Friday, June 11, 2010

Leisure Craft: Victorian Dress Card From Scrapbook Papers and Trims

Cottage in Derbyshire, by George Turner, British 1843-1910





These cards can be made from medium weight or heavier scrapbook papers, and trimmed with the paper lace that comes in squares, circles and hearts. The buttons on the pink dress are diamond-look stickers. The ones on the left are made by putting green sparkle over drops of white glue. Thin buttons can be used for this, and you can also add some picot ribbon to match, at the hem.



Materials for this project are minimal: fancy paper or card stock, paper lace, stickers.



The template is placed on the fold of the paper. It makes a card just the right size for a long envelope.



It is joined at the sleeve and skirt, on the fold. This is what the card looks like on the inside, when it is opened. You can add extra pages just by making them a little smaller than the skirt section and securing with clear tape.



To make the collars, use the corners of square paper lace or the point of a heart paper lace, or curves of the round paper lace. Glitter glue dots for buttons. Center the neckline of the  card over a corner of paper lace and trace around on to the paper, to get the right shape.


You should be able to print this template by clicking on for a larger view, and printing it.   To make your own template, start by drawing your dress style. Fold the drawing in half, and cut out both layers. Open it up, and it will be even on both sides. Paste to heavy paper or card stock, and you will have a template. Place the left edge of the sleeve and skirt on folded paper or card stock, trace with a pencil, and cut out.

13 comments:

Secondhand Blessings said...

These are very pretty.
I think they would make a great invitation for a tea party!
Very feminine.
Brenda

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

I just love these!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I LOVE this! You are so creative!

Lydia said...

This is a very old craft, for me, which I am finally publishing here. I used to make these years ago, before the web, during the 1980's Victorian revival in fashion and crafts, in Texas. I sent them as letters, to friends. There is a variety of ways you can do these, and you can make them for different size envelopes, or just place card markers. I will try to include a pattern for those, and take some pictures of the finished ones. You can also use this same concept for other shapes like hats, handbags, umbrellas, cakes, tea pots. I have all the templates....somewhere....

Anonymous said...

So cute!!!

candy said...

I love these and still have the one you sent me.

didi@reliefsociety.blogspot.com said...

Very, very pretty and adorable! I'll post it in my blog......Thanks Ladylydia. Didi

Anonymous said...

I agree, the Victorian Dress Card would make great invitations to a ladies event.
Very clever.
L.
www.singlehomeschoolingmommas.com

Bonnie said...

These are so cute! It's a freezing winter day where I live so these will make a fantastic project for my daughter and I to do this afternoon when her schoolwork is finsihed.

Lily said...

So pretty!!!

Moderate Mouse said...

I almost wish the pink dress that was shown was real. It looks like something I'd wear if I had anything in my life that called for it.

Anonymous said...

These would be pretty made out of scrap fabric/ wallpaper to match your room and framed. Especially by a vanity or above a ladies bath.

Mommy of 5 said...

thank you for sharing I have added your Victorian Dress cards to our list of activities for our history studies.
You can see our link at http://freehomeschoollessons.weebly.com/unit-3-victorian-era.html