Christmas Card using Iris Fold Technique

Today I wanted to try the Iris Fold technique.  I had come across a webstore for rubber stamps and there was also a blog by the owner.  He had made a Christmas tree using the iris fold and it was beautiful.  So I watched the tutorial at SCS and gave it a try.  This time I started small and made one big enough for a Christmas ornament, using leftover Christmas wrapping paper from last year.  Looking forward to using this technique again - it's so beautiful.  The only regret is that even though my three Christmas papers matched, they may have matched too well and there isn't a lot of contrast.

Hope you like this CAS (clean & simple) card.

"Iris Fold Christmas Ornament"

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings, Tree Trimmings (SU!)

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White (SU!); Three different Christmas wrapping paper scraps

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  iris fold template, ornament punch, stamp-a-ma-jig, removable tape, glue stick, sticky strips and dimensionals

* * * * *

I cut a large piece of Whisper White cardstock and punched an ornament; I set it aside.

I placed the iris template on my work surface.  I cut a piece of Whisper White and using scissors, cut a window in the center that was larger than the ornament punch.  I placed the cut-out over the iris template, centering the design.  I used removable tape to hold the cardstock to my work surface.  I placed sticky strips framing the cut-out window (no adhesives go on the template - it just sits in-behind as a guide and can be used again and again).  I cut strips of wrapping paper, covered them with the glue from the glue stick, folded them in half lengthwise and pressed down.  I started adding the strips, rotating the three designs, and once I had four down to complete the first layer, I added sticky strips again.  I repeated the process, layering strips of paper and adding sticky strips once a row was completed until the template was completely covered.  I removed the cardstock from my work surface and trimmed it to size.  I added sticky strips to the back and adhered the iris fold to the card base of Cherry Cobbler (making sure the placement was correct for my punched out ornament.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, I stamped the Christmas greeting in Cherry Cobbler ink onto the Whisper White cardstock with the ornament punch-out.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig again to line up the hanger for the ornament, again stamping in Cherry Cobbler ink.  I adhered the panel to the front of the card base, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.