Tutorial - Suspension Cards

Often called Spinner Cards, these fabulous creations add a little bit of excitement to your card giving. Wind up the suspended image, fold the card and wait for the squeals of delight when it's opened and the string spins back into place. Great for people of all ages and easily adaptable for just about any occasion.

1. To make a card similar to mine, you'll need a card blank measuring 4" x 51/2" when folded, a piece of card stock measuring 33/4" x 51/4", and a piece of patterned paper measuring 31/2" x 5". You will also need two flat mirror image embellishments that you can suspend in your card, such as a stamped image, paper flower or similar. You don't have to use a fussy cut image like I did, a small card stock circle with a little stamp will work perfectly. Select a die that fits completely around your little embellishment.

2. Using repositionable glue or tape, secure the single piece of card stock to the front of your card blank keeping a nice even border around the four sides.

3. Cut a window through the piece of card stock and the front of your card blank using the die and a die cutting machine. If you don't have a die cutting machine, use a kraft knife or trimmer to cut a window through both layers.

Cut a length of heavy thread, crochet cotton or similar. It has to span the window with a little extra on either side that can be anchored in place.

4. Secure the thread across the centre of the window with tape and glue. The tape will hold the thread in place while the glue dries. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the adhesive to dry before adding the embellishment.

5. Secure the piece of card stock over the top of your card blank, sandwiching the string in the middle. Take care to line the windows up and keep the side edges parallel. Allow to dry completely.

6. Cut a slightly larger window from the patterned paper and adhere to the front of the card. Nesting dies are ideal for this step.

7. Place a strip of double sided tape on the back of one of the little embellishments and press it down over the string. Make sure your card is open so that you don't adhere the image to the inside of the card! Add a second piece of double sided tape to the back of the other embellishment.

8. Flip the card over so that you're working on the inside and on the back of the first little embellishment. Add strong glue or tape and secure the other embellishment over the top, sandwiching the string between the two. Add any additional decorations, stamped sentiments or ephemera that you wish.

Stamps:

Tutorial - Spinner Cards

Get ready for a bit of interactive fun with these great spinner cards that topple and slide as you tilt the card to the right or left. They are sure to be a hit with whoever receives them and can be easily personalised by choosing a spinner that appeals to your recipient.

Requirements: Coloured card blank folded in half Piece of white cardstock 5 3/4" x 4" Two small coins (eg: Australian 5c piece or U.S. penny) Small coloured and cut out image (I used a little bee) Pencil, ruler, eraser, black pen Craft knife, scissors Double sided tape Foam tape or large foam dots 1/2" circle punch or craft knife and scissors Narrow (less than 1/2" tall) sentiment stamp Stamp pad Assorted flowers and brads

1. On the piece of white cardstock, measure down 3/4" from the top and draw a line across the cardstock. Draw another line 1/2" below the first. Measure 3/4" from each side edge and draw lines. You will end up with a 1/2" wide box across the top of the cardstock that is 3/4" from each edge as in the photo below.

2. If you have a 1/2" circle punch, punch out two circles on either end of the box. Don't worry if you can't reach all the way to the box, just put the punch as far over as it will go. For those of us who don't have a punch, simply round the ends of the box using a circle template, a large pen lid, a bottle top - anything circular.

3. Use a craft knife and/or scissors to cut out the box with the rounded ends.

4. Lay the white cardstock centred over your card blank and lightly trace around the edges of the box.

5. Use a narrow stamp to add a sentiment inside the window you created by tracing the shape of the box. I just used a pen to write the words I wanted.

6. You can add some more stamps or penwork to the white cardstock. I dotted a whimsical border with a black pen.

7. Choose an assortment of flowers or embellishments for the front of your card. Alternatively you could stamp and colour images of your choice or use some appropriate patterned papers.

8. To make the spinner, add a large circular piece of foam tape to one of the coins. The foam tape needs to be big enough to hold the two coins together, but not so big that it takes up the entire surface of the coin. If you don't have circular foam tape, simple cut off the corners of a square piece and roughly round it out like I did.

9. Add the other coin on top to make a "sandwich".

10. Use nice strong double sided tape to adhere the coins to the back of your small coloured image.

11. Place the bottom of the back coin over the bottom of the slot you cut into the white cardstock.

12. Bend the top of the white cardstock slightly until you can get the top of the coin to pop through as well. You should now have a coin on either side of the window with the foam tape forming a channel for the spinner to slide along.

Front view:

13. Use foam tape to attach the white cardstock to the card blank. You will need quite a lot of foam tape around the window to ensure there is enough support for the coins, which are actually quite heavy. Make sure you place your foam tape far enough away from the window for the spinner to move freely.

14. Centre the white card over the card blank and press together firmly.

15. Tilt the card from side to side and watch the bee spin back and forth!