Friday, May 13, 2011

A Papercraft Star Tutorial

Note:  I didn't realize Blogger had wiped out this post so if any of you were looking for it--it's baaacckk!  LOL

     It's my turn to do this week's tutorial for Papercraft Star.  I don't know about you, but I'm always searching the web for new techniques.  A while back I created a card with some lattice work on it.  It came out okay, but I was really winging it when I put it together.  I found a tutorial that showed me a few minor adjustments I could make so I decided to try it again and share a refined version of a lattice work card with you.
     For my card I chose to make it a 5 1/2" square card.  I cut that from white cardstock and I also cut another square of white at 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".  For the front mat I chose a cream colored cardstock and cut it at 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".  I placed glue around the outer edges of the cream piece and adhered it to the front of the base card.  The white square goes on the inside behind the front panel.  It will hide all the edges of the lattice strips.

     I placed a little Two-way glue pen on the edges of the white piece and let it get tacky so I could temporarily adhere it to the inside of the card for the die cutting.  I used a Cuttlebug and a Nestabilities die and I have to admit it was tough cutting through three layers of paper.  I ended up removing the top two layers after they were cut through and replacing the die over the last layer before it would completly cut through.  You can avoid that problem by eliminating the mat.
     I used a Nestabilities Labels One die and positioned it on top of the three layers, tacking it down with a little tape.
     Here's what the pieces look like after cutting.  By the time I'd run it through the Cuttlebug so many times the Two Way glue had become permanent and I had a few rough spots on the card base after I separated them.  It all gets covered up so no harm no foul.
     Now you can start weaving your lattice.  I cut 1/4" strips of white cardstock.  I started in the middle of the shape (by the way you can use any shape you want) and tacked the ends down with a little wet glue.
     There is no set spacing or number of rows.  I just settled on a random line on my quilting square grid ruler and used that measurement on all the spacing.  Go ahead and lay all your strips down for the first direction.
     After your first strips are adhered you need to start weaving in the strips going the opposite direction.  Make sure you alternate them like I've indicated on the photo.
      After you have all your strips adhered, you will adhere the white cardstock square that you die cut to the inside of the front of the card.  This covers all those little strip ends.
     I ended up adding a cream square cut at 5 1/4' x 5 1/4" behind the lattice work because the backs of all my flowers were visible and I'd used some brads--messy! 
     Hope you like the tutorial.  This is the card I created using this technique.
Have a great Thursday!

9 comments:

Jen Cuthbertson said...

This is such a great technique and thank you for showing us how you do it!! Great tutorial!!

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous card.Fantastic tutorial. Thanks for showing.
Kathleen x

Elizabeth said...

Tracy, this is GORGEOUS! Definitely going to try it.....someday! =) It seems my list of new techniques to try never ets any shorter!

Unknown said...

You did a fantastic job on both your card (but I said so before ;-) and your tutorial. Gives such a wonderful effect to a card! Hugs, Ira

Linda Breedlove said...

Thank you for the tutorial... your card is beautiful. I'll have to try this.

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous card and wonderful tutorial!

Regan said...

Wonderful tutorial Tracy! Your card is absolutely gorgeous!
Hugs, Regan

maxine said...

wow this is stunning, I'm going to try this thanks for the great tutorial

Lisa Minckler said...

Thought I'd spend a little time this morning stalking your blog. I had no idea you had SO many wonderful tutorials. So nice to see lattice done the original way and not with a die cut. I LOVE IT! LOL..love that you typed, over, under, over, under, over..hee hee hee!
Hugs!