How to Make a Stepper Card

Run a sheet of heavy white cardstock through your die machine with the largest die in the four stepper set. It cuts the outline, the four stairs and the score lines in one pass. A standard size die machine is fine. Turn the piece so the single score line sits on the left and the stairs run down the right half. Lay the die back over it, like Sam does, to check the orientation.

Fold the left hand score line as a valley fold. Then pinch each stair up into a mountain fold. As you do, the scores behind them turn into valley folds on their own and the staircase pops forward. Fold the whole piece over and give every fold a good burnish. Sharp creases make the steps stand straight and fold flat again when the card closes.

Make a 6 by 6 inch card blank from red cardstock. Sam's is already decorated on the front. Set the folded stepper insert inside it and line it up. Focus on an even border on the left side first. When you bring the right side over, the stairs pop up between the two halves. That is your four step stepper card taking shape.

Put glue on the left and right side panels of the insert only. Leave the stairs and the little panel behind them dry, or the card will not open. Press the left side down with an even border on three sides. Add glue to the other side, fold it down and close the card. Open it again straight away to check nothing went crooked.

The die set includes a mat and a layer for every panel: the left side, the right side, the inside and each small step. Cut all the mats from silver mirror card. Lay them out on the stepper card before gluing so you know which piece goes where. The shine frames every patterned panel and catches the light when the card stands open.

Cut the layers from a patterned paper pad and stick each one onto its silver mat. Sam picks a candy stripe for the big left panel and a wrapped gift print for the stairs and the right panel. Count the small squares, one for each of the four steps, and press them down. A thin silver line should show on every side.

Cut a 5 3/4 inch square and a 5 1/2 inch square for the front, using silver and a green HO HO print from the same pad. Trim scrap strips into narrow rectangles and stack them in a cross. Sam's strips run from about 3/4 by 3 3/4 up to 1 3/4 by 4 1/4 inches. Finish with the Warm Wishes tag from the matching ephemera.

Open the card and add the ephemera. Sam places a Santa head with a Merry Christmas banner on the large striped panel and a round HO HO HO Santa topper on the right side panel. Keep big pieces off the stairs so they still fold flat. Foam squares under the topper add depth without stopping the card from closing.

Decorate a matching envelope with Christmas stamps. Close the flap and slip wax paper under it. Melt the wax beads on low heat, pour a puddle over the flap edge and press the stamp in. A quick blast from a heat gun clears bubbles. Once it sets, tap it, lift the seal off the wax paper and stick it on with double sided tape when the card is written.