Cuddly Buddly Crafts Blog

 

Materials:

• Cuddly Buddly Paisley background stamp
• Cuddly Buddly Paisleys and Border stamps
• Cuddly Buddly Red Patchwork Papers download
• 2 A4 sheets white smooth card
• 1 A4 sheet white textured card
• 1 A4 sheet red card
• 1 A4 sheet silver mirror card
• Art Emboss silver metal foil
• Oddments of ribbon, red and silver grey
• Versamark inkpad
• Staz-On inkpad
• Silver embossing powder
• PVA glue
• Silver eyelet
• Two silver brads
• Darice 9 x 13 cm rectangle frame
• 4 pieces card 3.5 x 3.5 cm
• 4 pieces Art Emboss foil 5 x 5 cm.

Tools:

• Embossing Stylus tool
• Craft knife & Cutting Mat
• Ruler
• Scoring board
• Double sided tape

 

1 – To make the Waterfall Card. In preparation print off 1 sheet each of the dark red, mid red and multi stripe papers from the Patchwork papers download. Cut 1 strip 5 x27.5cms red card for waterfall mechanism. Cut 1 strip 2 x10.5cms red card for retaining strip. Using the A4 sheet of smooth white card, score a line 11 cms from the left hand narrow edge and fold. Attach the mid red background paper to the inside back of the folded card and the striped paper to the front of the fold. Allow an overlap on the striped paper to fold to the back of the card to keep the edges neat. Secure into place. Prepare mats of silver mirror card and dark red background paper to place on the front and the inside of the card as per the sample. Stamp the sheet of textured cardstock with the background paisley stamp and emboss with silver embossing powder. Cut mats for both panels from the stamped card measuring 6 x 16.5 cms each. Attach to the card as per the sample. 

2 – Prepare the waterfall mechanism using the red card as per the diagram. The lines that are at 2cm intervals are to be scored and folded. The longer section is the back of the mechanism and must be left unglued for the waterfall action to work. Leave aside to be completed later.

 

3 – Take the Art Emboss foil and cut 6 squares measuring 6 x 6 cms each. Stamp your chosen images onto three of the squares using Staz On ink. Using a stylus tool or old biro pen, carefully outline the images into the foil. It helps to use a padded surface for this technique. It is also good to practice on a spare piece of foil to check the pressure you need to apply. Too much and you can pierce the foil. You will soon get the hang of it. Your embossed image will appear on the front of the square. Trace as much or as little of the shape as you like.

 

4 – When you have completed the embossing, fill the resulting shape with PVA glue and allow it to cure at least overnight. This will ensure that your embossing will retain its dimension.

 

5 – Now that your pieces are ready, cut some plain white card into 5 x 5 cm squares, one for each of your foil squares. Centre the card onto the back of the embossed foil. Cut off the foil corners diagonally and fold the edges over the card pressing down lightly so that it retains its shape. Turn the piece over and carefully using a ruler and a fine point stylus, mark the front edges of the piece to give it a finished and tidy appearance. Now mount the finished squares onto a slightly larger square of white card. Ink the edges with toning red ink.

 

6 – Take two of the remaining foil squares and using Versamark ink and the border paisley stamp, stamp the image into the centre of the square. Cover with silver embossing powder and heat emboss. Allow the metal to cool before handling. Finish off these squares as for the others. No backfilling is required with these images. It is a good idea to wipe over the surface of the metal with an anti-static pad before stamping. This prevents any stray specks of embossing powder adhering to the metal. Prepare your greeting on the computer remembering to print it out on the mirror image setting. Choose a clear font for ease of embossing. Centre the greeting over the last square of metal foil and trace the letters with a stylus tool. Finish off the square as for the others but add an extra mat of red card.

 

7 – Place the retaining strip for the waterfall approximately 7cms from the bottom of the card. This is the 2 x 10.5cm piece you cut earlier. Attach this to the card using the silver brads as per the sample. Slide the back of the waterfall mechanism behind the strip and leave it totally without adhesive.

 

8 – Attach the completed squares to the waterfall starting at the bottom. Glue the bottom square to the first 5 x 5 cm section.

 

9 – Each following square is attached only to the 2 cm scored section as you need the mechanism to move freely, the completed squares will ‘hang’ from the waterfall mechanism. Alternate the embossed and stamped images as per the sample.

 

10 – Glue the bottom of the first panel where it makes contact with the strip to keep the mechanism in position. Punch a hole in the centre of the back strip where it falls below the retaining strip and set an eyelet. Tie a ribbon through the eyelet to use as a pull for the waterfall.

 

11 – Finally position the sentiment on the other side of the card. I used a die cut heart and some reverse stamping to create the motif on the top of the card but this panel could equally well be made into a book mark as an extra wee gift for that special Dad. Your Waterfall Card is now completed.

 

12 – To decorate the Frame. Carefully separate the front of the frame from the back. Release the holding string from the front of the frame. Leave attached to the back of the frame as you will be re-attaching it to the front later.

 

13 – Cover the front of the frame with the striped patterned paper, mitring the corners for a neat finish.

 

14 – Using the 5 x 5 cm foil squares emboss 4 of the small paisley images, one in each square as for the card project. Back fill with PVA glue so that the embossing retains its dimension. Allow the glue to cure overnight. Cover a piece of card 3.5 x 3.5 cm with the embossed image and finish as for the card project. Glue an image to each corner of the covered frame.

 

15 – Reassemble the photo frame and re-attach the string to its original position. Be careful to leave one side unglued so that you can insert the photo of your choice. Finish off your project by making your own wrapping paper. Stamp the paisley background stamp onto a sheet of tissue paper using a toning ink. Your project is completed.

©2008 Edna Taylor