Catitude Is Everything | Fun Fold Card | Your Next Stamp

I decided to do something a bit different for this card, and create a fun fold card. And as the name suggests, it was a lot of fun to make! I did a Pinterest search for fun fold cards. After falling down a bit of a rabbit-hole (which, of course, is the whole point of Pinterest, right?!) I came across this video with instruction on how to make the fold I wanted, which I believe (please correct me if I’m wrong) is a type of Z-fold card.

The design starts of simply with a regular A2 card base – that’s 4¼ by 5½ inches. I chose a red card base The front flap then gets scored halfway, so 2⅛”. Next measure up 3½” on the opening edge of the front panel and mark with a pencil. Place the card into a trimmer (or use a ruler and craft knife) and cut from the pencil mark to the the central score mark.

The next step is the panels. For these I started with two white panels that were 4 by 5¼. One of the panels doesn’t get cut, so that can be set aside. The other panel does get cut. Again, measure up from the right hand side of the panel, starting at the bottom to 1¾ inches and mark with a pencil. As with the card base, cut from the pencil mark to the top left corner. I put the offcut triangle into my scrap stash. Then the remainder needs to be cut into two panels. This is done by cutting in 1⅞” from each side – make sure you definitely cut in from either side, so that the leftover scrap is coming out of the centre.

The final panel required is a patterned paper panel. The instructions in the video I found said to cut this to 1¾ inches wide. However, I thought it made more sense to have it the same size as the taller white panel we just cut down. Using that as a guide I cut my patterned paper to be 1⅞” wide and 5¼” tall. Then either measure up 3½” from the bottom right-hand side (when the pattern is facing you) and trim across to the top corner, or alternatively line it up with the matching white panel and use that as a guide for cutting the angle.

With all the panels ready I started working on my stamping. I used Cool Cats from Your Next Stamp, stamped with MFT Black Licorice Hybrid Ink. I then coloured each of the images with my Spectrum Noir Illustrator Markers. I decided to do them all as tabby cats of various colours, and I took inspiration from the patterned paper colours for their accessories.

Having left my stamps in the MISTI I was able to place each of the panel back into place once I was done colouring them, and stamp over with  Versafine Onyx Black ink to make the black outlines really crisp.

I added a subtle shadow below each cat, giving them some grounding, by using a small ink blending brush and Catherine Pooler Twilight Ink. I think there might have been some green left on the brush from a previous use as the shadows seemed to be a green-grey, but I don’t think it matters too much.

I used Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue to adhere each of the panels into place. I started with the large panel on the inside, then made sure that the bottoms of each of the other white panels lined up nicely with that when the card is open.

For the final touch I used a white gel pen to add some shine to the guitar, jumping cat’s pupils, and dancing cat’s nose.

As I said in my introduction, this card was a lot of fun to make! I don’t often experiment with unusual folds for my cards, though I have done a couple over the years. Maybe I’ll end up doing more in future. What do you think? Should I?

Love,

Lady Joyful

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Challenges included:

{PIN}spirational Challenge – Photo Inspiration (edit – where it was chosen as the favourite!)

Classic Design Challenge – Anything Goes

Crafter’s Castle – Anything Goes

Craftyhazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge – Use Patterned Paper

Fun Friday Challenge – Fun Fold

Papercraft Challenge – Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin’ – Anything But A Square

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – Anything Masculine Goes (edit – where it was chosen as Watercooler Rocker!)