How to: Miter Card Corners with Quilling Strips
I had a question about how I was able to angle the border corners so perfectly on the quilled Hello card posted recently. Well, there's a little trick that makes this quite easy to do and I'm happy to show the technique.
A few years ago I watched Mrs. Grossman, the queen of stickerdom, demonstrate mitered corners using straight edge stickers. It occurred to me the very same illusion could be achieved with quilling strips.
Step 1: Mount background paper on cardstock and glue a strip on the left and right sides. No need to angle the corners - just make blunt cuts. My adhesive of choice for this project is a glue stick because it allows time for repositioning and I can wipe away any excess with a damp cloth (lightly though - don't go crazy with the water!)
Notice the patterned paper wasn't cut quite straight along the bottom. oops... but not to worry, I fixed it by cutting the strip on the right side ever so slightly longer than the one on the left... you'll see what I mean in a moment.
Step 2: Measure and cut two strips of identical length for the top and bottom edges; you'll need the full width measurement which includes the side strips.
Step 3: Bend a strip in half without creasing and cut the ends together at an angle. Repeat with second strip, matching the angle of the cut as closely as you can to the one made on the first strip.
Step 4: Glue each strip in place... the angled cuts will overlap the straight cuts making it look like you've been slaving away with a protractor... ha!
Hmmm, now to decide what else will go on this card... like Scarlett, I'll think about it tomorrow.
Quilling strip edging gives a professional look and certainly takes away the stress of matching colors since you can use the same papers as in the filigree design. If your card's technique is something other than quilling, pre-cut strips would still be great to use because they make it easy with such perfectly straight edges. You can cut your own strips also of course, using whatever paper you like and a paper cutter. I'm thinking patterned strips would add a lot of interest... must try that soon.
And one last thing for now, many thanks to Pearl of the lovely Beading Gem's Journal for featuring my sea-themed filigree pendants today.
Recommended quilling and paper craft supplies can be found in my Amazon shop.
In a UofD art class years ago, taught by Sue Tessam of Chestertown, MD, we were trained to create cut paper designs by laying two pieces of paper on top of each other and cutting through both layers with an exacto knife. In this way, paper edges did not overlap, but fit together perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThe next step was to coat each cut piece with rubber cement, let it dry, then coat the board with rubber cement and let it dry. When the cut pieces were applied to the board, with edges touching, but not overlapping, they were immediately, irreversibly bonded together.
I'll never forget that project. I nearly threw the thing out of my dorm room window I was so frustrated laying down those cut pieces so that the cut edges met without any of the board underneath grinning through, or any lift of the paper because one edge was inadvertently tucked under the other. It called for amazingly steady hands.
Ann- I love your quill bird card!
ReplyDeleteto answer your question about the dance tinnie on my blog - no that daughter is not a dancer (the younger one was until she had a bad accident). I made the dance tinnie to give away at the shower- so I tried to come up with themes that ladies might like. Everyone knows a dancer!
eBeth (the other allthingspaper!)