Today I'd like to show you how I create single-layer cards using digital stamps and Microsoft Word.

1. Start by opening a blank page in MSWord (or your preferred software equivalent)

2. Click on the "Layout" tab at the top, then select the first option, "Margins". Change the top, bottom, left, and right margins to 0cm and click OK. If a warning pops up to tell you the margins are too small, simply select "ignore".

3. Click on the "Insert" tab, then select "Table". You want a table with two rows and two columns. Click OK.

4. Click in the top, right hand box so that your cursor appears. Select the "Insert" tab at the top of the page to access your picture files. Find and click on the image you want to use, it should appear in the table. Select the "Home" tab while the image is selected, then click centre to place the image in the middle of the box.

5. Resize the image by right clicking on it and selecting "Size and Position" from the drop-down menu. Change the width to 14cm.

6. Repeat the process with another image in the bottom, right hand box. This will give you two cards on the same sheet of A4 paper.

7. Click on the top image again, then hit the right arrow key so that the cursor is to the right hand side of the image. Press the "Enter" key so that the cursor is now below the image. 

8. Select the "Insert" tab again and then choose a sentiment from your files. Resize it in the same way you resized the image, or drag the corner boxes in or out if you prefer. My sentiment is 1.5cm high. Repeat for the lower image.

9. Click on the top image again, then hit the left arrow key to bring the cursor to the left hand side of the image. Press the "Enter" key to add some space at the top of the image. Repeat for the bottom image. Ideally, you want the same amount of space at the top of both images and at the bottom of both sentiments.

10. Right click in the top, left hand box, then select "Table Properties" from the drop down menu. At the bottom of the box, click on "Borders and Shading". Select "None" in the first column and then hit OK, and OK a second time. You should notice that the lines of your table are now dashes or dots rather than solid.

11. Time to print! As you can see, the lines don't show up in the print dialogue and they won't print on your paper either. Make sure you change your settings to suit the weight of paper you're using and the quality of the print.

12. Once printed, cut the A4 sheet in half horizontally, then fold each piece to create your cards. To create the specific card at the beginning of this post, I coloured, then fussy cut around the top of the image and adhered a piece of patterned paper to the inside.

digital set

digital stamps

Kathy regularly decorates the inside of her cards with papers, images and embellishments that coordinate with the outer design. With just a few small additions, she shows us how easy it is to take our designs up a notch.

Although construction of this fabulous card is relatively easy, the wow factor lies in its decoration. Two additional pieces of cardstock allow you to build up a wonderful three dimensional scene with the added bonus that we all expect from great folds... the ability to slip into an envelope for posting.

This card fold was suggested to me by Hilary Wilson from Craft Oasis.

She has a wonderful video tutorial, including several beautiful examples, on her YouTube channel.

1. To make a basic card you'll need a piece of cardstock measuring 53/4" x 53/4", a piece measuring 63/4" x 11/2" and a third piece measuring 43/4" x 3". This will create a card with an overall measurement of 53/4" square.

2. Place the 53/4" square of cardstock on your score board and score at 27/8". Fold along the score line to form the card base.

3. Place the 63/4" x 11/2" piece of cardstock horizontally on your score board and score at 1/2", 33/8" and 61/4". Fold along each of the score lines.

4. Place the 43/4" x 3" piece of cardstock horizontally on your score board and score at 1/2", 23/8" and 41/4". Fold along each of the score lines.

5. To construct the card, place the 43/4" x 3" piece of cardstock over the card base, carefully lining up the centre fold and ensuring the bottom edges are flush. Apply glue or double sided tape to the 1/2" tabs on either end, then tuck them under and secure to the card base. (see photos below)

6. Repeat for the longer piece of card, ensuring the bottom edges are flush and the centre folds align. The tabs should tuck under so that the side edges are flush with the sides of your card base. 

7. The card is designed to fold flat with the extra pieces on the outside, as shown below. These extra pieces, or balconies, are the areas that hold the decorations.

8. I had a specific idea in mind for my balcony card, which I'll show in the remainder of this tutorial. If you wish, you can decorate the card you've made up to this point with patterned papers, stamps and embellishments as desired. Keep the decorations to the 53/4" square formed by the side and bottom edge of the card base and longest balcony. This will ensure it fits into a square envelope.

9. I created a "cloud" template from a piece of cardstock, which I then used as a guide for cutting the shapes on the top of my card base and both balcony pieces.

10. I used the same template to ink a cloud design onto the front and inside of my card base as well as the two balcony pieces. I then constructed the card in the same way as described above.

11. To decorate, I printed, coloured and fussy cut a number of the bunnies from the Chute! set of digital stamps, altering the sizes and flipping some for a bit of variation.

12. The largest bunny was secured to the front of the card with foam tape. I also added a flag sentiment, which I printed twice so I'd be able to layer them back to back.

13. When decorating, keep in mind that some of the elements will be seen from the front and inside of the card, so take care to place them well.