Up Up in the Air

This lovely swap (or mingle as we call it in the Iris Folder's Group) comes from Marilyn who lives in Canada!  I love the cloud paper for the background.

Challenge Card 7

Here's an entry that uses a totally different technique!  This clever card was made by Paula from Iowa.

Thank You Friend

My good friend Linda took me to lunch on my birthday!  We went to the new Olive Garden in town and had delicious food!  We spent three hours shooting the breeze and catching up.  I made her a Thank You card with one of her favorite characters on it.

That's right...it's Tigger!  The pattern was made by one of the girls in my Iris Folding group.  Isn't it cute!!!  I added a sticker sentiment and sticker flowers to the front of the card base after attaching stripes in the Tigger colors.  On the inside I wrote a personal note.

To the Beach Again

I liked yesterday's card so much that I decided to make another one.  This time I used red as the base and strips of black cardstock as the door marks and handle.

On the inside I added a "beachy" poem and a couple of palm trees!

Let's Hit the Beach

With all the heat across the country (in the 100's at my house) this beach card popped easily into my mind. This month's swap theme in my Iris Folding group was "Road Trip"

I decided to find a car photo with a "beachy" background.  This one fit the bill perfectly!  I used a sharp blade and cut all of the car out except for the front and back lights, the windshield and the tires.  Then I used this pattern for the Iris Folding.  I thought is worked well because it reminded me of a racing strip.


After the folding was finished I mounted it to the black card base.  I cut out the door handle from the original picture and adhered it to the car.  I also used two pieces of black thread to recreate the line of the door.  Lastly, I used Microsoft Word to create the caption.

Swap Fest 23

Here is the most gorgeous card from Winnie in Holland.

It is a combination of Paper Embroidery and Iris Folding!

Swap Fest 14

Today I received the most exquisite swap card from Lynda in Cyprus!

Lynda is famous for handpainting her backgrounds on her Iris Folding cards and I'm thrilled to be the owner of one of her masterpieces!

Rain Rain Go Away

For the month of April I signed up to make an iris folded card with the title "Rain Rain Go Away".

I made a template for the umbrella and I decided to use a hexagon shape to do the folding.  You can download it from here.  You will find the umbrella outline, the hexagon folding shape and two shapes to cut out in a second pattern to add to the finished folding.

I chose the blue with white dots for the folding strips.  When I finished with that I cut out the two separate pieces using the blue and white gingham patterned paper.  After applying glue I slipped those pieces under the edges top and bottom and pressed the resulting piece under a stack of books to enable the glue to dry.

I cut a strip of the main paper to make a handle and glued that down.  I also cut out raindrop shapes freehand from both papers and glued them down.  Lastly I printed out the words and trimmed and attached them.

On the inside I attached a piece of the the gingham patterned paper that I had punched with an EKSuccess corner punch (Bubbles).  This allowed me to add a piece of white paper under the "photo corners" so that the recipient could write a message if they wished.

Hello Chickie 2

Here's another version of this card that I made last Saturday.

This time I changed the colors, used the opposite side of the same embossing folder and added a feather to the chickie!

I didn't use a brad this time.  Instead I printed off Happy Easter on yellow paper.  I punched the bottom edge with an EKSuccess punch called "argyle".  I glued together two pieces of the turquoise cardstock and then glued the yellow paper to it.  I used foam squares on this section to raise it up far enough to prop up the front of the card instead of using a brad.  I also saved the "cutoff" section of the scallop from the first card and attached it to the top of the yellow for some added texture.

Ok sis, now you know why I save strange things, so BUG off!!! LOL

And here's a side view of the open easel card.

 

Egg-stra-ordinary

Another day, another swap :-)  This one is for my Paper Embroidery group.  We had to combine "iris folding" and "paper embroidery".

I started by cutting the lavender cardstock to fit the paper embroidery pattern.  I wanted an oval frame to surround an egg shape.  I only used the design (Ann's Paper Art-a392A) in the middle of the oval frame.  I stitched the design in dark purple thread.

After finishing the frame I cut an oval shape out of the middle.  Then I embossed the lavender with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder.  I used purple and gold foil wrapping paper for the iris folding.  I wanted it to look like a fancy Fabrege' egg.  I finished it off by edging the egg with a gold edging stitcher.  Lastly, everything was attached to a purple card base.

Have a Ball

Gown, that is!  Here is a beautiful ball gown pattern for "Iris Folding" that I found on Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds.  There is a pattern, instructions and a video that is easy to follow.

I used foil wrapping paper for my folds...yea for Christmas sales!  I added a faux jewel at the neckline and I corner punched the blue paper using Paper Studio's ("coat of arms").  Then I attached the silver foil onto the front of the base card and let it dry under a stack of books while I worked on the foil for the inside greeting.

Using the same punch I did the corners of the blue foil, stamped (clear stamp set of greetings) the greeting with silver ink and attached to the card.  I added flourishes to the front and inside using royal blue and silver ink and another set of clear stamps.

Swap Fest

I realized the other day that I keep talking about swaps that I have participated in.  I thought it would be nice to share the cards I have received in return.  Today I am sharing the card I received from Brooke who lives in New York state.  I used to live in upstate New York and I have always missed it.

As you can see, Brooke also did a shamrock in "iris folding".  The darker green background is glittery and has been corner punched.

Hello Chickie

Oh no, not another swap :-)  Yes indeed...this time an "easel card" swap for Cardmaking.  Since Easter is around the corner I chose a chick (with a twist) as my theme.  I was inspired by a card on Valita's Fresh Fold Patterns.  I made my own pattern and voila'!

I first cut an oval in the purple cardstock (to which I had already added one scalloped edge) and then embossed it with a QuicKutz embossing folder (retro diamonds).  Next I pieced together the wing sections and attached them to the sides by taping them on the backside.  The "chick or chick in an egg" was done with "iris folding".

After the iris folding was finished I cut the nose and feet freehand and glued them onto the chick and lastly I added the "wiggle eyes" and the "Happy Easter" sticker.

The purple has been attached to the card base with double sided tape.  On the inside I used a square yellow brad that is  holds the card up when it is open.  As you can see I also added some cute "chickie" stickers on the inside.

This picture shows the card at a side view.  To put in an envelope you just lift the standing section and lay it flat. 

 

The top photo has the shape of the cutouts and aperture.  The bottom photo is the "iris" pattern to use with the outline.  A PDF of the two can be found here.

Ribbon Circles

For this month's swap for my Cardmaking group I signed up to do a turquoise and brown card.  As I mentioned in my March 10 post, the turquoise and brown combination is very popular.

I got my inspiration from Traditional Card Techniques by Marie Browning. I used an "iris folding" pattern that incorporated five different sections.  For each of those sections I used a different turquoise, brown or combo of turquoise and brown ribbon.  Let me tell you...it wasn't easy finding five ribbons that went with each other!!!

Here is a close up of the iris.  I made it on a piece of brown cardstock.  On the turquoise card base I cut a larger circle and placed the brown underneath.  After adhering I attached another brown piece to the back of the iris on the inside of the card.

I finished the front by gluing down four brown strips to form a square shape.  On the inside I added a brown piece for the greeting.  I corner punched the piece and glued it down.

This is the book I mentioned...

Leaping Leprechauns

Here is a card I just made for my Iris Folders group exchange.  The theme is "It's not easy being green".  The obvious...Kermit the Frog...did not appeal to me since it is March, so I went with a shamrock.

 

Each leaf of the shamrock and the stem were done with "iris folding".  I used three different shades of green paper and finished the "iris" with scraps of the green cardstock that the leaves were set into.  I surrounded the outline of all the leaves with a green sticker.

 

On the inside I added an Irish Blessing.  The punch used was from EKSuccess (Argyle).

O'Shamrock

Just made an "Iris Folded" shamrock card for my sister.  Especially fitting since we are part Irish!

Instead of paper for the folding I used ribbon.  It looks great but it is more difficult to attach because it tends to warp and doesn't "stick" as good as paper.  However, I like the effect and thought it was worth the extra effort.  I surrounded the edge of the shamrock with a long green sticker.  This part of the card was then attached to the base card.

 

On the inside I added an Irish Blessing.  The border of the light green backing was edged with an EKSuccess edger punch (English Ivy).

If the Shoe Fits

Another swap for Card Crafts was to make a card with a hat or shoe.  I chose to do a shoe using Iris Folding.

I did the "iris folding" with the red section and finished the design by cutting out the gold sections and attaching them in place.  I used foil wrapping paper for my folding strips and black cardstock for the backing.  I added red foil to the outside edges of the card front and mitered the corners.  The "shoe" unit was then attached to the card base.

 

I decided to leave the inside blank so my partner could use the card if she wishes.  I fancy cut the top and botton of a rectangle of red foil with "Scroll and Dots"EKSuccess edger punch and attached it to the inside of the card.

The pattern I used can be found here.  It is small, so I imported it into Microsoft Word and enlarged it before printing.  It will be somewhat blurry so you may want to rewrite the numbers onto your printout. 

Shiny Bauble

Another card group swap (Card Crafts) lead me to making a card with a Christmas ornament using the "iris folding" technique.  This time I cut the strips from some very elegant foil Christmas wrapping paper of green and gold.

I made the design on gold cardstock and then attached the finished piece to the card form.  I added a bow of gold braid and then scanned the card front.  I imported the scan into Microsoft Word and added a greeting.  Lastly I printed this on shiny brochure paper and glued to the inside.

I also made a different version of the card by using more of the foil wrapping paper both on the outside and inside and this time no bow.

The Eyes Have It

The Iris Eyes that is..."Iris Folding" is a technique that originated in the Netherlands.  It is named after the spiraling design formed as the paper strips are added to the pattern.  The traditional iris folding design's final pattern resembles the iris of an eye or the opening of a camera lens. 

Over time the materials and patterns have changed and many designs do not have the "iris eye" in the center or at all.  I have done both and this card is done in the shape of a fan without an eye or a spiral.

On the inside I used a simple technique  to make the frame for the verse.  I cut the background rectangle first and then used a corner punch on all four corners.  Then I cut the polka dot rectangle to fit inside dimensions and slipped it under the corner decorations which act as photo corners.  Finally I glued the verse.

Iris folding is a lot of fun and lends itself to a wide variety of patterns and techniques.  Patterned or plain paper can be used for the folded bits as well as material and foiled gift wrap.  The strips are generally an inch wide and then folded  in half so there is a clean leading edge.  The back of the design is quite a jumbly mess but the outside is beautiful!

To help you get started I have found some tutorials...

   Iris Folding 

   Pee Jays Crafty Bits 

   Stamping with Blue Moon Creations 

   The Everyday Scraper 

   Split Coast Stampers 

   The Craft Directory 

   The Winnie Factor 

   Handcrafted Greetings 

   Iris Folders Yahoo Group 

   You Tube