Embossed Cupcake Card Making Project

In a previous article, I wrote about how Clear Scraps acrylics can be embossed with the Cuttlebug machine and Cuttlebug embossing folders. Now I would like to share a project idea, with step-by-step instructions for using this technique.

Project Description: All-Occasion Blank Cupcake Card

I created a blank greeting card using an embossed acrylic cupcake shape. The shape I used is a page from the cupcake mini keychain album by Clear Scraps. Cupcakes (and cake!) go hand in hand with a variety of different occasions; think birthdays, parties, weddings, showers, etc. This card would be appropriate for use in connection with any kind of celebration or happy occasion. You could use it for a party invitation, wedding thank-you card, bridal shower invitation, baby shower invitation, birthday card, or "thinking of you" card.

Supply List:

One page from the Clear Scraps Cupcake Mini Keychain Album

Pink textured cardstock; the cardstock used in the sample is by Bazzill.

5 patterned papers that look pretty together - the papers used in the sample are all made by different manufacturers, so don't be afraid to mix and match if you like. The papers I used are by Basic Grey, Fancy Pants, Sharon Soneff for Creative Imaginations, and Daisy D's.

Ribbon: The ribbon I used is a sheer pale pink polka dotted ribbon, but you can use any ribbon that will coordinate well with your papers.

Ranger Liquid Pearls in the color of your choice

Zig Painty Pen in the color of your choice

Various inks to coordinate with your patterned papers. I used Brilliance inks by Tsukineko and Fluid Chalk inkpads by Clearsnap.

Strathmore Bristol Board

Adhesive of your choice - if you aren't sure which adhesive to use with the clear acrylic, try Zip Dry paper glue. It is the best adhesive I have found for adhering a variety of surfaces.

Tools Needed:

Cuttlebug Machine and Cuttlebug "Textile" embossing folder, or any embossing folder of your choice

Fiskars Paper Edgers Scissors: Mini Scallop, Scallop, Heartstrings, and Colonial designs. This is for making the fancy scalloped edgings on the paper lace borders. To see more information about how to make paper lace, visit paperlaces.com.

Sewing machine and thread in a color that coordinates with your papers; if you don't have a sewing machine, you could substitute a rub-on or rubber stamp that imitates machine stitching.

3.5" Circle template - I used the template that comes with the Fiskars Shape Xpress tool, but you can use any template you like.

Bone folder or Scor-Pal scoring tool

Paper Trimmer

Round hole punch

Greeting Card Insuctions:

Cut a 7" x 10" piece of cardstock.

Using your bone folder or Scor-Pal tool, score the cardstock down the center and fold it in half to create a card base measuring 7" x 5".

Cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 6.5" x 4.5". Ink the edges with Fluid Chalk in a coordinating color. Apply adhesive, center the patterned paper over the base of the greeting card, and glue it down.

Cut a small strip of patterned paper measuring 6.5" x approximately 1.5". You can use a paper scrap for this if you have one handy that coordinates. The vertical measurement isn't all that critical as your paper lace border will cover part of it.

Ink the lower edge and sides of the paper strip with a coordinating color of ink.

Adhere this strip of paper to the card base.

Make a paper lace border using the instructions at paperlaces.com. The border here was made by:
Inking 3 different pieces of Strathmore Bristol board using different colors of ink
Cutting each piece using a different pair of decorative scissors
Sewing the top 2 layers together using the sewing machine, and then attaching them to the lower layer using glue

Attach the paper lace border to the card base so that it overlaps and partially covers the last strip of patterned paper you attached.

Draw a 3.5" circle on the back of one of your pieces of patterned paper. Cut around the outside of the circle with scalloped Paper Edgers / decorative scissors.

Ink the edges of the scalloped circle with a coordinating color of ink.

Attach the scalloped circle to the base of the greeting card.

Cut a 3.5" circle out of patterned paper. Ink around the edges.

Adhere the circle so that it is centered on top of the scalloped circle you previously attached.

Turn one of your patterned papers over to the reverse side. Take your Clear Scraps cupcake shape and draw around it using a pencil. Be sure to also draw a circle where the hole in the top is. Cut out the cupcake shape you drew onto the paper and flip it over so that the right side is showing. Ink around the right side of the paper with coordinating ink. Using a hole punch, punch a hole where the circle at the top is. Put this cupcake shape aside momentarily.

Run the Clear Scraps cupcake shaped acrylic mini through the Cuttlebug machine with the embossing folder. (See this article for step-by-step instructions if you don't know how to do this.)

Use the Liquid Pearls and Painty Pen to embellish the embossed design on the cupcake shape. Let dry.

Use ribbon to tie a bow at the top that holds the cupcake-shaped paper and the cupcake-shaped acrylic together.

Apply adhesive to the back of the cupcake-shaped paper, and attach it to the greeting card in the center of the circle.

Optional: You can add a paper liner to the greeting card if you like. Otherwise, it is ready to use.

Personalize the greeting, and send it to the recipient. Alternately, you can add it to your card stash in preparation for the next time you need a greeting card.

More Free Card Making Ideas:

Free card sketch for cardmaking

Make a thank-you card using My Little Shoebox patterned papers and other scrapbooking supplies

Free cardmaking crafts project idea: sending all my love card