Easy Card Fold Alternative – a Gatefold

What is a Gatefold Card?

A Gatefold card is a simple alternative to a standard card fold. It is a great choice for an invitation, or anytime you want to keep the contents of the card a surprise! Your card base is cut to 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, just like a standard card base. However, instead of scoring it on the long edge at 4-1/4″, you’ll score it at 2-1/8″ and 6-3/8″, as shown below:

Then the side flaps are folded inward on the score lines, so that they meet in the center to form the ‘Gate’.

Decorating your card

Once your basic gatefold is created, you can embellish it in many ways. You can simply add a piece of 1-7/8″ x 5-1/4″ cardstock to the front of each flap, or you can get fancier. This one just uses DSP:

Also, think about how you’ll want the card to stay closed. For the featured card shown below, I’ve used a square die to cut a diamond-shaped window in the card, and a ribbon belly band to close it. The dimensions and directions for creating it are included in the recipe.

Paper Colors

Both this card, and the one shown below use the Stampin’ Up! Naturally Eclectic DSP (Designer Series Paper) which has all these colors: Berry Burst, Emerald Envy, Fresh Fig, Lemon Lime Twist, Night of Navy, Peekaboo Peach, Soft Sky and Whisper White.

This gives you a lot of options for the color of your card base. Here I’ve chosen the Berry Burst cardstock for the base.

Cut your cardstock and a window

1. Cut Berry Burst cardstock (or any of the other coordinating colors listed above) to 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ for the card base.
2. On the long edge, score the card base at 2-1/8″ and 6-3/8″ and fold in along the score lines to form the gate fold.
3. Use the fourth smallest framelit in the Square Collections framelits set. (The cutting lines are about 2-7/16″square.) Alternatively, use a round framelit or one of the Stitched Shapes framelits. 
4. Open the left flap. Turn the framelit to make a diamond shape. Place the cutting edge face down on the left flap, about 3/8″ from the top, and align the corners of the diamond with the edge of the left flap. This will help you get the diamond centered properly on your card.
5. Secure the framelit to the inside edge of the left flap with low tack tape. If you’re using washi tape, make sure it isn’t too sticky as you don’t want to pull up any of your paper when you remove it.
6. Close the card with the framelit inside. Check that the diamond is still properly aligned, with half of it beneath the left flap and half beneath the right flap. Secure the card shut with low tack tape.
7. Cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Naturally Eclectic DSP.
8. Center the DSP on top of the closed card front & secure it with low tack tape.
9. Next, run the card, with the die inside, through the Big Shot to cut through both your card front and the DSP at the same time.
10. Remove the low tack tape from the DSP & card front and remove the die. Keep the square that you cut from the DSP.
11. Cut the DSP, lining up the edges of the diamond on the cutting line. Cut it in half with your paper trimmer. Adhere one half to the left and one half to the right card front flap.
12. Cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Whisper White cardstock and adhere it to the inside of the card on the center panel.
13. Cut a 2″ x 2″ piece of Whisper White cardstock and adhere it to the square that was cut from the DSP on the card front. If you’re using a circle shape, cut a smaller circle from the Whisper White cardstock.
14. Stamp the greeting ‘Party Time’ from the Stampin’ Up! Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set on the white square in Berry Burst ink. This stamp set has such great sentiments and fonts for birthdays.
    

    Item #143662 Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set

15. Close the card and adhere the square (diamond) in the card opening, using Stampin’ Dimensionals to raise it up, if desired.
16. Open the card and stamp ‘happy birthday’ from the same stamp set, beneath the diamond, in Berry Burst ink.
17. Wrap Berry Burst Crinkled 5/8″ Seam Binding around the card and tie a bow (optional). This will add a pretty touch and keep the card closed.

Alternative Birthday Card

For the card below, use the same steps outlined above, but change the colors, and use a circular die instead of a square die. The 3/8″ Silver Metallic-Edged ribbon adds an elegant touch to this card, don’t you think?.

 

Questions?

If you have any questions about how to make this card, or where to get supplies, leave me a comment and I’ll be happy to help!

You can shop in my online store at Ink, Shimmer and Shine at your convenience!