Jan 07 2008
A Double Accordian Gate Fold That Stays Closed Without Tying
I used this cage recently on a baby card and now I’ve stamped it with different birds for a card that can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be a Valentine, a wedding card, an anniversary card or just an “I love you” card. I had Valentine’s Day in mind when I made this but if one of those other occasions comes up between now and then, I’ll be ready. These birds are from Flourishes’ Love Nest set. I think they’re so dang cute with their little curly crests. Don’t they look so in love? I colored them with a combination of markers, blender pen and soft chalks.
I’m also the proud owner of a new Scor-Pal and that handy little tool sure made this quick and easy to create. There were directions on the back of the packaging for a few different folds. This is a double accordian gate fold. I scored it per package instructions, but I altered the finished product just a tiny bit. I guess that’s the general idea — start with the basics and go from there. The main body of this card is Stampin’ Up!’s double sided designer paper — the retired Loves Me collection. I’ve never made a card almost entirely from designer paper before but, because of all the folds, it worked out just fine and has as much body as any card made from cardstock. Here’s a picture of the finished inside. The “Love Birds” sentiment is also from Flourishes’ Love Nest set:
There are a couple of things I really enjoyed about the outcome of this card, aside from being just smitten with these adorable little birds. First, the fold was so quick and easy, with very little layering, and it looks cute from every angle. Even the back is finished with the “xoxoxo” paper. Second, it folds so nice and flat and stays secure with the photo turn rather than tying it closed with ribbon that winds up frayed and is probably cut too short to fumble around with, anyway.
I started with a single sheet of double sided designer paper, cut 5 1/2″ x 12″. It’s scored at 2″, 4″, 8″ and 10″. The finished, folded card is 5 1/2″ x 4″. This is how it looks on the Scor-Pal where I was able to do all the scores without moving the paper:
After scoring, fold the paper so it looks like the picture below. Don’t worry about which side you score it on. You’re going to be folding it every which way and it’ll come out just fine in the end. The way you fold it depends on which pattern you want on the inside or outside:
After I scored my paper, I trimmed 3/4″ off each end to allow a border of the xoxoxo paper to show. I lined the underside of the flap with Pretty in Pink cardstock, slightly wider than the flap, and trimmed with scallop scissors. The brads were inserted next so the prongs are hidden under the flaps.
I then determined where I’d position my main image and attached the photo turn accordingly. Then I was ready to secure the flaps. They’re adhered down flat to the card front with red liner tape (Sticky Strip). I wanted to be certain they didn’t come popping loose. So now the accordian fold has become a regular gate fold, but with a ready made border all from a single sheet of designer paper. Even without the cardstock border under the flap it’s nice and sturdy. The main image is adhered only to the left side of the card. To open the card you simply slide the photo turn off the main image.
For a little fun and pretty contrast, and to add body to the card back in the process, I layered the pink polka dot paper inside. It’s cut 5 1/2″ x 3 7/8″. Then came the Whisper White with the words stamped on it — love them with the little pink hearts incorporated into the letters! I allowed a 1/2″ border all around the white.
That’s it! I had a super good time making this card. Even if you don’t have a Scor-Pal it’s still a very simple card fold and I hope you’ll give it a try. I love the weekends when I have time to do a project like this and I’m able to share all the photos and instructions with you. Take care and have a great Monday!
48 responses so far
This is awesome! Love this different fold!
Gorgeous card, Leslie!!! Love that little cage and your birds and gotta love the Scor-Pal!!!
I bought myself a Scor-Pal with a Christmas gift card and I’m loving it too! This card is so cute!! Now I need some double sided paper – haha!
Gorgeous coloring Leslie! I love this card and that fold with the double sided paper.
Dee
Leslie,
Your card is soooo sweet, I love everything about it, the image, the paper, just everything!
Wow! !!! Your card creation is FANTASTIC!!!! I love this type of fold!
Thanks so much for your detailed instructions and photos. I’m definitely going to give this a try!
Lovely love birds!!! Love your folds too!!
Gorgeous! I love how you trimmed the flap edges to let the xo side show and I’ll have to borrow your photo anchor closure idea. I got a Scor-pal for Christmas and the first thing I made was a gate fold card! I could never measure and score accurately to save my life, until now.
Wow, I think this will be my Feb. hostess club project……I just love it and love your easy to follow tutorial. Gosh, Leslie you are making me want another stamping tool ! TFS your adorable and creative accordian Love card
OMG this is darling! The tutorial is great. I too LOVE my new Scor-Pal!
Great job Leslie.
Adorable card. Thanks for the tips. I recently bought the small Scor-Pal and even though I appreciate it I wish now that I would have opted for the larger one.
What a cute design, I like having the turn mount for the closure. It sure makes a fun and special card, thanks for sharing all the how to’s!
Love this, Leslie! I’m definitely going to have to try this one out soon! Thanks for the inspiration!
That is a wonderful card and a great idea! I am so bad at tying ribbon and I have a million of those little photo turn thingies – now I have a use for them. Thank you!
This is a great card, Leslie!
TFS!!
~Hugs
Oh my gosh…this is sooo cute!! I love the paper and your darling little perfectly colored birds (just ordered the set). I love the fold you used, and congrats on your new Scor-Pal!!
LOVE this Leslie! So simple, yet stunningly beautiful! That little bird stamp is quickly becoming harder and harder to resist thanks to you!
Linda
Wow! How cool is that?! Who’da thunk of makin’ it all with d/p? LOL! But I know you’re right about its ‘weightyness’ since SU’s d/p is quite heavy. Love it!
Leslie, hope you do not mind, but I am fairly new to this blogging world and I have been tagged. I have to tag 7 people that I admire the work of and you fall into my top 7! Will be posting the rules and the links on my blog shortly. Thanks!
WOW! I’ll have to try this with my new Score-It (smaller version of the Score Pal.) I’ll post the results this week on my blog.
adorable card. the gate fold is perfect for this image!
Totally awesome! I’ve been wanting to try one of these folds… maybe I’ll try today! Thanks for the constant inspiration Leslie!
Thanks too for the AWESBOMB birthday card! YOU ROCK!
Love ya babe,
~C
First of all I just love these little birds and second the overal card is just wonderful. I just got a Scor-Pal for Christmas. Thanks so much for sharing the details of how you made this. I need to try one now!
Leslie, what a CUTE and sweet creation! I love it!
~Angie
Absolutely cute Leslie! Thanks for sharing your wonderful instructions with us!!
Hi Leslie! Love all your cards, and had a question for you: How do you color with your pastels? I’ve had mine for eight years, and drag them out occasionally. I find that it’s hard for me to use them on anything that I want to stay in the lines. I’ve tried sponge tips, Q-tips, blender pen, aqua painter and who knows what else. I like the look of the chalks, but I want a little more finesse than I’ve managed so far.
This is an awesome card! Just found your blog through another and have enjoyed looking at your fabulous creations! I have a scor-pal too, aren’t they awesome??!!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Sweet card and layout. LOVE the singing birds and how you colored them. Jennifer
Ohhh, I tried it! Just the scoring and folding so far, this is gonna be fun, thanks!
Very beautiful card and layout. Love your creations!!! Thank you for the instructions.
Fabulous and delightful! Wonderful use of that designer paper, which I do really like. The brads and pink scallop edges really set this off fantastic! I really love this design, Leslie, and I will definitely be CASEing it. Thanks for sharing such wonderful instructions and photos – you are too good, my friend! Linda
I love the style of fold for this great card and the scalloped edges! The love birds are really fun! It looks like I need a scor-pal!
You are just so clever!!! Love this fold!!! And those little birdies are the sweetest!
OK, I’ve GOT to try this!
Just wanted to say thank you so much for posting awesome directions!! I cased you!!! I hope you don’t mind. You can visit my blog to see!
Thanks again
[...] fold card that stays closed without tying” (and makes its own border) — instructions here – so I made that our project of the day. We made matching 2468 boxes, too. I wanted to [...]
Totally Adorable!!!!
Just brilliant. Stunningly gorgeous and easy to follow. You may very well have cured my lazy self of the boring-card-fold-syndrome! Thank You!!! :O)
What a wonderful card! I must try it.
Awesome card! Thank you for the inspiration. I have a bunch of double sided cardstock just begging for me to do something with.
Awesome!! THANKYOU!! I googled and came across your blog. Thanks for providing the instructions as well!
[...] trying a gatefold card. But, this is a double accordian gate fold that I learned about from HERE. I will say however, that it feels good to try some new techniques…mix it up a bit. I made [...]
[...] I’ve made a double accordian gatefold card that stays closed without tying. I found the basic instructions for this fold on my Score-Pal packaging, then modified it a bit and wrote a tutorial a while back, which can be seen –> here. [...]
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