Paper Tole Tutorial

Well, I seemed to have struck a chord with many of you yesterday! Unanimously, it seems that everyone would rather I would stamp than clean! Hee hee...well, I didn't end up stamping much and I did end up getting some cleaning done. The video/DVD cabinet was a mess, so I spent some time straightening that up, cleaning out my magazine basket and my end table, which was piled with magazines, papers, books and crud. Everything looks pretty tidy now. By the time I was done with that, I was too tired to do anything. I knew I should have stuck to my instincts and stamped FIRST. Ah well. By the time I got downstairs to stamp, everything I did looked like doody.

And what makes it worse is this: my husband came home from work on Thursday and I showed him the now neat and tidy video/dvd cabinet. Did he say, "Hey, great job, darling!" or "Wow! You are so awesome!!!" or even "Looks good!"? No, he did not! He said, "Why did you have to do that?" As in, why didn't I get the kids to do it? Duh! They aren't capable! When I tell them to clean up the videos/dvds, the open the cabinet and throw them in higgledy-piggledy. Much better to do it myself. That way I could get rid of some of them too. Men. Barf.

So yesterday, I redeemed myself. I made cookies during the day, avoided cleaning and cooking dinner, and then last night I was able to go down and stamp. And since Linda was asking about the paper tole part of the card, I decided to make a new tutorial, just so you can see how really nice I am all over again!

Dah dah dah dah!!!!

The Great Paper Tole Tutorial

First thing is, what is paper tole? It is the process of making a dimensional picture out of several copies of the same image. People do this with printed images as well, but stampers have an advantage in that they can stamp as many copies as they want! After you create the base image, you cut portions out of other copies (usually one or two) of the same image. These are mounted on dimensionals to pop them out from the base image.

So the first thing you need is an image, some ink pads for stamping or coloring, a pair of sharp detail scissors, and several pieces of cardstock that are the same color, plus some dimensionals or pop dots.

Stamp several copies of the image (this one is from the set Gossamer Wings).

I did one base image and two copies, using Very Vanilla cardstock with Basic Brown ink.

If you are using a line art image, color it in with the medium of your choice. Here, because it's easy and quick, I'm using my aquapainter and my ink pads.

I colored all of the base image, including the background, but for the copies, I only colored the parts I intended to cut out and pop up.

Then I cut out the parts of the copies that I wanted to pop above the base image.

Here are the parts I decided to use, plus the base image. The whole flowers will be the first layer above the base, the flower center and petal edge the second layer.

I put dimensionals on the first layer of images.

And I peeled the dimensional backings off and placed the cut out images directly over the same image on the base.

Then I placed the smaller pieces in the second layer, trimming pieces from the edge of the dimensional sheet to fit.

Here is the finished piece.

And since I am now as addicted to shadow box cards as I was to donut cards there for a while,  naturally I had to make the finished piece into this shadow box card. I highlighted the images with a white gel pen. Colors: Certainly Celery, Always Apricot, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Old Olive. I used the Giga Scalloped Circle punch from Marvy over a circle I had cut out with my Coluzzle to make the cute frame. The greeting is from Sincere Salutations, punched out with the Keytag Punch. Lisa asked if these cards will fit in an envelope...yes they will...the whole thing squorshes fairly flat and can be resucitated by the recipient. But that means...gasp!...that we actually have to send these cards to PEOPLE? Erm...that's the part I have problems with!

I like this one even better than the first one (yes, I love myself!) AND I managed to make two cards in a row without using any of the In Colors...I'm trying to wean myself off them, but it's hard, oh it's soooo hard! Remember when we were all so stinkin' excited over Certainly Celery and Apricot Appeal? They were strange at first, but I got to playing with them and they became some of my favorite colors! Then when those new In Colors came along, I just tossed those old new colors to the side to play with the new stuff...yes, I am a COLOR HO! There's nothing wrong with those old new colors, now is there? Once we were so excited about them and we'll be excited with the 6 new In Colors that come out in July! Right?

NOOOO! Cool Caribbean forever! (Housework, whenever!)

Comments

[Britiney]

Oh, do I ever know what you mean about the in-colors! I've been trying to wean myself from them but I absolutely CAN'T function without them. I reach for CC first every time. It's pathetic, really. As hard as I try, I can't imagine any new colors being as wonderful. Thanks for your great tutorial!

[Allison]

Just gorgeous...I love it! Your tutorials are da bomb!

[Linda (LSN on SCS)]

Jan....you rock! Love this tutorial! I can't wait to give it a try.

Linda

[Rose Ann]

Beautiful card....I just love it!! Thanks for a wonderful tutorial.

[Barb Shelton]

Ahhhh!! I can tell we are feeling better today..got that "vent" thing out or the system and moved on to bigger fish!!! lol!! Love your tutorial. I'll have to give that one a try. You made it look so easy. Thanks for sharing. Barb

[Samantha O]

Love this paper tole tutorial! I'm going to have to try it myself. I love your blog, it's so informative and fun.

[Gail]

Thanks for the great tutorial...can't wait to try this.

[Samantha]

What a WONDERFUL tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!!

[Stephanie]

What a beautiful card! The "color Ho" comment nearly made me fall out of my chair! I do know how you feel, sadly, as I am addicted as well. Keep up the great work Jan, and keep us laughing.

[Karrie Winters]

Jan you are hilarious!! I laugh every time I read your blog!! The housework one about made me fall out of my chair laughing because I feel the same EXACT way about cleaning!! Anyway, I love your blog and I read it anytime you post because your work is fantastic and your tutorials are da-bom!!!
Karrie

[Otter]

Wow!! This is beautiful!!! Thanks for the toot!!

[kathynruss]

Soooo, paper tole is what I've been doing for years! Didn't know that was what it was! LOL

As for the stinker you're married to, teach him a lesson! When he does some "women's work" and then complains that you didn't notice or compliment him on his initiative and how good a job he did folding that laundry or whatever, just say, "Yes, Dear, it's a thankless job, isn't it?" I read this many years ago in a Reader's Digest funny. When I used it on my hubby, he got the picture. He thanks me for just about anything I do and I return the favor when he does something like mow the lawn. We give each other a hug and say, "No, it's not a thankless job."

[Debra]

This project is absolutely gorgeous! TFS!

[Alex (aka Sillybirds)]

Wow in UK we call this decoupage, not paper tole, how fun is this!!! that everything has such different names

[Angel Wilde]

Love the tutorial, Jan! Your blog even provides comic relief. Can't beat it!

[Karen]

Thanks for the tutorial - looks like fun and I'll have to try it. Not sure how much patience I have for trimming little tiny pieces, but it looks worth it. And once again thanks for the laugh. Colour Ho...you crack me up! Too funny.

[Julie Moore]

Oh Tink!(may you live forever too!) I think you are the grand poo pah of poo! (yes that is a comliment of the highest.) I just love your blog and look to it often when I need a good laugh and feel so grand when I finish reading each of your post! I just love you! If you lived in Alabama I think we would be best friends. I am still giggling about the part of you weaning yourself off the "In colors" I actually think I may have to take a sedative when Cool Carribean goes away! Well.... I just cant think about that right now. I must go make something with it right now! thanks for sharing your humor with us. Julie

[Krista]

OK, all through this post I was amused, but I have to admit that I burst out in laughter when I got to the COLOR HO part!!! Too funny...

[angela]

What a beautiful card!
And you are so funny...!
You have brightened my evening with your wonderful blog - thank you so much.

[Karen (Karen Stamps! on SCS)]

Great tutorial! Thank you so much! I was inspired to try it myself for this week's colour challenge. Here's what I did:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/526164?cat=3741

Can't wait to try your other tutorials too.

[Mary]

You work is beautiful, Jan. Thanks so much for your fantastic tutorial! Can't wait to try it! Mary

[fiend]

i've looking for a simple effective tutorial like this for sssssoo long!!

thank you so much, i cant wait to get started!!