Easy Envelope Gatefold Card

This is a lovely card that looks much more complex than it really is!  The square shape is a distinction. 

And as you can see, there is plenty of space to write a special message as well!  I used the Stampin’ Up! Sweet as a Peach Bundle for this card.  It has wonderful stamps and sentiments, and the DSP is 2Die4!

But the best thing about this card is that you can easily adapt it to include a gift card.  The weight of the card offers a good foundation for that use as well and won’t overpower it.

You will need:

• 12” x 12” Stampin’ Up! Basic White cardstock or a coordinating cardstock. 
  • I used Cajun Craze from the Stampin’ Up! 12” x 12” Regals Cardstock assortment.
• 4 different DSP patterned paper that coordinates together.    
  • I found all four in a single pack of the Stampin’ Up! You’re a Peach DSP.
  • There are more than 4 patterns to choose from – so choosing only 4 became my challenge!
• Scraps of white cardstock or the base cardstock.
• I used the Stampin’ Up! Sweet as a Peach stamp set with Pale Papaya, Cajun Craze, and Pear Pizzazz ink pads for this version of the card. 

Here is the measurement chart to get you started:

1. Using a scoreboard tool, score the base 12” x 12” cardstock at 3” and 9”.  Make a light dot at the 6” mark on the top and the bottom of the cardstock. 
   1. I used the Stampin’ Up! Simply Scored Scoring Tool which lets you score and cut your cardstock with that single tool.
   1. Turn the cardstock a quarter turn and score at 3” and 9”.  There should be a square in the middle of the 12” x 12” sheet.
   1. With a very soft pencil, draw a light line from the 6” mark to the intersection of the 2 score marks. 
   1. Then cut along these lines to create a triangle on the top and bottom of the cardstock. The solid lines below indicate cutting, while the dotted lines are score lines.

• Fold all sides toward the center and trim if needed to close smoothly.

• Adhere 2 rectangular pieces to each of the front and the back of the “gates” with the triangles on the top and bottom sections.

• Stamp the panel for the inside of the card to hold the message.  I used the flowers, branch, and sentiment images from Stampin’ Up! Sweet as a Peach stamp set.

• If you decide to include a message space on the back of the card, decorate the second white square and attach.

• Optional:  You can use the optional piece of cardstock (as shown on the cardstock list) to create a gift card holder.  Decorate the panel and use a strong adhesive to attach it to the back panel – or even to the inside panel if you decide that the gift is better hidden inside.

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• Choose a greeting for the white disk for the front of the card.  Mine is from the Stampin’ Up! Sweet as a Peach stamp set, with flowers from that same set.  (Hint:  You might also want to use this same stamp design to decorate an envelope.  Remember:  #nonekkidenvelopes)

• Attach the decorated white disk to the large accent circle and adhere to the top triangle of the card front. 
  • I used dimensionals on the top section to do this, so that there is a little height.
  • But use a mini hook and loop dot to fasten the circle “medallion” to the lower triangle. This will allow the card to be opened multiple times with no damage. (I found my mini-Velcro dots at a local craft store. They measure 3/8″ round and are self-adhesive.)

This Easy Envelope Gatefold card has a little bit of “paper engineering” involved in it.  But it is mostly some cutting, folding, and gluing.  The stamping part of it is beautifully highlighted and lets you get all crazy and artistic!

And how can you lose with a stamp set that offers all of the pretty options of the Stampin’ Up! Sweet as a Peach?

The original inspiration came from Sam Calcott at Mixed Up Crafts.  Sam makes wonderful instructional videos including one for this card at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVGK1GVxbJI   Although she doesn’t use Stampin’ Up! Products, I find a lot of inspiration from her designs.  Then the wonderfully coordinated products from Stampin’ Up! allow me to adapt them for my own creations.

And a finished product is a great self-care activity!

Stay tuned for a post later this week with some of the other ideas for this card! The Muses are visiting…

These are the products that I used for these cards: