Caardvarks Shower Challenge (CC&M acetate gift card holder tutorial)

Remember this acetate card? Well, here's that tutorial I promised for it. I was chicken to try an acetate card, but when I did, I was thrilled at how easy peasy the acetate was to work with (that Creative Cuts & More acetate is so durable & flexible...and shiny--"Caw!" says the crow part of my brain!)

Here's the pocket on the inside & the belly band slid off
(the money/gift card pocket is made with an acetate label)...

...It was surprisingly speedy to put together!

1...linkage for the Caardvarks show (baby/wedding) challenge
2...material list for this project
3...making an acetate gate-fold card (paper panels)
4...create a gift card/money pocket from a CC&M antique label
5...make a decorative belly band for around the card

-1-

(shower challenge: baby/wedding)

Click here to come play with me & the Varks
Crew Gals. Will ya? will ya? :oD

They made some stunning shower ensembles!

-2-

Die cuts from Creative Cuts & More

• A2 Acetate purse card
• A2 Gatefold card (Acetate)
• Creel Box (Acetate)
• CC & M Antique Label (Acetate)x2
• CC & M Square Box (in metallic Stardream Opal)

The DIY paper:

• digital floral pattern by MUJKA (from My Grafico)...
• ...printed on Whitewash Coredinations...
• embossed with heat'n'stick powder and glittered
  

Other:

• Bits from a broken Vintage necklace
• Swarovski crystals to add to the heart necklace piece
  
• Dark Gray embroidery thread & needle
• Dark Gray bugle beads
  
• Double-sided tape (strong)

Tools:

• Tim Holtz Design ruler (or your fave)
• Pencil & eraser
• Paper piercer

-3-

...make an acetate gate-fold card
(with stitched on paper panels...or glued on)

If you use big stitches it is really quite speedy. You can use any pre-made paper or stamp something unique.

Because you're protecting your paper with acetate you can use delicate techniques like pastels or add fragile things like photos or dried flowers...



Step 1} Use some paper you love (or make your own.) :O) This is a digital floral pattern by MUJKA (I bought it from My Grafico)-an outline pattern I'm crazy for! To add a little oomph to the printed digi, I did this stuff:

A) Printed it on Coredinations Whitewash
& embossed it with heat'n'stick powder (from Stampin' Up!)

B) Heated sections of the heat'n'stick & quickly added glitter

C) Added silver metallic details with a ZigPainty pen (dots etc...)

If you've never used Heat'n'Stick before (then you know you wanna!) hehehe. ;O) It ends up with a raised texture a little less than embossing, but glitter too-in any colour you want.



Step 2} Trace acetate card to create a template & piercing guide: Lay the CC&M acetate card over your paper & trace gently with a pencil all around it (this will act as a visual guide when you are piercing later, and it'll let you know if you slip off center.)



Step 3} Pierce around the edges & through the acetate. I was shocked that it was really easy to pierce the acetate, like butter! (I like pins to help stabilize the acetate card over the patterned paper.)



Step 4} Create three separate panels out of the patterned paper One rectangular & two semi circles--so that when you put it on your card, the middle is not facing backwards (if that makes even a lick of sense.) To make the 3 panels:

A) Mark 4 spots for cutting: (as in the pic above A B C & D)--to show where the score lines are on the plastic (lining up with the pierced holes is a good idea)



B) Cut the 2 rounded ends off of the patterned paper (where you've marked, watching to be sure the pierced holes are even and do not get cut off)

C) Roughly, cut the rounded ends to fit the acetate card (I cut the curve about a 1-3rd of an inch larger than where the pencil line indicates.)

D) Erase the pencil line



Step 5} Sew the paper to the acetate. This was, oddly enough, a piece of cake. Easier than sewing paper to paper. I was impressed with how the plastic holes fit right into the paper holes and held perfectly with the stitching (no buckling or anything--which I was needlessly afraid of.)

Don't sew? It's not a requirement when working with acetate, of course. Just adhere your paper panels to the front & inside with really good double-sided tape.



Step 6} Cut a rough curve about a 1-3rd of an inch larger than where the pencil line indicates. Erase the pencil line.



Step 7} Sew the paper to the acetate. I was impressed with how the plastic fit right into the paper holes and held perfectly with the stitching (no buckling or anything--which I was needlessly afraid of)



Step 8} Cut the excess off of the curved pieces. The acetate acts as the perfect guide for the edge



Step 9} Trace the curved end of the acetate card to create 2 inside panels (a speedy and easy way to hide the adhesive from the front)



Step 10} Adhere the 2 curved inside panels (it helps to get a perfect fit if you adhere while the acetate card is partly folded)

-4-

...create a gift card/money pocket
(from a CC&M antique label)

I was tickled to find that these antique labels are the perfect size for gift card pockets and the label doesn't just come in acetate: CC & M has all kinds of paper colours here.

Step 1} Cut a rectangular inside cardstock panel to measure 4 2-8 by 5 1-2 inches. Lay acetate antique label in center of that paper panel near bottom (pierce to mark the center hole)



Step 2} Pierce around the bottom of the acetate label in a U shape



Step 3} Stitch the acetate label pocket onto your project (and add beads if you like)



Step 4} Adhere the middle panels: Add the panel with the pocket on the inside and add a panel to hide the adhesive on the back (4 2-8 by 5 1-2 inches)

-5-

...make a decorative belly band
(for around the card)

If you're giving a wedding card in person, this can take the place of an envelope & show off your handy work. If you're mailing, a bubble mailer with cardboard to protect your card is a snap to send. :O)

Step 1} Make a belly band: Cut strip of cardstock 2 inches by 12 inches to make a belly band & fold it around the card & crease to make creases (score too if you like).



Step 2} Adhere a decorative strip of cardstock to the a belly band (this one measures 4 2/8 inches by 2 inches)



Step 3} Stitch on embellishments (this is a piece of an old broken necklace.) Bead if you like.

and

Step 4} Wrap money or gift card in a fold of matching paper. I would write my message on the inside of that paper or write a special letter to the bride, or couple, to tuck in with it(melstampz)

That's all she wrote...

If you were afraid of acetate cards like me, I hope you give it a go. It's SO satisfying to do something out of the ordinary, isn't it?

Big ol' crafty hugs,

P.S. The rest of this wedding set can be seen here:

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