Explosion Birthday Card

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

The month of March is definitely a birthday month. My sister Margie, my friend EJ, and my niece Jacqueline all have birthdays this month. A fun card to make has Arnold Grummer Skeleton Leaves on the front. Inside I used a fun origami explosion fold, also called the Turkish Map Fold.

Supplies: 

Arnold Grummer Skeleton Leaves

8 1/2 inch square piece of paper

Arnold Grummer Handmade Paper

Arnold Grummer Handmade Paper instructions

Folded card - 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches

Celebrate It 360 “Happy Birthday” ribbon from Michaels

Happy Birthday rubber stamp from Joann's

Bone Folder, awl

Recollections Leaf brad and tiny brad

PVA glue

Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine

Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

Inside page instructions:

Fold your 8 1/2 square paper in half - use your bone folder for good creases

Turn over and fold diagonally each way

Push it together

Fold each triangular corner to the center

Turn over and repeat - should look like this

Open and fold in the triangular corners - keep using your bone folder for better creases

When opened should look like this.

Card instructions:

Use a Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing flower folder to emboss the front of the card.  

Wrap Happy Birthday ribbon around the card, attach with your tiny brad on the front.

The skeleton leaves will hide your tiny brad. 

Make a hole with your awl to attach the two skeleton leaves with your leaf brad to the card.

I attached the explosion paper by using double sided tape on the bottom and glue stick on top.

I stamped a carved stamp I made. You can see my blog from January 15, 2016 for instructions on carving your own stamps. You can use any Happy Birthday stamp, this stamp was made by Magenta.

Valentine Mini Zig Zag Book

I enjoy using accordions for greeting cards and was happy that Arnold Grummer sells Zig Zag books with six sides. When I fold my own accordions I fold eight sides, as I do below with the handmade paper accordion. Then I cut off two sides to use for another greeting card. 

Supplies:

Arnold Grummer paper making kit

Blender, strainer, sponges, towels

Mini Zig Zag Book with covers

Books are 3 1/2 by 15 inches; Covers are 2 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches

Two pieces of scrapbook paper to decorate covers, 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches each

Scissors

Two photos, 1 inch to 2 inches square

Valentine Stickers

Draw 2 inch heart out of pink paper and cut out

18 inch ribbon 

Double sided tape

PVA glue & 1/2 inch glue brush

OPTIONAL:

Arnold Grummer Standard Paper Press

Closed Valentine Zig Zag Book - 2 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches

• Follow instructions in the Arnold Grummer paper making kit.
• Attach handmade paper to form an 18 inch by 3 1/2 inch piece
• Fold the handmade paper into an accordion by first folding in half, then each half to the center, then the other sides folded up to make eight folds.
• Cut off the 1st and 2nd sides so now you have 6 sides which will make the tunnel in front of the Zig Zag book. Now you have a 3 1/2 by 11 inch piece of handmade paper.

 

• Fold the handmade paper in half, pencil an opening 3/4 inch by 2 inches long; cut along pencil lines, then unfold to check straightness
• Cut other sides as pictured; I cut diagonally to have a diamond shaped opening for photos
• Hold each opening of the handmade paper up to the Zig Zag book valley folds to determine where to place photos in the Arnold Grummer Mini Zig Zag Book.
• Tape or glue the photos into the valley folds; glue the heart into the center valley fold.
• Use double sided tape on the edge of the mountain folds - as shown - to hold handmade paper book in place. Use sparingly and tape one fold at a time.
• Finally, use double sided tape on handmade paper ends to stick handmade paper book to mini Zig Zag book.

  

•  Use double sided tape in the middle of the ribbon on inside of the back cover to hold in place.
•  Glue scrapbook paper to covers using PVA glue as shown.
•  Use PVA glue on back of mini Zig Zag book ends to glue the book to the covers.

OPTIONAL:  Place book in Standard Paper Press overnight

I have owned this Paper Press since 1998! It is a fixture in my studio. I use it to press all my books.