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3 Different Folding Cards Techniques For a Simple But Stunning Greeting Card
Learning a few card folding techniques can reallylevel up your card making game, giving your cards that extra WOW factor. I avoided incorporating extra folds into my cards for such a long time when I first started because I didn't have a clue about scoring the cardstock first. As a result, my folds were always lumpy and kind of wrinkled. It just didn't look good!
When I was working on a completely different craft project one day, my mum actually showed me how to score cardstock for folding with a butter knife and a ruler. A lightbulb went off in my head and I never looked back.
Now I love incorporating card folding techniques into my card making! I'm going to share with you three easy peasy card folding techniques but first, I'll quickly talk about how to score the cardstock so that your folds are perfectly crisp.
What is Scoring?
Scoring is the process of creating a crease in a piece of cardstock or designer paper that will allow you to fold it easier, resulting in a really crisp and neat fold line.
This is the secret sauce to fold card properly! Scoring is done with an indentation device of some sort which you can either purchase or DIY something from home.
How to score cardstock for card folding?
There are a ton of tools you can use to help guide you to fold cards properly.
Use a butter knife and a ruler
Technically, a butter knife and a ruler is all you need but it's not the best product to use and doesn't work great for thicker cardstock.
All you do is place your ruler down where you want to make the score (or fold), press the non-serrated edge of the butter knife up against the ruler on the cardstock, and pressing down on both the ruler and knife firmly, slide the knife down the ruler.
It's exactly the same as using a craft knife to cut the paper except you are not actually cutting the paper.
Use a bone folder and a ruler
A bone folder is an inexpensive step up from a butter knife and is used exactly the same way. Bone folders are made from sturdy plastic and come in all shapes and sizes. There is a pointy tip that's used for scoring the lines and the long flat edge is used to flatten out the crease on your paper.
Bone folders are widely available at craft stores. I like using this tool because it makes it easier to create an even gate fold or other fun folds for making handmade cards.
Use a scoring board and bone folder
A scoring board makes the job of scoring a lot easier and quicker. The boards feature pre-measured indented lines spaced around 1/8in apart.
You don't need to use a ruler, just line your card up in the correct spot, press your bone folder onto the paper and slide it down towards you pushing it into the groove as you go.
Use a paper trimmer and scoring blade
Some paper trimmers have the option to purchase a separate scoring blade. You line up your paper exactly if you were cutting it but the non-sharp blade creates a score line instead of cutting entirely through it.
Card Folding Techniques: 3 Card Folds You Can Do Anytime
Okay, I told you earlier I was going to show you some easy-to-make cards that include card folding. So without further ado, here are three basic card making techniques that feature folding.
Fun Tri Folds
This card folds technique is easy peasy and you can begin with either a pre-purchased card base or one sheet of designer paper. In the example above, I created my own card base using an A4 sheet of cream-colored card stock.
If you are going to create a card using simple paper or other paper items, you will need to score the card twice for a tri-fold card. The first score line is directly down the middle of your card and the second at the halfway point between the middle and the edge of your front panel as per the image below.
If you are using a pre-purchased card base, your first score line has already been completed and folded and you just need to score at the halfway point on your front panel.
Now that your scores are completed, measure 2 in up from the bottom and cut in a straight line diagonally across to the top of your middle scoreline as per the image below. Set this triangle piece aside as scrap paper for another project.
Next, fold your card along your score lines as per the image below. Once it's folded, go ahead and decorate your card however you wish. See I told you it was easy peasy!
Z fold card tutorial
This card is easier than it actually looks, consisting of two separate pieces which are scored and folded. You can fold it in many ways to create pop card designs. The z fold is actually one of my favorite ways to fold cards because I end up with a ton of card ideas.
Begin by cutting two pieces of cardstock as the base. The first one should measure 10in x 6.5in and the second should measure 10in x 13/4in as per the image below.
On the larger piece, score vertical lines at 21/2 in and 5 in. The smaller piece needs to be scored vertically at 5 in and 71/2 in. See the image below for clarification.
Next, fold both pieces along the score lines as per the image below. Don't glue the smaller pieces onto the larger piece just yet.
Now that both of your pieces are folded, go ahead and decorate them how you wish. The final step is to glue the smaller piece onto the bottom of the larger piece. The pieces should fit together beautifully once glued in place!
Beautiful Card folding idea
This idea is by far the easiest and quickest out of all three and is a great project for those with limited time. Start with either a pre-made card base or DIY one yourself out of cardstock.
Next, select some pretty patterned paper that features a pattern on both sides and cut it slightly smaller than the front face of your cardstock base so that when it's glued on the front, the base will peek out from around the edges like a border.
Find the middle point of your patterned paper and as per the markings on the image below, cut along the solid line with a craft knife or scissors, and score along the dotted lines with your scoring tool.
Now, fold the paper back on itself along the scoring line creating something that looks like a collar as per the image below. I have used a dab of glue stick to hold it in place but this is optional.
Next, take this folded piece, glue it on the front of your cardstock base and finish your card making off with some words and simple embellishments.
Do you love folding cards?
Have you tried different card folds before? These basic card-making techniques are a great place to start and there is plenty of wonderful card folding inspiration on Pinterest and among the scrapbooking community when you're ready to tackle something a bit more challenging.
We'd love to see your card should you choose to use one of these ideas or if you have any other great folding techniques, please do go ahead and share them with us.
Happy Card Making!
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