Hi crafty friends. It’s Kristine and I’m back again with another easy and beautiful project for you. This project features the gorgeous Stamperia Winter Tales paper collection. With the mixture of light and dark blues, silver, and white it is perfect for highlighting those winter photos that aren’t holiday-specific! Today, I have a tutorial to show you how to create a photo display that can be used as decorate or mailed as a card to someone else.
Supplies Needed
First, I will be using a blue cardstock for the base. I am using paper from My Mind’s Eye in a coordinating blue color. I chose a medium shade that brings out both the light and dark blues of the paper.
Next, I will be using the cut-apart cards from the Winter Tales 12” x 12” paper pad. These six cards will be the main decorative papers for the project. Then, I will be using some of the fussy cut images from the Winter Tales Collectables sheets. Mostly, I will feature the small flowers and bottom border pieces from the pages.
Finally, you will need some basic craft supplies including adhesive, a scoring tool, and a paper trimmer, and scissors. Also, I am using blue distress ink for my edges, but this is optional. Stamperia Glitter Paste is used on the cards to give them a little sparkle.
Making the Photo Display
To start, cut two pieces of cardstock to 6” x 12” and score at 4” and 8” on both pieces. Fold on the score lines in opposite directions to create a zigzag fold. Then, add adhesive to the top and bottom of one end piece. I am using double sided tape so you can see it in the photos, but you can also use glue. Next, glue the two pieces together, but make sure the zigzag fold is intact. See the third photo below. I placed the top piece directly on the bottom piece to make my fold.
Once the pieces are adhered together, there will be a pocket where they are adhered. The photo display should have 5 panels on each side and fold like an accordion.
Decorating the Photo Display
First, cut out the cut apart cards from the 12” x 12” sheet of Winter Tales paper. If you are using distress ink, then ink the edges after cutting. For the card with the woman standing, fussy cut the outer border. This card will go into the pocket between the two pieces so it will need to be smaller.
Next, adhere one card to every other panel. Start with the photo display folded up, and place one card on the front panel. Then, open the photo display up to adhere the remaining cards. There will be three cards on the front and two cards on the back.
I like to have my photos matted on white paper so I cut pieces of white presentation paper or copy paper for this step. You can use any white paper or cardstock or skip this step if you do not want a photo mat. Take 5 pieces of white paper measuring 5 1/2” x 3 3/5” and adhere to the remaining 5 panels. Then, if you already have photos, you can add those onto the photo mats. I do not have my photos yet so they are left blank for now.
Adding Embellishments to the Photo Mats
The final step in decorating the panels is to add embellishments to the photo mats. To do this, I fussy cut images from the Collectables pages. Mostly, I cut out the small flower images, and I also used the border strips from the bottom of the pages. You may wish to use different images in your photo display so choose whichever ones you like best. With these pieces, I will make strips with flowers to decorate my white photo mats.
Once all of my pieces are cut, I like to arrange them first on the panels to see what I like best. Then, after my pieces are selected, I will glue them down to the strip of decorative papers. Be careful here and make sure you do not glue anything to the white photo mat. This will ensure the photo will tuck behind the decorative pieces.
Final Touches
Adding final touches to the project really finishes it and makes it shine! First, I used Stamperia Glitter Paste in silver to add shimmer to each of the cards. To do this, I used a pointed paint brush and added the paste to parts of the images. The paste was added on the flowers, trees, wings of the fairy, and antlers and hair of the reindeer.
Adding a small pull tab to the card between the center photo display piece will make it easier to remove. I used a piece of scrap from the Collectables paper and the “Let it snow” sentiment. The pieces are only glued to the back of the card and the overhang from the edge. It will lay on top of the card so the recipient knows it is hidden in the pocket.
Last step is making a belly band for a closure. To do so, I selected one of the fussy cut wreath images from the Collectables paper. Then, I cut a strip off the Collectables paper that looks like borders. Next, I folded and scored the edges so they would lay across the front of the card. Using the wreath in the center, I glued the border band around the photo display. Be sure that the band is not too tight or it will not slide easily from the photo display.
I hope this tutorial inspires you to try making your own photo display! It can be made with any papers you choose. If you’re looking for beautiful paper to use, check out the FotoBella online store. There are all the best name brands, including the Stamperia Winter Tales papers that I used today.
Happy crafting!
~Kristine, FotoBella Design Team
