Reverse Iris Folding Card

I found this on http://operationwritehome.org/tutorial-reverse-iris-folding/
Here is my example of this project.

I cut my papers 5.25"x3.75" and pasted it all onto quarter fold size card.  My problem is with the top layer not me large enough.  So if I redo this project I will still cut my papers to 5.25x3.75 but just make my template smaller so it doesn't doesn't quite go out to the edge on my top layers.

Reverse Iris Folding

This is a fun and easier variation of traditional reverse iris folding. The traditional technique uses the same image (photo, print etc) reproduced 5 times, cut, layered and combined. The end result is the original image appearing as a combination of all of the layers. The artist needs to be very precise both in the cutting and layering since even a small variation will make the image appear distorted. This variation of the traditional technique is quite forgiving and easy to master. (And you won’t end up with distorted faces or other disjointed images!)

Materials list:

-5 coordinating or contrasting papers-lighter weight scrapbooking papers work best (you can use heavier papers but you will need to score the folds and your design will be bulkier) cut into 5 1/4’” x 3 ¾” pieces.

-Straight edge or ruler

-Exacto knife

-Cutting mat

-Push pin, awl or other pointed tool -to make guide holes in the pattern and then poke through pattern for marking where to cut on each of your papers

-Scotch tape

-Adhesive for assembly of layers(ATG or other papercrafting roll on adhesive or tacky glue lightly applied. Glue sticks will NOT be strong or long lasting enough)

This is the pattern you will use to mark each of the 5 papers for cutting:

The template can be found here

Print it and attach it to a piece of cardboard that is 5 ¼” x 3 ¾” (same as your 5 sheets of paper)Notice the holes in the 4 corners of each shape, 1-5. Use pushpin or awl and enlarge each hole on the pattern.

After you decide the order of layers for your finished card, place paper for top layer behind your cardboard pattern(printed side facing back of pattern).

Use your pin or awl to poke 4 holes through the pattern and paper on each side of shape #1. The holes are marking your cutting lines for the next step. I use a piece of fun foam with the pattern and paper on top and just poke through both papers into the foam.

Repeat this hole poking in corners of shapes for #2-5 for each of the remaining papers, stacking each behind the pattern separately as you did for #1.

Now you are ready to cut-use the ruler/straight edge and cut 2 diagonal lines from hole to OPPOSITE hole. It’s way easier to see the holes and cut on the back side of your patterned paper. You will have 4 pointy wedges on each piece.

Work on the back side of your papers. Fold back each wedge from back of paper, trim so that the wedge doesn’t extend past the paper edge and tape to secure it down flat. *see note at end of instructions about using heavier papers

Repeat folding, trimming and taping with all 5 papers.

Almost finished! Time to assemble. Stack up all 5 papers in order, #1 on top to #5 on bottom and admire how cool it looks! Glue it all together by applying adhesive along edge and placing next layer on top. Don’t worry if edges aren’t perfectly aligned. You can trim it all after everything is together.

This size of layered papers will fit on a standard A-2 card(like most of our OWH cards) with a small border all around. If you want a center that is a different color than your card base, on the back side of the stack, tape a square of the desired paper. If you have a small sentiment that goes in the center, this is a good method of getting it placed well. Embellish the center as you wish otherwise. Use tacky glue or some other strong adhesive to attach gems, layered punched papers, stickers, brads, buttons etc.

A few ideas for different paper combinations:

Monochromatic colors can look cool if they are of differing textures. Try using embossing folders to add texture.

Try stamping an all over design on sheets of plain paper and using that for several or all of the pieces.

Don’t forget to stop by Lindy’s blog, Paper-Ravin’ to see some more excellent examples of this technique and to see some other really beautiful folded cards! Who is brave enough to give this technique a try? I love that you can use up tons of light weight patterned paper for these cards. I’ll add an InLinkz so that you can all show off your skills… Don’t forget to email me if you have any tutorial requests or submissions!

3D Miniature Card

I found this 3D miniature birthday card  at http://www.instructables.com/id/Miniature-3D-Card/?ALLSTEPS

And as I always fear when I am ready to do this project I will never be able to find the link again.

So here are the highlights.

Step 1: What you need

• colored quilling paper strips (or colored paper that you can cut into thin strips, like I did here)
• black cardstock
• white glue
• quilling tool
• pink thread
• scotch tape
• scissors/cutter
• ruler 

Step 2: The cake

 
 
You need to make 3 different coils using 3 strips of beige/cream paper.
Roll the first strip around the quilling tool until you reach the other end. This is a tight coil...to create a loose coil, remove the coil from the tool and, keeping it in shape with your fingers, let it open up a little so that it becomes loose.

The 3 coils need to be one bigger than the other so one will be looser, the next one a little tighter and the last one even tighter. Make sure that the last one won't be too tight.

Put some glue on the tip of the strip to fix the coils.

Now that all of your coils are ready, press each of them a little with your fingers, as if you had to create a "D" shape.
These will be the layers of the cake.

Glue the middle size coil on the biggest one, making sure not to place it in the middle of it. The straight sides need to be joined together. You can see how I did it in the pictures above.
Finally, glue the smallest coil the same way on the middle one.

Step 3: The candles

 

 The candles need 2 different parts: the body of the candle and the flame.

For the body, roll a very short strip of white paper using the quilling tool. It must be a tight coil and very tiny. Make about 2 or 3 rounds and secure it with glue.
Don't forget about the proportions: always look at the cake to make sure that the candles you are making are not too big for it.
Make 2 identical candles and glue them on the first layer of the cake.

To make the flame of the candle you need an orange strip of paper. It needs to be short, but not as short as the one for the body. I can't tell for sure how long it is, all I did is rolling the paper and cutting the strip when I thought that the coil was big enough.
Make a loose coil with it and finally press it with your thumb and index finger to create a teardrop shape.
If you made 2 bodies before, you'll need 2 of these flames.
Glue them on the top of the candles' bodies always using white glue.

Step 4: The box structure

 

 

 Now that your cake is all done, it's time to make the box.

The first thing you have to do is drawing the structure of the flat box on a piece of black cardstock.
You can see what the shape is in the pictures: it has 2 identical squares that are 5cm (1.96 inches) big with a rectangle in the middle and 3 other identical ones on the sides of one of the squares. The rectangles are 1,5cm (0.59 inches) large.

Cut the structure from the cardstock and fold the first square following the line you traced.
That square will be the front of the box.

Step 5: The letters

 Make the letters to go on top of the box and glue on top of the box.

Step 6: Fold up the box.

Note:  I think I would fold up the box before I put the letters on the cover.

 

You need to close the box now.
Following the lines you traced on the box structure, fold all the pieces as you can see in the first picture.
Keep them folded in a box shape putting some little pieces of scotch tape on the inside angles.
Since I wasn't sure that the scotch tape was enough to keep it firm, I decided to glue a white strip of paper all around the thin sides of the box, as if it was a ribbon.

Finally I glued the cake inside the box (on the bottom part) and wrote a note right above it.
This way it looks as if the cake was standing on the bottom side of the box.

Step 7: Close the box

 

To keep the box closed (if the cover tends to open) I added a pink thread.

Make a little hole in the middle of the right side of the box and another hole in the middle of the right side of the cover.

Cut a piece of pink thread (it must be big enough for you to be able to make a bow with it), pass it through both holes and make a bow.