This is my 2nd post today.  Please scroll down to find the RRR Blog Hop Post.  

Fun with Graphic 45: Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial & First 2017-2018 Brand Ambassador Post

Hello, G-45’ers!  Welcome to my first official post as a Graphic 45 2017-2018 Brand Ambassador. I think all the card makers out there are really going to enjoy today’s post as it is all about cards! Today I have 3 different styles of fancy fold cards to share with you, all using fabulous papers from Graphic 45.  I’ve prepared a fun Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial for you, so you can follow along at home and learn how to make these clever interactive cards.

Graphic 45 has lots of exciting plans and big changes in store for the 2017-2018 term, and I’m just thrilled to bits to be designing for this wonderful company for a second year.  One of the changes made is that the design team is now called Graphic 45 Brand Ambassadors.    I have had a little preview of the fun things coming your way, and I can honestly say I think this is going to be the best year ever for lovers of the Graphic 45 Brand.

A Little Bit About Me

Before I dig into the fancy fold cards video tutorial, G45 asked that we share a few fun facts about ourselves to kick things off.  Many of you have been following me for a long time now, so feel free to skip on down to the “meat” of this post.  But for new followers, here are some things you might like to know about me.

I live in beautiful North Carolina, USA, with Dale, my darling husband of 40+ years. We had theprivilege of raising 5 fun and fabulous children. Now we have the immense pleasure of beinggrandparents to three precious girls whom we call “The Littles.”.

Most days you’ll find me in my sunny little studio making cards, dabbling in mixed media, designing mini albums, folios, paper pretties for my ETSY shop and enjoying all the many adventures that the fabulous world of creativity affords. I also love to bake, spendtime with “the Littles”, cook big meals for our family, walk on the beach, go junkin’ and read.

Although I have a passion for all kinds of crafty adventures, I have no formal art training.  Cards are my favorite thing to create.  I especially enjoy creating interactive cards and put as much work into the insides of my cards as I do the outside. Adding tags and pockets, sweet little treats like tea bags or chocolates and surprise panels in a card really gets me excited.

I like to stay up to date with what’s going on in the crafting world.  Color, pattern and design fascinate me, so I try to pay attention while reading magazines or even looking around in stores to see what colors and patterns seem to be trending.  Is there a new technique?  I want to learn it and I enjoy taking online classes when time permits.  

For our first Brand Ambassador Challenge, Graphic 45 asked us to research trends in paper crafting and find a technique or trend that interested us.  The next step was to prepare a project that represented that trend and share it with you.  And that, my friends, is how this Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial came into being.

Card Making Trend Alert: Fancy Fold Cards are Where It’s At

In preparing for this post, I learned that in the world of cards, there are several trends that excite me.  Fancy fold cards, shaker cards and pop up cards are getting a lot of attention right now. Adding buttons to cards is also making a comeback.  And metallic elements are hugely popular.   I decided to take some time to learn a few new fancy fold cards to share with you here today.  I’ve incorporated some of these other fun trends in the designs.  There are lots of photos, tips and information to follow, so you might want to go grab a cuppa and a snack to sustain you.

Fancy Fold Card  #1: Bathing Beauties Double Gatefold Card with Place in Time July Papers

One of the great things about fancy fold cards is that they really bring the WOW factor to any project.  The other great thing is that they really are fairly simple to make.  They look impressive and complicated, but I’ll show you in today’s video tutorial just how simple it is to add that WOW factor to your next card making session.

This Double Gatefold Card started with 2 simple 5” x 7” side fold card bases.  I overlapped the cards, added a couple of extra score lines, and voila!  Double Gatefold card magic!

A belly band holds this Double Gatefold card shut, but you could also use ribbons to tie the gates closed.

And when you’ve slipped the belly band off the card, it’s just like watching the curtain rise at the theater.

As each panel of the card opens, there are more and more goodies to look at.  Finally, the postcard pocket in the middle pane takes center stage.

The July images and prints from A Place in Time work really well with By the Sea.  I’ve added some journal cards from that collection to finish the inside of my card.  The vintage postcard from A Place in Time makes a great pocket, too.

Tips and Tricks for Making Double Gatefold Cards

Tip:  Always remember to use your bone folder to burnish the score lines on a Fancy Fold card.  Crisp fold lines are essential when you are making a card with special folds.

Tip: To create a quick and easy pocket, use a postcard!  Just glue the sides and bottom edge to your card base and then slip in ephemera cards, journal cards, tags or other goodies. Everyone loves surprises!

 

Supply List for Bathing Beauties Card

Place in Time Deluxe Collector’s Edition/July pages

By the Sea 8×8 collection (retired)

Colorbox Decades Dark Cashmere Ink

Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles Die

Navy Canvas Stripe Ribbon

Fancy Fold Card #2:  By the Sea Beach Rules Step-Out Card

Step-out cards are just loaded with dimension.  They also provide you with lots of nooks and crannies to decorate with pretty papers like the patterns and images in By the Sea.  

 

One great thing about Step-Out cards is the fact that they fold flat for mailing

Then you can pop it open for display.  How fun is that?

Tips and Tricks for making Step Out Cards

Tip:  Be careful when gluing images to your card front.  You don’t want to get glue on the back layers of the card, or it won’t open properly.  To prevent this from happening, turn your chipboard piece upside down on the card front and make pencil marks so you’ll know where to place the glue.

Tip: I used a craft knife and ruler to create the center slit that allows the step out mechanism to work. When using a craft knife, there are 2 important things to remember.  First, always test your blade to make sure it is sharp.  A dull blade will not cut cleanly.  Second, I find that if I cut my paper on a glass surface, the knife glides through the paper like a hot knife goes through butter.  You can use the glass from an old picture frame, or a glass cutting mat like the one I use in the video tutorial.

Tip: To add realistic beach effects to this card, I scribbled on the card base with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive then sprinkled with real beach sand.  Do this over a sheet of paper, so you can tap off the excess sand once the glue dries.  

Supply List for Beach Rules Step Out Card

8×8 By the Sea Paper Collection (retired)

By the Sea Decorative Chipboard

By the Sea Tags and Pockets

Colorbox Decades Dark Cashmere Ink

Fancy Fold Card #3: Portrait of a Lady Fanfare Card/Folio

This is probably my favorite fancy fold card design because it is part card, part folio, part pop-up.   It looks like a really complicated and fussy design, but the truth is, It’s all just straight lines!   Isn’t that a relief?

Begin with a standard 6” square top fol card base made from heavy cardstock.  Because of the weight of the fanfare fold, you need a really sturdy base to work with.

The front cover of the Fanfare Fold card opens to reveal a beautiful hidden folio.

I decorated this panel with a pretty pocket and tag combo, then topped it with this gorgeous chipboard element to add even more dimension to the design.

Tips and Tricks for Making Fanfare Fold Cards

Tip:  Cut sentiments from a collection’s text pages for picture perfect color matches.  I snipped the word “Beauty” from the 8×8 “Grace” paper then glued it behind the G45 Staples Ornate Label Holder.

Tip: Use a scallop corner punch to create the pretty shaped edges on this card.  

But Wait….there’s more!

This lovely design also opens like a standard top fold card. Decorate the inside of your Fanfare Fancy Fold Card with decorative papers, journal cards and sticker elements. This is a great style of card to present for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers or birthdays, as photos from the event can be stored in the folio.  It’s like getting a card and a gift in one neat package.

Portrait of a Lady Fanfare Fold Card Supply List

8×8 Portrait of a Lady Paper Collection

12 x 12 Portrait of a Lady Patterns and Solids

Portrait of a Lady Tags and Pockets

Portrait of a Lady Ephemera Cards

Portrait of a Lady Decorative Chipboard

Portrait of a Lady 12×12 Sticker Sheet.

G45 Staples Ornate Label Holder

1.5” Rose Silky Crush Ribbon

Petaloo Flowers

Colorbox Decades Dark Cashmere Ink

Fun With Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial on YouTube

 

Are you ready to get started making your own Fancy Fold Cards with Graphic 45?  Join me as I create all three of these card bases in this video tutorial.  I’ll also share tips and tricks for the finished cards you see here.

 

As you saw in the Fancy Fold Cards Video Tutorial, these cards are much easier to make than you might think. I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and techniques that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy