Raise your hand if you’re trying to think of a fun way to educate your customers, generate excitement in the store and sell product.

Keep your hand up if this idea needs to be suitable for beginners and experienced paper crafters—and if the project needs to be inexpensive and easy to do. Still got that hand up? I’m not surprised! Rest assured, I have the answer for you!

Recently I taught at Camp Croppin’, a weekend event in Calgary, Alberta. The evening prior to my full day of classes, I did a make-and-take for this 200+ group of card making and scrapbooking consumers. As you know, a make-and-take needs to feature a great-looking project that’s innovative, uses new supplies and teaches the customer a technique. Oh, yes—and it needs to be fast and easy to do!

I found the perfect project in this Fold-It Swirls flower card. It’s quick to do—most students took less than 10 minutes to complete the card. It also showcases the Fold-It Swirls template, which paper crafters adore—especially once you’ve proven just how easy it is to use. And best of all, this cute little card uses bulk papers and basic supplies, making it an inexpensive way to generate sales!

Supply List

• 8”x8” Postmark Color Block paper
• 8”x8” Green with Stripes paper
• Fold-It Swirls Template
• Green grosgrain ribbon (you can also use green paper as an inexpensive alternative) from the Cardmaker’s™ Citrus Ribbons
• blank card
• blue chalk
• black ink pad
• 1/2” circle punch
• paper trimmers
• scissors
• pencil
• glue stick
• Zots™

How to Do a Make-and-Take
Start with a U-shaped configuration of three long tables, with you in the middle of the U and chairs set out on the other side of the tables. That makes it easier to address the group of people. Ten to 12 students is preferable; any more than that and it feels a bit crowded.

Always wait to start your make-and-take until you have a full (or nearly full) table. Starting two or three people, then starting two or three more people just a few minutes later, will make the event disjointed and not as effective.

Set out tools for two people to share—chalk, punches, ink pads and paper trimmers, but let each student borrow a template, scissors and glue. This is less for you to set up and helps prevent loss but keeps the pace moving. Have a stack of patterned papers, blank cards and ribbon on a chair next to you, ready to pass out to each group.

Introduce yourself to each new group as you set out the papers, talk about the template and showcase the card. Then get started!

Card Instructions

1. Cut a piece of striped paper slightly smaller than the card. Ink the edges black, then glue the paper to the front of the card. Note that the stripes run horizontally across the card front. Set the card aside.
2. Start by cutting the Rose Flower. We’re going to cut the flower from the Color Block paper. Notice the flower has been traced on the purple section of the Color Block paper? Here’s how to do it: Turn the Postmark Color Block paper over so the white side faces up. Position it so you can read the HOTP number and the name of the paper.
3. Holding the template so you can read “Fold It Swirls”, you’ll place the Rose shape in the bottom left corner of the Postmark Color Block paper, about 1/2” above the Paper Pizazz® oval. Trace the shape with a pencil.
4. Remove the template and cut out the shape. Tip: Students can cut the half-circles on each petal—or use the 1/2” circle punch instead. Turn the cut flower so the purple faces up, then chalk the edges of the petals with blue.
5. Cut or punch a small piece of green from the green section of the Color Block paper; glue to the center of the flower on the white side.
6. Fold in one petal toward the white side of the paper. Working clockwise, fold in the second petal. Fold the third petal, lifting the first folded petal and tucking the third petal underneath. Fold the fourth petal, tucking it underneath the first folded petal. GRAPHIC: folding image.jpg
7. Tie a knot at one end of the length of green ribbon. Cut the ends at an angle. Glue the rest of the green ribbon onto the card front, one end even with the bottom of the card. Glue the folded flower at the top of the green ribbon and use a Zot™ to attach the knotted ribbon. Tear a strip of the blue postmark section of the Color Block paper and glue across the bottom of the card. Trim excess from each side of the card front.

Product Tips
Fold-It Swirls template: All the images on the Fold-It Swirls template fold exactly the same way—once you know how to do this, you can do any of the shapes on the template! Retail just $4.99 each.

Bulk papers: Bulk Paper Pizazz® sheets retail for .29¢ each; retailers can buy them in packages of 25 per design for just $7.25. The two papers we used are sold by the sheet; they’re also in the Friendship 8”x8” Paper Pack, which retails for $8.99.

Sales Tips
Be sure to have plenty of the Fold-It Swirls templates on hand–you’ll sell dozens! And while this project will also sell the two bulk papers, it’s much better for you to showcase (and sell) the 8”x8” paper pack they come from: 8”x8” Friendship Papers. And while you might use generic green grosgrain ribbon on the card front, you won’t want to miss showing them the Cardmaker’s™ Citrus Ribbons pack.

Having the items for sale is one part of the power of a make-and-take; having all the items you’re using in one convenient place (preferably right next to where you are!) with signage that says “Fold-It Swirls Card Supplies!” makes it easy for your customer to go from making the project with you to shopping for supplies!