Paper Crafting with Excel Blades

We’re so excited to share a new video made by artist and influencer Maria Marinoni! In the video below, Maria shows you a very simple floral project and paper crafting technique with a few tools. You do have the option to add the colored background however, it is not necessary. Free your imagination and doodle as you want. When you’re done, follow the contours with your blade and poke the paper out to give it a 3D effect.  Whether you want to use the white paper or a color, the outcome will be beautiful. You can mount the finished product onto a blank greeting card for a unique, hand-crafted card.

Materials

Process

  • Grab your tools and make sure the blades are sharp.
  • Choose the color paper you would like to make your floral wall decoration on. Maria also picks a background color for the wall decoration (this is not necessary, but it makes your wall art pop).
  • Using your Yardstick Compass Lead and Pin Post, cut a circle on both pieces of paper. Make the white card paper 7 inches in diameter (floral design) and the green card paper 6 inches in diameter (background color).
  • Draw your floral design on the paper that is 7 inches in diameter.
  • Once you have drawn your design, take Excel Blades K1 Aluminum Knife and cut right below the lines you have drawn. Make sure you do not cut the leaves/flowers out entirely!
  • Once you have made your cuts, use your K1 knife to gently push the paper out away from the pen marks.
  • Flip the paper over and take your K1 knife and lift the pieces of paper to give it more of a 3D look.
  • Once you are done, you can add your colored background to make your design pop. Add glue around the background color and stick it to the floral design paper; Maria uses a green background to make her floral design stand out. Make sure the side with your pen marks is facing the background!
  • Make a tiny hole on the top of your design and put your cord or paper hook through to hang.
  • You’re finished!

Check out more paper art designs from Maria Marinoni on Instagram.

How To: Paper Hearts for Singles Awareness Day

Singles Awareness Day (or Valentine’s Day) is coming up! Are you looking for something more than a pre-made card, something that shows you have the sentiment even if you don’t have the cheddar for a pricey gift? Something that can be completed in less than an hour? Read on!

Geometric Paper Heart Card (or Wall Hanging)

Materials

Directions

Fold square paper on the diagonal; use the fold line as a guide to cut or cleanly tear your paper into triangles.

Arrange triangles in the following pattern onto surface (colors are used to indicate direction of the triangles, not necessarily the pattern the papers should take).

Adhere pattern to surface.

Here are a few sweet / corny quotes that you can use:

“I love you more than I could ever promise because you take me the way I am.” – Ingrid Michaelson

“Your lips are like wine, and I want to get drunk.” – William Shakespeare

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu.

“You can’t blame gravity for falling in love.” – Albert Einstein

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” – Robert Frost

“A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.” – George Herbert

You’re done!