I'm continuing my laser-cut paper-craft experiments with some custom greeting cards. I expect you could create this with the cutting tool, but I again wanted to try it with the laser. I created this beach-themed card with paper supplies from Michaels and some footprint vector art.
This design is for a greeting card with a folded page glued inside. The card and the interior page are folded together. You see these in card shops all the time. I'm sure there's a name for this type of card, but I don't know it. Silouhette cuts in the front of the card will provide a view into the interior sheet. You could use a solid color page, but I chose to use printed scrapbook paper with a pattern of the water's edge on a beach. I wanted to create an effect that looks as if two people are walking slowly, side by side, along the edge of the ocean.
With two separate pairs of footprints in vector form, I staggered them to look like they were walking then repeated the pattern. For your design, you could substitute any cutout pattern you prefer.
I put this on the edge of the first canvas, framed by a box the size of the card. I also added a frame the size of the interior sheet to ensure that the pattern I'm creating fits well within the bounds of the interior paper.
On the second canvas, I created a frame the size of the interior sheet with a bisecting line of dashes. I literally copied (with XCS's array tool that only allows for repeating an object 10 times in any direction) a 5mm dash, then copied and pasted that as a group multiple times to create the resulting line. This line, cut, will let you precisely fold the interior sheet to fit cleanly inside your card.
Insert a blank card into your machine. Align the card pattern on the first canvas as closely as possible with the card outline. Remember to auto-measure the “thickness” so your placement will be as accurate as possible. If you want to secure the page to your surface, consider weighted magnets.
Always, always, always frame your design. The outer-most outline of the card isn't just to align your design, it's also to frame it. Temporarily set it to Output, then run framing. If your design and card are perfectly aligned, you should see the laser trace around the edge of your card. If not, adjust the design and try again. When it's all aligned, set the outer frame back to Ignore, then run the job. Do not use air assist on this job, as it might blow small pieces in the way of other cuts.
Run the card first, then remove it, and clean your lasering surface. Lay the card over your insert page to determine how you want to align it. I chose to align the page so my cutouts would align with the edge of the water and sand. Secure the page in your machine, frame the job, then run it.
Burning paper to cut it is, unfortunately, a dirty business. Lay your card down on a flat, clean surface—front side down. Using a microfiber towel or rag, carefully wipe over the pattern you cut with short, gentle strokes. This will eliminate char from inside the cutout. Also, wipe each edge of the card and insert page against a microfiber towel to clean any char off the edges.
Carefully fold the insert page along the perforated cuts. If you used printed paper, fold the blank side in. Make sure everything fits together nicely.
If everything lines up as you'd like, glue the back of the insert sheet to the back of the card. The intent is that the back of the card will be two sheets glued together, while the insert will flap freely behind the front of the card when it's opened.
I like to use Gorilla spray glue for jobs like this, but other glues or adhesives should work fine. Put the glue on the back side of the folded insert and carefully place it against the inside of the back of the card. There will be some margin around all sides of the interior sheet when you lay it down on the card. Try to make them as even as possible. Ensure the perforated fold isn't too close to the crease of the card—you want them to fold together cleanly. Let it dry, and you have a home-made greeting card.
Write something kind or funny inside for someone you care about. They should enjoy the custom greeting you've created for them.