Like a lot of you, I jumped on board and purchased the fabulous new Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers last year. And then my family started cleaning up and packing things away in order to sell our house and move! Months later (late last year), when I was finally able to get it back in my hands, I made sure to set it aside so I could have a chance to play with it. Since I am horrible at actually mailing most of the cards I make, I set out to see what else I could do with this crafty tool. An Internet search revealed a HUGE myriad of fabulous items that can be made with this innovative tool besides awesome custom envelopes ... I urge you to do the same!
Since I've always loved the look of a file folder greeting card, this particular idea really appealed to me -- especially since I've been meaning to purchase a die that would give this same look!
The bonus with making your file folders with the Envelope Punch Board is that you can adjust the file tab to whatever size and position you'd like! It's very easy -- here's how (click on any photo for a larger view):
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A 3-TAB FILE FOLDER CARD:
Start with a normal card-sized piece of cardstock for the base of your file folder card -- a half sheet of 8.50" x 11" = 8.50" x 5.50".
1. You can choose to notch the far right and left corners, depending on the look you prefer and you can either do it at the beginning or end. Here, I did it first but it may be easier for you to align the edge of the cardstock with the ruler if you punch this corner last. You want to put the edge of your cardstock right in the center of the little punch opening you see in the lower center of the round blue punch "button".
2. Move the left edge of your cardstock over the 1-3/4" mark of the Envelope Punch Board and punch.
3. This is the completed left file folder tab.
4. To make the right and middle tabs, flip the left side of your cardstock over so the tab is now on th right and repeat steps 1 and 2 above.
5. By creating the second end tab, you've also created the middle tab.
Next, decide which position of tabs you want to create. In the photo below, the right side of my file folder is a center tab, so I just used my paper trimmer to take off the left (or top) and right (bottom) tabs. So on the left side of my folder, I removed the center tab. Now when the folder is closed (left side folded to the right), you'll be able to see the center tab:
To add extra authenticy to the folder, I scored down the normal 4.25" center mark of an A2-sized card, and then 1/4" on each side of center.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A 2-TAB FILE FOLDER CARD:
(For the times you may need a larger tab)
1. Align the left side of the cardstock at the 2-3/4" mark, punch. Then punch the ends, same as step 1 above:
To decorate the front of my card, I stamped Penny Black's beautiful Floral Applique slapstick cling with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with these Copic Sketch markers: RV63, RV66, YG23, YG25, YG17, and Y21.
For the background, I used E41, E42 and E43 to color around the flower on the lower part of the panel (I wanted to soften the white cardstock to blend and match it to the Neenah Desert Storm kraft colored card base). Then I flicked the lightest E41 from the flower upward, to create a transition into the blue sky I airbrushed with BG000. After flicking the E41, I softened the top edge and blended it out to white, using the 0-Colorless Blender:
Having that little bit of E41 Pearl White "buffer" right up against the flower allowed me to airbrush the BG000 sky up to the Pearl White without having to mask the flower and without fear of getting BG000 overspray on the already-colored flower (yes, that's the lazy way because I don't like cutting masks!).
After stamping the Hero Arts Celebrate Everyday sentiment on the tab, here's what the file folder card looks like open:
To finish the card front image, I used the corner rounder that's included on the top of the Envelope Punch Board's punch button and accented the top right of the colored image with Ellen's Iridescent Vanilla Sequins, secured with Mini Glue Dots.
To add to the authenticity of my file folder, I used the tabs I cut off the back side of the folder and adhered them to the front tabs, to act like the reinforced tabs you see on some file folders!
This birthday card is for my husband's Aunt whom we are celebrating her 90th birthday this weekend! I know she did a ton of filing in her 35-ish years of working, so I don't quite know if she'll look forward to this card or not! But she usually loves whatever I make her, so I think she'll probably appreciate it! Thanks for joining me today! ~ Sharon
