Gretchen Barron: Fancy Two-toned Scallop Border Technique

Hello everyone! Happy Friday morning to you! I've got a new (at least to me) technique and tutorial to share with you today. Recently, I ran across this simple, quick and very cool way to create a fancy two-toned scallop border. I got the idea from Sylvie Drader and just knew that I would need to share it with you. It's so much fun to do and amazingly quick! I've got a few examples to share with you and have included a step-by-step pictorial tutorial for you below!

As you can see from this first card, this technique provides a bold and vibrant finish to your cards and projects This first sample uses Basic Black, Real Red and Whisper White. I've used the I {Heart} Hearts (Occasions Mini Catalog) and Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration) stamp sets along with 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon and the new Stampin' Up! Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits die. All these new products will be available for customer order beginning January 5th. The Sale-A-Bration items can be earned FREE with a $50 order! Can you say , "Woo-hoo!"

This second card uses some more new product from the Occasions Mini Catalog -- the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Papers, the With All My Heart Stamp Set and 5/8" Real Red Satin Ribbon. The colors are Real Red, Regal Rose and Very Vanilla. The center stamped image is popped-up with Stampin' Dimensionals and the little flower is punched with the Flower Trio Punch and embellished with a Rhinestone Brad. You probably can't see this very well in the photo, but this new Sending Love Specialty DSP is glittered -- each of the 6 designs of paper has one side that is already glittered for you. It is delightful to look at and even more fun to use! Another great thing about using this technique on DSP -- you get to show off both sides of the paper! The small photo above shows a little stamping on the inside of the card!

One more example for you and then I'll turn you loose with the tutorial below! This one uses Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue and Whisper White. I embossed the Bashful Blue layer with the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder and the Big Shot and the sponged Elegant Eggplant Ink over the embossed design and on the edges. Once the scallop border technique was done and the card assembled, I ran it through the Big Shot using the Movers & Shapers Die and the Curly Label Insert. I added a piece of Whisper White Cardstock on the inside and stamped the sentiment from Whimisical Words (Sale-A-Bration), did a little more sponging around the edges of the window and added some Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin Ribbon. I trimmed the card to make the final size 4.25 x 5".

Okay, are you ready to learn how to do this cool technique yourself? Here you go (click on any photo to view it larger):

Step One: Using the Slit Punch and holding it upside down (so you can see what you're punching), punch a row down the edge of your cardstock, spacing them about 1/8" apart. I slid the punch all the way up until it stopped and that way I didn't have to worry about the vertical placement of the punch. If you want your scalloped border to extend further to the edge of your finished card, add 1/2" to the dimension along that side before cutting. Another tip -- mark the center point on your cardstock with a small pencil line and punch the center slit first, working out to the edges from the center. This first step may sound a little complicated and intimidating but once you do it, you'll see how easy it is. Don't be afraid -- it's only cardstock and if it takes you a couple of attempts to get it down, it's OK! I found that 7 scallops fit perfectly along the 5.25" edge that shows in this example.

Step Two: Next, simply bend the punched edge to the back. It will pretty much bend on it's own.

Step Three: Now you want to take a stip of contrasting cardstock the length of your punched edge and 1" wide (this is a great way to use up the scraps). Working from the back, apply SNAIL adhesive along the top (make sure it won't show through the punched circles), tap it down so that the edge is flush with the folds along your scallop edge, and then fold the entire thing up, setting the SNAIL adhesive by burnishing with your fingers or the flat edge of a Bone Folder. The photo on the left shows you what the back of your project will look like at this point.

Step Four:
Put another line of SNAIL on the back flap (the red flap in my example) and burnish it down. Turn your project over and you have this very cool two-tone scallop! From here, you can mount it on another contrasting color and embellish it however you wish! Thanks, Sylvie, for sharing this awesome new border technique!

I hope you have fun with this. I know I did and will definitely be using it again!

Thanks so much for spending some time on Inspiration in Action today! I hope you'll visit again soon!!!

Comments

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I saw this on Mary Jo Price-Williams and it is so cute. Thanks for the tutorial. Love your card. Nancy

Posted by: Nancy Dawson | December 11, 2009 at 07:21 AM

Very cool technique! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: Tammy Mendiola | December 11, 2009 at 09:35 AM

Your cards are just stunning. TFS

Posted by: Barbara Jean Smith | December 11, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Thanks for the tutorial, Gretchen! I'd seen this pop up on Splitcoast lately but had no idea how to do it. :)

Posted by: Steph Gittins | December 11, 2009 at 11:45 AM

omigosh!!!! WHERE have I been that I have missed this. What a great look and great idea and thanks so much, Gretchen, for the tutorial. You rock!!! Jan

Posted by: Jan Hoyt | December 11, 2009 at 12:11 PM

I love your cards- thanks for the tutorial- that is so neat! TFS

Posted by: Shelly Schmidt | December 11, 2009 at 08:39 PM

Love your cards and really like this technique. Thank you for the tutorial. LWS

Posted by: Linda Smith | December 12, 2009 at 07:32 AM