Folded Frame Card

I had the idea to try this because I caught the end of a show on Create & Craft with Mel Heaton, who created a beautiful sample and had just demonstrated how to make it.
As I only caught the very end of the demonstration and saw her final creation, I set about working out how to make it – it took me an evening (and many sheets of scrap paper).

I was quite chuffed with the results and it is another unusual idea for a mini album/scrapbook. Its also a great idea for a really special birthday for someone
I have attempted here to explain how it is made, because honestly it is not as complicated as it looks.

Take a piece of square paper and score at the 1/4 intervals, both horizontally and vertically. So for this 12×12 sheet, the score lines are at 3″, 6″, 9″ & 12″.  Score also the diagnal lines as shown.  It is worth scoring all lines on both sides of the paper, with a bone folder, to help with the folding later on.

If you are using a double sided sheet of paper, set the paper down on the table with the pattern you would like to be seen, table side down. Fold down each corner to the first diagnal fold, and for the purpose of this explanation I have stuck these corners but there is no need. Also I have labelled each 1/16th (individual squares) to try and help the folding process coming next.

Set the paper with the folded corner at the top, and the labels in the configuration above. If you have scored and folded on both dised of the paper the next folds will happen easier – manipulate the folds so that the 2 triangles labelled ‘A’ lay down covering square ‘B’.  The contrasting colour of triangle ‘C’, will be facing upwards. See the next photo so show how you paper should look at this stage.

You should be at this stage, having made the folds at the first corner. Move the paper round and fold each corner in the same way. Ensuring that the 2 ‘A’ triangles fold downwards onto their corresponding ‘B’ square.

Your paper should look like this after 2 corners have been folded.

When you have folded all 4 corners, your paper should be looking something like this.

When flat make sure all folds are crisp with a bone folder and this will help the paper keep its shape. it will not lay completely flat at this stage and it may be worth putting it to one side with a weight on top (I put mine under my glass mat) to carry on to the next stage.

Measure and cut a square of contrasting cardstock that is just a few millimetres smaller that the square shape of the folder paper. Insert this square under the corners of the folded piece, in a ‘photo corner’ kind of fashion. It is this that will make the whole piece keep its shape and hideaway the folds in the centre.

So that you can make a double folded frame (as below), you will need to make a hinge. Measure the length marked ‘x’ in the photo, and use that measurement to cut a square of co-ordinationing cardstock. Make 2 score lines, about 0.5mm apart, either side of the point to point diagnal line. Again make the score lines crisp with a bone folder.

Insert the hinge within the folds of each folded frame, so that it is almost hidden. With the frames in front of you you will see where the hinge needs to sit, and give you the double frame as below.

Well done if you have reached this stage. You can go on to create another 2 folded frames and hinges to give you 4 hinged frames. You can link as many folded frames togther as you require. Work in multiples of 2 so that you will always have a from and back.

Why not use 8×8 papers that are available to make little handbag sized albums as gifts, or a lovely reminder for you to carry holiday snaps.