Folding Cards

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Author: Elaine Trout

The best part about creating handmade cards is that there are no rules about how they should look. Whether it’s a simple design or an elaborate one, all cards start with one thing—the card itself.

When you create a card from cardstock, how the card will be folded is your first decision. Using just one or two folds, you can create cards with very different looks.

Here’s a simple vertical card created by folding the cardstock in half equally.


Don’t forget—not all cards are vertical. Turn any card horizontally for a new look.


Folds don’t have to be equal. Fold the card so the front is smaller than the back.


Create a tri-fold by folding each side equally into the center.


Make a unique tri-fold by creating unequal sides that overlap slightly.


Working in opposite directions, fold the cardstock into thirds to create an accordion card.


For a pocket card, first fold the bottom of the cardstock up to form a pocket, then fold the card in half.


These ideas should get you started on the many types of cards you can make. It’s fun to try different ways of folding cards.