Iris Folded Christmas Ornament
Iris Folding is one of my all-time favorite crafting techniques.
Iris folding is a paper craft technique that involves folding strips of colored paper in such a way to form a spiraling design.
The center of the design forms an iris — similar to the shape of the iris of a camera lens.
I know it looks like it could be complicated, but really it is not. You work with a pattern. Follow the pattern, and you can’t go wrong.
The basic iris folding patterns are the circle, the square, and the rectangle.
Click here for the basic iris folding patterns including the circle used to make this card.
Here’s how to make this ornament card:
- Emboss Whisper White card front using the Big Shot and Winter Wonder Embossing Folder.
- Punch a circle out of the snowflake/card front using the 2 ½” circle punch.
- Print out a circle iris folding pattern. Lay the card front face down over the iris folding pattern. * In Iris Folding, you will always work from the back. Adhere the card stock to the pattern on the right or left side only using washi or painter’s tape, creating a hinge, so you can lift your card stock to check the progress on the front side as you go.
- Decide on your design and cut your paper into strips. The number of strips needed will depend on the pattern and the length of the paper. This pattern has 4 sections, so I chose 4 patterned papers from Christmas Around the World 12”x12” and Quilted Christmas 6”x6” Designer Series Paper, cut into ½” wide strips.
TIP: Once you have decided on and have cut the paper you’d like for your design, lay the strips in front of you in the order that you will be using them. Keep them in this order as you are working on the pattern. Or write down a description of the design (circles, stripes, solids, etc.) and number them in the order of use in the margins of the pattern you are following. It can get confusing once you begin working with the paper, especially if you are working with a more complicated pattern. And remember, the design on the back side of the paper will be what you see as you fill in the pattern.
- Apply SNAIL Adhesive around the edge of the cut pattern. Begin with design #1 and following the pattern guide, place it over the first section #1, placing it against the line of the pattern with the straight edge facing towards the center. Trim with a pair of scissors or hand-tear the paper to the size needed to fill the space.
- Repeat, using the other 3 paper designs, filling in each section following the numbers around the pattern. You’ll need to add strips of SNAIL to the ends of the bottom strips as you work around to secure the pieces together.
- Continue adding designer paper until the pattern is filled in, leaving the center space open. The center of the design forms an iris, similar to the shape of the iris of a camera lens.
- It is time to add the iris to the center. Use a stamped or punched image or an attractive piece of paper to cover the hole in the middle, again adhering it from the back. For this card, use a piece of red glimmer paper secured with a piece of washi tape.
- To tidy up my iris folded pieces, I always add a piece of card stock to the back to hide the strips of paper. This is optional.
- For the ornament top, cut a piece of red glimmer using the Big Shot and Quilt Builder Framelit die. Attach to the top of the circle.
- Stamp greeting from Snowflake Sentiment using Real Red ink.
- Tie a bow out of the ¼” Quilted Christmas ribbon and attach it to the top of the ornament using a Mini Glue Dot.
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Snowflake Sentiments
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Red Glimmer, Christmas Around the World, and Quilted Christmas Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Circle iris folding pattern, 2 1 /2″ circle punch, Big Shot, Winter Wonder Embossing Folder, Quilt Builder Framelits Die (for the ornament topper), 1/4″ Quilted Christmas ribbon, washi tape, Mini Glue Dot
Iris Folded Christmas Ornament
See my Iris Folding How-to Video HERE
