Are you ready to add some flair to your card-making? Let me introduce you to a technique I like to call the “Pleat Card,” although some might know it as the “Curtain Fold.” It’s like fashion for your paper!
Why “Pleat” over “Curtain Fold,” you ask? Well, I’m literally pleating the paper here, like the seams on a beautifully tailored dress. Still, I get the curtain analogy, too—it drapes across the card just as grandly!
For my video demo, I took a 2″ x 12″ strip of Designer Series Paper (though I’ve also dabbled with 3″ and 4″ strips), and scored it in a way that would make any pleat-loving paper crafter swoon. I started by scoring at 2 inches, then moved down and scored at 1 inch, then alternated all the way to the end. Then came the magic of slicing: I angled the DSP, putting the first score line at one inch on my Paper Trimmer, then sliced all the way down for a little bit of geometric drama.
Now here’s where things really come together. I folded those score lines back and forth to create a series of pleats until I had a 5-inch masterpiece ready to grace the front of my card. I adhered it carefully onto Basic White cardstock, nestled it onto a Gold Foil background, and then placed the whole glorious ensemble onto a Lost Lagoon card base.
And because I can never resist a good accessory, I added a little holiday cheer from the A Little Bit Festive ephemera pack. Some snow-dusted pines here, a festive swag there, a “’Tis the Season” sentiment, and Regal Foiled Adhesive-Backed Dots to give it that final pop.
I’m entering this card into the Inkspirational Challenge #328 where the theme is “Layer It”. This style of card is all about layering, for sure – so it’s absolutely perfect for this challenge!
Seven cards and several papers later, I’m officially smitten with this technique. It’s versatile, a bit of a showstopper, and – I dare say – quite addictive. So if you’re ready to try a card with a pleat, grab that Designer Series Paper and score board.
I also created a video about making this type of card. Check it out, and please be sure to subscribe to the channel while you’re there! I appreciate your support.
Measurements on card created in the video (all in inches):
- Card base (Lost Lagoon) 8-1/2 x 5-1/2, scored at 4-1/4
- 1st Layer (Gold Foil) 5-1/4 x 4
- 2nd Layer (Basic White) 5 x 3-3/4
- DSP to score – 2 x 12, scored at 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, and 2 (or you could think of it as: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11)
- Inside of card – Basic White 5 x 3-3/4
There’s something oddly satisfying about pleating paper, like you’re transforming it from simple to spectacular with just a few folds!
