Make A Racket!

Or a racquet if you are into spelling.  With the warmer weather upon us it might be time to think of getting fit and playing a sport.  Or even if this is not for you maybe making a card for somebody keen on that sort of thing is more your bag. With Father's Day coming up I am going to be posting some ideas for men's cards and this is the first one.
 

These four cards (yes I can count but this is just the first one) were made using just basic craft materials like coloured card, metallic thread, polymer clay and peel-offs.  Add in a computer for more lettering and clipart options and you have everything you need to make some simple but effective cards. Most men don't like fussy cards after all, do they...

Shopping List:

Basic card kit plus:

White card blank 5½“

Lime card or paper to cover the front

Scraps of black, red and white card

Silver thread (eg Madeira Metallic No6 Silver)

Needle

Masking tape

Pricking mat and tool

General Instructions For All Cards:

Using a sheet of A4 white card cut blank to size.  For the 14cm² (5½“²) cards you will need to cut a shape 14cm x 28cm (5½“ x 11”) and score down the middle with a craft knife or bone folder to make the fold.  Don’t throw the rest away; you will need it for all the scraps of white card mentioned in the Shopping List. 

For the 14cm x 18cm (5” x 7”) cards you will need to cut a shape 28cm x 18cm (10” x 7”). 

To make the templates either print, scan and photocopy or trace the pattern pieces onto card. 

1. Cover front of card with lime card.  Cut out a racquet from black card (not too thin) and cut out the centre.

   

2. Using a pricking mat and tool prick out all the holes.

 

  

 3. Thread up a needle with a length of the thread.  Find the bottom centre hole and count it as one; count six more and bring the thread up through the hole.  Attach at the back with a piece of masking tape.  Take the thread up and push the needle down into the corresponding hole in front, and then bring it up through the next hole and repeat.  Do this all the way along the racquet until you reach the same place on the opposite side.  Cut thread and secure.

4. Do this all the way along the racquet until you reach the same place on the opposite side.  Cut thread and secure.

 

5. Next you string along the horizontal lines.  Find the bottom centre hole again and count it as one; count three more and bring the thread up through the hole.  To string this way you need to weave the needle under and over the vertical threads, then down the opposite hole and up the next one.  Repeat going under and over different threads to resemble a real racquet.  If you need to attach new threads do so in the same way.

6. Stick the racquet to the card and cut out a circle 2cm (¾”) in white card; stick this in the bottom left area.  Attach peel-off letters to spell Having A Ball in the top right hand corner.

Or Happy Birthday or of course Happy Fathers Day.  Simple but effective and like all the best handmade cards requiring more effort than actual cash.