Add more fun to your greeting cards by making them interactive. One way to do this is to add a wheel that the recipient can turn to change one of the elements on the card. In this project, we’ll make a small greeting card with hearts whose colors you can change by turning the wheel on the side. The template can be customized to a certain extent by changing the design on the front of the card.

In my example, I’ve turned the hearts into balloons, added a stamped and cutout pair of kittens, and drew details with a pen. You can use other stamped images, stickers, doodles (stick figures will work as well!), or cutouts. You can also add a third heart at the right, do away with the images at the bottom and replace it with a sentiment. For the colors on the wheel, you can use markers, paints, washi tape, or patterned paper. You can also scribble designs, if you want. Once you learn the technique, you can design your own interactive cards, in different shapes and sizes. Let’s begin!

You will need:

* Template (available here)
* Cardstock or watercolor paper
* Markers, gel pens, or similar drawing pens
* Paints in assorted colors, Washi tape, deco tape, or patterned paper
* Rubber stamps
* Ink pad
* Eyelet
* Hole punch
* Eyelet setter
* Scissors
* Scallop edged scissors (optional)
* Compass
* Pencil
* Ruler
* Craft knife
* Cutting mat
* White glue

Measure, mark and cut a piece of cardstock or watercolor paper 2-3/4 inches by 8-1/4 inches in size. Using the template as a guide, mark, score and fold along the broken lines, and cut a slit along the solid line on the right-hand fold. Trace the hearts with a pencil, and carefully cut the openings with a craft knife. Set aside.

Use a compass to draw a circle that’s 2-3/4 inches in diameter, and cut it out using the scallop edged scissors if you have one (this will make the wheel easier to turn). Decorate one side of the circle with paints, markers, washi tape or patterned paper. In our example, I’ve painted a basic color wheel using watercolors. Punch a hole in the center of the wheel.

Draw and cut out a small circle measuring 11/16 inch in diameter and punch a hole in the center. Lay this circle on the decorated side of the wheel so that the holes are lined up, then attach an eyelet through both pieces using an eyelet setter. Set the eyelet so that both circles turn freely without coming apart (see photo).



Insert the wheel into card so that the decorated side is visible through the hearts, and part of the wheel protrudes from the slit in the side of the card (see photo). Make sure that the small circle and the edges of the wheel aren’t visible through the openings, and that the wheel turns freely. Unfold the card, turn it face down, and mark the placement of the wheel. Apply glue to the front of the small circle only, and attach it to the card. Let dry. Glue the corners of the backing panel to the rest of the card to conceal the wheel.



You can now decorate the front of the card using any method you like. Have fun!