Fun Fold Cards using 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" card stock for card base

NOTE - menu items are added when I create a post - if a link doesn't work, it may be a scheduled post that hasn't posted quite yet.  

What can I  make when I start with a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock?  I won't show the basic "fold it in half" card, but this page lists other possibilities.  Check back because I don't have examples yet for all of them, and I'll periodically be adding additional structures.

Apertures:

• Basic Square or Rectangular Aperture:   
• Shaped Aperture:
• Window Card (with acetate or vellum):  
• Keyhole Aperture (or covered aperture - shaped aperture covered with piece attached by brad): 

This card is basically an aperture with cover that can swing out of the way to see the opening.  See how to make it here.

Other Examples:  

Arrow Cards:

• Basic:  
  
  This card is made by adding just a few extra folds to the card front and gluing them in place.
   
  Other Examples:  

Cut Away Cards:

• Basic Cutaway:  
• Cutaway with Shaped Edge:  
• Cutaway with Latch:  
• Cutaway with Acetate:  
• Cutaway Sides: 

This cutaway card simply has the two sides of the card front cut off.

Other Examples:  

• Cutaway with Dies: 
  
  
  
  This card was made using a cutting die to cut a shape for the card front. 
   
  Other Examples:  

Easel Cards:

• Basic Easel: 
  

This card was made by folding the card front in half, then gluing a panel to the bottom half only.  A dimensional piece on the inside holds it in place.

 

Other Examples: Chop Up Those Adorable Otters - Part 2, Makes for WCMD (& Club!), December 2025 Scene Creation Class, More Easels,   

• Vertical Easel:  
  

This card was created like a normal easel - simply turned on it's side with focal attached by hinges.

 

Other Examples: More Easels,  

• Twisted Easel: 
  

For this card, instead of folding the card front in half horizontally, we fold it in half diagonally.  

 

Other Examples: More Easels,  

• Triple Easel with Sides: 
• Cutaway Easel:

This card is like the Triple Easel with Sides - only with the sides cut away.

 

Other Examples:  

Fold Back Cards:

• Basic Fold Back:  
• Fold Back with Latch:  

Gap Cards:

• Die Cut Gap:  
• Acetate Gap:
  

The Acetate Gap Card, simply has acetate spanning the gap - whether it's a narrow or a wide gap.

 

Other Examples:  

Gate Fold Cards:

• Basic Gate Fold:  
• Interlocking Gate Fold Type 1: 
  
  
  This Interlocking Gatefold has frame attached to left side only.  Focal and sentiment connected only to the right side.  

Other Examples:  

• Interlocking Gate Fold Type 2: 
  
  
  This 2nd type of Interlocking Gatefold has a couple of small die cuts (the gold hearts in this case) which work together to form the interlocking part which holds the card together.

Other Examples:    

• Locking Gate Fold:  
  

The locking gatefold card has a locking mechanism behind the focal (in this case - could be some other place) that holds the two sides together and slides off to open.  Check out the post for more information.

 

Other Examples:  

• Sideways Gate Fold:  
• Gate Fold Window:  

Lattice:

• Lattice Fold:
  
  
  The Lattice Border on this card adds a fun detail. 

Other Examples:  

Sliders:

• Penny Slider:  

Pop-Up Cards:

•  Basic: 
  

This card is a basic pop-up card, formed by adding folded hollow rectangles of cardstock to hold the pop-up pieces.

Other Examples:  

Shaker Cards:

• Basic Die Cut: 
  
  
  
  This card demonstrates the use of a cutting die in the center of a cardstock panel - covered with clear acetate.  Dimensionals surround the cut out, to hold the shaker bits between the acetate and card front.
   
  Other Examples: Scene Creation Dec 2025,  

Spanner Cards:

• Basic Spanner Card: 
  
  
  This card has a front that is split into 3 with the outer two pieces spanned by something (sometimes acetate).

Other Examples: 

Spinner Cards:

•  Pop-Out Spinner Card: (Fixing a  Major Mistake)

Step Cards

• Center Step:   
  
  The Center Step card is not hard to make, but difficult to describe.  Basically, the sides are created as a small step and then larger step, while the center section stays the same as normal.
   
  Other Examples: Makes for WCMD (& Club!), Scene Creation Dec 2025,  
  
  
• Inverted Center Step:  

 

The Inverted Center Step is basically the opposite of the Center Step card.  It has the center as the "step" and the sides without steps. Cut lines are the same - score lines are opposite.  

Other Examples:  

• Side Step:
  
  
  
  The side step card is a split card with one side full as a normal card, and the other side having steps - usually 3.
   
  Other Examples: 
  
  
• Triple Side Step: 
   
   

This structure is created quite similarly to a side step card, but has a narrower area on the left and the back two stairs are created side by side with different heights. 

 

Other Examples:  

• Dual Side Step:

 

This card has two steps in the center framed by the sides of the card.  

Other Examples: