Michael Strong Card of the Day - Technique Thursday

One sheet wonder

I don't know if this is a technique at all.  Basically it involves splitting up one sheet of paper into a number of smaller pieces and adding each of those to a card front.  Seems quick and easy but I've never tried it!  Since I am trying to get rid of my stash this week I thought I'd give it a go.  

Here's my sheet of paper (12x12):

I tried to see if there was some sort of set patten you could cut out and then it would list all the card sketches you could follow but I couldn't find any for 12x12.  So I figured I'd just wing it.  I wanted a 4x5.25 cut in half diagonally and then some small squares but that's all I really wanted.  So I started off cutting off the 4 from the end then 5.25 from that.  Then I just cut where I wanted (remembering that a normal card front -- with mat -- is 4x5.25) and came up with this:

The first number should be the measurement across the top and the second number should be the measurement down the side.  All measurements are in inches.

Then I made my cards!

I grabbed a couple of stacks of paper that I thought looked good with the colours.  These turned out to be Stampin Up! Rich Razzleberry and textured Crushed Curry.  Then I pretty much just matted each piece with black (I had to trim the diagonal ones a little) and then put it where I wanted on the card.  I had a "Happy Birthday" stamp (from SU! -- "Voila") that I thought looked good with the cards so I punched a bunch out and matted them.  Then, depending on the card, I finished them off with black crewel wool, black brads and/or paper piercing.  To make all these cards took me less than 1 hour (including thinking time -- like what colours should I use? how long should I cut this side?) but that doesn't include the time to make the designer paper itself.

Thinking about it, I'm realizing this would be a perfect thing to do for Christmas cards.  You can make a whole bunch of cards that are similar -- but not exactly the same so you get bored -- and they are quick to do. 

 

I think I'll try this for my Christmas cards.  Then my technique can be how to make the designer paper!