First of all, let me say that this project is not for the faint of heart or for the OCD perfectionist. For me, it wasn't easy. The concept is easy and can be used with any large blocked font. The pattern has the font ready for you regular and mirrored for the back. Then cut more strips that I provided for. You will have to make the folds on those strips as you go along because if you try to do it ahead of time like I did (being the OCD that I am) it won't line up perfectly in the end and you will have to start over...argh. So, to start with, take one of the strips and a ruler and run the strips against the ruler like you do with ribbon across a pair of scissor to curl the ribbon. No, paper is different from ribbon...but this makes it more pliable. Do this several times before trying to work with it. Then, using your score tool on your cutting board, place the "ribbon" strip so that the edge of the mini cuts run along the cutting line...and score.....do not cut....you are making an embossed line. I didn't put perforated cuts for this because it would weaken the "ribbon" when you go to use it. Do this to both sides of the mini cuts. Then fold the mini cuts all to one side until they are flexible but tamed to one side. Take a letter and some quick drying tacky glue (I used Aileen's) and start bending the strip along the edge of the letter and tack it down as you go. DO NOT put glue along the entire edge...trust me you will have a mess. This requires much patience and persistence. When working on the "O" and the "e", be sure to do the center holes first or you will kill yourself afterwards....LOL. My "masterpiece" is not perfect. But, with some rhinestones and ink over dry embossed paper, it turned out looking pretty good. If I were to do it over again, I would make each letter much larger than I did to start with....just to get the practise in. I would have left the strips the same size....but would have made a lot more than I did.
So, I took 2 hours to make this and was so proud of myself. My husband shows up from work and asks what is new? I told him that I made the NOEL....Look Honey! He looked at it....like....what!? I told him that it took me 2 hours to make it. He shook his head. Then he turned around and asked, "Couldn't you have bought one of those at the Dollar Tree?" It stung...but I knew that he was probably right. That got me to thinking...those things are all made in China. It took me 2 hours to make those 4 letters....and Chinese women sit in sweat shops earning cents to the piece....so maybe it would cost 4 cents to make plus the materials...maybe 2 or 3 dollars in materials.....and then you can buy it for a dollar at the Dollar store....it just makes one wonder. But, I have the satisfaction of saying that I made it. And, the next time that I go to the dollar store and see someting like this...made in China....I will wonder about the lady that slaved over it for a few pennies by American standards. We need to remember the people behind the Communism. :-/
This is your typical explosion box with all fo the embellishments used in the project. Be sure to watch the video for explanations to hopefully make things a little easier for you.
Cut out all pieces as shown on the pattern by the colors. Take the triangular shape (the stem) and start to curl it around a meat skewer....not a pencil because the pencil is not thin enough to curl the paper. Push the curled stem through the hole in the green circular disc and adhere it to the bottom of the disc with glue by bending the perforated lines. Once this is down, take the strips of the pumpkin and curl them with the edge of a pencil or similar object like you would curl a ribbon for a gift so that it bends the fibers to slightly curl. I used a low temp glue gun to adhere the edge of the strips to the green scalloped disc. The size of the pumkin will be determined by how much of the strip you glue under this green scalloped disc. Put a dab of glue on the top of the stem and place the tiny, round piece of paper on it to top off the stem. Use the 12" skinny green strip of paper to make the curls. Glue it to the top of the green disc near the stem. I used a punch for the leaf as an after thought. There are lots of leaves on this site in the HOLIDAY/AUTUMN section if you don't have one. If you want a taller pumpkin like the one in the middle, then pinch the strips on the bottom of the pumpkin near the circle. If you push down on the top of the pumpkin, you will get a shorter, fatter rendition. Be sure to use ONLY battery-operated pscheudo candles in order to gain light....but to avoid a fire. I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. There were 3 in a package and they flicker. You do have to pull out the strip on the bottom to get them to work. After I made these, I thought that they might be pretty if I made a basic patter without the stars and dry or wet embossed the strips. Use your imagination!
The first page of this layout shows the frame covered with a frame that I cut from a Christmas card. It appears to be lifted up and not just flat.
The first page sports the front of a Christmas card from last year. The frames were left black this time because the background is so busy. Though the lace shows through the frame, it will be covered once the photo is inserted. The swirl is from a punch. The snowflakes were made from a file that I had. You can find snowflake files here: http://izzaboutchu.yolasite.com/weather.php Scroll down until you find winter.