Friday Folding Hearts

Hello everyone! This is Vicki Conquest again for your Friday project tutorial. Since I am project girl for CDS (along with my good friend Candy), I'll focus more on how to make the project and less on stamping techniques. Throughout next week I'll be making some additional samples with all the bells and whistles. I'd love to see what you can create with this project!

Since we are so close to Valentine's Day, I thought I would introduce you to the magical folding hearts card/ornament! Here is one lovely sample of the finished piece secured shut with the sliding glass bead. It will open out fully and you can set it on a table in a half open position, or open it fully by pulling the bead up to the knot and flipping the ribbon around the other side and then pull the bead back down towards the heart to secure it in the open position.

 

This is a quick project with lots of opportunity to stamp, personalize and embellish. I'm intentionally keeping this project simple. This project is very versatile, it can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes. The project we're doing today is based on a six inch square format, but you can make them any size. Try a small 3 x 3 for an ornament. By not adding a lot of stamps or decoration, you can see what a large canvas you have to work with. Typically, I like to stamp on one side and journal on the other side if I am giving it as a gift. For example, I might stamp the word "Cherish" from the CDS Cherish set on one side and then journal on the other side about the things I cherish about the person I am giving it to. It makes a personal gift and you can choose to hide the journaling by sliding it closed. So, without further adoo, here is a list of today's supplies:

2 sheets of 12 x 12 double-sided cardstock (I used MME Signature)
Glass Bead with larger hole to pass ribbon
16" of 1/8" satin ribbon (your judgment skills here, if you pick a bead with a larger hole, you can use wider ribbon)
VersaFine Onyx Black and Crimson Red ink (Memento works as well)
VersaMagic Jumbo Java Chalk ink
Clear Super Fine embossing powder
Bone folder
Adhesive (I used Glue LInes)
Trimmer
Pencil
Gum Threader
Scissors
Cherish stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps

In this project, we will be stamping on the inside of the heart pieces and on the outside facing pieces. You can also stamp on the sides that face out or use rub ons. This project can double as a card and a gift! We are making a heart shape today, but you can leave the tips untrimmed to form a star for a Christmas gift, or trim in a circle shape for those occasions where a heart or star just wouldn't do!

STEP 1
You'll want to start by cutting six (6) 6" x 6" squares from your 12" x 12" paper. I used a patterned double-sided cardstock for this project, but you can easily make your own patterned papers by using Clear Dollar Wheel stamps or any set of stamps of your choice. Katie showed us several weeks ago how to use Random Stamping to create our own papers. Now is a good time to try your hand and making some personalized papers for this project. Determine which side you want to face outside, I will refer to this side as the patterned side as I used the patterned-side facing out. We are going to use one of these 6" x 6" pieces for you to fold and use as a pattern to see which sides of your paper you want to face out and where your stamping opportunities are, inside and out. We only need 5 pieces for the project itself.

 

STEP 2
Cut three pieces of 3 x 3 paper, preferably with a solid color. Two of these are going to be our outside end facing pieces that we want to stamp and emboss. The third piece is going to be our heart shape template.

STEP 3
To create the heart cutting template, trace the top of a heart shape on the third piece of 3 x 3 and cut along the top curved edge. This will be the heart pattern we use to trace onto the folded squares and the two facing pieces. I used my plain heart Nestability as a pattern for my heart shape. 

 

STEP 4
If you want to stamp on the inside or outside of your heart, it will be easiest to stamp before you fold the pieces. To see where you can stamp, fold the extra piece of 6 x 6 according to the directions below, then note the areas where you want to stamp. Remember that you will be trimming the tops into the heart shape, so don't stamp in spaces that will be cut off or glued together in Step 7 below. In my sample I used stamps from CDS Cherish (5525) set and clear embossed my stamped images.

STEP 5
Using the diagram below, fold your template and five pieces of 6 x 6 as follows:

    1. With your pattern facing down, fold into quarters, once left to right, once top to bottom and unfold.

    2. Flip your paper with the patterned side up and fold diagonally. It will look like a triangle.

    3. Unfold the triangle and collapse the sides inward with the patterned side facing out.

    4. Your piece will have the shape of a diamond at this point. Be sure to lay it flat and crease all the edges flat.

 

 

    5. Using your heart template, trace the top of the heart on the OPEN END of your diamond shapes. Hold each piece tightly and cut along the pencil line carefully. DO NOT CUT THE FOLDED END!

STEP 6
Ink all the exposed edges and outside folds with the Jumob Java ink.

STEP 7
Adhere the folded sheets together by adhering the square panels end to end. Be sure to use the panel that does not have a fold.

STEP 8
Cut your ribbon in half. Adhere a piece of ribbon diagonally across each end piece. Adhere the two end panels over the ribbon.

 

STEP 9
String bead over both ribbons. Tie a Lark's Head knot and trim off excess ribbon. Slide the bead toward the cover to hold it closed or open. You're done!

 

Here are a few more examples of the folded hearts:

 

If you don't have double-sided card stock, you can use two pieces of lighter weight paper and glue them back to back. If you have a Xyron machine, they are great for this, or you could use spray mount to put the sheets together. You do want to use paper with a little bit of weight to it. 

I hope you have enjoyed today's tutorial. Drop us an email with your version of this project!

Have a wonderful day of crafting!

Vicki

Comments

[Laurie Wilson]

What a gorgeous folding heart thingy! That would make a really neat mini photo memory thing for grand parents.

[Norine]

wow this is nice thanks so much for the tutorial
Hugs
Norine

[Vicki]

Not as late as you think I did! heh heh heh I was in bed before midnight! This really is a quick project to do if you're not cutting special shapes or doing a lot of inking/aging like I tend to do. It makes a great make-n-take and a good craft for kids. The whole flip it out or fold it in with the bead and ribbon gives it "fiddle power." That's a Vickism for "do-nothing" which is Hillbilly for wasting time. :-D

Vicki

[Katie]

Great job Vicki! How late did you stay up??

[Candyf]

Very cool -- can't wait to give this a try!

Candy