This simple card is great to showcase your own collages and artwork. Accurate measuring and cutting is essential because you want the card to be able to stand up on its own. Use stiff paper, card stock, in whites, beiges and vanilla tones. Depending on the time of year you can make birthday cards, Christmas cards and any other holiday cards. Use colors and found objects accordingly. For example use green, red, and gold for Christmas cards.
Materials:
Sheet of handmade paper, card stock, or stiff paper
Scrap piece of card for window template
Bits and pieces of handmade papers, fibers, ribbons, fabrics, trims and interesting found objects
Matching paper for envelope
Craft knife
Pencil
Ruler
Self-healing mat
Bone folder
PVA adhesive and brush
Double-sided tape (optional)
Basic Methods:
If you feel a bit uneasy you can always practice these steps first on an inexpensive sheet of paper. Then keep your first card as a template.
1. You will need one sheet of 8 1/4 x 11 inch inch paper. On the back mark the paper into thirds across the width. Score with a bone folder and fold both end panels inwards.
2. Open the card and lay it on a self-healing mat and cut a window in the center panel using your window template this way you can be more certain the position of your window, before you start cutting. Your window template should be approximately 2 x3 inches. You can change the size of the window for different cards if you prefer. Rescore the fold lines.
3. Create a collage on the inside of the first flap. Have fun and be creative. Use your little scraps of paper, ribbon, and other embellishments. Study the composition by closing the flap; check how your collage looks through the window before gluing the pieces in place.
4. Glue the two front panels together with watered down glue or double sided tape.
5. To make the envelope, use another sheet of matching or contrasting paper. Lay the card diagonally across it and fold up the sides. Glue down two sides and bottom fold to create the envelope.