How to Make Belted Cards

A new trend, as seen in invitation catalogs, is the use of ribbon as a sash or belt for cards and invitations. These belted cards can be formal and elegant or fun and whimsical--just like any other cards. Here are three ways to use this technique to get you started.

Things You'll Need

• Cards or invitations
• Card stock
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Craft knife
• Self-healing mat
• Ribbon
• Bone folder
• Hole punch

Instructions

How to Make a Standard Belted Card

1. 

   Begin with a decorated card, at least for the front: you want the ribbon to complement the design of your card, not obscure it. The inside can be blank for the time being.

2. Find the horizontal center of your card and mark off a section on both sides just a shade wider than the width of your ribbon.

3. 

   Divide the marked section in intervals through which you'll weave the ribbon. These can be as narrow or as wide as you want and incorporate into or around the various elements on your card. Placing a lightly penciled "x" in the sections the ribbon will emerge will help you see your presentation clearly. Make sure the last pass brings the ribbon in front of the card at the open edge.

4. 

   Cut the slits with the card folded closed, cutting through all layers, using a craft knife. Make sure you cut through both the front and the back of the card, cleaning up any missed sections as needed.

5. 

   Thread the ribbon through the belt loops the slits created, leaving equal amounts of ribbon hanging off each end of the card.

6. 

   You can choose to incorporate the belt into the interior design of the card or cover it up with items placed over it.

7. 

   Tie the ribbon before placing into an envelope.

How to Make a Belted Gate-Fold Card

1. 

   Print or position the card information in the center of a wide piece of card stock.

2. 

   Score the card stock vertically at the 1/4 and 3/4 marks and fold each side over to meet in the middle, pressing with a bone folder for a sharp crease. Trim off any overlap that may occur.

3. Find the horizontal center of your card and mark off a section on both sides, just a shade wider than the width of your ribbon.

4. 

   Mark your "belt loops" equally spaced along the center line, planning for the ribbon ends to come out near the edges of the flaps.

5. 

   Open up the card and cut through the flaps only.

6. 

   Decide where, if at all, the ribbon will feed through the inside of the card, then mark and cut those slits.

7. 

   Pass the ribbon through the belt loops and tie the flaps closed.

How to Make a Belted Pocket Card

1. 

   Score and fold up the bottom third of a long piece of card stock.

2. 

   Punch a hole through both layers of card stock on either side of the folded-up section and two more through the top layer only inside the edge.

3. 

   Thread a wide ribbon around the back of the folded card stock, through the outer holes to hold the front and back together and then through the interior holes, fluffing out the visible ribbon.

4. 

   Tie the ribbon ends together and insert the invitation into the pocket you just created.