4 Fun Fold Card Ideas Every Card Maker Should Know

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Do fun fold cards look complicated or maybe even a little intimidating? They really don’t have to be! Today I’m taking it back to the basics with four fun fold card ideas that I think every card maker should know. And to make them extra beautiful, I’m using the brand-new Luxe Foliage Designer Series Paper—our new Product of the Month—along with the Thanks & Giving stamp set. We’re going to use the same products for all four cards so you can focus on just how simple these folds really are. Let’s get started!

Why Start with These 4 Fun Fold Card Ideas?

If fun fold cards have ever looked a little complicated or intimidating, these four are a great place to start! The Z-Fold, Gate Fold, Cut & Flip, and Triangle Fold are simple to create, but each one teaches you a basic technique that can be used to make even more elaborate card designs.

Think of them as the building blocks of fun folds. Once you understand how these basic folds work, you can start changing the orientation, adding panels, adjusting where the card opens, or combining folds to create something completely different.

Best of all, you don’t need special supplies. Start with cardstock, your favorite Designer Series Paper, and the stamps and embellishments you already have. Learn the fold first—then make it your own!

Z-Fold

The Z-Fold is one of the best fun folds to learn because you’re simply taking part of a traditional card front and folding it back on itself. From there, you can add a focal panel that seems to float across the opening or take the idea even further with a Double Z-Fold, Triple Z-Fold, or Z-Fold with a bridge or band across the front.

Once you understand how that basic “Z” works, there are so many ways to change it up! Check out my Z-Fold with a Flap to see how one simple addition creates a completely different look.

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Gate Fold

The Gate Fold is another great foundation fold because it completely changes the way a card opens without making the construction complicated. Instead of opening from one side, two panels meet in the center like a set of doors. Once you understand the basic Gate Fold, you can experiment with Double Gate Folds, off-center gates, overlapping panels, belly bands, and decorative closures. It’s a simple fold with so many possibilities!

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Cut & Flip

I love the Cut & Flip Fun Fold because it shows just how much you can change a card with one simple cut. Even better, the piece you cut away doesn’t go to waste—you rotate it and use it as part of the card design! Try changing the orientation from portrait to landscape, moving the flipped panel higher or lower, or changing its size. You can also use contrasting Designer Series Papers on the two sections to make the fold stand out even more.

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Triangle Fold

The Triangle Fold may look like the fanciest of these four, but it’s surprisingly easy—and that’s exactly why I love it for beginning fun-fold card makers. Diagonal cuts and folds immediately make a card look more advanced. The basic design can be changed by reversing which triangles fold across the front, changing the direction of the diagonal, overlapping the triangles differently, or using just one triangular flap as the focal point. And depending on how you cut your cardstock, you can even create two card bases at once, which makes this a fun design for making multiples.

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Learn the Fold—Then Make It Your Own

That’s what I really want you to take away from these fun fold card ideas. Don’t think of these as four card designs you have to copy exactly. Think of the Z-Fold, Gate Fold, Cut & Flip, and Triangle Fold as building blocks. Learn the basic fold—then make it your own!

Want the measurements and cutting instructions for these Fun Fold Card Ideas?

I’ve put the measurements, cutting instructions, and step-by-step directions for all four fun folds into one easy-to-follow tutorial. Keep it handy at your craft table and use these foundational folds again and again with the stamps and papers you already own.

I created all four of these cards with the Thanks & Giving Stamp Set and beautiful Luxe Foliage Designer Series Paper. The rich colors and touches of gold were perfect for these Thanksgiving cards!

Love these products? You can find them in my Stampin’ Up! store while they’re available. And remember—the fun folds themselves can be used again and again with whatever stamps, papers, and sentiments you have in your craft room.

Product List

Which of These 4 Fun Fold Card Ideas Will You Try First?

I hope these four fun fold card ideas have shown you that fun folds don’t have to be complicated! Start with one basic fold, make it a few times, and then begin experimenting. Change the orientation, add a different focal panel, pull out a favorite Designer Series Paper, and see where your creativity takes you.

I’d love to know which one you’re going to try first—the Z-Fold, Gate Fold, Cut & Flip, or Triangle Fold. Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Most of all, have fun creating something beautiful and then send that card to someone who could use a little encouragement. That’s what it’s all about. ❤️