The One Sheet Wonder is not my original idea. It is not a new idea. However it is still a WONDERful idea! The concept is to take one sheet of paper and cut it so that you are able to use the many pieces to decorate quite a few cards from just a single sheet. I guess it makes you “wonder” how you could make so many cards with just one piece! When you use a double sided sheet of patterned paper, you can really take advantage of how many looks you can create.

This is the perfect plan for a sheet of paper that you are saving for something special because you feel like it is too fabulous to cut up. By using this method, you can get great mileage from that loved piece of paper!

There are many variations of the One Sheet Wonder. Some people like to cut a piece of colored card stock in the exact same way, so that they have even more options. I have even heard of using two coordinating double-sided sheets, and one each of two coordinating solid colors, for making an incredible number of cards. I hope I’m not confusing you!

My mother recently told me she had depleted her set of cards my daughter had given her, which had been made with this method. I decided I would make another set for her.

While looking through my paper I looked at this sheet and noticed how many things it had already printed on the sheet and wondered how it might work. I had never seen anything except an all-over print used for a one sheet wonder set of cards. I grabbed it along with 2 sheets of coordinating card stock.

Although it was double sided, I wasn’t sure how much I would use the second side, because the front side had so much to select from. However, there was the little bonus decorative strip I could cut off and use in some way.

Here are both sided of the decorative paper

I decided to just use a cream card stock so they would be easy to write on the inside and easy to see. My mom’s sight is not like it once was, and I knew using colored card stock would be difficult to see her writing. I didn’t want to have to cut liners for each card. Plus, by using the cream card stock for the base, she could write on the entire inside of the card instead of on one side if I added liners. (I really don’t know if that is what you could call them. I know envelopes can have liners!) I used 8 1/2 x 11 card stock, cut in half to make two cards per sheet. You can actually find a great value back of cards and envelopes at the bottom of this post.

Only 2 ink pads were used for stamping and inking any edges, Pear and Chocolate.  A variety of stamps were used for the sentiments. The inside is blank on each card.

Here are the cards I came up with using embossing folders, punches and bits of ribbon, etc.

Here you can see each one larger by clicking on the card image:

A bit of gesso over the stamping on the right, helped tone it down a bit. Details hand drawn on the flower and leaves done with fine line pen.

Decorative strip from the back side of the paper added this card.

Embossed card front and glitter tape made this a quick card. Stamping added to the punched heart.

Embossed edge was hand cut along the scalloped border.

This card has a diagonal piece of the paper, and then was stamped over the entire card front.

Here are basic cutting dimensions.

Update: See this post for more specifics and mat dimensions.

Cheers to YOUR creativity!