Have you seen 3D paper art effects on scrapbook pages and wondered how they were achieved? Sometimes it takes very little to add a lot to a page or card. It may seem like you’ve spent hours making a special item when in reality, it just took a few well-placed presses or a little know-how on how to shape your handmade or store-bought embellishments.

Make 3D paper flowers

One of the best tools I know of for shaping paper flowers is called a flower shaping tool. It looks like a plastic stick rounded at both ends. One end is tapered and the other end is shaped like a half circle which allows you to fold your paper flower art. When you buy a tool, also buy a soft mat (such as a more forgiving mouse pad) to use when shaping your flowers.

If you have some basic paper punches (circles, hearts), then you are in the business of making shaped paper flowers. A flower with petals is actually made up of repeating shapes. Punch out several hearts to form the petals, then lay your flat heart-shaped piece of cardstock on the mat to shape the flower.

Have you noticed that the petals have a slight cup shape towards the center of the flower? Press on the pointed end of the heart and twist the tool to add a cup shape.

Have you also noticed that many petals have a small lip on the edge or a rounded shape? You can create both with a few clicks of your tool. Then simply do the same for the rest of the petals and assemble your flower, using glue to hold the petals in place. Sometimes it helps to pierce a circle to act as a base to attach the petals to.

make sheets of paper in 3d

Do you need some 3d sheets? Flat sheets may look nice, but adding a 3d element to them makes them look almost lifelike. To make a simple leaf, punch out a heart shape and cut through the center lengthwise, then finish cutting the shape into a leaf. You will have a rounded end (the stem end) and a pointed end on the leaf.

If you want sheets with ragged edges, tear the edges or cut them with decal-edged scissors. If you want a speckled look, now is the time to sponge your sheet with ink or splatter it with paints or other treatments.

When dry, fold the sheet in half lengthwise, then crumple the cardstock sheet and flatten it slightly. Again, use your paper shaping tool and pad to form a cup shape on the rounded end, and maybe slightly bend the tip of the sheet. You can also draw in the veins and stem line of the leaf and/or ink the edges. I like to use gold ink on the edges of many of my sheets. Then make as many leaves as you like and add them to your card or design.

If you compare these sheets to projects with flat sheets, the difference can be surprising.

take it off

Another way to add dimension to designs and cards is quilling. for those who haven’t tried it, it looks very impressive but it’s not very difficult to do. Quilled shapes are made with thin strips of paper wound tightly or loosely around a needle-like shape. There are also quilling trays that will help the coils you make maintain a uniform size so you can make exact “building blocks” for your quills.

The end of the paper strip is anchored down while the coil is tightened or the coil is allowed to relax and the loose end is attached when it has finished unwinding. You’ll get better adhesion if you tear the end of the paper strip, since a torn end adheres more invisibly than one cut straight. You can buy quilling tools, or just start with a bold needle inserted into a cork and use the cork as a handle as you wrap thin strips of paper around the needle. You can buy special packets of quilling paper, although I’ve heard of people using thin paper put through a shredder for some of their projects. Personally, I think a shredder makes the paper too wide for card embellishments, but you might like that effect, especially on a 12″ x 12″ scrapbook layout.

Quilted embellishments can be made by repeating certain shapes. For example, the basic coil can make a flower. All you need is one yellow bobbin for the center of the flower, then five other colored bobbins for the petals. If you pinch one side of your coil, it will form a leaf shape. If you pinch both sides of a coil, it will have a double pointed shape. There are many more ways that you could learn to make the decorations that you would like. And you can build all kinds of shapes with quilled components, from animals to buildings to food and just about anything!

recycle it

Another effective way to add 3d elements to your projects is to add a recycled 3d element to the mix. Has your duster lost a feather? Scrap with it! Are there any interesting inserts inside a box? See if it’s just what you’re looking for with a certain design. Do you have some old packing boxes? Open one up and see if the corrugated card inside inspires you to make an ornament out of it. There is so much you can add with recycled materials.

Ribbon, material and more

I’m sure you know how to use ribbon on a page or card. You stick it flat with a piece of double-sided tape, right? Yes, that adds a little 3d element, but you can do a lot more with tape. You’ve probably already tied bows on a card or design. But have you pleated it, sewn over the folds, rolled it, or curled it? Did you gather it and use the ruffle to roll it into a flower shape attached with a button in the center? How about tying knots at the end of a bunch of ribbons and then stitching the bunch together and adding it to your project?

Ribbons can also mimic flower stems. Experiment with ribbons, twine, string, and leather. Try using nets or other pieces of material to add interest. Use a piece of fabric from a special dress or room furnishings to add value to the topic you are discussing. Use it as a backdrop for a photo, or ruched, tied or scrunched – the options are only limited by your imagination.

texture it

Another wonderful 3D element can be added with texture paints or plaster (colored or otherwise). Apply color to the object and use various objects to ‘work’ it, such as spatulas, brushes, a fork, a toothpick, a cotton swab, the end of a bobby pin. Use whatever you think will make an interesting texture. Scrub it with an old hairbrush or toothbrush. Embed beads, buttons, sequins or crystals on it. Add little shells. Put on some glitter. Have fun! It will make something really original and interesting to add as a background for your projects.

Remember that the Cuttlebug or Big Shot machines dry emboss cardstock. Make it even more interesting by sanding down the ridges of the raised patterns, applying them with chalk, running an ink pad over them, or painting and removing some of the paint with a tissue before it dries completely. Crumple the paper and smooth it out again.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to experiment and get a little (or a lot) out of your comfort zone to add beautiful 3D paper art to your handmade paper craft repertoire.

Have fun!