Craft Cottage - Spinning Ornament Card

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Crafting Time:

1-3 hours

Technique(s):

Paper Punching
Sewing Machine

Material(s):

Paper

Category:

Handmade Cards

Tag(s):

Nifty & Thrifty

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Spinning Ornament Card

Put a spin on a traditional Christmas card by making this one. Using paper and a sewing machine, you can make a card with “ornaments” that spin with just a flick of your finger. The card folds flat, so you won’t even need a special envelope to enclose it. Before you start stitching, make sure you are using a heavy duty needle on your sewing machine—the cardstock might cause a regular needle to break!

Supplies & Tools:

Printable template (download here)
Cardstock, assorted colors
Access to sewing machine
Scissors
X-Acto
Cutting mat
Ruler
Pencil
Bone folder
Your preferred adhesive (We especially like glue runners.)
Paper punches that cut 3", 2", and 1.5" circles*
Washi tape, assorted colors

*Our 3" punch (the XXXL Fiskars punch) actually cuts a circle that is exactly 2.875". Therefore, the template is sized for this circle.

Directions:

Cut a piece of cardstock to 9" x 6.25". Score with bone folder and fold in half to make a card that is 4.5" x 6.25".
Print the template and cut out the rectangle. Using your X-Acto, cut out the circle. Discard the circle.
Place the template on the front of the card (or on the inside of the front flap) and trace the circle using the pencil. Set template aside.
Unfold the card and place on cutting mat. Use the X-Acto to carefully cut out the circle.
Add a few strips of washi tape to the front of the card above the cutout, if desired.
Note: Because washi tape is low-tack, it is okay to sew through it.
Choose a color for the outer ring and use the XXXL circle puncher to cut two 3" circles.
One at a time, insert each 3" circle into the XL circle punch to cut 2" circles within the 3"circles. Make sure that the 3" circle is pushed in as far as you can without crumpling the paper. That way you will be able to get 2 identical rings. Set the 3" rings aside and discard the 2" circles.
Note: Due to the limitations of the circle punchers, you won’t be able to center the 2" circles inside the 3" circles, but that’s okay—we like the look of the offset ring!
Choose a contrasting color paper for the inner circle and use the large circle punch to cut two 1.5" circles. (You can use a different shape if you want.)
Use a teensy bit of adhesive to hold like shapes together: adhere ring to ring and circle to circle. Picture an invisible vertical line running through your shapes; this will be the line where you sew. You don’t want to sew through your adhesive, so apply the adhesive on either side of the invisible line.
Line up the rings and circles within the cutout on the card and begin sewing. Sew slowly so that you have greater control over the paper. Sewing fast can lead to a crooked line. When sewing the shapes in the card, leave a little bit of room between the shapes. That way they can spin freely when the card is complete.
Trim the thread.
Now your card is done. Stand it up and gently flick the ornaments to watch them twirl!