These cards take quite a while to make but are very effective. I have only just started making them and have made quite simple templates so far. I am going to buy some of the more complicated ones.

This is what you will be making

Save the template to your computer then print out to the size you wish on some fairly stiff card

Cut out the large circle then draw around it to make another template. Reduce this second template by

0.5cms all round. Use this on the front of your card to make an aperture. Don't worry if it isn't a perfect circle you wont see it when the card is finished. Put the card to one side while you work on the first template

Prick out the small holes by placing the template onto a piece of soft foam or other soft surface -making sure that they don't run into one and keep them away from the edge of the middle circle. I use a thin bradawl but a thickish needle would do just as well. I have now modified the template so that the holes aren't so near to the edges as some people found they had difficulty.

Now cut out the white parts of the template and leave the struts in place. Chose a thread that will look nice with your colour of card. I like to use gold or silver but have tried other colours as well. Don't use a thread that is too thick or the holes will spread and maybe run together.

Start at the centre and make sure your thread is secured at the back of the template with either a knot or sticky tape. I usually do both lol. Work from the inner circle to the outer in diagonal lines. Always add new thread at the centre and secure firmly behind.

Go all around the 8 collections of holes then that is the sewing part finished.

To secure the stitches cut out 2 of the small round templates and stick them to the front and the back of the centre circle. Also to secure the outer stitches add glue and then anything else to make the edge look nice. I used glitter but you could use beads instead or anything else really. If you have some ideas for the outside edges please let me know as it would be nice to add them to the tutorial

Allow all of the glue to dry before proceeding any further.

When it is dry put glue around the aperture on your card and stick the template in place. You can check it is in place by looking on the back of it

Leave it to dry again this is very important as you could spoil the card at this stage if the glue isn't perfectly dry. Now you remove the struts so that the centre is held in place by your stitching.

All that remains is to decorate the card however you wish and to add an inner that will look nice through the aperture. I decorated my flysheet with the same flowers as I used on the front of the card

You may like to cover the stitching on the inside of the card but I like people to see all the hard work that has gone into it

Hope you have lots of fun making the trapeze card

This version of the tutorial was made by Rose of Card Craft group.

 She also proof read the tutorial for me. Rose backed the aperture with gold card but it shows up black on here. It has made the stitching stand out nicely I think

Thank you Rose