How to Make a Dangle Greeting Card

Read through the tutorial before starting.

Step 1: Prep Work

Choose a theme and colors for your card. The card in this tutorial uses red, white and blue and features a patriotic theme. You will need decorative papers or stickers to go with your theme. The sample card uses Aunt Annie's Red and Blue Stars ePaper and clip art images from the Microsoft images web site.

Cut your card blank in half to create two  4¼″ by 5½″ rectangles. Fold both card pieces in half, lengthwise. Cut a card opening template that is 1¼" by 3½" from the scrap of cardstock.

Step 2: Cut Opening

Place the template along the center fold of one card piece and trace around it. Cut out the opening.

Lay the cut card piece on top of the second card piece and use its cut opening as a template for the second card piece—trace and cut. This ensures that the openings on the two card pieces are aligned with each other.

Erase any visible pencil lines.

Step 3: Cut Slits

One one card piece, cut a slit on the center fold from the bottom that extends halfway to the opening. Cut another slit from the top that goes halfway to the opening.

On the second card piece, repeat but make the cuts from the inside of the opening—one towards the top and the other towards the bottom of the card.

Step 4: Assemble Card

Join the two card pieces by sliding the top and bottom slits together. Slightly bend the card piece with the cuts from the outside through the opening of the second card piece, slipping the bottom two slits together. Flex the card piece and slip the top two slits together. The card should stand on it's own when the card pieces are spread.

Step 5: Cover Card Pieces (optional)

To make the front of the card stand out, cover either the back two pieces or the front two pieces with decorative paper. Lay the card flat and apply glue to the left-side piece. Cover with a piece of decorative paper. Trim excess paper away from the sides, top, bottom and opening. Repeat for the other side.

Tip: The decorative paper used in the sample is Aunt Annie's Red and Blue Stars ePaper.

Step 6: Make Dangle

Cut a 2" by 3" rectangle from cardstock as the base for your dangle. The cardstock cut away to make the card opening can be trimmed down to make the dangle. Decorate both sides of the dangle with pictures and/or a message.

Tip: In Microsoft Word or a graphics program, fill a rectangle a little smaller than the 2" by 3" dangle with images and/or words. Print it, cut to size and glue to the dangle. These dangles use Word Art in Microsoft Word and clip art images downloaded from Microsoft images web site.

Step 7: Hang Dangle

Cut a 10" length of string or thread for hanging the dangle. Punch a hole in the top center of the dangle and push the string through the punched hole. Bring the two ends of the string together and thread through the hole in the bead. Tie a double knot close to the top of the bead.

Slip the two ends of the string between the front and back pieces of the card on either side of the join. Tie the ends together in a secure knot at the top of the card. Hide the tails between the card's front and back. Trim the loose ends, if needed.

Spread the card pieces and stand the card up.