Back To Basics Week 4 - SHaped Cards

Shaped Cards - Week 4 of Back To Basics

Hi Crafters

This new weeks is all about Shaped cards

I love shaped cards and usually if I see something I like, I have to master the design and make the card myself. Sometimes this works well and I am pleased with the results, sometimes I make it but need to work on the design or toppers used to compliment the shape, and other times I make a shaped card, master the cuts and shaping, only to find the finished result is fussy and not something I will actually use, or only for very special occasions.

 I have looked at all the different cards I have made and chosen cards that I think are not too complicated, can be replicated quite easily and make useful additions to your repertoire. I am sure most of them you have seen before and probably made yourself, but if not have a go and let me see your lovely makes.

Card 1

The W card

I used a 5 x 7 card and lined the inside with 2 pieces of 63/4” x 43/4”

I cut a strip of black card 11/2” wide by 10” long, folded in half and then each side in half again, this makes the W shape inside with 4 sections. I decided to use up some card stock I had from a First Edition pad, I have made an album and these were pieces left over. The fact they are all from one pad means they all coordinate. The plainest piece I put aside for the greeting. I cut butterflies from the scraps and added them to each of the 4 cut-out ovals.

The front has been decorated simply as the paper used to cover the front was highly decorative storks, which I was reluctant to cover over. 

You could leave the butterfly off the right side if you wished to use this section for your personal greeting or write it on the back.

You will see lots of versions of this on YouTube as well as the Zcard which is similar. 

Card 2 

Pop-up Box Card

This is really quite simple to make and very effective. 

Take a piece of A4 base card and cut to 16cm deep by the length of the card (usually 29.5cm. Put aside the piece unused as you will need that later.

Score along the long side at 7cm,14cm,21cm,28cm

Turn and score at 9cm. The 9cm section is the base and the 7cm the top

Fold and burnish all the scorelines 

Cut from the top to the score line on each section to form the box 

If you wish to shape the top sections as I have in this sample now is the time to do it. You can cut a triangle by marking the middle of the square and cutting from score line to the marked centre. or use a border punch or die along the outer edge

If you are using a punch or die remember you need to do the same with the decorative papers you will be adding to all the squares 

To cover the squares you will need 

4 pieces of decorative papers cut 6.5cm x 8.5 cm

4 pieces of decorative papers cut 6.5cm x 6.5cm

Cover the squares with the papers and then glue the bottom small flap section in, to form the box.

Next, using the spare base card cut 2 pieces of card 2cm x 10cm and score both ends at 1.5cm You can leave them plain or cover them, it is up to you.

FOld the scored ends and glue the flaps 

Place one piece at the back of the box and one to the front 

I have used a Craft Card paper pack I think this is called Chalk Board,  it was an 8 x 8 pad in my stash. I have fussy cut the flowers from one or two of the sheets. These are then glued to the bars across the box to form the bouquet. 

Add a greeting to the front panel and you are done. 

You can make these in so many styles, and they fold flat to post. 

Back in a few days with a couple more designs.

Dee

Win All the cards in this Back to Basics Series

Win All the Cards in this series 

Hello Everyone and welcome to my blog

I would just like to say at this point it is really lovely to have so many of you stopping by my blog, and I would like to share my makes with you. So have decided that anyone making a comment on any of the cards posted during this Back to Basics series will have their name placed in a draw to win all the cards I make. So if you have a favourite charity or a large group of family and friends you make for, why not have a go at winning them all.  More details next week, but every comment gives you another opportunity to win so start whenever you like.

Dee 

Back To Basics Week 3 - Die Cutting

Hi Crafters 

Card 3 & 4 of Die-cutting 

Here we are back with more samples of die-cutting 

The next card shows how a die can form the shape of the card.

I love all things to do with the sea, and this shell die is large enough to make into a card base.

I have used it to make an easel card

Card 3

                                        

Fold the card in half and lay the outside die onto the card with the end of the shell over the edge of the card so it does not cut through. You will need to cut another single shell from a piece of card to make the front of the card. To form the easel card fold the top section of the card in half and place the spare piece over the top, lining up the top of the two pieces. The top half is glued on while the bottom half  remains  free standing to form the front of the card. There is then an inner die that I have cut to line the bottom half, you can see the edge of the base card, and a panelled centre die that is elegantly cut-out to decorate the shell shape, I cut this in gold mirra card. This die came from a seller called Alina on AliExpress. If buying from AliExpress always check the sizes of the dies and calculate the finished product size, as this die needs to be big enough to make the card, often sizes are given of the whole set and this can mean a set measuring 15cm x 10cm may give you a finished product half that size.

This card folds flat for posting and provided you do not add too much in the way of decoration will not be expensive to post.
You could make this from a circle or oval die 

Card 4

This card is for special occasions. It is large and elaborate, but not too difficult to make. Don’t be fooled though it is not cheap to make either. I see the demonstrators on tv and they often use another 2 layers at least, using 6 pieces of special card as well as beautiful embellishments. Worth it for someone special but not if you are making cards to sell or for charity as the product cost can be around £4 for this one and up to £8 for the demos on tv.

                                     

For this one I have used

1 8” white scalloped  edge card  

Silver mirra card 7.5” square

1 7” scalloped edged card cut to fit

Cut an outer circle from mirra card

The next layer of the die was cut from winter white card

The next circle cut from mirra card

An inner circle from winter white card

This was decorated with 3 Anna Griffin flowers around the edge

The die set was another from Alina. It takes quite a bit of cutting.

TIP: When buying from discount sellers in China it is usually wiser to choose a more open design that will cut more easily, it is disappointing to get a lovely looking set of dies that do not cut well and you may have difficulty getting a replacement or refund. Of course if you buy from Tonic or a any of the UK companies you can return dies that do not cut cleanly.

I hope you have enjoyed the die-cutting week.
Back next week with Shaped Cards. Not too fancy but hopefully some you will like and want to try yourselves. This will be the last week of styles.

During this series of Basic Card making I have shown different styles for card making, the series will end with a week of Christmas Cards, made using the styles shown during the previous weeks, so you can carry over the ideas for your Christmas crafting.

Dee