Let me ask you a question. When you create a card, do you always make a top fold or side fold card? I must confess that I typically do this. But we have other options, folks, like the barn door fold card!
Yes, there are alternatives to the top or side fold cards. We CAN break out of our routine. For instance, I will show you how with this barn door fold card.
Barn Door Fold + Masculine Card
As much as I love to make cards, I never seem to have one when I need it! You, too?
And when I want to give a card to a guy, I struggle with coming up with a design that might appeal more to a man than a woman.
I tend to gravitate toward floral cards most often, but this isn’t the type of card that my husband prefers to receive.
Interested in flower projects? Check out my giant Black-eyed Susan paper flowers or my rolled flowers.
My husband recently had a birthday and I needed a card for him. I had stumbled across this barn door fold technique by Crafty Karen Designs while on Pinterest. I was intrigued by the design and thought it would be perfect for my husband’s birthday card.
If you struggle with masculine card designs, try the barn door fold technique.
Watch how I created a birthday card using this fold in my tutorial video.
While you can certainly use this fold for a masculine card, I also used the barn door fold with floral embellishments for a card for my friend and coworker Lisa. This is a versatile technique.
For your convenience, I included affiliate links which means I may make a commission, but it won’t cost you any more. Read my entire disclosure here.
Ready to get started?
Materials
Please note that the materials and supplies are SIMILAR to what I used. Many of my supplies and materials I have either had for many years or purchased at yard sales.
- Cardstock, 65 lb, 1 – 3 colors*
- Patterned paper, such as scrapbook paper, 2-3 designs* (another option)
- Double-sided tape or craft glue
- Sentiment stamp
- Ink pad or this one
- Corner punch
- Fiskars paper cutter
- Bone folder or scorer
- Elk SVG or pattern (free in my Maker Library)
- Cricut Maker and mat
- Ruler
- Cutting mat
- Foam dots
- Embellishments
*Note: You can layer with all cardstock, or with a base of cardstock and two layers of patterned paper. On the Elk card, I used 2 layers of cardstock and 1 layer of patterned paper. For the hydrangea card, I used cardstock for the base layer and then layered two more patterned pieces.
Cutting Dimensions for Barn Door Fold Card
- Base layer (green)
- 5 x 11 inches, base and top door
- 3 x 3.5 inches, cut 2, lower doors,
- Second Layer (Foil)
- 4.25 x 6.75 inches, inside
- 4.75 x 3.75 inches, top door
- 2.25 x 3.25 inches, cut 2, lower doors
- Third Layer (patterned paper)
- 4.5 x 3.5 inches, top door
- 2 x 3 inches, cut 2, bottom doors
- White cardstock
- 4 x 6.5 inches, inside, sentiment layer
- Elk (brown)
- 3 inches wide, keep height proportional
The finished card will fit in a 7.5 x 5.25 inch envelope (A7).
Shall we begin?
Instructions for Barn Door Fold Card
Step 1. Measure and cut paper
First, cut your paper based on the measurements above. You can use a cutting machine, paper cutter, or scissors. A cutting machine, such as a Cricut, will not allow you to maximize your paper, but it will allow you to add your scoring lines (see step 2.)
So I have a Fiskars paper cutter that I have had for nearly 25 years. It is a quick way to cut cardstock and paper, and it allows me to maximize my paper. Very little waste!
Step 2. Score the Barn Door Folds
Next, let’s create the barn door folds! On the 5 x 11 inch base level (green in my example), create a scoring line at 7 inches from the edge of a short side. Theb, crease and fold. This is the top barn door.
Let’s do the same for our lower barn doors. So, on the two 3 x 3.5 inches pieces, score a line ½ inch from the edge of the 3.5 inch side.
Now, pay attention to how you score the lower barn doors. Let me explain why. If you score the wrong edge of the paper or cardstock, your top barn door will not overlap the bottom. I made this mistake (more than once!) (face in palm) when I made my two cards.
Step 3. Punch Corners
While this is an optional step, I believe if you round the corners of the top flap, your barn door will look more realistic.
You can do this with scissors or use a corner punch. For example, I used a corner punch on my cards. My punch is not completely smooth – it has notches. I think the smoother and rounder the corners, the more realistic the barn door will look.
You will need to punch corners on all three layers – the base, the middle layer, and the top layer.
Step 4. Stack The Layers of the Barn Door Fold Card
Now, time to layer. On the first layer, add the lower barn doors. Align each door with a corner at the bottom of the base. Use tape or glue on the half-inch flap created by the score line to attach to the base.
Secondly, using double-sided tape or craft glue, add the second layer. On my elk card, I used a foil cardstock that looks like mercury glass. But on my hydrangea card, I used deep purple scrapbook paper, not cardstock, as my second layer.
So, add the second layer to the top barn door, the lower barn doors, and the inside of the card.
Next, add your third layer. Again, using double-sided tape or craft glue, add the third (top) layer. On the elk card, I used striped patterned paper. On the hydrangea card, I also used complementary patterned paper.
Important: The top layer on the inside of the card should be white cardstock or white copy paper. Let me explain why this is important. White cardstock or paper will allow your sentiment to stand out and be easily read. You may want to stamp your sentiment before you tape or glue this layer down.
Step 5. Stamp Your Sentiment
Since I was making birthday cards, I chose a ‘Happy Birthday’ stamp. This was from a Stampin’ Up sentiment set I purchased in 1997 (yes, I’ve been a card maker for a long time!).
To add interest, I stamped just the word ‘Happy’ twice, vertically, then stamped the entire phrase. So the inside of the card looks like this:
I addition, I positioned the stamped sentiment so that I would have a bit of space at the bottom to write a personal note.
Now, stamping a sentiment is entirely optional. You could leave this space blank, and then just write a note when it is time to give it to a friend, family member, or coworker.
For those folks with a Cricut, you could have your machine write (draw) the sentiment with markers.
Step 6. Add Embellishments
Now for the best part! If you are making my elk card, you will need to cut out my elk pattern. If you have not downloaded it from my Maker Library, do it now. It’s free. Once you have uploaded and inserted the elk image, resize it, so that the width is 3 inches. Make sure the dimensions are locked before you resize so that the image stays proportional.
After cutting out the elk image, add foam dots or squares to the back. Put one near the hip and another on the neck to give the elk support. Finally, position the elk on the barn door flap.
Now, if you are NOT using the elk image, then you will add your embellishments to the top barn door. I used a layered hydrangea with small butterflies and a small dragonfly. These were a yard sale find.
Finally, just add a personal note and you are all set to give this wonderful barn door fold card to a lucky person!
Recap
So remember, you can break out of your basic top or side fold card rut and try an easy barn door fold for a unique and lovely card. You can use this fold for both masculine and feminine style cards. To make this card, you will
- Measure, cut, score cardstock and papers
- Punch corners on top barn door
- Tape or glue each layer together
- Stamp sentiment and add a personal note
- Give to the recipient
I put together a tutorial with screenshots for you. You can find it (free!) in my Maker Library, along with the Elk svg. Sounds good?
An Extra
You may have noticed in my video that I displayed each of my cards in a wooden holder. This is a memory stick from Tate & Zoey. In fact, the mug you see in the video is also from Tate & Zoey, as is the fun, golden sun necklace I am wearing.
To help out a friend, I recently joined Tate & Zoey as an affiliate. This company has lots of wonderful gift ideas for all occasions. So if you are looking for unique and interesting gifts – maybe to send along with your barn door fold car (wink, wink) – check out my Tate & Zoey page!
Additional Reading
If you are new to making cards, you may want to check out these posts:
What Supplies Do You Need to Create A Handmade Card?
3 Reasons To Start Making Handmade Cards Now
