KiddiCards

Card folds

Six simple card folds, with diagrams

Each fold here turns one flat sheet into a different kind of card. The diagrams show the open sheet with every fold line marked, so you can draw the lines lightly in pencil before folding.

Reading the diagrams

Paper folds two ways. A valley fold bends the paper toward you, so the crease sinks in like a valley. A mountain fold bends it away from you, so the crease rises up like a ridge. Flip a sheet over and every valley becomes a mountain, which is why the diagrams always show the side facing you.

  • Valley fold folds toward you, like a V
  • Mountain fold folds away from you, like a peak
  • Cut an adult or older child cuts here
  • Crease fold both ways, then open again

The six folds

1
Half fold
  1. Lay the sheet flat with the inside facing up.
  2. Bring the right edge over to meet the left edge.
  3. Hold the corners together and press the fold from the middle out.
12
Quarter fold
  1. Fold the sheet in half from bottom to top along line 1.
  2. Fold the doubled sheet in half again along line 2.
  3. Turn it so the closed folds sit on the top and left.
1
Tent fold
  1. Turn the sheet face down.
  2. Fold in half along the middle so the picture side ends up outside.
  3. Stand it on the table with the fold on top.
12
Gatefold
  1. Fold the left edge in to line 1, so it reaches the middle.
  2. Fold the right edge in to line 2.
  3. The two doors now meet in the middle. Decorate across them or put a seal over the join.
12
Letter fold
  1. Fold the right third over along line 2.
  2. Fold the left third over on top along line 1.
  3. Press flat. Write a little on each panel.
123
Accordion fold
  1. Fold the sheet in half to find the middle, then open it.
  2. Fold each outside edge in to the middle and open again.
  3. Refold the lines alternately toward you and away from you so the strip zigzags.

Tips for neat folds

  • Mark first. Draw fold lines lightly in pencil using a ruler. Young children fold more accurately to a line than to a guess.
  • Score thick paper. On card stock an adult can run a dull butter knife or an empty ballpoint pen along a ruler first. The dent gives the paper a clean place to bend and stops cracking.
  • Fold with the grain. Paper bends more easily one way than the other, because its fibers mostly line up in one direction. If a fold cracks or looks bumpy, try the other direction on the next sheet.
  • Corners first, crease second. Line up the corners and hold them before pressing. Pressing first locks in any mistake.
  • Use a bone folder substitute. The edge of a ruler, a spoon or a smooth stone makes a sharper crease than a fingernail.

Which fold for which card

FoldPanelsEase for kidsBest use
Half2Easiest, from about age 4 with helpAny card, pop-ups
Quarter4 layersEasySmall notes from thin paper
Tent2EasyPlace cards, table signs
Gatefold3Medium, needs measuringReveal cards, invitations
Letter3MediumLong messages, mini letters
Accordion4 or moreHarder, practice on scrapFan cards, tiny books, stand-up scenes

Where to go next

Once a child can fold in half neatly, they are ready for the box pop-up on the pop-up cards page. The accordion fold is also the base of many paper chains and fans, and the letter fold makes a handy sleeve for a gift card or a note.

Why does my accordion lean to one side?

The panels are probably uneven. Fold in half first, then fold each edge to the center line. Halving keeps every panel the same width, which keeps the zigzag standing straight.