Today I am sharing a Pinterest inspired card. There are many posts and videos so I'm not sure who first created it but I think I have put my own spin on it. These cards can be easily customized to the graduate's school colors by using colored card stock or using different colored baker's twine, embroidery floss or other materials for the tassel.
Paper & Dimensions:
- Basic Black: 4 1/4" x 9 3/4" - this will become the card base
- Basic Black: 3" x 3" - this will become the top mortar board piece
- Whisper White: 5 1/4" x 4" - this will be the inside layer
- Whisper White: 4 1/8" x 4 1/8" - this will be used to make the pocket
- White standard copy/printer paper - 1 1/2" x 3" - used to make the scroll
Embellishments:
- Black Baker's Twine - approx 3"
- Whisper White Baker's Twine for Tassel (I used approx 48" but will vary based on length and fullness of the tassel you make.)
- 8 mm Metallic (Silver) Brad
Colors:
- Silver Embossing Powder - to emboss the year on the mortar board (or you could just stamp the year using Whisper White Ink)
- Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
- Dark Basic Black Stampin' Blend - to color the brad black.
Tools/Supplies:
- Stampin' Trimmer or similar
- Simply Scored board if paper trimmer doesn't score
- Paper piercing tool and mat
- Heat Tool
- Stamp sets (I used sentiments from Well Wishes and the numbers came from Make A Difference)
- Bone Folder
- Paper Snips
- Multipurpose Liquid Glue and/or Tear & Tape Adhesive
- Mini Glue Dots
Score the black 4 1/4" x 9 3/4" rectangle at 5 1/2 inches on the long side.
Using the score board or trimmer and with the short end of the card base at the top make a small tick mark on the top edge and at each side of the card base at 2 1/8". Then measuring down from the score line, make two more additional tick marks on each side of the card at the 2 1/8" mark. - DO NOT SCORE ACROSS THE CARD STOCK. These marks are just to 'measure' for work you will do later. See template diagram below.
Next we will be making diagonal score lines using these tick marks. I don't have a diagonal plate for my score board so I will do this using a ruler and scoring tool.
Align your ruler diagonally from the top right tick mark with the bottom left tick mark and score. Repeat on the other side. Align your ruler on the top left with the bottom right tick mark and draw your score line. I find if you use the small ball tip of the scoring tool you will get a better result when scoring on a hard surface.
Next we need to make some diagonal cut lines. You can either score the lines and then cut with scissors or put in your trimmer by lining up the tick marks in the cutting groove of your trimmer. I will show you below on the template with drawing the cut lines on the template. Line up your ruler at the tick mark at the top center of your card base with the tick mark on the top right. Repeat by lining the center tick mark up with the top left tick mark. Then CUT these two score lines.
Fold and burnish on all score lines using your bone folder. To help with the opening and closing of the card, I like to fold and burnish in both directions. Your card base should look like this, with a point at the top.
Now you need to press the top and the bottom together. Be careful to keep sides aligned and "smush" together. Burnish edges well. When all folded the 'cap' should lay over the base but will not align with the bottom edge of the base.
Next we are going to repeat the cutting portion again using the white (5 1/4" x 4") rectangle and using a pencil mark on 4" edge at center (2 inches). Mark 2 inches down both sides from the top. Again, we need to make some diagonal cut lines. You can either score the lines and then cut with scissors or put in your trimmer by lining up the tick marks in the cutting groove of your trimmer. I will show you below on the template with drawing the cut lines on the template. Line up your ruler at the tick mark at the top center of your card base with the tick mark on the top right. Then repeat lining the center tick mark up with the top left tick mark. Then CUT these two score lines.
This piece will lay inside the bottom of the card. At this point you can stamp your sentiments, But, if you'd like to add the the little extra space at the bottom like I did on my card, then you will want to make these cuts first. Taking this same inside layer, cut 1/4" off the bottom twice. You will only use one of those pieces.
Stamp your sentiments, then adhere both pieces inside the card.
To make the scroll, I took the 1 1/2" x 3" piece of regular printer paper and ran my bone folder across it to break down the paper fibers and help it curl. Then using the end of a paint brush I rolled into a cylinder and glued the seam together. Then take the black baker's twine and tie a knot. Using a mini glue dot, secure to the card.
Next up, the tassel. Because I was making a number of cards, I created a quick template to wrap the white baker's twine around. I just used a small piece of card stock and cut a slot. Cut two pieces of twice approx 5" long. Secure one end of the twine to the template and wrap the twine around until you are happy with the fullness. I wrapped 5-6 times. Then take one of the short pieces and slip under the wrapped twine, pull to the top and tie a knot. Be sure to keep one end long as this is what we'll use to secure the tassel to the cap. Next we'll take the other short piece and slip it through the slot and wrap around the twine on both sides of the template. Tie a knot and then cut the bottom loops and slide off template. Wrap around the tassel to make the top decoration, tie knots and secure. Trim ends as needed.
Because I wanted a black brad but all I had was silver, I used my Dark Basic Black Stampin' Blend to color the brad black. Let dry.
Taking the 3" x 3" black square, I embossed the graduation year on the cap, but if you don't emboss, you could use ink or nothing at all. Using a piercing tool and mat, poke a hole in the center of the square. Thread the end of the tassel through the hole and follow with the brad. Once you decide how you want it to hang, secure the twine with a small piece of tape, glue or other adhesive. Secure the brad prongs. Now it is ready to be glued to the top of the card base.
Last, but not least, is adding the little pocket. I have a mini envelope maker so I utilized that but you can make one without. It just takes a bit more measuring and scoring. You, of course, have the option of just putting a 2 3/4" square as a layer instead of a pocket.
If you want to make the pocket, start with a 4 1/8" sq and make a tick mark at the center of each side (2 1/16") but you will need to move it toward the center by 3/16" of an inch. Score a line connecting each side on the diagonal and snip out the little triangles. Fold two opposite sides in toward each other and then fold the bottom up and glue the edges together. The other flap gets folded back on itself and glued to the backside.
Then glue pocket to inside of the card at the top and you have finished the card. YEAH!!
The top of the card will want to pop up when laying flat. You could use a small glue dot to hold it closed but if will fit inside a started envelope without any problem.
