Monday, March 4, 2013

A FAVORITE CRAFT TECHNIQUE

Today is the first Monday of the month, and the posting day for the Designer Craft Connection!  If you are not familiar, this is a group of designers that belong to the Craft & Hobby Association and we post a project pertaining to a different theme each month.  Look for the blue DCC widget to the right of my post and click on it to go forward or backward to view the work of our other contributing designers.
 
The theme for this month is "A Favorite Craft Technique".  I have lots of favorites, but decided to post pictures of some cards that I created a little more than few years ago (2006!).  This was my one and only iris folding binge, but I would like to work on some designs again when I get time.  I was unaware of this technique until my little sister introduced me to it and she doesn't even consider herself a crafter!  What is it, you ask?
It is a technique that I think has been around for quite a while, called "Iris Folding". Instruction for this technique can be searched and found online, but here are a few examples of my creations.
 
I got a little carried away once I learned the technique and came up with different patterns to experiment with.  Once I was done playing, I had a pretty good collection of artsy cards.

















Once the pattern is cut out of the card stock, it is filled up with folded paper strips filling up the image until there is just a little opening in the middle of the image.  That is called the "iris", as in the iris of an eye.  I placed a pretty piece of paper behind the iris on most if not all of my cards.  If the "iris" is left open enough, it can also frame a photograph.  I tried this out with geometric shapes and it worked well.  This technique can also be applied to scrapbook lay-outs for a special touch.


 
Here is an example of a geometric shape, and the opening was the "iris", large enough for a photo.

Well, this is about all I have to share for today.  I hope you are inspired to go and create, maybe trying something new!

 
Happy Crafting!
 
Marilyn
 
P.S.   When you see highlighted words in my Blog, no need to click on them!  Blogger has seen fit to slip pop-ups into my text box and I do not know how to get them out!  They are just ads that do not apply to anything else on this blog.   Thanks!



6 comments:

  1. How much fun- you certainly made so many great designs. Love the pattern ideas.
    Thanks for sharing

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  2. Ooooh! I love iris folding too! I picked up 2 new paper wizard templates last month at the scrapbook expo.

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  3. Wow! This is stunning. Would go perfectly with my scrapbooking!

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  4. Oh I love those cards.. Iris folding is awesome I think this is my favourite techique.

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  5. Glad to share some inspiration and ideas! I am in great company! Thank you for leaving comments. Blessings, Marilyn

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  6. Wow! I'd never heard of iris folding. It's gorgeous and all your cards are so beautiful!

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