Flower Box Card for Thanks and Birthday

Gift cards are great - one size fits all, and they can choose what they want. But how do you personalize that ubiquitous gift card? For me, unwrapping a gift a part of the fun. Well, I guess I mean wrapping it up for someone to unwrap is THE funnest part of all! I just love seeing them gasp and ask if it's all made of paper. I love it even more when my card is the chosen one to stay on the shelf when all the others get tossed.

My nephews wanted to give their teachers an appreciation gift, so I designed a box card that also has a pocket for a gift card.

Quilling Love Birds Anniversary Card

My friends celebrated their 15th anniversary recently, and this is the card I quilled for the love birds. I didn't have time to capture the entire process, but thought I'd show a bit of how I work anyway.

Instead of using standard quilling paper, I decided to cut them 1/4-inch wide out of Canson Mi-Tientes paper, using an electric cutting machine (such as Cricut Explore or Silhouette Cameo / SD). I enjoyed quilling with the substantially thicker paper (160 gsm), and I really liked how all the colors went so well together, especially how the colors are earthy without being drab.

To create the tiniest coils, I used a quilling needle, but I always pre-soften the paper strip beforehand to soften the fibers.

As you can see in the video, I am using a crochet hook to rub the paper into the shape I want for the dragonfly. I prefer using the greater circumference of a crochet hook rather than a quilling needle because I want a gentle and soft curve. A quilling needle could also be used if you prefer.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you enjoyed this video, please do take the time to give it a thumbs up.

... and a shot of my messy desk after I'm done a project.

Thanks for watching!

Cecelia Louie
Paper Zen

Lark Book: Quilled Wedding Cake Card

Wedding season is just around the corner, and this quilled wedding cake is the dreamy kind I imagined of having for my wedding day, when I was a girl. My real wedding cake was more grounded, but I have a soft spot for idyllic storybook versions.

Books simply don't have enough pages to show every angle of every card, so I'm going to show a couple close ups here. Throughout the 128 pages and 26 projects, I tried to incorporate as many new ways of using quilling strips as I could. See the ornate table surface? Can you believe that was a happy accident? I needed to ensure my table top and bottom strips were straight and even, so I made a spacer. I finally realized the spacer made a wonderful accent to the card and seemed deliberate.

My hubby helped me choose the wedding cake paper - it's textured and looks like frosting with a hint of metallic. Metallic ribbons encircle each tier and adds to the magical ambience.

When designing these patterns from scratch, I often made several versions because color combinations look different in my head than they do in real life. This green and teal version was one of the first. As you can see it's hard to keep a straight quilling strip when gluing such a long strip. I tried building the card from strips and using the teal to encircle the bottoms. Didn't make the cut for me.

Coral pinks/orange hues and chartreuse green have been popular wedding colors lately. I often challenge myself to use bolder color combos or ones that are not my personality. Cutting the cake shape seemed the best way to allow the quilling decor on top really come through unobstructed.

Sometimes I didn't have the right color ribbon to match my quilling strips (and didn't want to buy a whole spool), so I would use a felt marker to color a plain white ribbon.

So although the final pink and silver version is completely in my comfort zone palette, it's simply a classic to me. It also makes for a lovely congratulations card to the newlyweds because paper is traditionally given in the first year - how apt!

Pretty Quilled Cards is launching March 4, 2014 – less than 2 weeks away. Feels like I'm counting down to Christmas!

Quilling Valentine Card – I Heart You Emoticon

For those who love to emoticon their thoughts, this is a quick and easy way to quill a letter for an easy Valentine card. I used the font Courier and typed it in the middle of a 4x4 inch card, turning the heart red. I used a skewer stick to round/rub the number 3's curves, then I had the perfect "guidelines" for gluing right on top.

Since there was so little paper edge to glue, I decided to use card stock rather than usual thinner quilling paper, otherwise I find it structurally weak. I have a pack that Michael's used to sell (haven't seen it for years in Canada now). I don't use it for quilling small coils or else it frays. So for this type of open lines, it's perfect. I think this is the fastest quilled card I've ever made :D

If you'd like to make it too, download the free PDF file here.

Free Mustache Valentine Card

I thought it would be fun to swap out the standard "I heart U" with a mustache icon. The die cut heart edges are rubbed with an ink pad to give it more definition. The larger 5x7 size is all printed, and the 4x6 size is actually a quilled mustache.

When they open it, the message is complete.

To make the quilled mustache, I used a 6" strip and made a teardrop, then curled the tapered portion.

If you'd like to print your own, please leave your email in a comment and I'll email you the file until Valentine's Day, Feb 14, 2014. There will be 4 pages in the PDF file - 2 sizes and 2 versions whether you'd like to print and/or quill the mustache. Hope you have fun with it!

Cecelia

Lark Book: Quilled Valentine Card

Since the Valentine card is shown on the back cover of my book, Pretty Quilled Cards, I thought it would be timely to feature it in a post. This is a project I know all beginners will love because it's easy. In fact, I happen to know boys like making it for girls as much as vice versa.

I know when I started quilling cards as gifts, I got stuck figuring out where/how to glue it. So this flip design is included in the book (there are a few sprinkled throughout the book). Simply photocopy the design, score, cut where indicated, and voilà – the perfect background for a memorable Valentine's card.

Each week when I visit Amazon, I discover they unveiled something new in my book – is this a deliberate sneak peek, building up to the day? Since I never anticipated a book this way, I've never taken note. Now I've learned they are showing a few pages inside! You can finally see what I mean about how the lengths and fold marks are shown rather than stated. This means all you have to do is lay your strip on top and cut/fold where indicated.

Every strip is labelled so you can find it in the template easily. The quantity of each strip is also stated so you can cut as many as needed, efficiently. Each project includes an actual size template, which can be photocopied and placed under a sheet of plastic wrap to be pinned on. I remember reading once that Martha Stewart's recipes were always stated in the order they were needed/used. I kept that in mind as I listed the elements and tested each design.

When deciding card themes, my editor and I were conscious of celebrations throughout the year as well as cards for other occasions like "congratulations on a new house", a "get well soon", or a simple "thank you". Besides listing each project, the Table of Contents page also has an indication of skill level (1-5) so you choose based on your comfort zone.

Since showing my advanced copy to friends and family, I think the most flattering thing I've heard so far (from a non-quiller) is that my step-by-step diagrams and photos make it seem like they can do it too!

Paper Orchid Cards and Party Favor Box

Thanks so much everyone! I've been buoyed by your enthusiasm over my paper orchids. The set is finally done and listed in my Etsy store. I've enjoyed learning about the amazing colors orchids have to offer. Now that they are in my radar, I can't help but notice them in florist shops.

Since I don't have an embosser, I make my own version by cutting the Asian inspired lattice pattern out of paper, then gluing the paper on top of my card. Even my hubby was fooled and had to take a second look, wondering how I achieved the subtle pattern. It's difficult to see the white on white card, but you can see it better with the pink on pale pink card on the right.

It took a bit of time to list this in my store because I wanted to make protective boxes for the cards. This box works for both the horizontal and vertical card. When the cards are nestled inside, it reminds me of peering through the decorative windows in Asian gardens and admiring the view on the other side.

Since I use my blades until they are very dull, I end up plucking/weeding quite a bit with the lattice. So I added very tiny rounded corners to help my machine cut smoothly, making weeding easier - these are bonus files which you can choose to use if you prefer it as well.

As a child I loved attending weddings and collecting the party favors, imagining my own one day. The tapered box in this collection has little feet that raise the box up. To help guests open the lid, there is a half moon tab along the lid lip. I couldn't decide which I liked best - the straight or diagonal placement of the blossom. There are step-by-step photos to assemble every piece you see here.

Thanks for visiting!





Cecelia

Paper Orchid Sneak Peak

Thank you to those who have been asking about my paper orchid pattern. I had hoped to have it ready last week but after finishing my square card I realized it needs a protective box while being handed to the recipient.

Since I don't have much experience with orchids until my first one last year, I never knew they grew in so many amazing patterns and colors until I started researching how to show different decorating options.

I also wanted to give a 2nd card option that was faster to make but had a nod to the orient. So until I finalize everything, please bear with me, and thank you for your patience!

Happy Father's Day (3D die cut card)

My dad wears a ratty, tattered vest and even though I've given him new ones, he still keeps wearing the old one anyway. He doesn't wear a bow tie, but I think he'll get a kick out of this card anyway.

I've been experimenting in the realm of "printables" and this is made of 3 pieces - the bow tie, shirt, and vest, cut from 1 sheet of letter-size paper on 80lb cover stock. It was fun to shade the bow tie and give it a sense of 3D while really giving a 3D shape. Details in the buttons and stitching was a cinch to print. It helps keep the vest flaps down when the card is closed. I've written my message under the shirt, which is removable.

 

Somehow I quite like the back as well simply for its minimalism. He's a man of little words, so I'll see what kind of reaction I get during tonight's dinner.

 

If you'd like to cut this card by hand, I'm selling a "printable" and "cuttable" file on Craftsy.

Happy Mother's Day Card (die cut tea cup)

My mom has kept and treasured the handmade cards I crafted for her as a child. There's no better #1 fan than the person who has reassured my fears and advised me to do what made me happy.

I tend to be very structured in my designs, even though I have always admired more free flowing pieces. So I'm trying to push beyond my comfort zones and this is my first experiment.

 

I sketched my ideas, imagining how the layers of colors will come together. Stardream and Daiso paper is wonderful to cut even with a dullish blade and somewhat fine lines, because there aren't any residual fibers of paper sticking out in tight corners.

It's amazing how an idea can end up being so much more labor intensive than I imagined. The finer lines makes a smaller area for gluing, so the flowers simply take more time to secure. The graphic designer in me wants to simply print the color, even though I enjoy the look of layered paper. However, I can't dispute how well it looks overall when it matches the teacup perfectly.

I'm still working out the kinks on my 3D teacup, but I like how it comes off the page. I wanted to make the "tea" shiny and wet looking so thought of using some glitter nail polish.

3D Coffee Cake Birthday Card

This was a par-boiled idea, but I was making espresso the other day and realized the grounds are quite fine, so of course I thought of flocking. I have a birthday for a guy coming up and he loves coffee (it's not as easy for me to make cards for guys for some reason). I thought of making a coffee cake and covering my cake with grounds, then topping it with real whole coffee beans.

 

I tried using double sided tape, but the grounds (unused) wouldn't stay on. The glue holds an amazingly thick layer of grounds when I did a test. So I put down light blue vinyl on the cake where I didn't want coffee. Unfortunately the glue stayed on the vinyl too. So I had to apply the glue carefully before dousing with grounds. It's a good thing I used brown paper so any bare patches blend in.

Now that it's done, it makes me think of a chocolate mocha cake – plus it's like scratch and sniff sticker, except no scratching is needed!

Wedding Cake Card by Kelly

I'm not a bling personality, but I have to say this wedding cake card by Kelly, (findingtimetocreate.blogspot.ca) got my attention. It says everything a bride wants their special day to say, an event to remember for all time.

Although the background is neutral and allows the flowers to take center stage, the glitter makes a splashy show all on its own.

Kelly explains in great detail how she made this 3D cake card with glitter and what materials she had to change up to make it work. I love how she explains things so thoroughly, like all her posts on her blog.

Thanks, Kelly, for generously allowing me to show your card on my blog!

Cecelia

DIY Flocking

I've been seeing flocking all over the stores (and some ingeniously decorated nails). It's kind of like colored, fluffy, cotton candy, but in teeny pieces. I didn't want to buy more things, so my first thought was can I make my own? Yes I can!

I borrowed the microfine shredder from the kitchen, wadded up some paper scraps from Daiso, and shredded away. In case I didn't cover everything, I used the same color yellow as a backing, covered it in glue and dipped into my paper flocking (tweezers are helpful!). Then I glued it to my daisy flower, which then decorated my 3D cakes.

3D Cake - Daisy Birthday Card

Ever get those birthday cakes topped with plastic signage? I kind of wanted to replicate that for this birthday girl's card. I stacked the words 4 times out of card stock to make my own chipboard, just like I did for the LOVE sculpture. This time I made the top layer out of a lighter green so when it's viewed from the side, it gives another dimension - just a little something different. I stuck foam squares near the top so they stick up, then glued the bottom part behind the daisies.

Her fave color is yellow and since my original cake was too short to let me go nuts on the decorating,  I made it twice as tall. I always place my elements on my card to assess the spacing before gluing permanently. Although I thought everything was well placed, it ended up being lower than I intended when I stood back. So I added the fireworks I used on my Mickey Mouse project to fill the top. I feel like I overdid that too, but ah well, I'll live.

PS, here's a teaser image for my next post, where I'll explain how I made the stamens in the middle - yes, it's paper!

Shaping Die Punch Flowers

Before buying my Silhouette SD digital die cutter, I bought die punches like these. I toyed with giving them away, but now I'm really happy I didn't.

I shudder to waste paper scraps and want to use every inch of it before tossing it out (see my post on How to Use up Scrap paper). Using these die punches was easier and faster than trying to register the exact placement needed on my Silhouette. However, I still used the Silhouette to cut my cherry blossoms (middle punch) because I wanted the cup the petals more readily.

Top left: If using a cherry blossom die punch, snip in between the petals to make them easier for cupping.

Top right: This blossom is cut from my die cutter - see the deeper gaps between petals? I used a burnisher and rubbed the petals against a mouse pad. For those who have a digital die cutter, here is the cherry blossom I made in SVG, DXF and PDF format.

Bottom left: Continue rubbing into the center to make a small bud.

Bottom right: If you want the blossom to stay open, flip it over and poke a smaller burnisher into the middle, then add dots with a felt marker to represent the stamens.

I then used them to decorate this 3D cake card.

3D Cake Card with Punched Flowers

My sister in law is always well-dressed, so put together. She is feminine without being girly. I  wanted to give her a 3D birthday cake card that expressed that (I hadn't chosen my greeting yet when I took this photo).

I had so much fun making these flowers after being inspired by Michelle's version. After stepping back I worried I had gone too far and overdid it, but I think I'm just not used to so much adornment, being a tomboy at heart.

I cut some 1/8" quilling strips in half which made them more pliable as I decorated the cake. This let me strew blossoms in a more random way. I used a white felt marker to dot some stamens in the middle of the blossoms.

I dipped the blossoms into Aleene's Tacky Glue and they held fast when applied to the cake. I didn't have to sit there and wait around. I'll be showing how I shaped the blossoms in a following post soon.

3D Cake Card by Stephanie Elliott

This is a card made by Stephanie Elliott, who customized my 3D Cake Collection. I love how she customized it with dripping icing and then topped it off with glistening glitter. Here's how she did it:

I love microfine glitter so I layered cardstock with double sided adhesive, stacked the icing designs on the cake, and sent it through the cutter twice – once to cut the design from the adhesive liner, the second time to actually cut the parts from the card stock. The design cut beautifully and, after coloring the icing & cake parts with glitter, assembly was easy (with your great instructions). I used the double sided adhesive only because I wanted to color by selection with glitter. Using that adhesive, though, proved to be incredibly useful in assembly. I completed one card and constructed the box (which is great, by the way). I love how everything turned out.

I cut all of the parts for the first card on a Black Cat Cougar. I cut all of the parts for this last card on a Cameo (can’t let either cutter feel left out). This card is a top fold card with accordion pockets on the inside. There are note cards in each pocket. Again, thank you so much for designing such a wonderful set. I’m already thinking of a dozen events for which your design will be perfect.

OK, so I admit to being just a tad OCD and the way Stephanie has opened up those pockets to show the accordion file holding note cards makes me itch to make something just as organized. However if I were the recipient of this wonderfully coordinated card, I couldn't bear to use them!

When I asked her about the differences between cutting machines she's used, Stephanie went into great detail, describing their fine points and sharing her knowledge. She has been tempted to start a blog to share tutorials and files, but I think she's busy creating gifts to be cherished. She very kindly let me show her work here, and I hope you'll leave a comment for her to read - and hopefully she'll start her blog to share more of her projects! Thank you, Stephanie!