Shopping My Stash With the Jingle Belles

The Jingle Belles have teamed up with the ladies over at Shopping Our Stash for a joint challenge which is perfect for me because I have been on a Christmas card binge and Heaven knows I have a stash...  I was inspired by this card on Pinterest to make some cards using iris folding (sort of) and long retired Christmas paper, embellishments and stamps.  If you are not familiar with iris folding, this website has a description of the technique as well as a tutorial and patterns (some free!).  True iris folding requires lightweight paper because you are, well, folding it and cardstock would get too bulky.  Since I wanted to use cardstock, I  cut strips of paper and then sponged the edges to give them some of the definition that a folded edge would have.  I did not have a pattern, but after several attempts, I managed to draw my own.

 Now iris folding can be a little unnerving because you are working from the back and cannot see how your card is coming along:

I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with my own pattern until I realized that I had forgotten a critical detail that I would have noticed if I could have seen the front as I worked.  The completed card will be the reverse of the image you see on the pattern.  I had intended the red to be on the outer side of the ornament.  Oops!  Lesson learned.

If you don't have a pattern and are not not sure if you are up to drawing your own, this card uses strips of paper to get the general effect but without the iris.

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Materials used, all from Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

Card 1:
Paper: Pear and Partridge (retired), Cashmere and Colonial White cardstock
Ink:  Metallic Gold by ColorBox, Cranberry
Stamp:  A Very Merry Christmas (retired)
Embellishments:  Pear and Partridge complements (retired), Ariana assortment (retired)
Other:  Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

Card 2:
Paper:  Frosted (retired), Silver Metallic paper by Recollections (not longer available from Michael's, Colonial White cardstock
Ink:  Metallic Silver by ColorBox
Stamp:  A Very Merry Christmas (retired)
Embellishments:  Colonial White ribbon and Blue sparkle (both retired)
Other:  Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Create-a-Flake Five Shapebilities by Spellbinders