Another Two-Technique Easter Card!

Well, I guess you can tell I was being truthful when I said I was enamored in my last card post. . .so I had to try one more Easter card using the Dahlia-Fold Cross and the Braided Edge (aka Basket Weave, aka Lattice Edge.  This one I'm making in purple because my daughter-in-law loves all things purple.

I tried some lace to set off my cross, and I even colored it with Copic markers so that it matches my patterned paper more closely.  I like the lace, but I've decided I would have liked the end result better if it was not so wide.  My previous card used a 7/8" ribbon, and I've decided this horizontal ribbon or lace should not be wider than one inch.

Another thing I learned on the Braided Edge, is that if the "V" that you cut off the bottom is not long enough reach the top edge of your card when it is re-positioned to the top and also have its point buried the same depth as all of the others in the braid, you can cut a longer one from cardstock by:

• Cut a 2" x 3" rectangle of white cardstock.

• Score it vertically in the center down its 2" height.

• Fold on the score line.  Note: The remaining instruction are carried out with rectangle folded on the score line.

• With the scored fold on your left, measure at the top over 1 inch.

• With pencil, lightly draw a diagonal line from the tip of the fold at the bottom of the fold up to this 1 inch mark.

• At the top, measure to the left from the pencil line over 3/8" and mark with a dot.

• From this dot, lightly draw another line to the fold.  The two lines drawn should be exactly parallel and 3/8" apart.

• Cut along both lines to form your new "V" for the top of your card braid.  Note: Erase all pencil markings. 

I admit, I'm a perfectionist so it bothered me that this top "V" did not exactly match all the others in the depth of its "V" point and its legs did not reach the top edge of my card perfectly.  I think this may be a problem if you like your cards to be larger than the standard 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" A2 card size, as the template was designed for this that standard sized card.  Below is my finished card:

And the final step is now complete. . .finishing off the inside of the card with coordinating embellishments and a verse to please!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products: Cardstocks--Whisper White, Perfect Plum; Pattern--2013-2015 Regals DSP Stack/ Perfect Plum (retired).  Stamps--Delightful Dozen (retired), Indescribable Gift (2016 Occasions).  Ink--Perfect Plum + Memento: Tuxedo Black.  Punch: 2" Circle, 2-1/2" Circle, Curvy Corners (inside).  Sizzlit Die: Lots of Tags (retired).  Something Borrowed Rhinestone Embellishment (retired).  Stash:  1-5/8" Lavender Lace, 5/8" Variegated Sheer, Flower Rhinestones (inside).  Techniques:  Braided-Edge (aka Basket Weave); Dahlia-Fold.  Size: 5-1/16" x 5-7/8". 

Two Techniques in One for Easter!

I think I'm enamored!  I just had to try another Dahlia-fold cross, plus another technique I learned this month. . .the Braided Edge (aka Basket Weave; aka Lattice Edge), and I rolled them both into the same Easter card.  I have decided to enter this card into the 2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps Challenge Blog.  Jump on over and take a look at all the wonderful cards that have entered this month's March Challenge:  http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/03/challenge-133-easter-theme-new-digital.html

My cross on this card is more like a Greek Cross with all arms of equal length, rather than the more familiar Latin Cross with the descending arm longer.  The Latin Cross is also known as the Western Cross and represents the cross of Christ's crucifixion.  I forgot that we punched a 2-1/2" Circle for the descending arm of the cross and three 2" Circles for the top and side arms of the cross.  My circles are all 2" Circles, thus ending up with a Greek Cross.  With this little circle size change, it had my wondering why I had so much more room at the bottom to add a sentiment, but after reviewing my first cross card, I realized what I had done differently.  Oh well, there is never a mistake in cardmaking just a little creative deviation!

Below is a tutorial I found on Pinterest by Francine Davis on how to make the Dahlia folds for each petal.  A Dahlia-Fold flower uses eight 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" circle punched petals, depending on how large you want your flower.  The size of the circle determines the size of your flower. . .smaller or larger.  It's usually easier to assemble your petals into a flower if you cut a ninth circle to adhere them to.  A cross uses only four punched circles.  The Latin Cross (the traditional cross style) uses one - 2-1/2" Circle for the longer descending arm and three - 2" Circles for the top and cross arms.  A Greek Cross, as in my card below, uses four - 2" circles as all arms are of equal length.

Dahlia-Fold Petals Mini Tutorial

Next I moved on to prepare my braided-edge card base.  Below is a link to a pdf file of the pattern template used for my card.  There are actually seven patterns on this sample template, which can be printed out on 8-1/2" x 11" printer paper:

http://stampingimperfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/braid-template.pdf

Next is a video link that shows step by step how to prepare and make your braided edge:  http://stampingimperfection.com/braided-card-tutorial-template/

After I completed the braided-edge on my card base, I prepared by card front panel by embossing it with Stampin' Up's Elegant Dots folder, and then I added a horizontal ribbon band to act as a base for my Dahlia-Fold cross, burying the raw edges of the ribbon to the back of my card panel.  This panel was then adhered to my braided-edge card base.  

I wanted even more embellishing, so I added a ribbon tie at the base of my braided weave, tying it through the weave.  Next, I added a folded liner to the inside of my card to coordinate with my cross color and contrast with the white card front.  I made my liner large enough that it also peaks out around the card edges to add even a bit more color.  This liner is purely optional as the card is equally pretty with an open braided effect as well.  

To finish my card, I added a layered Easter sentiment and a fancy pearl embellishment to the middle of my cross.  If this embellishment were a brad, it would need to be attached prior to adhering the card front panel to the card base in order to bury the brad prongs.  Take a peek below at my second Dahlia-Fold Cross where I branched out and applied even more creative ideas.

Below you will find the finished inside of my card with a little embellishing to coordinate with the front design and a lovely verse from Stampin' Up's Suite of Sayings.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products: Cardstocks--Whisper White, Coastal Cabana (retired); Pattern--2013-2015 DSP Stack/ Coastal Cabana (retired).  Stamps--Indescribable Gift (2016 Occasions).  Ink--Coastal Cabana (retired).  Punch: 2" Circle.  Sizzlit Die: Lots of Tags (retired).  Stash:  7/8" Satin Dot ribbon; Fancy Pearl.  Techniques: Braided-Edge (aka Basket Weave, aka Lattice Edge); Dahlia-Fold.  Size: 5-1/8" x 5-7/8". 

Easter Brings A Dahlia-Fold Cross!

I went to a card class this past week-end hosted by Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, a team two Stampin' Up demonstrators in my area.  Most of our samples to make were miscellaneous 3D items (a berry basket, a bunny box, and a candy purse), but there was one card designed by Luci that featured the Dahlia-Fold Technique, using punched and folded circles.  Most Dahlia-fold circles are made into flowers, but our sample introduced this technique used to make an Easter cross.  

I love this technique and it isn't very difficult.  I especially like the look of it in the form of a cross, which is so perfect for Easter cards.  If you are interested in learning the Dahlia-Fold technique, it can be found on YouTube, Pinterest and Splitcoast Stampers, and here is a link to Splitcoast Stampers:  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/dahlia_fold/

I did make a few minor changes to my card rather than making it exactly like Luci's, but my card still retains the look of the original design.  My first change was actually to correct an error I made in stamping and embossing my papers.  Now, you all probably remember the rule. . .stamp before embossing?  Well, guess what. . .I forgot all about the little EASTER sentiment in the lower right corner and away I went embossing, and making my Dahlia fold cross.  After I had it all assembled, I realized my mistake.  

To fix the problem, I decided to stamp the EASTER part of my sentiment on a small piece of Whisper White cardstock and punch it out with my Washi Label punch.  I wanted my word background much smaller than that the Washi Label punch provided, but not to worry. . .I had an idea.  After I stamped my EASTER word with the Mint Macaron coordinating ink and then punched it out, I cut the label narrower and then punched the ends shorter by lining it up and punching again to achieve my desired length. . .first on one side and then the other.  A little trick I learned long ago in order to handle a short and/or small piece of paper in a punch is to use a post-it note and stick it to your paper piece, which allows you to maneuver and position the small paper piece easier in the punch.  I think I like the way my EASTER turned out even better than the original design where it was stamped directly on the card front with the embossing on top.

My next change was to add a Mint Macaron layer between the card base and the card front.  This picked this color in the mini resin flower, the EASTER ink color, and the happy die cut.  Adding this layer did require me to cut a new and larger card base.  My final change was to add a bit of sparkly glitz by using glitter adhesive on my happy die-cut word and to the mini resin flower.  I'm likening my results, and I thank Luci for the original design that I tweaked just a bit!

I finished off my card by creating an inside coordinating design and finding the perfect Stampin' Up stamp for its verse.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Papers - Cardstocks--Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron, Whisper White; Pattern-2015-2017 In-Color DSP Stack/ Crumb Cake dots.  Stamps--Crazy About You; Suite Sayings (verse).  Ink--Mint Macaron, Crumb Cake (insde).  Hello You Thinlit dies/ happy.  Softly Falling Embossing Folder.  Punches: 2-1/2" Circle (cross base); 2" Circle (cross side/top arms); Washi Label (Easter sentiment); Curvy Corner punch (inside).  2015-2017 In-Color Blossom Accents.  Dazzling Details Glitter Adhesive.  Recollections Pearls.