This is a project dad and the kids could work on together to give to a very special mum for Mother's Day.


These cards are made from a series of cut-out cardboard frames. Our card features dolphins which symbolise peace, beauty, grace and harmony.

You'll need
Cards: A3 white, A5 light blue, A4 blue
A4 acetate, cleaned with a soft cloth
Foam core board, from office suppliers
Double-sided tape
Dry sand, small shells
Cutting mat and craft knife
Metal ruler, pencil eraser
Ink: blue-green and black pigment
Black embossing powder
Heat gun or toaster
Various coloured artbrush markers
Gold pen
Stamps

Here's how
1 Prepare the cards:
Cut white card to 41.5 x 21cm. Score lines at 14, 28 and 28.5cm.
Cut light blue card to 20 x 13cm.
Cut dark blue card to 20.5 x 13.5cm.

2 Use double-sided tape to attach the dark and light blue cards together so a 0.5cm border of dark blue shows around the edges of pale blue. Fold the white card along the score lines.

3 Use a soft lead pencil to mark a border 2cm in from the top and side edges, and 2.5cm from the bottom edge of the light blue card. Use a metal ruler and craft knife to cut through both layers of card, leaving behind a frame. Trim the edges.

4 Decorate the bottom of the frame with shell stamps and blue-green ink. Add highlights with the gold pen.

5 Use double-sided tape to attach the frame to the centre panel of the folded white card, leaving a fine border of white.

6 With the card open and cutting through only one layer of paper, cut away the white card inside the frame.

7 Fold the card closed, folding inward first along 28cm mark, then 28.5cm mark, then along 14cm mark. Use a soft lead pencil to mark the visible section of white card inside and open the card.

8 Using black pigment ink, stamp dolphins inside the area marked in step 7, positioning the stamps so part of the image is out of view. Make sure the dolphins will be right way up when the card is closed! The parts out of view are cardboard bridges which hold the images in place when the white background is cut away. Sprinkle black embossing powder onto the wet ink. Brush away excess powder, then heat over a hot toaster or with a heat gun until it melts.

9 Use a craft knife to cut along outlines of the dolphins and pencilled-in edges of the marked area to remove the part of the white card which will be replaced by see through acetate - don't cut away the bridges!

10 Use coloured art brush markers to colour in the dolphins.

11 Cut a piece of foam core board to measure 20 x 13cm. Place inside the card and trace around the frame. Remove from the card and cut away traced area of foam.

12 Cut two pieces of acetate to 19 x 13cm. Use double-sided tape to attach one piece of acetate to the back (inside) of the middle panel of the card. Place another strip of double sided tape around core board frame and attach to card on top of acetate film. Use double-sided tape to place the second piece of acetate on the other cutaway panel (over the dolphins).

13 Place shells and a tablespoon of dry sand in the area formed by the core board. Place double sided tape all around the core board frame, making sure there are no gaps through which sand can leak. Close dolphin-stamped panel onto tape, sealing in the sand and shells

14 Attach the dark blue card to the inside of the back section of white card so that is visible behind the dolphins.

Stamps available from Personal Stamp Exchange, ph (03) 9836 4334.