How We Make Every Surface a Canvas | File Cards 3 Ways

creative paper artistry on any surface

Our paper craft artistry does not have to just and only live on a flat paper surface. This is all about expanding our ideas for how we tell our visual stories by way of photo plus layers of paper. This is to challenge our thinking about our new projects and ideas and how they can translate to new surfaces.

While not a new paper craft concept, file cards are in face a creative exercise to help us practice this idea of every surface a canvas. 

File cards are perfectly versatile bits of inspiration. On these surfaces we can get really creative and have them hold mini notes. Layered inspiration. Recipes. Memory prompts. Or even serve as a simple rotating of our current paper craft obsession. Plus, let's never forget, spaces to tryout new to us techniques on a smaller scale before carrying the idea into a large project. 

Also, by way of reminder: remember to gather your favorite bits and pieces in which to better layer the layers. I used the SPICE PAPER PAD to die cut various and a sundry leaves and botanicals. Having more than one color of these elements really added to the depth of the layers. You can see that better in the VIDEO tutorial for these file cards.

Not only did we craft some ideas for file cards in last week's VIDEO tutorial, but I gushed a bit as well about displaying said cards. 

I shared a few ways in which this paper craft artist enjoys displaying layered file cards a well as embellished photos that complement the visual story of the card file. Not only can we be creative with how we display our beloved projects, but these techniques do not only have to live on a card or tag. The stamping, layers, collage...it can all be carried over to other surfaces as well:

• journals
• scrapbook layouts
• notebook covers
• handmade gift wrap
• MemoryDex...just to name a few.

Creativity does not belong on one linear format. Creativity belongs everywhere! 

Here's to encouraging each other to expand our making and never to limit ourselves. File cards can manifest all the ways we create on other surfaces. And our DIYd card files can be creative homes to these cards that enhances and elevates are paper craft artistry. Then, cue the obsession...for that is truly what is to follow.

Now it's your turn: which file card style will you try first. Take a look at this VIDEO tutorial that will inspire your making right now:

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Keep making!

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