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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Tutorial - Magic Window Card

This cool card is sure to win you extra kudos the next time a birthday rolls around, and rightly so! The image "magically" switches between black and white and full colour with the slide of a little tag... it's the Wizard of Oz of cards.

1. Start by stamping your image and sentiment on a piece of card stock measuring 3" x 5", then colour as desired. I used one of the snails from the Slugs and Snails clear stamp set and coloured with Copic markers.

2. Stamp the same image again on a piece of acetate using a solvent based ink like Staz On. Trim the acetate so that it's about 1/4" wider and longer than the coloured panel, making sure the image is centred.

3. To make the card base, you'll need a piece of kraft card stock measuring 53/4" x 101/2" folded in half, and a piece of white card stock measuring 51/2" x 5".

4. Use glue or double sided tape to adhere the coloured image to the very centre of the card front.

5. Cut a window from the centre of the white card stock that is 4" high and 23/4" wide. You should have a frame with a 3/4" wide top and bottom, and 11/4" wide sides.

6. On the back of the frame, apply strips of double sided tape around all four edges of the window. Set aside.

7. Line the stamped piece of acetate carefully over the coloured image. Make sure the lines are overlapping exactly.

8. Line the frame up carefully with the card blank leaving a small 1/8" border around the edges. Press the edges firmly so that the frame is secured to the acetate.

9. Now pick up the frame, which should be securely attached to the acetate. Decorate the frame as desired, then set aside.

10. Cut a piece of card stock for the tag, measuring 31/2" wide x 5" long. You'll also need two strips of card stock measuring 4" wide by 1/2" long and a tab to attach to the top.

11. Glue the two 4" x 1/2" strips together to make a stronger piece of card stock, then secure it to the back of the tag at the very bottom with double sided tape or more glue. Attach the tab to the top of the tag and stamp if desired.

(NOTE: You might notice that I glued one strip on the front and one of the back thinking this would be a better idea. However, the strip is visible in the window of my card, which is why I suggest gluing them both onto the back)

12. Now you need to apply double sided tape to the back of the frame that will act as a "track" for the tag. You want the tag to slide up and down behind the acetate, revealing and concealing the coloured image.

13. Leave a 1/8" gap between the edge of the tape and the strip on the bottom of your tag to allow for movement. Make sure you add a strip of double sided tape along the bottom of the frame so the tag doesn't fall out the bottom!

14. At the top of the frame, you will need to add tape that blocks the strip on the bottom of the tag from coming all the way out. Keep the tape about 1/8" from the side of the tag.

15. Place the tag at the top of the frame so that the strip is still inside the "track" you created. Hold it in place with a piece of low-tack tape (washi or magic tape works great). Remove the backing from all the double sided tape around the edges of the frame, line the images up carefully, then press into place.

16. Remove the low tack tape. The tag should move freely within the "track" you created without falling out the bottom or being pulled out the top.

17. Decorate the front as desired. I added another sentiment, a button, piece of twine and some hand-drawn grass and flies.

That's it,  you're done!

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