hearts

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EASY SWING VALENTINE CARD (INTERACTIVE)

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Swing (a.k.a. flip) cards have been around for a long, loooong time—nowadays, you can, of course, purchase dies that make the cuts and score lines for you, which is always nice! However, if you’ve never made one and want to give it a try, they’re quite simple/easy to do; just make sure that the shape you’re using is symmetrical (equal on both sides opposite each other, i.e. a circle, a butterfly, a square, a rectangle, an oval, a star and, in the case above, a heart) for best effect. Anything asymmetrical will be problematic.

BASIC SWING/FLIP CARD INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Start with a card base measuring 5.5 x 8.5”.

  • At 2 1/8” from the left short side, draw a faint pencil line.

  • Center a symmetrical shaped die along the pencil line and use washi tape to anchor in place.

  • Position the top cutting pad over the die and paper, aligning the edge with the pencil line; this insures that there will only be pressure applied up to that point.

  • After completing the die cut, remove die and tape and erase pencil line.

  • Score card base at 2 1/8” from the left short side (in the same position as your original pencil line), taking care not to score through the shape itself (start from the top of the card base and score right up to the top of the shape, skip over the shape, and then continue to score from the bottom of the shape down to the bottom of the card).

  • Score another line at 4.25” from the left short side (this will be the gutter/main fold) of the card.

  • Fold the card in half along the gutter, creasing well, then fold the smaller section back on itself, creating a “z-fold”.

  • As you open and close the card, the shape will swing or flip back and forth; embellish each side as desired.

  • Finished card is A-2 (4.25 x 5.5”) size when folded.

TIP:

If you plan to create a similar “Conversation Hearts” with a knock-out text effect, it helps to use alphabet dies that have extra letters, OR use phrases that don’t require multiples of the same letter. Here are some “Valentine” phrases that don’t require multiples of any given letter:

  • HUGS

  • HEY GIRL

  • WINK

  • U R HOT

  • CUTIE

  • U R LOVED

  • SWAK

  • U ROCK

  • HUG ME

  • ILYSM (Acronym for “I love you so much”)

  • SOUL MATE

  • LOVE BUG

  • XO

You’re welcome!

HANDY VALENTINES

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Hand gestures convey so much in a conversation—I can’t talk without my hands; I’ve tried! Like so many parents, when my kiddos were little, I’d stretch my arms out wide and tell them I’d loved them “thiiiiiiiis much” (which they understood to mean “to infinity and beyond”, LOL!). Prior to that, it was the Mister who taught me the ASL sign (card on the right); his brother is deaf. So my kids grew up seeing both pretty much every day of their lives.

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LEFT CARD TIPS:

  • After using a Copic marker to “paint” the nails, I added a Sakura Clear Glaze to the tips, for a glossy shine (camera didn’t pick that up well, tho.)

  • The hands are popped up just at the palms with thin 3D foam squares for a little dimension.

RIGHT CARD TIPS:

  • When both sides of a die cut are going to be visible, you might want to place a layer or two of scratch paper beneath your card stock; my cutting pads were heavily etched and if I don’t protect the back side of the card stock with scratch paper, the etch marks will often transfer to the back die cut paper when running it through the machine. No likey.

  • I elongated the “arm” by placing it high enough onto the card stock that I could use a craft knife to quickly cut the arms any length I wanted (the bottom of these dies, at the wrist, were purposely designed this way to allow for lengthening the arm).

  • Curl the finger tips as desired (the barrel of a pen or pencil is handy for this) and use glue to secure in place.

Fun and easy, right?! My favorite!

Tomorrow I’ll have a new Hello, Monday video using these same stamps and dies—I think you’ll like it (turned out adorable, if I do say so m’self!) so be sure to check that out on the Ellen Hutson blog HERE.

Catch ya’ later!