Making a Shutter Card

There have been quite a few posts of what I call a shutter card (reminds me of a window shutter) but I have no idea who the originator of the card actually might have been.  Once I saw it, I had to try to figure it out.  I love puzzles and especially 3-D puzzles and knew I would be able to figure out the cut lines and fold lines.

The first one I tried was with 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and although I made it work, I wasn't happy with the way my fold lines did not line up over each other.  It didn't actually make the card look bad, but I knew there had to be a better way.  That better way was using 12 x 12 cardstock.  Cutting a piece to measure 5 1/2 x 12 made all the difference.  After all, it is easy to divide 12 by three and that is very necessary for the making and folding of this card.

To begin then, start with a piece of 5 1/2" x 12" cardstock (I used textured but plain works equally well).  Then cut two lines as shown in the following picture:

Once these lines are cut, use your Simply Scored to score lines  as shown in the following picture:

It is important that the scoring lines are followed exactly.

Once the lines have been scored on the paper, they are folded as shown in the following picture.

Make sure the lines are well creased with your bone folder to ensure that the card opens and closes easily.  The folded cardstock should look like this:

I've posted it at this angle to show the alternating "hills" and "valleys".

There are an infinite number of ways the card can be decorated.  Once you have tried one, you'll probably wish to experiment and make it your own.  The following is the way I chose to decorate the card with Designer Series Paper.

I've specified the size and numbers of pieces you will require if you wish to copy my design.  The center piece of cardstock (shown in Soft Suede) is the piece I stamped with my Sentiment.  This should be done before pasting the piece onto the card, of course.  Other embellishments such as butterflies, hearts, pearls, etc. can be added as desired.

This is the way my finished card turned out:

For this card I used complimenting pieces of Sale-a-bration Designer Series Paper.  The blue cardstock in the center really brings out the matching blue in the DSP.  I chose to put butterflies on my card using a combination of cardstock and DSP and the wonderful Embosslit Die "Beautiful Wings" as well as my other favourite die "Beautiful Butterflies".

I hope you'll have as much fun making this card as I did.  The terrific thing is that even though it looks so large, it folds easily to fit into a normal medium sized envelope.

April Showers?

You know that old saying: April showers bring May flowers.  So has anyone heard a saying about April snow? What does that predict for our coming May?  Here in central Alberta it appears that anything goes.

April has been a busy month.  I've had to get used to the weather here after two glorious weeks in the Caribbean.  *sigh*  I've also had to play "catch up" with my Stampin' Up.  One of the things that has taken a big hit is my Blog.  Even my best laid plans to write to my Blog several times weekly have gone "a'glae" to paraphrase Robbie Burns.

I had an impromptu card-making table at a charity All-Day Scrapbooking Crop.  I designed an elegant vintage card in three choices of colours using "Hello Doily" heat embossed with silver.  I was happily surprised with the enthusiasm making the card generated.  One of the tools which I gave a "starring role" was the Cutter Kit (#106958) and the card-makers loved it so much that within the first six customers, I had sold three kits.  Here is the Pacific Point version of the card.  I also offered a Marina Mist version as well as a Basic Black version.

 In the above shown card I used a medium and a small clear rhinestone brad.  In the following cards I used the basic rhinestones and the basic pearls respectively.

Since I gave people a choice, I was curious as to which of the colours would be the top "seller".  In the final tally, the Basic Black won by a two-card margin.  Only one of the Marina Mist was made.  Next time I do something like this I will throw a warm-coloured card into the mix to see what sort of response it gets.

April----change is in the wind.

I can't help but think about the wind at the moment since there is quite the storm outside.  Winter is attempting to regain sovereignty over Spring and right now, appears to be winning.  There is actually white stuff (don't call it by name, it might stay) accumulating on the ground.  This is just wrong!  There are buds in the trees, after all, and I'm just so very ready for the promise of Spring flowers.

But besides the weather, there is another "wind" blowing through, making changes.  That "wind" is going to affect my stock of stamps and papers.  All too soon we will see the published "retirement list" and the sad "goodbyes" will begin. There are some stamp sets that I intend to keep whether they are considered retired or not.  They're simply beautiful and express my feelings either in words or in graphics and as a result will remain as part of my private stock.

On the heels of the retirement list, the sneak peeks at the new catalogue will begin and we will discover with what they are replacing some of our old favourites.  I can already foresee beginning a long wish list.  These times are both frightening and exciting.

I have a lot of new cards to post on this blog.  I can't believe I've fallen so far behind.  Of course making the cards that I'll be sending off for my "Masculine Card Swap" has taken up a lot of time.  The Card Camp which I'm holding on Sunday, April 15th (making 8 different cards using different techniques) has also been very demanding of my time since I've not only had to create those 8 cards but also had to cut the components for each card in preparation for the participants.

Being busy sure makes the time pass quickly!