Handmade cards and other crafts, templates & tips

Here's another one of my crochet brooches.

I would like to share how I made this flower with you but unfortunately I can't write the instructions or draw a chart, I've tried both and even I can't understand them so I took photos of all the stages. I don't usually follow any patterns, I just make it up as I go along which means that I never get 2 flowers that are exactly the same

Here's a slideshow I created to show you how the flower above was made. Hope you like it.

If you're into handmade cards you've probably seen a few examples using a paper-folding technique called Iris folding. The name comes from the fact that the finished design looks like the iris of an eye or the lens of a camera.

This technique may look difficult but it's actually very easy, all you need is a template and strips of paper which are folded and placed over the template as explained on the tutorial below.

The result should be something like this, a design spiralling towards a central point, the iris.

 

Iris folding tutorial

1 - Choose your template and trace the outline onto cardstock.

2 - Cut out the inside of the shape you've just traced using a ruler (metal one preferably and a craft knife).

3 - Place the cut out cardstock over the template, use Blue Tack to keep it in place.

4 - On the template measure the widest end of one of the numbered sections and cut strips of paper wide enough so that when folded in half they will cover the whole of the section and still have a little over the outside (please see photo above).

5 - Decide in which order you'll place your strips of paper over the template.

6 - Put double sided tape along the outside of the of the cut out window to help you keep your first strips of paper in place.

7 - Start placing the strips of paper in the order you chose. When you finish your first round keep placing small pieces of double sided tape to keep the next layer in place.

8 - Keep placing your paper strips until you finish. Below you can see the back and the front of your card topper.

                               Back                                                                             Front

9 - Choose a piece of cardstock for the iris.

10 - Embellish as desired and your iris folding card topper is ready to be used.
 

Tips:

* Instead of strips of paper you can also use ribbon, fabric, vellum, etc.

* Vellum creates an interesting effect as the different layers produce slightly different shades as you layer them.

* Instead of folding your strips of paper, tear them so you get a rough edge. This can produce also create an interesting effect.

Below are some examples of cards I made using the iris folding technique:

 
If you want to try this technique, you'll find plenty of templates on the Circle of Crafters web site.

Last week was half-term which means that my son Alex was home and I didn't have time to do any crafting. He went back to school yesterday and I did manage to make a card for an 80th birthday.

I'll be writing a series of posts on card making techniques but first I need to tidy up or I won't be able to function. My next post will be about a technique called Iris folding.

Below is the 80th birthday card I mentioned and also a birthday card I made for an 9-year old. I really like this cute dinossaur and it makes a nice change from the usual football cards for boys.

When making cards or scrapbook pages the quickest and easiest way to cut clean shapes is by using paper punches, these come in different shapes and sizes and the designs can be either complex or very simple.

Paper punches can cut through paper or cardstock that's not too thick, if you try to cut shapes out of very thick card you might break your punch mechanism.

Paper punches allow you to cut not only shapes that you can use as embellishments but also create decorative borders and corners making your cards / scrapbook pages even more special.

Border systems allow you to use your regular shape punches to create decorative borders, the ruler helps you keep an even spacing between the cut out shapes.

Punch art is the art of combining several different punched shapes to create a new different shape. For some examples of punch art, please visit the following sites:

Kenna's Punch Art Layouts

Wittyliving

Craftavenue

The cards shown below were made using mainly paper punches and I hope they may inspire you when using punches on your craft projects.

Tips

* If you punch out shapes that you end up not using don't throw them away, store them in a box for use in future projects.

* Use your paper punches and thin paper to make confetti that you can use to decorate your table for a special occasion or even on shaker cards.

* Keep a record of your paper punches on a small notebook and take this with you when you go into a craft store so you always know exactly which punches you have. Use paper scraps to punch out shapes and glue them on your notebook pages for a quick visual reference.  The photo below shows my paper punch record, it allows me to know which punches I have at a glance.

 

I will be posting a series of articles on different card making techniques which I hope you'll find useful.

Cardmaking is a very expensive hobby and in a time of economic recession you really have to make your money go a long way. Here are a few tips that will help you save money without having to give up on your hobby.

1- Wallpaper samples

 You can get them for free from DIY stores and use them as background papers for your cards, tags or even to punch out shapes.

I store my wallpaper samples in clear plastic envelopes in an A4 ring binder.

2 - Paint cards

These come in a wide range of colours and again you can get them for free from DIY stores and use them on collage projects or to punch out small shapes.

Left: the background paper used on the Christening card is wallpaper
Right: the coloured strip on the green envelope under the cut out bird is a paint card

3 - Fabric samples

Some furniture stores have free samples of their upholstery fabric. Also, some online harberdasheries send out free fabric samples if you ask them. Old clothes too are a good source of fabric.

The card above was made using a free leather sample from Tesco.

4 - Ribbon

You can get small pieces of ribbon to use on your card making projects from blouses (little straps to help hang the blouses), some items that come tied with ribbon, gifts people give you.

5 - Buttons

If you have clothes you no longer wear cut out all the buttons before throwing them away. These make great embellishments for cards.

6 - Old cards

Don't throw them away before checking if there's anything you can use on your own cards. For instance: nice pictures, sentiments, embellishments and even the card itself can be used to punch out shapes.

7 - Sequins / beads

Again you can cut sequins/beads from old clothes, slippers, jewellery you no longer use, etc.

8 - Bubble wrap

If you sell your cards and need to send them by mail you'll need bubble wrap to help protect the card so it doesn't get damaged in transit. One way of getting free bubble wrap is by using the one that comes in any padded envelopes / packets you receive yourself.

9 - Boxes for storage

Whatever it is you make you'll need storage to keep all your supplies organised. Again you don't need to spend money on storage boxes for your craft supplies. Why not use shoe boxes, jars or any boxes / containers you already have at home.

I hope you find these tips useful.

Jen from Kool Crafts and Arts has asked me to to make her another wall hanging, this time for her office. Her only requirements were that I should make it in creams and browns. Below you can see the finished item made using the crazy patchwork technique.

It's all been hand sewn and the main reason for that is that my very old Singer sewing machine wouldn't sew through all the 3 layers of fabric even though I only used lightweight cotton. Also all hem lines were embellished with some new embroidery stitches I learnt with the help of a brilliant book I borrowed from the local public library, its title is "Very Easy Crazy Patchwork"
by Betty Barnden, ISBN 978-0-7621-0672-1

The funny thing is that I always had this idea that embroidery was something very difficult to learn and master but it's actually not, although I must admit try as I might I can't get the hang of those blasted French knots!! But I'll get there eventually...

So, if you're into crazy patchwork and embroidery or you'd like to give it a go the book I mentioned above is a good starting point as it's full of lovely projects and useful information on techniques, equipment, etc.

Regarding embroidery, there's an excellent website called Needle N' Thread with an extensive video library of stitches.

On the pictures below you can see the embroidery stitches I used and their names in case you'd like to try them for yourself.

Other books you might want to have a look at:

"Bright & Breezy Patchwork"
R. Norum and H.A. Krohg
ISBN-13: 978-0-7153-2917-7
ISBN-10: 0-7153-2917-0

"The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Patchwork, Quilting and Appliqué"
Elaine Hammond
ISBN:0-7153-0479-8