Keep Calm and Merry On

This is one of those cards that totally mystified me until I made one. It's called a Free Standing Pop-Up Card and it is one of 70 tutorials on the new Technique Junkie 3D and Fun Folds CD. Like so many things, I WISH you could see it in real life - it's so cool!

This is what is so awesome - it folds flat to mail! Oooh, wrap your mind around that. I honestly could not figure out how it all worked until I made one. The base of the card is constructed with Kraft Core'dinations paper. I cannot tell you how much I love that paper! The true color of it is actually closer to burgundy - my camera is horrible at photographing red. I added a contrasting strip of teal Kraft Core'dinations to the front, along with a snowflake border I cut using the Sizzix Snow Flurries die. I love the way it pops up when the card is open!

Okay, I'm not gonna lie...I thought I was pretty darn clever for coming up with this! First, I cut a piece of chipboard using Tim Holtz's Mini Labels die. Using a Bottle Adirondack Paint Dabber, I 'inked' the Keep Calm stamp from Artistic Outpost's London Underground collection, avoiding the crown and the word Carry. I stamped it onto the label. Next, I used a Red Pepper Dabber to 'ink' (I never know how to say that!) the Merry portion of the Merry Christmas stamp from Artistic Outpost's Frosty and Friends stamp collection, and a small snowflake from their Sleigh Ride set. I very carefully stamped them in the appropriate spots. I love the way the Merry font contrasts so well with the rest of the sentiment. Behind that is a British flag that was stamped with the Bottle Dabber.

 The top of my tag is decorated with holly leaves and berries that were cut from Kraft Core'dinations using the Sizzix Festive Greenery Die. I added some ribbon that was tinted with Antique Linen Distress ink, and highlighted the berries with a little Fired Brick Distress Stickles.

If you're interested in purchasing the 3D and Fun Folds CD, you can use this link. It contains 70 projects - from pop-ups to boxes to cards and more. It is a blast if you enjoy paper crafting! Each tutorial contains step-by-step photo instructions, making cards like this a breeze.

Make sure you check out Inspiration Emporium for all the products I used here. Remember, tomorrow is the start of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas - you need to lay in those supplies! Please make sure to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order.

Now, I'm off later for an emergency glitter run and a little Vietnamese dinner with my man. Surely I'm not  the only stamper who has glitter emergencies, am I? :-)