Needles 'n' Knowledge: Bee Round 6x6 Cards

Varied sentiments from two slightly varied

bee-theme card designs:

send congratulations and share the news;

or convey encouragement and support.

Hollow layered rings create the round base of

highly-detailed card with delicate offset margins

with detailed bee emblem bridging the space.

Script-style words for “all the buzz”

or "bee-lieving in you" phrases can be positioned

at center bottom using optional positioning guide shapes.

Back ring base has perforations at two-thirds of

the way up to allow it to bend away to reveal

arched sentiment plaque.

Card fits into envelope for 6x6 card.

ASSEMBLY: (Bee-lieving design will be
demonstrated in tutorial, with only difference
noted in step 4.)
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main base ring
B accent layer #1 C accent layer #2 with punch circles
D honeycomb emblem base and overlay
E base ring back panel (this one with squared bottom)
F sentiment arch for lower interior
G bee base silhouette (to build on)
H head shapes: center, eyes, antennae
I thorax assembly: base, upper oval & show-thru, arc
J wing delicate overlay outlines K wing bases
L leg shapes (3 each for l & r)
M abdomen and stripes overlay
N word cutouts: "bee-lieving in you"
O optional word positioning guide arch

2. Layer the two accent rings with inner edge circle

aligned, and attach together.

3. Attach the punch circle accents.

(NOTE: the "all the buzz" design has more circles.)

4. Prepare to position and attach the words of phrase

by finding vertical center with some kind of guide.

One example, here, is to place ring assembly on

a grid, focusing on a vertical center line being placed

on a center line, then rotating slightly until other elements

help refine the positioning, such as the spacing between

the ring side center edges to adjacent grid lines,

and the lowest punch circle both aligning on

a cross line. Once achieved, retain positioning until . . .

. . . word positioning guide can be positioned at
bottom of top ring layer, and temp taped at ends.
(NOTE: for "all the buzz" design, the positioning
guide will be positioned at the bottom of
the layer #1 ring.)

5. Use fine pencil to lightly trace the letter bottom shaping
onto the top ring. (Some letters positioned to
give an idea of how the welded words fit on guide.)

6. Remove the guide and discard. Position and
attach words where tracings indicate, hiding trace lines
if possible. Add the 'i' dots and the dash in place, too.

7. Position the upper ring assembly onto the base ring,

centering so that there is a slight reveal at inside edge,

and a slightly wider reveal at outer edge, and

attach in place. (If using liquid glue, consider pressing

under a flat weight until glue dries completely to avoid

warping or curling.)

8. Complete some pre-assembly for bee:

layer stripes overlay onto abdomen shape;

layer contrast top thorax oval under
main thorax oval, then . . .

. . . position and attach oval assembly onto
center of main thorax shape.

9. Assemble the bee on the base silhouette shape with

tiny offset margins around each and at edges as shown:

dry fit the thorax assembly, and . . .

. . . body assembly to ensure accurate relative
positions and make adjustments, making sure the
under-thorax arc will fit, then attach these three
center body shapes.

10. Position the head center shape and attach.
Then position the eyes and antennae.

11. Position and attach the wing shapes, then . . .

. . . position and attach the three-part legs.

(If using liquid glue, consider pressing

under a flat weight until glue dries completely to avoid

warping or curling.)

12. Position the bee centered, to span the ring center
opening, and on the vertical center.
Adjust up/down so that antennae tips and leg tips
can barely overlap and be attached to inner ring edge,
then attach bee surfaces where they overlap.