Prepare the Duckbill master stencil. Photocopy and transfer the design to the 5x 8 (130 x 205mm) cardstock. Cut out the shapes and mark this “Master Stencil 1.”

Prepare the Teardrop master stencil. Photocopy and transfer the design to a piece of 5x 8 (130 x 205mm) cardstock. Cut out the shapes and mark this “Master Stencil 2".

Cut the pale blue layer. Align Master Stencil 1 atop the pale blue 5x 8 (130 x 205mm) layer and draw in the design. Cut out the shapes and set them aside.

Adhere the light blue and brown layers. Apply glue to the back of the pale blue layer. Align the pale blue and dark brown layers, adhere, and burnish. Trim off any overhanging edges.

Cut the dark brown layer. Align Master Stencil 2 atop the two-ply blue-brown rectangle and lightly draw in the design. Make sure the teardrop shapes rest inside the blue layer’s duckbill shapes. Erase and redraw shapes that fell out of registration. Cut out the teardrops and set them aside.

Adhere the brown and orange layers. Apply glue to the back of the brown layer. Align it with the orange layer, adhere the layers, and burnish. Trim off any overhanging edges.

Cut the orange layer. Lightly sketch a Duckbill O Shape (see illustration on p. 141) that is 1/4" (6mm) high on the orange paper in the widest part of the teardrops. Cut out these shapes and set them aside with the other saved cutaway shapes.

Adhere the artwork to the journal. Place the finished three-ply cover art on the yellow folio’s front flap (without the pocket). Be sure the edges of the cover art line up with the folio. Apply glue to the orange layer. Align the corners of the art and the folio, lay together, and burnish. Trim off any overhanging edges. Dab and pull the adhesive pick-up square to remove pencil marks and dried glue on the outside and inside of the folder.

Adapted from Simply Paper Cutting: Hand-Cut Paper Projects for Home Décor, Stationery & Gifts by Anna Bondoc, published by Design Originals