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PAPER & CARDS & COMPUTER CRAFTING

Crafts on this Page

Envelope Techniques

ANTIQUE LOOK
SUPPLIES:
Envelope - try white, manilla and colored
Candle
Match
TECHNIQUE:
Light the match, and move the envelope edges through the flame. You can
use a
sweeping motion or move the paper up and down the flame. Don't burn the
envelope folds, cause whatever you put inside the envelope would then
fall
out.  Please be careful not to catch the envelope on fire!

Cut brown paper bags into 8-1/2" x 11" sheets.
Feed them thru the printer & print all the masterpieces you've
created in graphic programs.

Can frame it, scrapbook it, make gift tags, price tags, ornaments, etc. Make homespun type greeting cards & envelopes.
(can also use wall paper samples to make fancy envelopes!)  Attach a raffia bow or tie, embellish.

Use the brown paper bags to add decorative touches to the gift shop bags.  Print coloring book images on them for kids (or adults) to color.  Kids can make their own gift tags!

Rubber stamp on them too, mixing graphics & rubber stamping on the same page.  Christmas ornaments can also be printed onto brown paper lunch bags.  You can also iron your fabric to freezer wrap and run it through the printer.

If your crafting involves placing artwork on paper, by computer printing or rubber stamping, for instance, you can take that paper and laminate it for an instantly professional look. Laminating machines have a process whereby an item is fed through heated rollers and sealed within layers of plastic film thus protecting the item again dirt, handling damage and changes in climate.

Laminating preservers the paper forever. Once the paper has been laminated, there's an endless list of things can do with it. You will see some of the projects listed below.

*Luggage Tags:
Luggage tags are not just for luggage. You may use them on any type of bag that could use an ID tag such as: brief cases, gym bags, book bags, backpacks, diaper bags, lunch boxes, tennis bags, golf bags, and bowling ball bags. Place the piece of paper that you have customized with artwork and personal information into a luggage tag pouch. Once this has been
laminated, attach a luggage tag loop.

*Bookmarks:
Protect the bookmark you have created by placing it between two pieces of laminate film. Run through a laminator, and the bookmark will last forever.   Magnetic bookmarks are especially neat--here's how to make them. Once the bookmark has been laminated, fold it in the center and run back through the laminator. This creates a nice crease in the bookmark. Place two small magnetic strips on the inside edges. When you fold the bookmark over a page in a book, it stays in place because the magnets attract each other.

*Jewelry
Create your jewelry on paper and laminate it. The heavier weight film you use, the stiffer the piece of jewelry will be. Punch a hole and attach hoops for earrings or place on a chain for a necklace or you may glue a pin on back.

*Signs
Numerous signs may be made by placing artwork on a piece of paper and laminating. One idea is to make signs for a kid's room featuring his or her name, hobbies, etc. To make outdoor signs with non-lightfast ink (such as from an inkjet printer), choose laminating film with UV protection.

*Name Tags
Make cute and special nametags with your artwork and laminating to add a glossy finish. You may glue a pin on back or use ID clips.

*Placemats
Use your artwork on a placemat size sheet of paper. Laminate to seal the paper and protect from spills.

LAMINATING HINTS
•When choosing a pouch remember that a 1/8" border of film is recommended for items smaller than 6" x 9" and a 1/4" border of film is recommended for items 6" x 9" and larger. This extra border ensures that the item receives the proper seal. •If you want your end product to be completely waterproof, you must cut your designs out first; then, put inside a pouch leaving a 1/8" - 1/4" clear border around the paper.

Make your own custom clear envelopes.  Take a sheet of laminate (or clear contact paper) and peel off the backing.  Sprinkle confetti, glitter, dried flowers, whatever you want. Use lots of stuff, it looks cool.  Cover the whole thing with plastic wrap.  Try different color plastic wrap for different effects.

Pop any air bubbles with an X-acto knife.  Trace an envelope pattern, cut, fold and glue.  You CAN mail these, just use the self-adhesive postage stamps. Everyone will oooooh and aaaaah. It doesn't matter how much confetti you use.  Put the address on when you're done with a clear Avery-type label. Don't cut the contact paper until you're done!

Make a big sheet of confettied contact paper and then cut out your envelope shape.  You want the plastic wrap to wrinkle, cause that's what gives it the water look.

Here's some procedures for How to Make A Card (using rubber stamps) and How to Emboss.
Both sections provided by Yazdel Alvarez Martinez.

RUBBER STAMP CARDS & EMBOSSING

HOW TO MAKE A CARD
o Select the stamp of your choice
- Make sure that you leave enough space on top, bottom and sides of cardstock

o If using Ink Pad:
- Press Rubber stamp to ink pad until all the drawing is covered.
- If using a small ink pad it's easier to press the ink to the stamp instead

o If using Pigment Pad:
- Press Pad to Rubber stamp until all area is covered.
- Takes longer to dry
- Use your Heat Gun lightly to speed process
o Press Rubber stamp onto cardstock
- Press at all points of the block to ensure a clear image.
- Do not rock your rubber stamp
- Lift rubber stamp straight up with even movement
- Ink should dry quickly

o Proceed to color in the image.
o Select from:
- Markers,      Watercolors
- Pencils,      Chalks/Pastels
o If using permanent ink, then you can use watercolors too.
o If using pigment, you can use markers or pencils.
- Only if you emboss, then you can use watercolors.  (See how to emboss.)
o When finished coloring, trim sides of card
- Use decorative scissors or punches

o You can use different colors of cardstock to create a layered effect.
- Follow instructions to complete a card
- Trim drawing with any kind of scissors
- You can also make a silhouette
- Paste finished design onto a folded card/postcard or form of cardstock desired
o Cut desired color of text paper to fit inside finished card
- Fold and glue to inside of card
o Use Rubber stamp to write a message inside or write your own
- Calligraphy markers can be use for this

o Select Rubber stamp of your choice

o Select Embossing Powder (EP):
- Fine detail EP for intricate designs
- Regular EP for any other large image
- Glitter EP to compliment your stamp
- Clear EP just to give it a raised effect

o Ink your stamp with pigment:
- Taking the ink to your stamp.
- That way you won't miss any spots
o Press inked stamp to selected piece of cardstock
- Apply pressure to all the points of the rubber stamp
- Do not rock the rubber stamp
o Lift Rubber stamp straight up with an even movement

o Sprinkle EP over stamped image
o Tap excess onto a piece of paper so you can retrieve the EP onto
jar/box.

o Heat your image with Heat Gun:
- When using your Heat Gun, don't leave on same spot for a long time
- It is best if you use circular motion to avoid "over heating" of EP.
- The EP changes from dull to a shiny color when melted

- Other heat sources:
o Toaster
o Single range
o Proceed to color your image with markers or watercolors.
- If using pencils do it gently so you don't scratch the EP.
 

3D Greeting Card
submitted by Barb

I made one with flowers stamped on the bottom...colored in the grass and then cut out a bunch of butterfly stamps I had colored.  I folded them in half and attached randomly  with just a dab of hot glue.  Looks like they are flying (that 3D
effect you spoke of) Another one that was fun was taking an insert from a Virginia slim cigarette box (I work in a grocery store and have to stock them---recycled stuff ) It is a wavy, rippley corrugated type thing that I sponge painted blue-green.  Added a bit of green glitter glue in Cs and it looked remarkably like the ocean.  On a curved (imaginary) line I wrote "Fair Winds and
Following Seas" for a Navy friend who was being transferred.  I imagine some magazine pix of birds or small ships in the distance would have been a great touch.