Friday, 2 October 2020

Aperture Easel Christmas Cards - Fun Folds

#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #snowflakewishes #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Snowflake Wishes Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Aperture Easel Card with the Snowflake Wishes Bundle

Whenever I feel the urge to learn another fun fold or find some inspiration, I like to visit Jay and Barry at Mitosu Crafts - and they never fail me!

This week, I was inspired by their tutorial for an Aperture Easel card.

In the learning phase, I tend to follow the tutorial quite closely and then I usually make another one or two cards with my own twist.

#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #snowflakewishes #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Snowflake Wishes Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
This is the aperture easel card when it is closed

This snowflake card was my first Aperture Easel card, and it's very similar to Jay's - although I did make some minor changes.
#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #snowflakewishes #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Snowflake Wishes Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The side view provides the best image of the mechanism of this fun fold

Then, feeling more confident, I changed quite a bit more for the next two cards.

#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #christmasgleaming #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Christmas Gleaming Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Aperture Easel Fun Fold Cards featuring the Christmas Gleaming Variety Bundle

Infuriatingly, in posting these images, I have noticed some imperfections that I shall now rush off to rectify!  I'm hoping you'll forgive me when you also spot them!
#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #christmasgleaming #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Christmas Gleaming Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
And this is how those Aperture Easel Cards look when in the open position

So, huge thanks to Jay at Mitosu for his great tutorial - I really enjoyed making these cards - it's a great fun fold!
#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #christmasgleaming #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Christmas Gleaming Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I used Pretty Peacock and Pool Party cardstock to match the gorgeous Christmas Gleaming paper

Projects such as this work really well with Stampin' Up Bundles - one bundle or even suite of products provides everything you need, all perfectly matched and coordinated!
#thecraftythinker #funfold #stampinup #cardmaking #apertureeaselcard #christmasgleaming #xmascard , Aperture Easel Card, Fun Fold, Christmas Gleaming Bundle, Christmas Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The Christmas Gleaming paper I used for this card cried out for pairing with Mossy Meadow and Soft Sea Spray cardstock

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List (for all 3 cards) - All Available for purchase in my online store

Monday, 28 September 2020

Gilded Autumn Fun Fold

#thecraftythinker #stampinup #funfold #gildedautumn #cardmaking #masculinecard , fun fold, Gilden Autumn, Masculine card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Two very quick and simple fun folds using the Gilded Autumn papers

My thanks go to Cheryl Taylor for providing the instructions for this quick, simple but effective fun fold.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #funfold #gildedautumn #cardmaking #masculinecard , fun fold, Gilden Autumn, Masculine card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The cut and fold couldn't be easier and you get two cards from one 20cm square of card

This is a great way to use up small, hoarded pieces of gorgeous paper!  I think the Gilded Autumn papers are suitable for most occasions and both masculine and feminine cards.

#thecraftythinker #stampinup #funfold #gildedautumn #cardmaking #masculinecard , fun fold, Gilden Autumn, Masculine card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
This is how the card looks when it's closed.  

I'm not sure what this fun fold is called - so I think I'll call it (temporarily at least) a triangle fold.

They do turn out to be fairly small, so I may try making a larger version.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All available for purchase from my online store

Friday, 25 September 2020

Prized Peony Triple Step Cards

#thecraftythinker #stampinup #cardmaking #funfold #triplestepcard #prizedpeony , Prized Peony, Fun Fold, Triple Step Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
A feminine & elegant triple step fun fold featuring the Peony Garden Suite of products

These cards were inspired by a beautiful Christmas card made by Karen at Crafty Karen Designs.  I used her instructions for the base card but altered the layers a little bit.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #cardmaking #funfold #triplestepcard #prizedpeony , Prized Peony, Fun Fold, Triple Step Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I layered a piece of Organdy Striped Ribbon over a piece of Whisper White ribbon to achieve the effect I wanted

The darker peony was stamped with Tuxedo Black ink on Whisper White card and then I water-coloured it with a bit of Gray Granite and Petal Pink inks.

The lighter peony was stamped with Gray Granite ink on Very Vanilla card and coloured with Petal Pink ink.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #cardmaking #funfold #triplestepcard #prizedpeony , Prized Peony, Fun Fold, Triple Step Card, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
This top view gives an idea of the construction of the Triple Step fun folds

The foliage was cut with the Forever Flourishing Dies from Soft Suede cardstock and Gray Granite to which I had given a coating of Gray Granite ink.

I selected the greeting from the Butterfly Wishes stamp set because it fit the space I had available.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All available for purchase in my online store

Monday, 21 September 2020

2020 Birthday Card - The year that went down the toilet! : An exploding box card

Warning:  This card and post get a bit down and dirty when you get to the inside of the box!
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The outside of my exploding box card "bathroom"
 
I think I need to provide a little background to this Exploding Box Card.  It's for a friend of mine who recently made a fabulous birthday cake for a mutual friend that was a toilet roll surrounded by cupcakes in the guise of little shit emoji's!  We all laughed and agreed that this was the perfect theme for 2020!
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I clear heat embossed the Peony on black cardstock and then painted it with
Frost White Shimmer Paint
Then I saw an amazing project by the very clever Anna Helman .  She created a perfect 3D imitation of a toilet that she filled with Tootsie Rolls and made a card to go with it featuring a toilet roll.  Click here to see her project and find the link to her tutorial.

I don't have any of the dies or products that she used and Tootsie Rolls are a little difficult to find here so, inspired by her creation, I set about making my own version with what I had available in my craft room.  Then I decided to make box for it and then that idea morphed into the exploding box card that kinda looks like a bathroom.

#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The greeting is cut from Black Glitter Paper with Well Written Dies and Playful Alphabet Dies

But I decided to make the lid look a bit pretty and feminine!

I attached a little message to the back of the toilet that says (please excuse my language!) "2020 may be the shit year that flushed itself down the toilet but I hope you still have an enjoyable and memorable birthday".
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The exploding card that turns into a little toilet!

I used some window sheet between the paper layers on the bottom and side to keep the "wall" with the toilet roll vertical when the lid is removed (just cut a couple of strips of window sheet, score them and fold them to a 90 degree angle).
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I used a Layering Ovals and Layering Circles Die, positioned thus, to create the toilet seat

I cut three of the toilet seat shapes and used two of them, with some window sheet sandwiched between to make the seat that can be lifted to get to the little pile of chocolate drops inside.

I lined the inside of the toilet with a little bit of plastic wrap to avoid the appearance of over-realistic skid marks on the bowl!
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The lid of the toilet opens

To make the toilet roll, I cut a strip of kitchen paper (that's always at hand in my craft room!) and wrapped it around a little roll of Soft Suede card.  Then I bent a paper clip to hang it from.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I used a die in the Smooth Sailing set, trimmed, to create the flush handle.

#thecraftythinker #stampinup #explodingboxcard #3dtoiletcard #prizedpeony #funfold #cardmaking #3d , exploding box card, 3D toilet card, Prized Peony Bundle, Stampin' Up Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I used papers from the In Good Taste pack because I though they looked like bathroom tiles
The card is probably not in good taste!

I'm quite happy with the result of my endeavours and I know my friend will love it - but if you're in the mood to make a toilet - I'd really recommend using Anna's tutorial if you have the necessary bits and pieces - I think it looks better and a would be a bit less fiddly.  However, I'll be happy to have a go at explaining what I did for anyone who wants to try this version.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

 Product List - All available for purchase from my online store