Everything Papercraft - Aperture Cards

The word “aperture” means an opening, hole, or gap, so an aperture card is any card that has an opening, hole or gap as one of it’s features. Paper crafters use a range of tools to create apertures, such as cutting dies, punches, and circle cutters, and this means that we’re able to produce an endless array of fabulous designs. Apertures can be decorated to resemble windows, doors, or even peep holes into secret gardens, and they’re a great way to give a little sneak peek into the card or to help bring design elements together.

Tutorial: Aperture Card III

This technique is a little trickier than the previous two, and in my opinion, doesn't give quite as nice a finish as the easier techniques that have less bulk in the front of the card. You will often find these card blanks pre-cut and folded in craft stores but it is possible to do it yourself with a few basic tools.

1. Start with an A4 sheet of cardstock folded into three equal sections.

2. Cut a hole, or aperture, from the middle section. This can be in any shape you wish and in any position so long as the cut doesn't cross either fold line.

3. Now you can decorate from the back of the aperture. I chose to add a mat and then some spotted craft coloured paper, which I secured from the back.

4. Add some adhesive to the back of the first panel, then press the two sections together. The patterned papers will now be hidden inside the front of the card.

5. Once you have sealed the front closed your card will look like an ordinary card blank ready for decorating.

6. Decorate with embellishments and stamps as desired.

copyright Beccy Muir 2011

Tutorial: Aperture Card II

It might be somewhat of a stretch to call this an aperture card, but hey, we're going to do it anyway. To make this card was so simple that I don't need to write up a full tutorial for you, it just involves a card blank with a picture and some patterned paper mats with holes in them. Adhere everything together and... voila! You now have a very simple aperture card.

Tutorial - Aperture Cards

Aperture means "window", so we're basically talking about any cards that have a hole cut into them to give you a view to the inside. Generally, that's where you would place a sentiment or special embellishment so that it is visible from both the outside and the inside of the card.

1. Start by decorating the front of your card blank as desired. Keep it fairly simple at this stage as you can add more embellishments at the end.

2. Use your favourite tool to make a hole through the front of your card - cutting dies, punches, circle cutters, a craft knife, etc.

3. Add your embellishment or stamped image through the hole in the front of the card, making sure you avoid any overlap with the edges of the hole. Your embellishment will be visible from the front of the card, but will actually be on the inside.

4. Decorate as desired... easy!