Accordion Tent ??? (Fun Fold) Cards 3 Ways

Do I have a fun-fold card for you today??? I sure do! This new-to-me card design has knocked my socks off this week and I hope it makes your socks fly off too. I’m going to show you three different ways to create an Accordion Tent Fold card design. What is an accordion-fold? According (?) to the dictionary definition: accordion-fold: verb (used with object), to fold into pleats resembling the bellows of an accordion: to make a fan by accordion-folding a sheet of paper.

Adding an accordion-fold to the front of your card will add some bounce a fun surprise for the card’s recipient. Watch the video tutorial for all my tips and tricks, and download the pdf to stamp along with me!

I am giving you the directions to make accordion-fold cards in 3 ways: using cardstock as the base, using patterned paper, and a cute mini version!

Accordion Tent Fold Card made with Cardstock

• 5-1/2” x 11” cardstock base, scored at 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7”
• 3-3/4” x 5-1/2” Basic White, scored at 2-3/4”
• 2-1/2” x 3-1/2” patterned paper (need 2)
• 2-3/4” x 3-3/4” Basic White for inside sentiment
• 1-1/2” x 5-1/4” patterned paper (need 4)
• 3-3/4” x 5-1/4” patterned paper for inside card base

Directions

1. Score the card base at 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7”. Starting with the 1-3/4” score line, fold each consecutive score line in opposite directions like an accordion. Open the folds and attach the 1-1/2” x 5-1/4” patterned paper pieces to each section. Attach the 3-3/4” x 5-1/4” patterned paper piece to the inside card base.
2. The 3-3/4” x 5-1/2” Basic White cardstock piece gets scored in half at 2-3/4”. This creates a mini card “tent” that will get attached amongst the accordion folds. But first attach the 2-1/2” x 3-1/2” patterned paper pieces to each side of the mini tent card. (Note: this mini card will be backwards)
3. Create desired focal point design on the left side of the mini tent card, and stamp/decorate as desired on the right side (this will only be seen when the card is opened).
4. Close the accordion. Put adhesive on the back edges of the mini tent card. Carefully center the mini tent card and attach so that the tent straddles the accordion fold.
5. Line up the 2-3/4” x 3-3/4” piece of Basic White behind the mini tent card and attach to the inside.

Options:

• You can adapt this design to meet your needs very easily. You can change the size/shape of the mini tent card (see picture below) to make it square. The mini tent card dimensions would be 3-1/4″ x 6-1/2″, scored at 3-1/4″

Accordion Tent Fold Card made with Patterned Paper

• 5-1/4” x 11” patterned paper, scored at 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7”
• 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” card base in coordinating cardstock
• 3-3/4” x 5-1/2” Basic White for mini tent card, scored at 2-3/4”
• 2-1/2” x 3-1/2” patterned paper (need 2)
• 2-3/4” x 3-3/4” Basic White for inside sentiment

Directions

1. Follow the same directions for making the accordion out of the patterned paper as for the cardstock version scoring at 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7” the same way. Fold in the same way, accordion-style, and attach to the 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” card base.
2. Follow the same steps for the cardstock version to create and attach the mini tent card.
3. Line up the 2-3/4” x 3-3/4” piece of Basic White behind the mini tent card and attach to the inside.

A Mini Accordion Tent Fold Card

• 4-1/4” x 10” patterned paper, scored at 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7”
• 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” card base in coordinating cardstock
• 4” x 5-1/4” patterned paper
• 2-3/4” x 4-1/2” Basic White for mini tent card, scored at 2-1/4”
• 3-1/4” x 4-1/2” coordinating cardstock
• 2” x 2-1/2” patterned paper (need 2)
• 2-1/4” x 2-3/4” Basic White for inside sentiment

Directions

1. Attach the 4” x 5-1/4” patterned paper to the 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” card base. 
2. The mini accordion gets scored and put together the same way as the other versions. Attach the accordion fold to the 3-1/4” x 4-1/2” piece of cardstock, then attach this entire piece to the card base made in step 1.
3. The mini mini tent card gets put together the same way as the other versions also, it’s just smaller.

Alright, which one is your favorite? Leave me a comment and let me know if you have tried a fun-fold like this before or if you are going to give this new pattern a try. Happy Stamping to you, my friend!

Product List

On The Horizon Bundle (English) [157779] $50.25	On The Horizon Cling Stamp Set (English) [157770] $23.00	Horizon Dies [157778] $33.00	New Horizons 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [157768] $11.50
Rhinestone Waves Basic Jewels [159396] $6.50	You’re A Peach 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [155686] $11.50	Flowers & Leaves Punch [155373] $18.00	Bough Punch [157711] $18.00
Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels [158130] $7.50	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690] $32.00	Tasteful Labels Dies [152886] $31.00	Artfully Layered Bundle (English) [157761] $53.00
Artfully Composed 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [157750] $11.50	Artfully Layered Cling Stamp Set (English) [157752] $24.00	Tropical Layers Dies [157760] $35.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00