Fun and Simple way to use Circle Shapes in Card Making

Happy Mother’s Day! To celebrate, I have some simple and pretty cards to share with you today! The cards feature a fun way to use circle shapes in your card making. We are actually going to use them as accent pieces on the corners of the card. So I have a few tips for how to use your punches to do this. Plus, I have a few simple card making ideas for using up the scraps leftover from creating these cards.

The Circle Design

The cards I am sharing today feature the Best Dressed Designer Series paper. However, keep in mind that you can use ANY patterned paper with this design technique. The concept for creating the circle design is very simple. Start by choosing two different pattern papers that compliment each other. For the cards I am sharing today, I chose a bold (busy) floral pattern and a smaller pattern that compliments the busy one. Cut both of the pieces of pattern paper at 5 x 3-3/4 inches.

Next, choose a circle punch. The 2 inch circle punch gives a larger, more noticeable circular shape to play with. However, any size punch will work. Place the two pieces of pattern paper together and slide the corner into the circle punch. Slide the point on the corner of the paper all the way into the punch until it reach the other side of the circle punch. Make sure the corner of the paper is near but not under the area that punches out the circular shape. Punch out the circular shapes on two corners of the pattern paper. Using opposite corners gives a nice look to the card.

Circle Shapes in Card Making

Once you have created the circular shapes you are ready to put together the design. Now I cut the circle shapes from the corners of both pieces of pattern paper at the same time. That makes it so much easier to mix and match the patterns to create a fun look!

Start by adhering each of the 5 x 3-3/4 inch pieces of pattern paper to a 5-1/4 x 4 inch piece of white cardstock. You want to adhere the main piece first (the ones that are missing the two corners). So for the first card, I adhered the floral pattern to the white cardstock first. Next, take the two circle shapes, with the polka dot pattern, and adhere them in each corner. The circle shapes will fit perfectly in the corners because we cut the shapes out of BOTH pieces of pattern paper at the same time.

Notice how you can actually create two cards at once! Simply mix and match the pieces to create a fun look! These two card simply feature different pattern papers, but the concept for creating them is exactly the same. Using this little corner cutting technique is a simple way to create a unique looking pattern on your card. And the pieces fit together perfectly every time!

Using Up Scraps

Creating the circle shape design is a lot of fun! However, cutting the 5 x 3-3/4 inch pieces of patterned paper means that I had a lot of left over scraps, The Best Dressed Designer Series Paper Pack is 6 x 6 inch size. So I ended up with a 2-1/2 x 5 inch piece and some 1 inch pieces. The best way to use up long thin pieces of patterned paper is to create a few panel style cards.

There are two different ways to use them. The second card features a 2-1/4 x 5 inch piece of the floral paper and two 3/4 x 5 inch pieces of the polka dot pattern. The pieces are adhered side by side onto a 5-1/4 x 4 inch piece of white cardstock. The other two cards features a smaller center panel which is 2 x 5 inches. The outside panels are 3/4 x 5 inches. Have a slightly smaller panel in the middle enables you to space the panels out a bit to create a little white matte in between.

Supplies

So there you go! Now you have some fun and simple ways to use circle shapes in your card making! And you also have a few ideas for using up those leftover scrap pieces of patterned paper. You can find more panel card making ideas for using up scraps HERE.

Have a very Happy Mother’s Day! Take some time to play in your craft room today. Do it for YOU! After all, it is Mother’s Day so you get to do whatever you want to do today! Have a fun and creative day my friends. Enjoy! ~ Lynn

Supply List

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock [140272]	Lovely Lipstick 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [146970]	Purple Posy 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [150881]	Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [133675]	Best Dressed 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [151319]
Highland Heather Classic Stampin’ Pad [147103]	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin’ Pad [147111]	Lovely Lipstick Classic Stampin’ Pad [147140]	Stitched Labels Dies [146828]	2″ (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch [133782]