Handmade Card Ideas: Contemporary Cards Part One

I enjoy making handmade cards for two reasons.  First, there’s nothing quite like the expression on someone’s face when I’ve given them something I’ve created.  Second, I usually have a flurry of handmade card ideas!  Making them is much more fun than buying them.

Today I’m going to share with you the first of two handmade card ideas that were inspired by Kool Tak™ products and tools.  I’ve combined these products to create elegant cards that can be reproduced quickly.  These cards get their warm look from Kool Tak™ Vintage Tones Foil, but their entire look can be transformed by using other foil combinations from  the Kool Tak™ line of foils.

Learn how to make Contemporary Card #1 in the tutorial below:

Materials

• Folded card: 5 by 7-inch
• Kool Tak™ Premium Extreme 6” Tape
• Kool Tak™ Green Sparkles
• Kool Tak™ Vintage Tones Foil
• Ribbon, 1/4-inch
• Old book page

Tools

• Kool Tak™ Layer Plus
• Scissors
• Craft knife

Instructions

1. Apply the Premium Extreme 6” Tape over the front of the 5 by 7-inch card.  Remove the excess tape.  Keep the protective tape cover on the tape.  Place the Layer Plus on top of the card and measure out a 3 1/2-inch wide by 4-inch long rectangle on the right-upper corner of the card.  With the Layer Plus still on the card, use the craft knife to cut away and remove the protective paper on the tape.  Remove the Layer Plus from the card. 

2. Apply the darker brown foil randomly on the exposed tape (left) and then apply the vintage white foil randomly over areas of the exposed tape (right).

3. Place a gold foil sheet over the entire area and rub well.  This step will place gold foil on any remaining exposed areas on the tape. (left)   The photograph on the right shows the finished section.
 
4. Place the Layer Plus on top of the card and measure 1 1/2-inches wide and 4-inches long from the top-left corner of the card.  While the Layer Plus is still on the top of the card, use the craft knife to cut away the protective tape cover.  Remove the Layer Plus from the card.  Sprinkle the gold glitter on the exposed areas of the tape.  Remove the excess glitter.

5. Place the Layer Plus on top of the card and measure 3 1/2-inches wide and 3-inches long from the bottom-left corner of the card.  While the Layer Plus is still on the top of the card, use the craft knife to cut away the protective tape cover.  Remove the Layer Plus from the card.  Apply the old book page onto the tape. 
 
6. Place the Layer Plus on top of the card and measure 11/2-inches wide and 3-inches long from the bottom-left corner of the card.  Remove the protective tape cover from the tape and apply the Kool Tak™ gold foil over the exposed tape.  Apply the brown foil over any remaining exposed areas of the tape.
 
7. Remove the remaining protective tape cover from the card and apply the ribbon on the tape.  Cut away the excess ribbon. 

This card looks really cool just like this, but next week I will show you how to take this same card and really jazz it up so that it looks completely different.  Can’t wait to show you!

Project designed by Carol Heppner

Carol Heppner is a professional craft designer and craft-industry consultant.  She is an author, mixed-media artist, and photographer.  Her work has appeared in national publications, on product packaging and websites.   Carol’s artwork and photographs have appeared in national art shows, galleries, magazines, books, products, tradeshow booths and advertisements.  Carol is co-owner of Bella Crafts Quarterly™, a free-online craft magazine and on the Editorial Advisory Board of Scrap and Stamp Arts.