Dovecraft Curiosity Corner Pop-Up Aperture Card

I made a pop-up aperture card using the gorgeous Dovecraft Curiosity Corner paper pack. It's really quite simply to make - it just takes a bit of time to decorate!

Here are the instructions to create the basic shape:-

1. Take 2 card blanks. One will be for the outside, and the other will form the internal pop-up aperture part.
2. Take one of the card blanks and fold it in half to create a normal card. Then, fold the front in half again - and the back of the card in half again - so you end up with a "W" shape.
3. Using an oval die, cut an aperture from the central fold line.
4. If you want to matt and layer, then you will need to do that before you cut the aperture.
5. Then you will need to matt and layer the inside of the normal card blank - in the crease - the bit that you will see through the aperture.
6. Once you've done that, you will need to die cut a smaller oval and stamp it with a greeting and then attach it to the top of the aperture using thread or twine. 
7. Take some strong red tape, and stick the "W" shape card inside the card blank - as shown in the above photo.
8. Now you can decorate the front of your card.

"Simply Creative" Easel Style Wedding Card

Love these new "Simply Creative" paper pads! Had a play with the "Folk Song" pad and came up with this Easel-style card:-

To make this card, you'll need a piece of 4"x12" card (needs to be around 250gsm).

1. Fold the card into 3 (i.e. score and fold every 4" along the 12" edge).
2. On the first 4"x4" section of the card, measure 1 1/2" down the score line from top and bottom - which will leave you with a 1" section on the middle of the scoreline.
3. Cut down the scoreline to the first mark, and then cut from the second mark along the scoreline to the outside edge of the card.
4. Along the short side of the card, measure and mark at 1 1/2" and at 2 1/2", then join this mark up with the corresponding mark along the scoreline - and cut - so that you end up with a 1" strip still attached to the main card body. This will form your prop!
5. Matt and layer the pattern paper and ribbon onto the 1"x4" prop.
6. Matt and layer the inside and bottom section of your card.
7. Using a wooden frame, frame and mount your wedding couple die cut as shown.
8. Die cut a Heart shape from the wedding First Edition Dies from pattern paper (I used paper from the Simply Creative "Flower Girl" pad) mounted onto plain white card - to give it more rigidity.
9. Stick your wooden frame onto the 1"x4" strip and embellish with a bow and pearl dot from the Dovecraft Floral Muse range.
10. Mount your die cut heart onto foam pads and stick onto the base of your card to form a stopper for the prop.

That's it! Have fun making this card! 

"So Chic" Cake Stall Birthday Card

I've been having a play with the new Simply Creative Papers from Trimcraft - which are fabulous! The 12"x12" papers are 200gsm and about half of the pad are double sided and the rest are single sided. The designs are fab! The 6"x6" pad is 120gsm and are all single sided - so perfect for matt and layering! Here's a card I made using the "So Chic" pad:-

I made a matching envelope too - using one of the 12"x12" double sided sheets.
If you want to find out more about these pads, head over the to Trimcraft Website for more information:- http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/articles/sneak-peek-of-the-new-simply-creative-paper-craft-collection

Pop Up Card

Here's a card shape that I've never made before!! It's a pop up card - but with a difference - as it uses acetate instead of just having a card centrepiece.

You will need:-

• 4"x11" double sided card for the base
• 2 1/4" x 6" acetate
• Doily
• 2 mini bows
• Die cut foliage
• 3x Santoro Willow Flower die cuts
• 2x Floral Muse butterfly stickers
• Floral Muse sentiment

1. Take your piece of base card, and score at 1", 2 3/4", 3 3/4", 7 1/4", 8 1/4" & 10"
2. Fold them all in the same direction to form a base that looks a bit like a "B"
3. Unfold the card, and score at 5 1/2" along the longest edge.
4. Cut a 2 1/2" slit in the middle of this scoreline.
5. Cut another 2 1/2" slit about 2mm away from the first slit - so that you'll have space for the acetate to fit in snugly.
6. Slot your piece of acetate in through the slot, and in between the two turned-in flaps on the underside of the base - and stick the acetate into position onto these flaps - so that you get that "B" shape base again.
7. Take your die cut foliage piece and stick it onto the acetate. Next, add the 3 Willow flowers and the 2 butterflies.
8. To complete, cut a doily to fit onto the base, add the mini bows and the sentiment - and you're finished!
9. This card will fold flat for posting - as long as you don't put too many bulky embellishments on it!

Love Story Tote Gift Handbag

Here's a Tote Handbag that I made using the gorgeous "Love Story" papers from First Edition.

It's really easy to make but I would advise using 200gsm papers - as I don't think anything less than that would be sturdy enough.

You will need:-

• 3 1/2" x 12" piece of double sided paper
• 2 1/2" x 5 1/4" piece of double sided paper
• Two strips that are 3/8" x 6" each of double sided paper
• Three strips that are 1/2" x 12" each of double sided paper

1. Put strong "red" tape along the bottom inside edge and right inside edge of the 3 1/2" x 12" piece of cardstock.
2. Take the 2 1/2" x 5 1/4" piece of card and score at 1" from left hand side on all four sides.
3. Fold along these lines.
4. Cut along short scorelines to form 4 tabs.
5. Stick the tabs to the outside of the sides to form a shallow tray.
6. On the 3 1/2" x 12" card, stick one of the 1/2" x 12" strips onto the outside top edge
7. Then carefully stick the 3 1/2" x 12" piece of card around the outside of the tray box - making sure you don't crease the top of the card.
8. Stick another 1/2" x 12" strip around the outside bottom edge to hide the join.
9. Using brads, secure the two 3/8" x 6" strips onto the top edge to form handles.
10. Stick the remaining 1/2" x 12" strip inside the top edge to hide the brads and handle ends.
11. Embellish as desired! I used the Santoro Willow Flower die to cut out some chiffon flowers, and then placed them behind one of the heart shaped Dovecraft Floral Muse Accordian stickers. I then stamped a piece of card using the Dovecraft Floral Muse sentiment stamps, and cut around it, and stuck it under the accordian sticker - just peeking out of the side.

Double Diamond Fold Cards

So, this week we made double diamond fold cards in my Craft Class, so here are some of the double diamond fold cards that I made:-

This one was made using the Grace Taylor "Let's Play" 12x12 papers from Trimcraft, alongside Belle & Boo decoupage & sentiment stamps (also from Trimcraft).

 Above is a double diamond fold card that I made using distress inks, Dovecraft washi tape and Funfair decoupage (by Trimcraft).

This next double diamond fold card was made using Grace Taylor "Let's Play" paper and Belle & Boo decoupage and sentiment stamps:-

To make this card, you need a 6"x12" piece of white cardstock. Below is the template with instructions:-

It looks complicated to make, but it's not too bad! The best way of matt and layering pattern paper onto it is to cut out another 6"x12" piece of pattern paper, and then draw out the scorelines on the reverse, and then cut along the scorelines and lay they out in their positions. Then, one by one, go through each piece, trimming it down so that you have a bit of a white border around each piece of patterned paper.