Fun With Triangles 3 Ways

I’ve had triangles on the brain ever since I sat down to create with 3″ pattern paper squares for my Bright & Happy Patchwork Notecards Class, and want to continue exploring triangle shapes in cardmaking. This week I’m going to share a background technique and two fun folds that feature triangles. I hope you will join me in creating some cards with triangular elements! There are many different easy ways to use triangles in card making, and I am going to focus on three of those ways in this tutorial.

3 Ways to Use Triangles in Card Making

1. Triangle Background Technique
2. Triangle Fold Card
3. Triangle Joy Fold

Your first assignment is to watch the video tutorial so see the triangle card ideas in action. Then you should download the pdf for the projects so you have a handy reference tool. Lastly, get busy creating some cards with triangle elements!

Triangle Background Technique

I was inspired to try this background technique after viewing a tutorial by Christine Josti. She has some great ideas for OSW (one sheet wonder) cards using 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper. Here is a link to her blog post where I saw her background.

Supplies

• 5-1/2” x 8-1/2” cardstock card base
• 4” x 5-1/4” cardstock
• 2-1/2” square punched with Decorative Circle punch
• 2-1/4” square punched with 2” Circle punch
• DSP #1: 3” x 3”
• DSP #2: 3” x 3”

Triangle Fold (Diagonal Gatefold) Card

Supplies & Directions

• 8-1/2” x 11” cardstock (makes 2 card bases)
• 4” x 5-1/4” coordinating cardstock
• 4” x 5-1/4” neutral cardstock for the inside of card base
• 3-3/4” x 5” DSP
• Focal point image large enough to overlap the triangle flaps

1. Score the 8-1/2” x 11” cardstock at 4-1/4” on the 8-1/2” side and at 5-1/2” on the 11” side to divide the piece into equal quadrants. Mark and cut diagonally from one corner to the other. You will have 2 card bases to use.
2. Fold on the score lines and using a bone folder press on the score lines while lining up the triangular flaps to meet and align on the card front.
3. Cut the 4” x 5-1/4” piece of coordinating cardstock in half diagonally making sure the diagonal line matches the diagonal direction of the triangle flaps.
4. Attach the triangle pieces to the triangle flaps making sure the long edge of the triangle meets the edge of the flap. When closed the pieces should meet exactly.
5. Cut the piece of 3-3/4” x 5” DSP in half diagonally making sure the diagonal line matches the diagonal direction of the triangle flaps.
6. Attach the DSP pieces in the same way as the triangle cardstock pieces making sure they meet in the middle.
7. Attach a focal point image to one of the triangle flaps but overlapping both flaps.

Triangle Joy Fold Card

Supplies & Directions

• 8-1/2 x 5-1/2” cardstock for card base
• 4” x 5-1/4” DSP #1 for inside of card base
• 4” x 5-1/4” DSP #2 (cut in half diagonally) for outside of card base
• 3” x 8” cardstock, scored at 4”
• 3-3/4” x 2-3/4” neutral cardstock (cut 2)

1. Score the 8-1/2 x 5-1/2” cardstock for card base in half at 4-1/4”. Determine which side is the front of the card. 
2. Cut off the diagonal half of the card front cutting from the top left to the bottom right of the card front. (Save triangle piece cut off to use on a different card)
3. Cut the piece of 4” x 5-1/4” DSP #1 in half diagonally matching the cut corners of the card base (top left to the bottom right). Attach to the triangle flap card front, aligning the long side of the triangle with the edge of the triangle flap.
4. Attach the piece of 4” x 5-1/4” DSP #2 inside the card base.
5. Score the 3” x 8” piece of cardstock in half at 4”.  This creates a small “joy” card.  Attach this folded card to the inside of the card base so that the diagonal flap on the card front aligns diagonally from corner to corner of the smaller joy card.
6. Decorate the front of the joy card. 

Ok, my stamping friend, I challenge you to add some triangles to your cards and see how pleasing it can be to your eyes! Enjoy and keep creating! – Robin

Product List

Inked Botanicals 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [161157] $12.50	Stargazing 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [161175] $12.50	One Horse Open Sleigh 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [162118] $12.50	Masterfully Made 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [161192] $12.50	Les Shoppes 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [161322] $12.50
Glorious Gingham 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [163170] $10.50	Reach For The Stars Bundle (English) [161186] $53.00	Layering Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [161277] $24.00	So Very Merry Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [162345] $24.00	Crafting With You Bundle (English) [161226] $54.00
Kindest Expressions Cling Stamp Set (English) [161415] $24.00	Super Cool Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [161438] $20.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $26.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $5.50