Do you look for ideas for your papercrafting projects everyplace you go? I do, and I found a great one recently at a Quilt Show! Joyce Haeffke from Dreamer’s Designs was demonstrating exciting projects for quilters to do with their scraps. As I watched her, the wheels were turning and I said to myself” I can do that with paper! “ Dreamer’s Designs’ newest collection is Universal Patterns. The set consists of six 6”x6” patterns similar to iris folding patterns. She calls them universal because you are meant to use any part of the pattern in your project, not necessarily the entire pattern. Easy instructions are also included. I decided it’s time for Christmas in July.
Joyce suggests using a punch or template to make an opening in your card or project piece. Then lay the opening over the patterns, twisting, turning and moving it until you see a design you like. Tape in place with removable tape, and begin to add your papers.
Yow will need at least 2 contrasting papers to make the designs. The patterns are printed with both solid lines and dotted lines. Feel free to use either, or both. This is the perfect use for all those paper scraps you have! Using I” strips, folded the long way, and ½” wide strips, also folded the long way, will give you a variety in the finished design. Lightweight papers such as wrapping paper, some scrapbook papers and origami papers work best.
Here is one of the cards I made.
I used white cardstock and cut my opening with a Fiskars Shapecutter Christmas Template. The Universal A template was a perfect fit. I added a pine patterned paper, a red foil scrap of wrapping paper, and some white paper. Lace on top of the white paper added a Victorian touch. A Zig Memory Systems Writer in dark green outlined the edges of the opening. I wrote the word JOY on a scrap of white cardstock and mounted it on a piece of the patterned paper. A small knotted ribbon finished the card.
Next I made this card.
I started with red cardstock and the same Fiskars template. This time I used some left over gold wrapping paper with the pine patterned paper, and Universal D for my pattern. The same green marker was used to add the pine branch at the top of the card.
The candle on the template became this card.
I used the same red and gold foil papers, and Universal C pattern. A Krylon 14K gold marker was used to make my candle flame “glow” .
All 3 of these designs would make easy and beautiful Christmas cards for family and friends. Just make sure to add a piece of cardstock inside your card to hide the ‘workings” as these can be a little unsightly. Although the Universal patterns are not yet on the website, I’m sure Joyce can accommodate you if you contact her.
