Category: Fun Fold

Day 23 – Elfie Time!

Fun Fold Gift Card Holder + Sketch Challenge #5

Today’s theme was Elfie Time, and the moment I read it, I knew exactly which stamp set I had to pull out—my beloved retired #Elfie (#150509). Pairing it with Sketch Challenge #5 inspired a playful twist: a Fun Fold Gift Card Holder!

This design is so easy to create and perfect for the holidays—because who doesn’t love receiving (or giving!) a cute handmade gift card holder?

I shared the full tutorial during a live in the Card A Day in November 2025 group as well as on my YouTube and Facebook pages. If you missed it, no worries—you can still catch the replay. And huge thanks to Kevin for inviting me on to share this project!

🎁 How to Make the Fun Fold Gift Card Holder

This fold comes together quickly and can be decorated for any theme or season. Here’s the basic template:

Card Base

  • Cut: 9-1/2″ x 5-1/2″
  • Score at: 3-1/2″ and 7-1/2″
    This creates:
  • A 3-1/4″ panel (the main front)
  • A 4-1/4″ panel (the inside)
  • A 2″ flap (perfect for the pocket)

Belly Band

  • Cut: 1-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ (or longer depending on embellishments)
  • Wrap loosely around the card so it slides easily.

Gift Card Cutout

You’ll need circle punches or dies:

  • 1-3/4″ for the pocket opening (#119850)
  • 2″ for the decorative circle layer (#133782)

Interior Layer

If you’re using a different color inside:

  • Cut 2-1/2″ x 5-1/4″
  • Make sure it extends past the punched opening for a clean look.

Tools That Help

  • Bone folder (#102300)
  • Tear & Tape (#154031)
  • Mini Glue Dots (#103683)
  • Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (#144108)
  • Circle punches/dies

And then… decorate to your heart’s content!

🧝 Elfie Samples

Of course I made more than one! Here’s what I used:

Elfie Cards

Color combos:

  • Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Summer Splash
    Others:
    • White Baker’s Twine (#155475)
    • Real Red & White Peppermint Embellishments (#164050)
    • Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems (#165615)
    • Forever Plaid Embossing Folder (#164049)
    • A Little Cheer (#166121)
    • Stylish Shapes Dies (#159183)
    • Wink of Stella (#141897)
    • Blending Brush (#160518)
    • Masking Paper (#155480)
    • Blends – Poppy Parade, Summer Splash, Pool Party, Pecan Pie, Petal Pink, Pretty in Pink

Both versions turned out adorable and festive!

A handmade holiday gift card holder featuring a playful elf design, with a red and teal color scheme and a greeting saying 'A Holiday Hello'.
A Fun Fold Gift Card Holder featuring a playful elf design with a greeting that says 'A Holiday Hello' on a light blue background.
A festive Fun Fold Gift Card Holder featuring a playful elf illustration, with a greeting that says 'A Holiday Hello'. The card is decorated with a turquoise background, red accents, and snowflake patterns.

❄️ Additional Sample – Christmas Cuties

I also made a version using the retired Christmas Cuties (#139787) paired with the Need for Tweed Designer Series Paper (#166144) for a quick, textured background.

Color combo:

  • Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
    Others:
    • Real Red Baker’s Twine (#164051)
    • Shimmer Star Foam Stickers (#166202)
    • A Little Cheer (#166121)
    • Perennial Postage Dies (#162607)

A different look but just as charming!

A handmade gift card holder designed for the Christmas season, featuring an elf illustration, festive patterns in red and green, and the greeting 'Happy Christmas.'
A festive handmade card featuring a cheerful elf character, surrounded by red and green decorative elements. The card includes the text 'Happy Christmas' and is embellished with twine and stars.
A green fun fold gift card holder featuring a cheerful elf stamp, twine embellishment, and festive colors. The inside displays a message with star accents.

🎄 Do You Love This Fun Fold as Much as I Do?

I adore how quick and adaptable this Fun Fold Gift Card Holder is, and I can’t wait to see what you create with it!

If you try this fold, please share your photos—I love seeing everyone’s creative twist on the design.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #sketchchallenge #christmaschallenge

CandiceLeave a comment

Day 21 – Santa “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Rockin’ Santa & Snow Globe Dreams (with a Grinch-Inspired Twist!)

Today’s challenge theme was Santa — Don’t Stop Believin’, and my mind went in a dozen different directions before I landed on the perfect idea. Those of you who know me well know that I am a huge Grinch fan. (Yes… he even has his own dedicated section of my Christmas décor!)

There’s a classic image of the Grinch holding a Christmas ornament, and I thought, How perfect would that be for this theme? So I decided to recreate that scene using our amazing Stampin’ Up! products.

Once the idea hit, the wheels started turning fast.

To really bring the magic to life, and because I love pushing the boundaries of our products, I decided to take it up a notch and turn it into a snow globe shaker card using my Flip Flap Technique (which I’m still claiming as my own unless someone can show me otherwise 😉). This time, I added an extra twist — slimline card, giving me plenty of room for the full Grinch-inspired scene.

And yes… the moment you step outside the “intended use” of our products, things get creative fast. This card is no exception! Let’s just say… this card was an adventure!

🎄 Creating the Ornament

The ornament was actually the easy part!

  • Stylish Shapes Dies (#159183) for the circle
  • Gold Foil Sheets (#132622) for the topper
  • Topper from Ornamental Christmas (#166000)
  • Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (#164051) for the hanging string

Simple, classic, and instantly recognizable.

💚 Crafting the Grinch’s Hand

This was where things got… creative.

No die gave me exactly what I wanted, so I sketched the Grinch’s hand by hand (pun intended 😉) and cut it from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock.

To add the Grinch’s signature “fur,” I stamped one of the leaf images from the Cheers & Sips set (#165588) in Granny Apple Green. The texture was perfect!

Then I added:

  • Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends for outlining
  • Blending Brush for shading
  • A hand-cut “Santa sleeve” in Real Red, brushed with black ink
  • And the perfect finishing touch — Fluffy Trim Ribbon (#165849) for the cuff

This combination brought the Grinch’s hand to life exactly the way I pictured it.

❄️ The Background & Final Touches

For the snowy scene, I used the gorgeous Silent Snowfall Specialty DSP (#166062) and added sparkle with a touch of Wink of Stella on the snowflakes.

A few Real Red & White Peppermint embellishments (#164050) tied the festive vibe together.

🌟 Creating the Slimline Flip Flap Shaker

This shaker section was the fun part!

How I Built It:

  • Cut Granny Apple Green cardstock to 7″.
  • Score at 3-1/2″.
  • Trim 1/16″ off one side.
  • Fold in half.
  • Layer the snowflake DSP on top.
  • Die-cut through all three layers at the same time using the Stylish Shapes circle.
    • You may need to run it through more than once, but cutting all layers together guarantees perfect alignment.

With the leftover piece of cardstock, I scored it again at 3-1/2″, leaving a 1/2″ tab to connect both pieces.

For this card I used the 3×3 Flip Flaps (#166514). There are multiple different sizes and the one you use will depend on how big your cutout is.

Here’s a quick video of how to assemble it.

Shaker Fillers:

  • Loose Gold Sequins (#165267)
  • White hearts from the Loose Valentine’s Assortment (#167074)—a fun sneak peek from our January 2027 Mini preorder!

Everything was sealed together using Tear & Tape.

Important Tip:

Always plan what the interior will look like through the window.
Whatever you stamp inside becomes part of the scene!

💬 Interior Details

Because you definitely can’t put a standard “Merry Christmas” in a Grinch-inspired snow globe card… 😄

I used the Mini Alphabet Dies (#162934) to create my own custom sentiment. Pairing these dies with Adhesive Sheets (#152334) is a must — instant letter stickers for easy placement!

To finish the little interior scene I used:

  • Pine Tree Trimmings Stamps (#166040)
  • Pine Tree Trimmings Dies (#166046)
  • A Little Cheer (#166121)
  • Jar of Joy (#166176)
  • And to complete it all, a sweet little heart from the Darling Dinos Dies (#164734)

Many elements shows through the shaker window, adding a beautiful layered effect.

❤️ The Finished Look

This card was definitely on the advanced end of the crafting spectrum, but the result is exactly the whimsical, storybook look I hoped for. A little Santa magic, a little Grinch mischief, and a whole lot of creativity.

It’s playful.
It’s nostalgic.
It’s unexpected.
And it absolutely makes me smile.

Sometimes the “big idea” cards are the ones that make you stop, smile, and believe—and this one did exactly that for me.

A festive slimline card featuring a Grinch-inspired green hand holding a decorative Christmas ornament, decorated with a tree and red elements, set against a light background.
Graphic promoting Day 21 of a 30-day Christmas card making challenge, titled 'Snowglobe Dreams'. The background features a light blue color with snowflake patterns, indicating a winter theme.
Graphic promoting a card making challenge for Day 21, titled 'Santa-Mental Cards', with a festive winter background featuring snowflakes.

👉 Want to recreate it? You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #sketchchallenge #christmaschallenge

CandiceLeave a comment

🪵✨ Day 15 – Plaid Perfection & Color Challenge #3

Day 15 brought together two fun themes:
Plaid Perfection — mix and match tartans for a warm, rustic look
and
Color Challenge #3 – Concord & 9th Midnight, Peacock, and Aqua Sky.

I chose the closest Stampin’ Up! colors to match the challenge:
💙 Secret Sea, Pretty Peacock, and Pool Party

These colors paired beautifully with the Timeless Plaid Designer Series Paper (#164678) to highlight the plaid theme. I used the Ornamental Christmas Stamp Set (#165991) and Ornamental Christmas Dies (#166000) to create a unique fun fold card that feels both modern and cozy. A little sparkle from the Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper (#165929) made the star really shine, and I finished the look with 2025–2027 In Color Flat Pearls (#165192) and White Ribbon (#165562).

🔥 Warm Rustic Version

After creating the cool-tone version, I couldn’t resist trying a warmer palette too!
For this one, I switched to:
🤎 Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, and Petal Pink

To add sparkle, I used the Earthen Tones Metallic Specialty Paper (#165901) and accented with Cajun Craze & Gold Dots (#165984). A bit of Espresso Baker’s Twine (#165986) tucked behind the star added a rustic finishing detail.

A hand holding a festive card featuring a star design and the text 'Tis the Season.' The card incorporates plaid patterns and a rustic color scheme with brown and cream tones.
A hand holding a card with an exposed interior featuring the text 'TIS THE SEASON' elegantly printed, set against a textured background.
A promotional graphic for Day 15 of a card making challenge featuring a wintery background with snowflakes and a text overlay that reads 'Card a Day in November! Card Making Challenge. Christmas Card Edition. DAY 15 Plaid Perfection.'

📏 Fun Fold Measurements (In Inches)

This fun fold is much easier than it looks! Here’s the quick guide:

  • Base Piece: 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ (cut to size, not folded)
  • Background Folded Panel: 5-1/4″ x 6″ — score at 2″
  • Inside White Layer: 5″ x 3-3/4″
  • Accent Piece: Cut using the Everyday Arches Dies (#164629)
    • Make the arch piece extra long, then score and fold the bottom behind the white layer to attach
  • Second White Arch: Cut using the next smallest arch die
  • Designer Series Paper Strip: 5″ x 1-3/4″
  • Lightly brush the edges of the DSP with a blending brush and your background color to help it pop against lighter tones.

Note: All measurements are in inches.

Both versions of this card turned out warm, inviting, and full of holiday charm. Whether you like cool winter blues or rustic warm tones, this fun fold works beautifully for both!

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #CreativeSkills #StampinUp #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #PlaidPerfection #TimelessPlaid #OrnamentalChristmas #EverydayArches #PeacefulGarden #EarthenTonesMetallic #FunFoldCard #HolidayCrafting #CardMakingCommunity

CandiceLeave a comment

☃️ Day 10 – Snowman Shenanigans & a Magical Color Twist

I had such a blast sharing today’s card during my live! This fun fold card is bursting with sparkle and holiday cheer — from the unexpected color combo of purples and greens to the whimsical twist on Snowman Shenanigans, I think you’re going to fall in love with this one just like I did. 💜💚✨

This card came together with a mix of creativity, experimentation, and a few surprises along the way. I used a lot of different products — including one very unexpected element!

I pulled pieces from the Darling Dinos (#164728) set again, but this time instead of dino-deer, I used them in a whole new way. Combined with the Light & Wonder Dies (#165762), I created the sweetest little snowman that’s sure to melt your heart. ☃️💖

To bring in more holiday magic, I added details and greetings from:
🎄 A Little Cheer Stamp Set (#166121)
🎅 Pine Tree Trimmings Stamp Set (#166040)
🌟 Pine Tree Trimmings Dies (#166046)

🎨 Color Palette Magic

For my color palette, I experimented with two different combos to capture the challenge colors — Concord and 9th —Plumberry, Rainforest, and Lilac.

As these are not Stampin’ Up! colors I had to adjust a bit. I started with my first color combo but after seeing some of the challenge samples, I decided to tweak the colors a bit to better match the prompt.

Which one is your favorite?

💜 First Combo: Mossy Meadow, Petunia Pop, and Berry Burst

  • Spooky Sweet DSP (#166191)
A colorful fun fold Christmas card featuring a decorated holiday tree, playful snowman elements, and festive embellishments in vibrant purples and greens.
A fun fold card featuring a whimsical design with purple and green colors, showcasing a decorated Christmas tree along with holiday-themed embellishments like presents and a snowman. The card includes festive greetings.

💚 Second Combo (used in my live): Blackberry Bliss, Pretty Peacock, and Fresh Freesia

  • Season of Elegance DSP (#164144)
A colorful, handmade fun fold card featuring a winter scene with a whimsical snowman, a decorated Christmas tree, and a festive 'Merry Christmas' greeting.
A colorful fun fold card featuring a whimsical snowman with a top hat and accessories, surrounded by a Christmas tree and holiday gifts. The card is decorated with a 'Merry Christmas' message and is highlighted by purples and greens.
A festive fun fold card featuring a whimsical snowman, colorful holiday tree, and various decorative elements, set against a soft background. The card includes spaces for photos or messages.

Both versions share some fun common touches — I used Pool Party for the snow and Pecan Pie for the tree trunks and snowman twigs. ✨

To finish off the sparkle, I added:

  • Wink of Stella (#141897) for shimmer
  • Petunia Pop Iridescent Ribbon (#166203) for a soft, festive glow
  • Frosted Iridescent Dots (#165766) for a frosty finishing touch

These details gave the card just the right amount of shine and magic!

📏 I’ve included a picture of the measurements if you’d like to recreate this easy yet enchanting fun fold card yourself — it’s simple, sparkly, and so much fun to make!

A hand-drawn template showing measurements and scoring instructions for a fun fold card, labeled with dimensions and cut lines.

✨ If you missed my live, be sure to catch the replay and see how it all came together step-by-step! Plus you’ll want to catch the magic in action to see how this fun fold card opens to add surprise and delight to the receiver.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #CreativeSkills #StampinUp #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #FunFoldCard #SnowmanShenanigans #DarlingDinos #LightAndWonder #ALittleCheer #PineTreeTrimmings #WinkOfStella #PetuniaPop #PrettyPeacock #BlackberryBliss #FreshFreesia #HandmadeCards #HolidayCrafting #StampingInspiration

CandiceLeave a comment

⛄ Day 8 – Penguin Pals & Snowy Sketch Challenge!

Day 8 brought another fun sketch challenge, this time paired with the theme Penguin Pals — adorable chilly friends bundled up with scarves and hats! 🐧🧣

For this challenge, I decided to reach for one of my favorite retired snowman sets, along with a retired snowflake set and some shaker elements, to create a super fun and easy shaker card made with flip flaps. ❄️

The stylish shapes dies were perfect for creating my shaker window. If you want to learn how to make one of these cards, you can check out my tutorial video here:
🎥 How to Make a Flip Flap Shaker Card

For this design, I focused on cool winter blues, combining a few of this year’s beautiful In Colors — Cloud Cover and Secret Sea — with Misty Moonlight for depth. I added a pop of brightness with Poppy Parade, then finished it off with sparkle using Wink of Stella and the Misty Moonlight Silver-Edged Ribbon.

Our Blending Pens made coloring these snowmen super easy, and I added the perfect finishing touch with a few Hues of Blue flower embellishments, which remind me of snowflakes and matched perfectly with my color palette.

This fun shaker card is full of motion, shimmer, and joy — sure to delight and surprise anyone who receives it this holiday season! 💙✨

Shop with Me Here

  • 165930 Hues of Blue Flowers
  • 165931 Misty Moonlight Silver Embossed Ribbon
  • 159183 Stylish Shapes Dies
  • 163580 Spotlight on Nature Dies
  • 141897 Wink of Stella
A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #CreativeSkills #StampinUp #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #ShakerCard #SnowmanCard #SketchChallenge #WinkOfStella #InColors2025 #CardMakingCommunity

CandiceLeave a comment

🦕 Day 7 – Reindeer Games & Holiday Hustle

Day 7 was another challenge that really made me think outside the box! The themes — Reindeer Games and Holiday Hustle — go perfectly together, but there was one small problem… I didn’t have any current reindeer stamp sets. 🦌

Sure, I could’ve reached for a retired set, but I had a fun idea in my head and decided to give it a try instead. I pulled out my dino stamps and dies and got creative — dressing up our cute dinosaurs with antlers and a top hat, and setting the scene for a playful game of tic-tac-toe with presents and ornaments! 🎁✨

To make it even more fun, I used the colors from this week’s Global Design Project Challenge (#GDP) for my color inspiration:
🎨 Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, and Granny Apple Green

Definitely not your traditional Christmas palette, but it worked beautifully for this bright, cheerful, and whimsical card.

I paired everything with the Gift of Joy Stamp Set and a fun fold layout to bring it all together. It’s a playful mix of festive fun and creativity that’s sure to make someone smile this holiday season! 💚

👉 You can find current Stampin’ Up! supplies I used by visiting my store:
Shop with Me Here

  • 164728 Darling Dinos Stamp
  • 164734 Darling Dinos Dies
  • 169238 Gift of Joy Stamp
  • 163791 So Swirly Embossing Folder
  • 165562 White Ribbon
A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #CreativeSkills #StampinUp #ACardADayInNovember #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #GlobalDesignProject #GDPColorChallenge #GiftOfJoy #HolidayHustle #ReindeerGames #FunFoldCard #CreativeCardmaking

CandiceLeave a comment