Monday, 26 October 2015

Freestanding Box Card

 I was recently asked for instructions on how to make this card, so I thought I would blog about it.  Even though I always keep at least one of a 'Fancy Fold' project for future reference, this did make me have to think and I had to play about with it until I fathomed it out again....old grey cells aren't what they used to be !!!!

The last time I made this card was a few years ago, around Christmas time.  I stamped and coloured a nativity scene for the card on the inside and was told by the recipients that it looked fabulous on their mantelpiece.

I began with a sheet of 12x12" double sided paper, because when folded you do see both sides and the inside becomes a fold back feature, so plain would not look the same.  When selecting your paper, try to choose one without a direction, or some of it may appear upside down when folded.  Smaller prints also work better on the whole. I cut mine down to 30 x 24 cms.  Save the wider strip you cut off, to make a belly and to hold it closed flat for posting.

In the landscape position, score at 3, 9, 21 & 27 cms.
In the portrait position score at 6 & 18 cms.
Looking at the first diagram, you now need to make the diagonal creases in the directions and positions marked in red.  Don't sharpen your creases just yet.

When you have scored all your lines, in a landscape position, fold in the sides, turn back the ends, and make sure these meet in the middle before you use a bone folder to sharpen your creases (photo on the left below)  Then fold the corners in (the diagonal score lines should help you do this - centre photo below), and re sharpen all these folds (photo on right below)







  

Now taking hold of the turn backs, you should be able to gently ease it apart so it becomes a free standing, open box.  With your fingers in the middle at the top and bottom of the box, push in towards the centre until it looks like the photo on the left.  Use a bone folder to sharpen all creases.
 Here's the 'for instance I had kept from before (not decorated).  You can see that the card nestles in the base, but also becomes your card focal point when free standing.  Because the base area is a 12 cms square, you will need to make this 'feature' card a fraction smaller, but don't reduce too much or it will fall out too easily.

I had put photo corners on mine out of some of the left over paper ***after the belly band has been made, ready to frame the image.  Alternatively, use a complimentary colour of plain card.
On the belly band below, I have cut a narrow strip, and reversed this on a broader strip (showing both sides of the double sided paper used)  The centre fluted circle (this can be plain or a different shape), simply covers the join, and possibly bridges a gap, depending on the thickness of the paper used.

 So....what are you waiting for????  Get cracking !!!
Christine

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