Tutorial: Tri-Shutter Card

Tri-Shutter cards look their best when standing open for display. They can be made in a variety of different sizes with slight variations to the measurements of each tier to give different looks. The one shown here has equal proportions to make construction a little easier, but once you have figured out the basics you can fiddle with the measurements depending on what embellishments you wish to use.

1. Start with a horizontal piece of cardstock measuring 6" x 12".

2. Refer to the diagram below to mark light pencil lines on the back of your piece of cardstock. There are lines drawn horizonally across the cardstock at 2" and 4" and lines drawn verticallydown the cardstock at 2", 4", 8" and 10".

3. Follow the red cut lines indicated in the diagram below. Cut horizontally across the page starting 2" from the top and 2" from the left hand side and stopping 2" from the right hand side of the page.

4. The blue lines in the diagram below indicate "mountain" folds. Use your stylus or bone folder to score along the blue lines indicated in the diagram below. Fold these locations so that they bend upward toward you (mountain fold).

5. The green lines in the diagram below indicate "valley" folds. Use your stylus or bone folder to score along the green lines indicated in the diagram below. Fold these locations so that they bend downward away from you (valley fold).




6. Press the creases firmly to make them nice and crisp. Your cardstock should now look like the picture below:




7. Rub out the pencil lines and turn your cardstock over. Cut out three pieces of co-ordinating cardstock or patterned paper measuring 3 3/4" x 1 3/4" and twelve pieces measuring 1 3/4" x 1 3/4". Adhere these to each of the areas on the card as indicated in the picture below. Although these are not strictly necessary, they do provide extra strength and support to your card and help it to stand up easily.



8. Now it's a simple matter of embellishing each of the little frames. Note that the second frame at the top and bottom do not appear on the "front cover" when the card is closed, so you might want to fold up your card when planning the layout of your embellishments. Remember to leave one or two blank areas for personal greetings and messages.

Have fun!