Tag Archives: Simple Stories

Simple Stories Flannel Season Shaker Card Tutorial

Simple Stories-Simple Vintage Flannel Season-Shaker Card-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Simple Stories Flannel Season Shaker Card Tutorial and a NEW Hidden Paper Clip Tutorial

Happy 2026, Friends!  I thought this Simple Stories Flannel Season Shaker Card Tutorial would be a good way to kick off our crafty adventures.  Sorry I missed Wonderful Wednesday.  I was recovering from the flu and needed a few extra days to kick the nasty cough.  But it’s a new year, and I’m back in the studio to share lots of tutorials and inspiration with you.

Adventures Ahead

Simple Stories-Flannel Season-Shaker Card-Tutorial-Hidden paper Clip-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Don’t you just love the sentiment on this sparkling winter card?  It seemed “just right” for the year ahead!  I’ll show you how to put this shaker frame together (it’s easier than you think) and we’ll embellish the card front in the video tutorial below.

New Hidden Paper Clip Embellishment Design

If you enjoyed my “Easiest Hidden Paper Clip” tutorial, then I think you’ll enjoy this new version, too.  It’s still quick and easy to make, but gives you the option to thread ribbon or twine through the top.  Since magnets have become a little bit pricey, it’s nice to have another closure option when you need to hold a gate closed, isn’t it?

January Sneak Peek

And, if you’re wondering what papers we’ll be playing with in January, I share a sneak peek of this pretty Prima Cherry Sweet Collection at the beginning of the video.  It’s such a lovely way to start the new year!

Since you all expressed an interest, I’ll be doing a multi-week folio tutorial featuring this collection in January.  I’ll link to the papers in the supply list below this post.

Simple Stories Flannel Season Shaker Card Tutorial on YouTube

Without further ado, here’s our first tutorial for 2026!

 

I’m counting down the days to my hip surgery on the 12th.  But no worries…I’m planning on working ahead so that you will have a Wonderful Wednesday tutorial each week while I’m recovering.  You won’t even know I’m not here!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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New Drawbridge Pop Up Card Tutorial

Drawbridge Fun Fold Card-Tutorial-Prima Twinkle & Treats- Ciao Bella Hot Cocoa and Holly- Simple Stories Simple Vintage Flannel Season-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

New Drawbridge Pop Up Card Tutorial for Wonderful Wednesday

Hello, Friends!  I have a brand new drawbridge pop up card tutorial to share with you today.  This idea “popped” into my head over the weekend, and I began thinking about how to bring it to life.  Sometimes, you have to just set out and see where the journey takes you, right?

The first attempt was a flop…that happens, too.  But it was also a good learning tool and set me up for success with the second go.   Hoorah!

What did we end up making?  Read on to find out.

What is a Drawbridge Card? Sample #1 with Prima Twinkle & Treats

Prima-Twinkle and Treats-Drawbridge Card-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

That’s a good question!  As far as I know, I haven’t seen this style card shared anywhere before. But the idea I had was to create an arched shaker card that opened from the top to reveal….

….a layered pop up scene on the inside!  The card front drops down just like a castle drawbridge, hence the name.  (If you can think of a better one, I’m open to ideas!)

Prima Twinkle and Treats-Drawbridge Card-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

This would be cool enough all on its own, right?  But it’s even more fun when you add a tea party in a box to the design.  This is a really roomy box and can hold a lot of treasure!

Simple Stories Simple Vintage Flannel Season Drawbridge Card

Simple Stories-Simple Vintage Flannel Season-Drawbridge Card-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Since I’m a firm believer that practice makes (more) perfect, I decided to make a second card with Simple Stories Flannel Season.  I like this one because it can carry over from Christmas to winter.

Here’s a peek at the pop up scene inside this cute card.

Ciao Bella Hot Cocoa and Holly Drawbridge Card

Ciao Bella-Hot Cocoa and Holly-Drawbridge Card-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Now it’s time to take our card-making adventure into the winter woods with Ciao Bella Hot Cocoa and Holly.

How adorable is this woodland pop up scene?  I just love it!  This is the card we will build together in today’s tutorial.

New Drawbridge Pop Up Card Tutorial on YouTube

Would you like to learn how to create this fun card design?  Then please grab a cuppa and a snack, put up your feet and enjoy the tutorial on my YouTube channel.

Which version is your favorite?  I’d love to hear your thoughts about this design in the comment section below.

I have a brand new Quarterly Card  Kit coming out for The Button Farm Club this month.  My supplies arrived in the mail yesterday and I can’t wait to get started!  We’ll be working with Simple Stories Junk Drawer.  It’s a fabulous collection!

I hope to pop in soon with another Ghost of Christmas past project…but with cookies to bake and presents to wrap…who knows when that might happen?

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Simple Vintage Yuletide Flip Folio

Simple Stories-Simple Vintage Yuletide-Flip Folio-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Simple Stories Simple Vintage Yuletide Flip Folio: A Ghost of Christmas Past Project

Hello, Friends!  Today’s Simple Stories Simple Vintage Yuletide Flip Folio is the next installment in our Ghost of Christmas Past series.  I’m having the best time digging into my stash of older Christmas collections!  I hope you are enjoying this series as well.

This was probably my favorite paper collection from 2024, and I still love working with it!  If you don’t  have this particular collection in your stash, just use whatever you have on hand.  That’s kind of the point of this whole series.

While this is not a full step-by-step tutorial, you can find the basic measurements and score lines in the description box under my YouTube video.  Now let’s dig in and take a closer look at this festive folio.

Simple Construction

Simple Stories-Simple Vintage Yuletide-Flip Folio-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

The folio base is made with 3 sheets of 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock that I joined together with Scor-Tape, then scored and folded.  It’s simple and quick to make, and I’ll show you how in the video.

Pockets, flaps and flips make this folio extra fun.

Lots of Room for Photos

Need room for photos?  This folio has LOTS of photo space.

Add easy to make waterfall elements as a great way to add photo space.  Then place ephemera journal cards beneath to provide lots of room for writing down favorite memories.

Simple Vintage Yuletide Flip Folio Project Share with Mini Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see all the sweet details housed within this lovely folio, then I invite you to grab a cuppa and a snack, put your feet up and enjoy the tour on my YouTube channel.  I’ll share tips along the way, and even show you how to build the album base.

I’ll be back on Wednesday with our regular Wonderful Wednesday full tutorial featuring Graphic 45 Deck the Halls.  I have an idea brewing in the back of my mind, and I’m looking forward to getting started on it today.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.  I also now link to products within the actual video.  Just click on the black boxes and you’ll be taken to an affiliate site where you can purchase your supplies.

I hope you all are having as much fun with this series as I am.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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**Please note:  Ghost of Christmas Past projects use older Christmas collections and supplies from my stash.  I will link whenever possible, but some of these supplies may be discontinued or out of stock.

Fall Tiered Pop Up Cards Tutorial

Graphic 45 Season to Celebrate-Simple Stories Vintage Autumn Breeze-Tiered Pop Up Cards Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Fall Tiered Pop Up Cards Tutorial for Choose Your Own Adventure Wonderful Wednesday

Hello, Friends!  How you do feel about a Fall Tiered Pop Up Cards Tutorial?  It’s a Choose Your Own Adventure Wonderful Wednesday, which means we will be making two cards using two different paper collections and one unique card design.  This is fast becoming one of my favorite Wonderful Wednesday features.  I hope you are enjoying it, too.

This week we are working with Simple Stories Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze and Graphic 45 Celebrate the Seasons September papers.  It’s Autumn Fest at its best, and I think you are really going to enjoy the pop up feature on these pretty cards.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Card Adventure #1:  Graphic 45 Season to Celebrate September Tiered Pop Up Card

Graphic 45-Season to Celebrate-September-Tiered Pop Up Card Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

The base for both cards today is a simple 6×6 top fold.  Each cover features an altered Prima Resin Frame, and the exact same layout.

TIP:  When working with bold colors, busy patterns and large images, it is often a good idea to keep your card design very simple.  For this card I matted layers of Patterns & Solids and 8×8 papers with plain cardstock to help separate the patterns.  Embellish a simple framed image with flowers, vintage button, postage stamps and a twine bow.

Inside the card folio, I’ve created a lovely pull down flap.  When the magnetic flap opens, this tiered pop up feature is revealed.  Once you learn how to make these, you’ll want to do it all the time!

Card Adventure #2:  Simple Stories Autumn Breeze Tiered Pop Up Cards

Simple Stories-Simple Vintage Autumn Breeze-Tiered Pop Up Card-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Can you see how this card layout is identical to the G45 card?

TIP:  Need to save time?  Use the same card recipe on multiple cards and you’ll be amazed at how many cards you can create in a short time!

Here you can see the interior pocket and the front of the pull down flap.  The pop up feature is hidden behind.  I’ll show it to you and teach you how to make it in the video tutorial.

Tiered Pop Up Cards Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to take a closer look at this month’s Choose Your Own Adventure tutorial, please grab a cuppa and a snack and enjoy the video tutorial below.

I hope you’ll give this tiered pop up design a try as it’s loads of fun!

I’ll be back next week with our Wind Back Wednesday tutorial featuring Graphic 45 Autumn Greetings.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Beautiful Autumn Breeze Fall Banner Tutorial

Simple Stories-Autumn Breeze-Fall Banner-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-01

Beautiful Autumn Breeze Fall Banner Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  This beautiful Autumn Breeze Fall Banner Tutorial is our Wonderful Wednesday project of the week.  Rustic burlap pennants, handmade flowers, antique lace, and rich layered papers make it the perfect bit of fall home decor.

Handmade Sunflowers and Burlap Equals All the Fall Feels

Simple Stories -Autumn Breeze -Fall Banner -Tutorial -Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Rustic burlap pennants and handmade sunflowers really amp up the autumn vibe of this fall banner.  Stitch the pennants onto pretty tan gingham ribbon and top with vintage ivory lace to add even more texture to the design.

Fall Banner Tutorial-Simple Stories-Autumn Breeze-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Wonderful Wednesday

TIP:  Add star anise in with your embellishments to make your banner smell as lovely as it looks!

Simple Stories Autumn Breeze Floral Ephemera-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

TIP:  Layer Floral Ephemera Bits to create a pretty autumn scene.  Then tuck in die cut ferns and  handmade flowers to bring it to life.  Can you spy the star anise?

Beautiful Fall Banner-Tutorial-Simple Stories-Autumn Breeze-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

TIP: Mix and match handmade flowers on a die cut wreath.  Use a circle die to cut images from 4×6 journal cards and place in the center of the wreath.

Copper Tones

Autumn Breeze-Simple Stories-Fall Banner Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Katny by Design

Copper tones add warmth and richness to any autumn project.  I’ve incorporated them on this banner in three ways:

  • First, tie bows with copper taffeta ribbon and add copper satin ribbon streamers to the bow clusters.
  • Next, paint antique bronze pumpkin embellishments with a little copper acrylic paint.  It’s amazing how that light coating of copper paint makes the pumpkins stand out!
  • Finally, spritz your floral papers with a bit of copper mist.  This is subtle, but oh, so beautiful!

Handmade Sunflowers-Autumn Banner-Simple Stories Autumn Breeze-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Beautiful Autumn Breeze Fall Banner Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see this banner come together, then I cordially invite you to grab a cuppa and a snack and join me over on my YouTube channel for the tutorial.

As I mentioned in the video, many of the flower dies I used are retired.  But I bet you have some beautiful flower dies tucked away in your stash.  Why not pull them out and use them to dress up your own beautiful banner?  If you don’t have any flower dies in your stash, I highly recommend Elizabeth Craft Designs as a source.  There’s a lot to choose from there.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

I’ll be back next week with our Choose Your Own Adventure Card Tutorial of the Month.  I’m feeling a pop up card coming on….hope to see you then!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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