Use a very therapeutic paper cutting technique to create this Happy Birthday card
This week, following discussions with fellow crafters at a local craft fair, I bought a paper cutting book and have had enormous fun cutting out intricate images. It's not as difficult as I thought it was going to be but it will take me more practise before I can attempt the really big pieces. This is a wasp/bee that I cut out from the book - I've laid it on orange card so you can see it better. My first attempt - I am very proud. With patience, good light and a sharp scalpel, I really enjoyed cutting it. (The wasp was taken from the 'Paper Cutting Starter Kit' by Cut & Make that I purchased from The Range).
Anyway, back to this weeks project. I thought that paper cutting would make a lovely card, so I have designed a Happy Birthday card that you can cut from standard card with minimal equipment.
I have made a background using Brusho's (something else I learned from fellow crafters last weekend!) but you could easily layer it with any coloured card you have. I will however show you how to make this background as it is good fun and you never get the same effect twice.
Follow the below link to find out how the card was made
You will need
- Sharp scalpel
- Self healing cutting mat
- My Happy Birthday template printed onto white A4 card (minimum 160gsm). Click Here to get it
- Coloured card for layering behind image (if you wish to follow my instructions on how to make the background using Brusho's you will also need A4 white card (minimum 160gsm), water in a spray bottle and a pot of Brusho - I used Rose Red)
- Trim the printed pattern down to 10 . 5 cm wide to create the base card
- Fold the card in half with the printed image on the inside (Notice the words are back to front. This is because you cut out the white section, leaving the grey print behind and this will form the inside of the card. The image will then be reversed on the front of the card making it the correct way around)
- You need to cut out the white pieces. When using your scalpel always cut towards yourself (this will mean moving the card about alot) and be careful of your fingers. Start cutting out the smallest pieces first.
- Support the card with a finger from the other hand to ensure it doesn't tear
- If the piece you have just cut doesn't fall out then do not rip it out. Go back with your scalpel and make extra cuts to ensure this piece comes out smoothly. In the photo below, the triangle is stuck at the corner, so I went back and re-cut the corner section
- It will take practice to get smooth cuts - but just remember it's a handmade card - made with love. Don't get too caught up with it being perfect. Cut the rest of the white spaces within the rectangle as per below
- You can neaten up your image if you have any little pieces you are not happy with
- Cut a piece of coloured card 14 . 5 cm by 10 cm and stick inside your base card behind the Happy Birthday image. (I just used double sided tape around the outside of the coloured card)
- You can stick gems onto the centres of the flowers if you wish to add a bit of sparkle
Here is the finished card. If you wish to find out how to use Brusho's to make colourful backgrounds keep reading on:
- With a piece of white card (minimum 160gsm - preferably water coloured card but I've used just normal white card) spray water onto the surface
- Pierce a small hole in the top of your Brusho pot then shake the powder from the pot onto your wet card. You can use several colours or just one like I did
- As the powder hits the water, the colour pigment spreads out. You can add as much or as little Brusho as you wish - just a case of experimenting. I then sprayed the paper again to blend into a more uniform colour
- Leave your piece to dry. It will flatten out once dry.
