I plan to be making cards featuring them in the upcoming weeks (you may have already seen some of my Happy Hibiscus cards on my Facebook Group page (The Power of a Cardmaker).  If you're not a part of the group, please chick the link below to join.  I try to post cards or videos most every day.  Thanks for watching/reading and I hope you have enjoyed my projects today!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Etsy Shop: The Power of a Card

Shop my Store!

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

Find me on Facebook - The Power of a Card or

Join my Facebook Group (The Power of a Cardmaker):  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1042676296088278/?ref=share

My current host code for November is: WASBHZGS.

Please use this for orders less than $150 and you’ll get a special treat from me.

For orders over $150, you qualify for host rewards from Stampin’ Up! (plus a treat from me!).

  

Product List

Marbled Elegance Suite Collection (English)

[164923]

$92.75

Hearts Of Elegance Bundle (English)

[164916]

$50.25

Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146985]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Marbled Elegance 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[164919]

$16.50

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

$9.00

So Swirly Embossing Folder

[163791]

$10.50

Gold Twisted Thread

[164603]

$7.50

Adhesive Backed Heart Sequins

[164920]

$8.50

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Stampin' Seal

[152813]

$8.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00