Same But Different

Two different cards, one design... which do you prefer?

I go back and forth between the two styles. Sometimes the busy, colourful look of the first card appeals to me more, but other times I prefer the simpler, white background of the second. Is it our mood that affects the choice or is it the colour that affects our preference?

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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.

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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.

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From The Whole Flock

I've created two cards using the same design but with different coloured images and papers. I'm always amazed by the way colour influences our preferences and opinions. Which do you prefer?

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Tutorial - Double Decker Pop Up Cards

I really enjoyed tweaking this card to make the instructions super simple no matter what size cardstock you're using. For reference, I started with a sheet of A4, but this tutorial will work just as well with letter size.

1. Place your cardstock horizontally on your trimmer and cut in half.

2. Place one of the halves horizontally on your trimmer and cut in half again.

3. Place one of those halves horizontally on your trimmer and cut in half. You should now have four pieces of cardstock - one large, one medium and two small. See the photo below.

4. Take the medium piece of cardstock and trim one long end so that you are left with 41/2".

5. Place the 41/2" piece on your scoreboard and score at 1", 2", 3", and 4". Make valley folds along each score line.

5. Apply glue or double sided tape to the 1/2" section. Bring the other side of the cardstock over and secure to form a square tube. Set aside.

6. Place the large piece of cardstock horizontally on your score board and score in half. Fold along the score line, pressing firmly to create your card base. 

7. Score the front of your card in half again and fold backward to form an S-fold.

8. Decorate the card base with coordinating pieces of patterned paper that are slightly smaller than the cardstock so you end up with a small border around all four sides. (Alternatively, you can stamp the entire sheet with images and coloured inks.)

9. Apply glue or strong double sided tape to one side of the square tube you created in step 5. Secure it in the middle of your card, slightly to the right of the centre fold line, and evenly spaced between the top and bottom edges of the card. See the photos below for correct placement.

10. Press the square tube flat. Apply glue or strong double sided tape to the left hand side and close the card over the top. This will secure the tube inside your card.

11. The two small pieces of cardstock will form the front and inside panels. Be aware that the right hand side of the inside panel will be visible from the front of the card. If you prefer not to see the panel when the card is closed, you can either trim the inside panel to a narrower size, or use a wider panel on the front of the card.

INSIDE PANEL IS VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CARD

12. Time to decorate! I placed one of the little chicks on the very edge of the inner panel so that it looks as though it's peeking around the corner. You might like to add a decorative border strip, a piece of patterned paper, or simply keep the whole panel white. 

13. Add glue or double sided tape to the top section of the square tube. Secure your decorated, inner panel over the glue and push the card closed to make sure it folds flat. 

14. Decorate the second panel as desired.

15. Close the card and attach the front panel to the left hand side, centring it over the card front. Add your finishing touches and you're done!

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