explosion fan fold card

This is a great Christmas gift and easy to make!
This card fans out and explodes into a cute way to display pictures for a loved one or just an extra special card with lots of room for extra sentiments delivered in a fun way!

Measurements:

Cinnamon Cider 8 1/2″ square
Real Red (2) 4 1/8″ square
Basic White (3) 4 1/8″ square
DSP for front 4″ square
Scraps Basic White, Real Red and DSP for stamping and die cutting

Cut a Cinnamon Cider piece of Cardstock to 8 1/2″ square
Score in the middle at 4 1/4″ rotate 90 degrees and score the other side down the middle at 4 1/4″
Score on the diagonal both ways making sure that the pointed edge of the paper is directly in the middle of the cutting track.

Slice the center bottom score line to just below the convergence point of all the score lines in the center of the paper.

Starting with the first score line to the right of the cut fold so the score line raises upward like a mountain, the second score line bend opposite of this folding it into a “valley” fold – alternate mountain and valley folds for 6 folds do not fold the score line within the last square.

As in the photo above lie the un-scored square on the table and bend the first mountain fold down write an UP arrow symbol on the triangle that is lying flat above the square. Do this with the next two mountain folds pull them down onto the square laying on the table and write an UP arrow as shown in the picture. This will give you direction the paper should be facing when you flatten it to decorate it!

Decorate your front cover. I used the real Red square and adhered Gingerbread and Peppermint DSP to the Red piece. I added Stampin’ Seal + to the edges of the top triangle leaving just a little room and not going completely to the edge with the tape as the Real Red cardstock is just slightly smaller then the folded card. Center the top and left hand edges to a 1/16th of the card edge and adhere.

I stamped “Wishing you a Merry Christmas” from the Frosted Gingerbread Stamp set and die cut the sentiment with the Stitched So Sweetly die set. Mounted it in the center of the front cover, Popping it up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and adding some red Holiday Rhinestones and some Real Red and Basic White cardstock die cut with the Gingerbread die set for the peppermint candies.

I then decorated each of the three Basic White Square and adhered them to the squares with the arrows. I added a scrap of Gingerbread and Peppermint DSP, stamped the star cookie in Cinnamon Cider ink and added a few Peppermint candies die cuts to the little page. (you can add a sentiment to one or more of these pages or add a picture to make a super cute scrapbook!

Another page added to the explosion fan fold card attached to the next triangle with the up arrow on it!

Embellish the last square and add the square to the back page.

I tied the card closed with the Real Red Simmer Ribbon and made it long enough to make a bow in the front so that the lucky recipient can open and close this WOW card as often as they like!!
Adhere Stampin’ Seal+ to the back and adhere another red square to the back panel.

The card fans out open and closing for the coolest effect! Her is a picture of the card fully opened!

It is way easier than it looks and you should definitely give it a try!!

Remember if you want any of the products listed below you can just click on the images and it will take you directly to my on-line store!

Hope this inspired you to go make some art of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’

Natalie