Tutorial - Accordion Z-Fold Cards

I recently taught this fabulous display card at one of my local scrapbooking shops. It has an accordion section that helps it stand open for display as well as a smaller card that keeps everything in shape. You could easily adapt the size to whatever you need and there's plenty of room to add personal messages and sentiments.

1. Place an 11" x 51/2" piece of cardstock horizontally on your score board and score at 13/4", 31/2", 51/4", and 7". Fold along the score lines, alternating between mountain and valley folds to form a concertina. Set aside.

2. Place a 61/2" x 31/4" piece of cardstock horizontally on your scoreboard, and score at 31/4". Fold in half.

3. To decorate, you'll need a 33/4" x 51/4" piece of white cardstock for the inside of the card, two 3" x 3" pieces of patterned paper, four 11/2" x 51/4" pieces of coordinating patterned paper, and a 1" x 33/4" piece of patterned paper (optional).

4. Adhere all the paper and cardstock to the base cards as shown below. If using the 1" x 33/4" piece of patterned paper, reserve it for a little later.

5. Fold the small card in half and position the folded edge along the right hand side of the large card. Open the small card.

6. Place adhesive along the left hand edge of the small card, about 1/2" wide. Carefully bring the accordion section over the adhesive, ensuring the small card doesn't move.

7. Now fold the accordion section closed as shown below. Place adhesive on the right hand edge of the small card and, if desired, a little on the edge of the accordion section ensuring you don't extend beyond the width of the small card. Fold the small card closed, securing it to the accordion section.

8. To decorate, secure the 1" x 33/4" strip of patterned paper to the white cardstock, about 1/2" from the bottom so that it's visible when the card is closed. I added a sentiment at the top right-hand side of the white cardstock, placing it carefully so it can be seen when the card is folded.

9. Decorate the front panel of the small card as desired. I used a combination of die cut images and another sentiment.

Products:

You're Going Places

This card is similar to the one I made a couple of weeks ago, but without the little frames. Having the half images on either side of the card is an easy way to give the impression of movement, as if the trucks are driving across your line of sight. You can do the same thing with other moving objects, including animals and people.

Products:

Centre Step Card

Today felt like a step card kind of day, so a step card is what I created.

You can find a tutorial HERE.

Products:

A Card For Dad

The trucks from The Long Haul set make great cards for Dads...

whether it's a birthday, Father's Day or just to say thanks!

Products:

Reminder: Closing Digital Store

Our digital store is closing at the end of June 2025. No new digital stamps are being released.

Our blog remains as busy as ever with plenty of regular content,

new physical products, tutorials and inspiration.

What's Changing?

- No new digital stamps

- No monthly challenges

What's Continuing?

- Regular card making and paper craft tutorials

- The freebie library will remain

- The A-Z of card folds will remain

- New physical products will be regularly released

- Monthly newsletter will continue

When Is It Happening?

There will be no new digital stamps and no monthly challenges from the start of 2025.

The digital store will close at the end of June 2025 giving people the opportunity to use store credit.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Store credit must be spent by the end of June 2025.

To Someone Wonderful

Rather than fill the entire background with one sheet of patterned paper, consider cutting it into pieces for a more interesting look. For more contrast, you could switch out one or two of the pieces for other colours... and don't forget to add different layers for extra dimension.

Products:

Tutorial - The Long Haul Slimline Card

Here's a cute card idea that you can use for any image that moves - trains, animals, boats, etc. You just need a couple of the same image and some little frames to give the impression of snapshots.

Cut one of your images in half to separate the front end from the back end.

You'll need a slimline card base, three small frames and some patterned paper to decorate.

Secure the paper to the front of your card, then add some backing pieces for each little frame. Attach the frames over the top using foam tape to give added dimension. (As you can see, I switched out the plain white frames for some with a bit more sparkle!)

Adhere the back half of the image into the first frame, the whole image into the centre frame, and the front half into the final frame. Finish your card with a sentiment and some coordinating embellishments.

Products: