The Swing Easel - Fun with Sizes

I discovered the Swing Easel card when I came across a card posted by the talented Amanda Bates, but when I found her instructions, I discovered that all her measurements are in metric and the card size is different from our "normal" sizes.  And so I've adapted the card to measure 5 12" x 5 1/2" when folded.  I have also adapted it to measure our "normal" 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  Join me today as I lead you through both sizes with accompanying photos and instructions.

For my 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card, I've used the In the Meadow stamp set because it fits the smaller easel much better.  This card fits perfectly into the standard sized Stampin' Up! envelope.  You can see the way the card folds and how the centre has been cut so that it can "swing" up and stand like an easel.  It looks difficult but if you have a good paper cutter, it's really quite simple.  I am, of course, using Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Trimmer which allows me to score and cut easily.

I began with this template.  My cardstock measured 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Note that the broken lines indicate score lines while the solid, red lines indicate cut lines.

My first score line was at 4 1/4".

After that I cut along the red indicated lines.  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STOP YOUR CUT ALONG THE SIDE AT THE 2 1/8" POINT.  This is measured from the centre fold (4 1/4" score line).

You can see the score lines and cut lines on my base cardstock of Heavy Whisper White.

This is the Heavy Whisper White with the sides folded along the score lines.  Basically you will fold a "mountain", a "valley", and then another "mountain".  You can see already how the centre cut area is free to swing as you open the card to stand it as an easel.

This is the inside of the card.  You can see how the easel works from underneath.  I've made this into a birthday card, leaving one "word bubble" empty so that a personal greeting can be written inside.

This is the same card from the front.  I love the 3-D effect, don't you?

And this is the card closed for mailing.  A perfect 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.

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You'll remember the card I posted last week for our Blog Hop, featuring that great new Country Livin' stamp set.  I used the 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" measurements for this card.  Really, it needed that additional sizing which a square offers.

This is the template for the 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card.

I began with a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 11".  My first score line was at 5 1/2".

After that it was just a matter of following the cut lines and score lines exactly as shown for the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.

Good luck with your Swing Easel card(s).  If you have any questions or problems, just let me know.