Many of my most cherished creations are a result of a blunder of some sort. After I pass the self bashing stage I try to make something out of the error and sometimes the result is far better than what I have originally planned to do.

Last week I have posted a tutorial on making a mini album out of a single sheet of cardstock. The process of making this mini album involves alternating cutting lines. I was trying to use the paper trimmer for the cutting and got confused and mistakenly cut the cardstock in the same direction.

Following my mistake the muse came to visit… I decided to make a bunch of 3″ by 3″ cards instead and also created a matching Envelope Template.

So, without further ado, here is the tutorial:

Supply –

• 1 Sheet of 12″ by 12″ cardstock.
• 8 Sheets of 8.5″ by 11″ light-weight patterned paper (or you can cut the template once and trace it on a 7″ by 7″ sheet of patterned paper).
• Ribbon (or other embellishments for the card)
• Craft Knife
• Tape runner
• Envelope Template (Click on the link for a free download of the template).

Instructions –

1. Cut the cardstock into 4 strips of 3″ by 12″ and then cut each strip in half to two pieces of 3″ by 6″ cardstock. Fold each piece in half, lengthwise, to create a cute 3″ by 3″ card. You will end up with 8 cards from the single sheet of cardstock.
2. Use a craft knife to cut a ¾” slit into each card’s spine and weave the ribbon through. Tie the ribbon into a square knot and repeat on each card. [You are completely free to embellish the card in whichever way you wish… Don’t feel obligated to the ribbon, it won’t be offended – neither will I 😉 ]
   
3. Download the free envelope template and print it on a letter size paper (8.5″ by 11″). Cut the outline of the template. [You can either print it directly on the backside of the patterned paper or on a copy paper, which you can then cut and trace over the patterned paper – your choice].
   
4. Score along all the dashed lines of the template and fold. Adhere the long flap to the small side-flaps with a tape runner (or a glue stick, if you prefer…).
   

Easy, fun and adorable – my kind of a craft project 🙂

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

Tags: crads, creativity, creativity prompt, template, Tutorial