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Using the Fold-It Swirls Template

If you haven’t tried the Paper Pizazz® Fold-It Swirls Template yet, you don’t know what you’re missing! This easy-to-use template features 6 different patterns including a buttercup, spiral, 4-petal flower, star, rose and 4-leaf clover. Now you can create your own dimensional embellishments and card focals out of any patterned or solid paper or cardstock to coordinate perfectly with your project. Want to see some of the shapes in use? Read on for three great project ideas by Susan and Paris featuring this fun new paper crafting template.

All Smiles
By Susan Cobb

“Remember the Rule of 3?” Susan asks. “The Rule of 3 states that it is more visually appealing when embellishments are added to your projects in uneven numbers. Do all three embellishments have to be the same? No! While I used three Fold-It Swirls flowers on this fun 8”x8” birthday layout, you’ll notice that I mixed both the buttercup and spiral shapes together to create the colorful bouquet. You might also try mixing the rose and 4-petal flower shapes together, or try creating a bouquet using the same flower shape out of different patterned papers for variety.”

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Use the green words paper as the background. Mat the photo on yellow textured paper, trimming the mat to 1/8”. Glue the matted photo 1/2” up from the bottom and 1/4” in from the right edge of the page.
  2. Computer journal the year and a small journaling block onto yellow textured paper, then crop each into small rectangles. Mat the year journaling on pink textured paper, trimming the mat to 1/32”, and glue just right of center over the bottom edge of the photo. Mat the journaling block on pink textured paper, trimming the mat to 1/16”, and glue it about 3/8” to the left of the bottom left corner of the photo. Add one gold mini brad centered on the top edge of the pink mat.
  3. Find the spiral and buttercup patterns on the Fold-It Swirls template. Use a pencil to lightly trace the spiral pattern onto the back of both the yellow textured and purple textured papers. Trace the buttercup pattern onto the back of the pink textured paper. Cut around all of the traced lines and follow the instructions printed on the template to fold each pattern into shape.
  4. Cut three 1/16” wide strips of yellow textured paper of varying lengths to act as flower stems. Glue the strips to the right side of the page so that all the strips overlap at the bottom and extend upward. Glue one spiral or buttercup to the top of each stem as shown. Cut a 4” length of lime grosgrain ribbon and tie a knot in the center. Trim the tails at an angle, then use a Glue Dot™ to attach the knot at the bottom of the flower stems.

 

C.J.
By Paris Dukes

“I used the 4-petal flower shape from the template to create a simple, coordinating border along the bottom of this shabby chic page,” says Paris. “Here’s a tip for making all the petals on your flower really stand out when you fold it into shape: Before folding the shape, use an ink pad to ink the edges of all the petals. The petals overlap when the flower is folded and the ink will help to define the edges of each petal. Another tip? When using this flower shape, I like to add a mini brad to the middle of the flower to create a dimensional center that also helps keep all the folded petals in place–you can even use the brad to attach the flower to your page!”

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Use the red words paper as the background. Mat two vertical photos on pink textured paper, trim the mats to 1/8” and ink the edges with black. Cut three 4” lengths of black grosgrain ribbon and trim the tails of each at an angle. Fold each length in half and secure the folded ends down the top left side of one of the photos. Glue the photos in the upper portion of the page, about 3/4” to 1 1/4” down from the top edge, at varying angles as shown.
  2. Cut a 2” strip of red textured paper. Ink one of the long edges with black and make small tears along the inked edge, each about 1” apart. Glue the strip about 6 3/4” down from the top of the page overlapping the bottom of each of the photos with the inked, torn edge on the top (leave this top edge unglued for a dimensional, shabby chic look).
  3. Cut a 4” piece of pink textured paper. Ink one of the long edges with black and make small tears along the inked edge, as you did in step 2. Glue the piece over the bottom of the page overlapping the bottom of the red textured paper strip with the inked, torn edge on top (leave this top edge unglued for a dimensional, shabby chic look).
  4. Computer journal the initials onto pink textured paper in a large font, then crop to equally sized rectangles and ink all the edges with black. Cut two lengths of black grosgrain ribbon and tie a knot in the center of each. Lay one length each across the top of each journaled letter, then wrap the ends of the ribbon around the edges and secure on the back. Place a Glue Dot™ under each knot to secure it in place on the front of the journaled initials. Tuck the initials under the top, far right edge of the pink textured paper piece, overlapping them at varying angles, and glue in place.
  5. Cut a 13” length of black grosgrain ribbon, then lay it centered across the pink textured paper piece and wrap the ends around the edges of the page to secure on the back. Find the 4-petal flower pattern on the Fold-It Swirls template. Use a pencil to lightly trace the pattern three times on the back of red textured paper. Cut around all of the traced lines, then ink the edges of each cut out piece with black. Follow the instructions printed on the template to fold each flower into shape and add one black mini brad to the center of each flower to hold the petals together. Use foam mounting tape to attach the flowers over the left end of the black grosgrain ribbon length.

 

Celebrate
By Susan Cobb

“The Fold-It Swirls template is not just for scrapbookers!” Susan tells us. “All 6 shapes on this template are also a perfect size for creating or accenting card focals. The star shape I chose for this bright birthday card has rounded edges, so it helps to break up the straight lines found throughout the rest of the card front. Each of the patterns on the template features some curved lines, making all the shapes great for accenting both clean and simple or fun, shabby layouts and cards.”

Supplies:

Instructions:

For the Card Front:

  1. Orient the card so the fold is at the top, then trim 3/4” off the bottom edge of the card front. Cover the front of the card with purple watercolor paper. Cut a 6 1/8”x3 7/8” piece of aqua dots paper and glue it centered on the purple watercolor paper.
  2. Find the star pattern on the template. Use a pencil to lightly trace the pattern onto the back of lime textured paper. Cut around the traced lines and follow the instructions printed on the template to fold the pattern into shape. Cut out the purple “Happy birthday” tag. Cut out the quote and ink the edges with black. Mat on lime textured paper, trimming the mat to 1/16” and ink the edges with black. Cut a 2” length of lavender grosgrain ribbon and glue it diagonally over the top right corner of the matted quote, trimming the excess ribbon even with the edges of the mat. Cut out the “celebrate” word fragment”. Glue the tag, the folded star shape, the matted quote and the word fragment to the front of the card as shown.
  3. Cut a 4” length of lime grosgrain ribbon and trim the tails at an angle. Tie a knot in the center and use a Glue Dot™ to attach the knot beneath the purple tag.

For the Inside of the Card:

  1. Cover the inside of the card with lime blocks paper. Cut a 3/4” wide strip of aqua stripes paper and glue it flush against the bottom edge, then trim the excess even with the edges of the card.
  2. Cut a 3”x2” rectangle of purple words paper and ink the edges with black. Cut a 2” length of lime grosgrain ribbon and glue it diagonally over the top right corner of the purple words piece, trimming the excess ribbon even with the edges of the paper. Glue centered on the lime blocks paper. Cut out the aqua dots tag and the “enjoy your day” word fragment and glue them over the purple words paper as shown.

To check out all 22 styles of Paper Pizazz® templates, just click here! Or for extra tips and project samples using all the templates, head to our informational template page by clicking here.