Tutorial - View Finder Card

View Finder cards are awesome interactive cards that are sure to be popular with young and old alike. Those of us of a more mature vintage may remember the old view finder toys from childhood. The click of a lever would turn a disk inside the toy to reveal a sequence of photographs that were viewed through two eyepieces. I still remember being fascinated by scenes of distant cities, and I can't begin to tell you how gobsmacked I was the first time I viewed the images in 3D! Today's card draws inspiration from those old toys with an internal, spinning disk that reveals a series of images or sentiments to the viewer.

1. These instructions will create a finished card measuring 51/2" x 51/2". Start with two 5" circles, one cut from card stock and the other from printer paper. I used scalloped circles to give a bit of grip to the edge of the spinning disk, but you can use plain dies if you prefer.

2. You'll also need a piece of card stock measuring 51/2" x 11", scored and folded in half to form a 51/2" x 51/2" card base, and a 51/4" x 51/4" piece of coordinating card stock. The circle you cut earlier should be smaller than the card base and the extra piece of card stock.

3. We'll be using the circle we cut from printer paper as a template. Fold it in half and in half again to find the centre point.

4. Lay the printer paper over the card stock circle and pierce a hole in the centre with a piercing tool or thick needle.

5. Layer the 51/4" piece of card stock over the card base taking care to centre it well. Lay the die cut circle on top with the right hand edge flush with the right hand edge of the card base (see the photo below for correct placement).

6. Push the tip of a sharpened pencil through the hole you pierced in the circle and mark the card stock below. Use the piercing tool to pierce a hole through the 51/4" card stock on the mark you made with your pencil. DON'T PIERCE THE CARD BASE - but if you do, it's no big deal.

7. Time to make the viewing window. Choose a smaller die in whatever shape you like. It should fit comfortably between the pierced centre point and the outer edge of the card. It should also be large enough for the images or sentiments you wish to add to your disk.

8. Push a small brad through the 51/4" card stock and then the circle disk.

9. Use a pencil to trace the shape of the window. Spin the disk until the first pencil lines disappear and then trace another window. Repeat until the first pencil lines reappear. Since my window is quite large, I was only able to trace three circles on my disk, which means I have space for three images. A smaller window will mean more images or sentiments.

10. Stamp your images or sentiments in each traced circle taking care not to let any of the stamped image extend beyond the circle. Make sure you are stamping the image in the correct orientation... you don't want images or sentiments to appear upside down when you spin the wheel!

11. To make it easier to spin the disk, I'm nipping off a little arc of paper from the side of the card base. The disk will remain flush with the side of the card, but there will be a little more room for the viewer to spin the wheel.

12. Time to get our view master assembled. Place the brad through the card stock and then through the disk securing the two pieces together. The brad will allow the disk to spin freely.

13. Finish decorating the front of the card. I've added a sentiment, an image a hand-drawn border and a couple of die cut elements. 

14. Secure the card front to the card base with double sided tape, being careful to place the tape so that it doesn't obstruct the spinning of the disk. Now take some time to enjoy playing with the spinning disk before you decide who the lucky recipient will be. Happy stamping!

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