Handmade Paper Card Holder

The card holder features a full sheet (8.5"x11") of handmade paper and is secured on both sides with ribbon!! The front flap of the paper was reinforced with fabric tape, three holes were punched with a Cropadile and ribbon was woven and tied to create an enclosure for the cards!! The top flap is simply folded over the cards and a ribbon holds it closed and gives a great look for presenting as a gift.
It was great fun to coordinate all the pieces to the handmade paper to make a great package!! Nice to feature so many items that were reused or recycled for these Earth Day cards all the while still making beautiful cards that are elegantly packaged.

Therese

Handmade Paper cards and holder #2

These cards also feature the same handmade paper!! The one on the left features a thermally embossed flower which the students coloured with chalks once their cards were finished. It was layered onto colour cardstock and features a flower embellishment. I created the embellishment using two Cuttlebug die cuts - the solid one from coloured vellum and the outline cut from metallic chipboard. They were layered onto each other, highlighted with a sequin then attached to the card front with a coordinating brad.
The right hand card features an embossed metal heart which was die cut from a heavy foil pie plate. The students embossed their hearts as they wished using a pencil and a newspaper pad. Once embossed, it was mounted using 3Dfoam tape on a double layer of cardstock which was previously glued to the card front. The ribbon features a pop can tab as a buckle which was a great accent with the embossed metal heart.

Therese

Handmade paper cards and holder

Here are the details from the Earth Day cards and holder I posted earlier. This was a fun class with a group of students from several different ages groups. Several in the class were really keen and just got going with the instruction sheet and did a great job. I think all the students enjoyed the class and were happy with the final results - four cards and a presentation holder!
All the cards feature handmade paper on the card fronts. All the embellishments and trims were coordinated to the handmade paper for the best presentation should the students choose to use it as a gift.
The top card features three chipboard hearts which started their lives as packaging! I covered the box board with scrapbook paper and then cut the hearts using the smallest Sizzlet heart die. These were layered onto neutral cardstock and then onto a strip of cardstock that was bordered punch to add some style. The little ribbon on the left hand side added just enough texture to make the whole design work.
The lower card has an embossed layer of cardstock over a neutral strip. The flower was created using a dryer sheet and I added coordinating scallop circles for the center - all attached to the card front with a brad.

Therese

Cardmaking - April - candles

Candles are perfect for birthdays!! These cards feature "candles" - scraps of cardstock and scrapbook papers about an inch wide. I embossed the cardstock to add texture and trimmed the tops to more closely simulate candles. Used heart punchies for the flames - added some colour to make them more dimensional!! Drew in the wicks above the candles with a fine tip Sharpie before I added the flames using 3Dfoam tape. The greeting is printed on vellum which I tore on both sides and added with two brads.
A few ideas for using what you have!!

Therese

Cardmaking - April - Gate fold

These were fun to make!! Featuring a gatefold and a central image they can be made for any occasion!! I used the largest circle on the Sizzix circle die (SU) to cut the white circles and then stamped a variety of images on them in black Memories so they could be coloured in any manner, even watercolour. Added a layer of silver foil - my reuse item - foil seal from yogurt - which I cut with my circle cutter. The scallop circle is a leftover from a Christmas card a while back which I embellished with a push pin but some used a white gel pen instead! Used a variety of scrapbook paper for the backgrounds. I created the background paper for the card on the right. The scrapbook paper was quite monochromatic so I added some script and pink flowers! Zipped it up perfectly!! Thrifty Tip: Consider adding some stamping to any paper that is not really speaking to you - it is a great way to use up with you have in your stash.

Therese

Cardmaking - April - Butterflies

These cards feature butterflies which were stamped and black embossed on calendar pages!! You can easily reuse calendar, junk mail or magazine pages by stamping bold images in areas of overall colour/texture or where a change in colour would be appropriate for your image. The white butterfly was stamped on a snowy road and the blue one on the water of an ocean scene.
They were neatly cut out and traced on the back with a black Sharpie to remove the white line of the paper. Neatly layered onto black cardstock and arranged as desired above the greeting which is printed on the card front and revealed by ripping the embossed layer. I added some dots with a white gel pen. Some in the class chose to cover up the greeting by not ripping the embossed layer in which case a greeting or accent could easily be added later.

Therese

Cardmaking - April - Handmade paper

Just getting to posting my cards from last week's cardmaking!! In support of Earth Day I incorporated some "reduce, reuse, recycle" techniques to my cards!!
These ones feature several earth friendly items - recycled handmade paper, reused coloured images and dryer sheets!! The handmade paper I made myself using printed bond paper and other additives - paper confetti and dried flowers!! It is such fun to make handmade paper with your scraps. The coloured images are cut from commercial cards! I usually save any cards I receive and reuse them to make cards for donation to a local not for profit. In this case, I scoured the boxful and cut out images that were the right size for use with this sketch. I really like the way these turned out. I added a little flower I created using a USED dryer sheet!! They are really easy to make! Sort of invented them by compiling flower ideas from several different places over the last few months. Thrifty Tip: Cut a rectangle of USED dryer sheet and fold in half and then in half again, joining the fold to the two ends. Round the four corners with scissors and unfold. Gather the rectangle in the center somewhat accordion style and tie off tightly with string or crochet thread. Now just spread the "petals" all the way around the middle and you have yourself a flower!!
These cards feature a quarter sheet of handmade paper with torn edges layered on the card front, trimmed images over a coordinating cardstock rectangle - both with distressed edges and a flower with a sequin attached to the card front with a brad.
These would make perfect cards for Mother's Day!! Coming up in a just over a week or so!!

Therese