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Table of Contents Gatefolds! Best of Luck Card Resources for Card Makers Reader Questions Vacation Plans Gatefolds! It's easy to get into a card-making rut, especially if you make several cards at a time with little variation. An easy way to change it up is to change the location of the fold. If you normally make side-fold cards, make a few that fold at the top. Or try out my new personal favorite, the gatefold card. Simple folds like these are one of the easiest and fastest ways to add dimension or movement to handmade cards. For gatefold cards, only card stock, a folding tool and your imagination are needed for results that are one of a kind. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Want it delivered to your inbox every three weeks? Sign up here The most common kind of gatefold card opens from the left and the right, and has folds at the sides and two flaps meeting in the middle. But there are no rules stating the dividing line has to be in the center, or that the flaps have to be the same size, or that they can't overlap. Remember, although gatefold cards are simple and easy to make, careful, accurate measuring and scoring are very important. For gatefold cards, start with a standard-size envelope and make cards that fit inside, unless you want to make custom envelopes or use envelopes that require additional postage, i.e., square or oversized envelopes. Standard A2, A6 and A7 envelopes are popular and easy to find. Make sure your card is smaller than the envelope, so it is easy to insert and remove. This is especially important if you are using dimensional elements or lots of layers. Back to top. Free Project Here's a free project from a House of White Birches book called Fabulous Folds for Card Making. Frequent CardMaker contributor Lindsey Botkin designed this versatile card, and I challenge you to figure out at least a half-dozen ways it can be altered to suit your needs. Instead of the butterfly motif, try an ice cream cone for a summer party invitation, a mortarboard for graduations, a baby bottle or rattle for a baby congrats card … well, you get the idea. Best of Luck Card By Lindsey Botkin Materials White card stock Home printed paper Stamps: butterfly, "Best of Luck," three daisies Black solvent-based ink Stamp markers: blue, dark brown Pewter mini brad Pewter photo turn Punches: 1/16-inch hole, word window Dimensional glue dots Paper adhesive Project Note Adhere elements using paper adhesive unless instructed otherwise. 1. Vertically score an 8 1/2 x 4 1/4-inch piece of white card stock 2 1/8 inches from both sides; fold ends toward center to form a 4 1/4-inch-square gatefolded card. 2. Center and adhere a 1 7/8 x 4-inch piece of Home paper, floral side up, to each front panel. 3. Stamp "best of luck" onto bottom right corner of a 3-inch square of white card stock. Center square on front of card 5/8 inch from top edge; adhere to left panel only. 4. Stamp butterfly onto blue side of Home paper; cut out and adhere to white square, overlapping top and left edges, using dimensional glue dots. 5. Punch a 1/16-inch hole in right panel of card 1 1/4 inches from top and 3/8 inch from fold; attach photo turn with mini brad; use photo turn to hold card closed. 6. Inside card: Center and adhere a 4-inch square of brown floral Home paper to card. Ink flower portion of daisies stamp with blue marker and leaves with dark brown; stamp image onto bottom right corner of a 3 1/4-inch square of white card stock. Adhere card stock to bottom right corner of printed paper, leaving narrow borders. Stamp a word window from blue side of Home paper; cut off a 1-inch piece and adhere inside card, overlapping upper left corner of white card-stock square. Sources: Card stock, markers, photo turn and word window punch from Stampin' Up!; printed paper from My Mind's Eye; stamps from Inkadinkado; solvent-based ink from Tsukineko Inc. Copyright © March 2009 Fabulous Folds for Card Making. All rights reserved. Back to top. Click here for printer-friendly page. Back to top.

Resources for Card Makers

Nancy writes:

"Recently I began playing with the iris-folding technique. I did not like the built-up thickness of the papers on the back, so I used unfolded strips. I also used papers that I had purchased for $3 in a wallpaper sample book, as they were sturdy but thin. It still wasn't quite right, so I did the direct-to-paper technique with an appropriate color of ink pad. The result was very satisfactory to me."

Nancy, iris-folding has become so popular now, and there's a whole section about the technique in the book I mentioned above, Fabulous Folds for Card Making. I hope you'll check it out!

Rhonda writes:

"Hi! I am fairly new to card making, and I love it. I am not very poetic or good at coming up with wording to put on the inside of cards. I am looking for someplace to get quotes, so I don't abuse any copyright laws."

Rhonda, I have just the book for you. It's called Say It With Style, and it has tons of quotes and sentiments for all occasions. Another source for quotes from famous people is one of my favorite Web sites -- Quote Garden. And don't forget Brownielocks & the Three Bears for thousands of "surprise holidays." It's always a great inspiration for me when I'm in the mood for something different.

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Reader Questions

Charlotte writes:

"As a new subscriber, I have to admit -- while I've avoided the scrapbooking craze -- card making appeals to me! The problem is catching up. I see that there are several different die-cut machines out there, and I know there must have already been discussions on the features and benefits, and pros and cons held at length. But where do I find these? Any help steering me in the right direction?"

Charlotte, you might check out the product reviews in back issues of CardMaker magazine. Readers, can you help Charlotte find the information she's seeking? Use my feedback form below, and I'll pass along the information in an upcoming newsletter.

Patsy writes:

"I have been a stamper for at least 10 years. I have now created a room just for my stamps and paper and all the other goodies. My girlfriend and I used to get together and stamp at least once a month, until the wee hours in the morning. I have moved away, and it is something that I really miss. How would I find a fellow stamper just to get together with and have fun?"

Readers, can you give Patsy -- or anyone who has recently moved to a new area -- any suggestions on where she might look for other crafters with similar interests?

Do you have something you want to share with other card makers? Use my feedback form below, and I'll share as many as I can in a future newsletter!

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Vacation Plans

Julie writes:

"We are planning a four-day trip to California in a couple of weeks. I am planning on taking some stamped images and my Prismacolor pencils, so I can color away. That way, when I get back, all I have to do is make the card. The coloring is the time-consuming part. I always take a craft bag with me with various projects to finish."

Dawn Marie writes:

"I am really looking forward to this summer, and I'm not even leaving home. My oldest daughter, her husband and their two children are moving back to our area. She is an avid scrapbooker and card maker, so I cannot wait to exchange supplies and ideas. Not to mention all those pictures of the grandkids I can take and scrapbook! We have had so much fun planning all the little things that we have wanted to do but never had the time on their past trips home. I am planning entire afternoons for 'girls' days in' to be filled with crafting of all kinds. It is bound to be a fun summer."

Do you have summer plans that include travel, crafting, or crafting while you travel? Use my feedback form below to share with other readers.

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Until next time,

Happy card making!

Sue Reeves
Editor, CardMaker newsletter

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