This Dolphin Love Card is amazing. The splash 3D effect is truly remarkable. Use it for a Father’s Day Card (It is that time of year), Anniversary card, or any holiday or any time you just want to say “I dolphin-ately love you”.
The curls on this card make the whole card. It is such a beautiful splash effect. Because of the 3D effect this card shouldn’t really be mailed, but if you do, make sure to pad the front and make a box envelope for it. You can use my custom envelope tutorial here.
You will need:
- Water patterned cardstock for the base
- Various Cardstock scraps
- Pen
- Glue
- Download File
Paper Selection For This Dolphin Love Card
For the best effect choose a water pattern or at least a blue paper for the base card. I loved this blue pattern and went looking for a card to make with it. The cover overlay needs to be made from the same paper to make the splash effect work. I tried other papers but it never looked quite right. The other embellishments can be made from any coordinating paper.
Cutting the Dolphin Love card
Cut the card base and the Cricut will do the writing. I used a white chalk pen for this card and really wish I had used a gel pen instead, but it still looks great. White pens and markers are expensive, but you get what you pay for. See my comparison of white pen brands here. I used a font called Cult Std and you can get free it at Fonts Market.
Some of the embellishments are thin so be careful removing them from the mat.
Assembling the Dolphin Love Card
Start this card by re-creasing the fold in the base card. Then, assemble the embellishments for the inside of the card. The oval is cut twice because I wanted the inside oval a little darker than the outside one. If you are happy with the color for both inside and outside, then hide one of them.
Assemble the dolphin and the waves piece after making sure you can see the dolphin under the curls. Then glue the two ovals together and glue them over the hole on the inside of the base card behind the curl pieces. Make sure to only put glue around the edges and not on any of the curl pieces. And then glue the front overlay to the base card, making sure to line up the curl pieces. If you use a solid two sided paper for the base card and front make sure you line the curls up properly. If one of the pieces is turned they wont fit properly. Be sure to spread the glue over the curl pieces with your finger. They need to stick together completely. Let the glue dry.
I prefer Art Glitter Glue because of the tip. It adds glue in very thin lines so you can be very precise. And it takes a few minutes to set so you can move whatever you are gluing a little. And it drys clear on everything but acetate, which I need sometimes, because I am messy.
Curling the Dolphin Love Card
Next, take a thin straight pokey tool (A pencil is too big) and wind the curls around them carefully. They should hold the curl nicely because of the double thick paper.
And your Dolphin Love Card is done! Remember, if you are mailing the card pad the front by cutting an oval from some foam and putting it around the curls and put it in a box envelope.
Fun Facts About Dolphins
- It is in the nature of the dolphins to stick with their mothers for a long time before they leave their pack. Some stay with their mothers for 3 or even 8 years!
- Dolphins have 2 stomachs. One is used for storage of food and the other is used for digestion.
- Even though the average life span of dolphins is about 17 years, some can even live up to 50 years!
- These caring creatures are often seen tending to the sick, the old and the injured in their group, which is known as ‘pod’.
- It has been proved by scientists that dolphins give themselves names. They develop their own individual whistles and they recognize theirs and other dolphins’ names.