Category Archives: tutorials and templates

cell-ebrate…you matter!

Posted on May 19, 2025 | Leave a comment

Here’s a fun masculine pocket card for the science minded guys, or any that enjoy a good pun! I used the SU! It’s A Science set, along with Waves of the Ocean dsp and Thoughtful Expressions dies.

I started with a simple trifold design, making sure that the folds slightly overlapped. (I scored the 8 1/2″ side @ 2 and 6. Then I added the papers before adhering the sides of the pocket inside with mini staples. You could add a gift card here, but I found some popping candy at the Dollar Tree for a surprise treat. The bible verses were computer printed.

Have a marvelous Monday!

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Posted in cards, etc., masculine/boy, Stampin' Up!, tutorials and templates

birthday wish jars

Posted on May 18, 2025 | Leave a comment

I have a second post today to go along with the birthday cards that I shared. A little over a month ago, I saw some cute birthday wish jars that were posted on Facebook using products from the Dollar Tree. It was uploaded by a gal named Danielle Albright. She used mini glass jars with cork tops, mini printable Happy Birthday tags, birthday candles, and rainbow nonpareils, all from the Dollar Tree.

My store didn’t have the mini bottles with the cork tops, so I purchased the ones with the screw top lids. Just be sure that your candles will fit inside. I think my candles came from a local grocery store. She attached a small, printed tag to the candle using string and I chose to hand make my tags and attach them to the outside of the jar. Here I used the Creative Worship Stamps Mini Tag Sentiments Stamp & Die Bundle. I see there’s only one bundle currently in stock, but the tag dies and stamp set are also sold separately! I added some pretty colored nonpareils to one jar and some fun sprinkles to the others (robin eggs, bees, etc.).

These jars are a fun treat all by themselves or you can pair them with a cupcake. How fun would it be to also tie on a balloon? 🙂

They are so simple to assemble. Just wash your jars and let them completely dry. Then fill the jar and tie on a tiny tag.

Have a great evening!

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Posted in 3D and altered art, Creative Worship Stamps/Sweet 'n Sassy, tags, tutorials and templates

chevron design

Posted on March 13, 2025 | Leave a comment

Good morning! A few weeks ago, I made some cards with a chevron pattern (not the Chevron Fold which is slightly different). I don’t know where this originated, but it’s a great way to use up some of our patterned paper scraps! You simply cut some 1 1/4″ squares of patterned paper and glue them down onto a cardstock layer in a chevron pattern. Trim off the excess that hangs over the edges and run it through an embossing folder (you can skip the embossing if desired). Layer onto your card, adding a mat. Finish with a sentiment, focal image, embellishments, etc. as desired.

My first card uses the SU! Painted Lavender Bundle and Perennial Lavender dsp, and the Penny Black Texture embossing folder. I used Pretty Peacock and Gorgeous Grape cardstock, and the inks are Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Shaded Spruce.

I also wanted to make a pet sympathy card, so I used the same layout. This time I did not dry emboss the layer since some of the papers were glittery.

Here’s something that helped, for me, with the alignment of the squares. I lightly drew pencil lines at 1” and 1 7/8” to use as a guide for the top and bottom points of the squares. Then I just erased the tiny bits of pencil that didn’t get covered. My squares were not perfect but good enough this way.

Have a great day!

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Posted in cards, etc., Quilt cards, Stampin' Up!, tutorials and templates

partial embossing

Posted on March 4, 2025 | Leave a comment

This past week I created a few cards using a Partial Embossing technique. This technique has been around a long time, but I was inspired to try it again by this recent video. I simply cut a 3 3/4 x 5 layer and a 4 x 5 1/4 mat for each card. (Or any measurements you want…my third card has a smaller mat.) One way to do this technique is to insert only the top of the layer into an embossing folder and emboss one edge, then remove it and flip it around, and emboss the other side, leaving an un-embossed space in the middle. Then simply add a sentiment. That’s it! You can add some images and embellishments or leave it plain and simple. This is the way I made these cards. There are a few other ways to partially emboss, and a quick Google search should help explain those.

For my first card, I kept the middle flat area toward the bottom of the layer. The sentiment is from SU! Simply Zinnia and I used Petunia Pop ink. I also used Spellbinders Efflorescent Flora embossing folder and Club Blooms dies.

My second card is CAS, using the same floral dies and stamp set for the sentiment. This time i made the empty space in the middle. The embossing folder is Spellbinders- Leafy.

For my last card, I chose a light pink layer. This time I mixed it up and used two different embossing folders. Spellbinders Petite Bow is on the top and SU! Wrapped in Texture on the bottom. To define the middle space, I scored some lines where the embossing stopped with my Scor-Pal. The popped-up image and sentiment are from SU! Share A Milkshake and the card was finished with a few leftover white dots from an older Paper Pumpkin kit.

Have a great day!

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Posted in cards, etc., CAS (clean & simple), Scor-Pal, Spellbinders, Stampin' Up!, tutorials and templates

faux heat embossing

Posted on February 13, 2025 | Leave a comment

I recently made up a card kit for my local friends using the cute Honey Bee Heart Hugs die set. I chose to use the hedgie and framed him with an old Paper Smooches Duo Die 1 frame die. The blue strip was cut with Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Slimline dies and the patterned paper is the Paper Studio’s Pretty Floral from Hobby Lobby. I left a sentiment off this time so my friends can use it how they wish…a valentine or any other occasion.

For the heart that he’s holding, I used a Faux Heat Embossing technique to make it shiny. Simply adhere clear packing tape to your cardstock, smooth it out and burnish it, then die cut. Super simple!

Here you can see the shine on the heart.

I also gave them a simple technique card so they can remember and reference in the future. The heart and Love are by Simon Says Stamp. Here the word love was die cut after the packing tape was applied.

Happy Thursday!

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Posted in cards, etc., Gina Marie Dies, Honey Bee, Paper Smooches, tutorials and templates

diecut strip flip

Posted on February 12, 2025 | Leave a comment

My second Valentine uses a fun technique that my friend, Tina, found. I cannot find any info with a name for it in my searches, so I’m calling it a Diecut Strip Flip. (Let me know if it already has a name!) Six 1/4″ strips of cardstock were cut and layered onto one side of a 4 x 5 1/4″ panel. Then a die is centered over the edge of the strips and used to cut a shape (a hexagon was used in the sample card). The panel is then adhered to the card base, and the diecut shape is flipped upside down and replaced into the opening.

I chose to use a heart shape here for a Valentine but since the heart cannot be flipped upside down and reinserted, I simply diecut another heart to use. Then I added the strips to the opposite side of the heart.

Instead of tossing the original heart that was cut, I simply added it to the inside.

Have a great evening!

Supplies: Impression Obsession Cupids, Spellbinders Hearts, Simon Says Stamp Love Die & XOXO Border.

Colors: Black, white, SU! Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Raspberry Ripple, Calypso Coral, Grapefruit Grove.

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Posted in cards, etc., tutorials and templates

Frosty Forest

Posted on January 9, 2025 | 1 comment

Today I have a card to share that was inspired by this Frosty Forest quilt. I am behind on some projects that I want to get done, but I couldn’t get this pattern out of my mind and needed to sketch it out on paper. Someone shared this quilt pattern on their Facebook page, and I loved it. I was originally wanting to make it into a Christmas card, but I didn’t have time, so here are my Frosty Forest wintery trees. I made this a 3″ block. I’ll add directions below for anyone who may be interested in trying it. Hint: a reverse tweezers and fine tip glue pen were helpful for the tiny trunks and triangles.

I want to make this one again in some different colors. Let me know if you give it a try!

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Posted in cards, etc., Quilt cards, tutorials and templates

In the Pines

Posted on November 30, 2024 | Leave a comment

I have a second fun fold card to share today. This one was my shoebox swap a few weeks ago. I used a pretty tree die from the retired SU! In The Pines bundle and The Paper Studio’s Black, White, & Green Trees 12 x 12 paper from Hobby Lobby. The sentiments are from Pink & Main’s Winter Cardinals, and the star gem on top of the tree is from JoAnn’s.

First, the small green card with the main image opens. It is 3 x 8 1/2, scored at 4 1/4.

Next, the white card base opens. It is a normal A2 size card with the front cut away on a diagonal. The tree patterned paper is 4 x 5 1/4, also cut diagonally.

Stay warm!

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Posted in cards, etc., Christmas, Pink and Main, Stampin' Up!, tutorials and templates

inner peace

Posted on November 30, 2024 | Leave a comment

Happy Saturday! Here I used Unity’s Coffee Doodle Doo set to create a simple fun fold card. I started with a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 card base and scored it at 2, 3 1/8, 5 3/8, and 6 1/2.

A piece of white cardstock was placed on the back for the “inside” sentiment and a place to write a message.

Have a great weekend!

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Posted in cards, etc., tutorials and templates, Unity Stamps

funky chicken quilt block

Posted on August 6, 2024 | Leave a comment

Happy Tuesday! I have a fun pattern to share today. In my mind, I wanted to make a quilt block card with a fun chicken pattern and then emboss it with my Cuttlebug Chicken Wire embossing folder. So, I sat down and drew a pattern. 🙂 This one is done in more of an applique style. Here’s the card that I created with it. This chick will be fun to make in all types of patterns and colors! I’ve included directions below and a pdf is at the bottom of the post. NOTE: Be sure to choose “actual size” rather than “fit to page” when printing so it prints in the correct measurements.

I made myself a template of the chick’s body to easily cut the bottom corners off. Be sure to save one of the corners and add it back in as the tail feathers! Oh, and I realized that one piece in the SU! Cactus Builder punch might also work for the comb if you have that!

Here’s a larger image to look at if you prefer to just “wing it” 🙂 …

The PDF…

Funky-Chicken-Quilt-Block-Card-Diane-ZechmanDownload

Let me know if you try it! Have a great week.

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Posted in cards, etc., Quilt cards, tutorials and templates