Craft Project Week 14: Present Tree Card

Everyone likes a handmade greetings card and what better way to spend a chilly November afternoon than making a few special cards to send to friends or family? I’ve come up with three designs to be published here over three weeks that you can make at home with minimal materials – all you need are some card blanks, some Christmassy papers (craft paper or wrapping paper are fine, and if you have anything with a bit of glitter so much the better!), and maybe some Christmas “messages”.

If you’re already a card-maker you may have some or all of these materials to hand, or you may be able to recycle some old Christmas cards by cutting them up and using them instead of Christmas papers. You might be surprised what you can do with what you’ve got!

Here are instructions for the third of the three designs. Like the previous two weeks, it’s fairly simple but you’ll need to think a little about building up the shape of the “tree”. Have a go and remember, there are always more ways to achieve a similar effect or one that you like better, so have a play and see what you can do.

Card 3 – THE PRESENT TREE

You will need: a blank card, Christmas papers, Christmas message, glue stick, scissors, felt-tip pens.

Method (see photo for clarification!)

• Draw a faint pencil line 3-4 inches long near the bottom of the blank card, and two other faint lines diagonally meeting at about 5 inches up (you’re creating a triangle shape).
• Take your Christmas papers and cut them into 10-12 different small squares and oblongs (see photo).
• Starting at the bottom pencil line, place some of your shapes to form the first “tier” of “presents”.
• Carry on placing your other paper shapes in an approximate triangle formation until you get to the point at the top. You may want to experiment with the order of this, not gluing, until it looks right.
• When you’re happy with the shape of the “present tree”, glue the papers down.
• Take a felt-tip pen and draw some “ribbons” and “bows” around some of the shapes, finishing with a big bow at the top.
• Add your Christmas message wherever you think looks good – for this card, probably at the top.

Hope you have fun doing it!

Don’t forget to share pictures of your creations with us so we can admire them! If you’re happy for MFT to share them on social media too to inspire others to take part, email them to Connie Ridout, Communications Lead at MFT, at connie@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Thank you!

Diana

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