Make a Crisp Fold in Paper and Cardstock

By
Kate Pullen
Kate Pullen

Kate Pullen is an accomplished artist and rubber stamping expert with over 15 years of professional crafting experience. She founded the website Away With The Pixels, a digital rubber stamping studio, and conducts craft workshops around the country.

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Updated on 09/19/20
Top down view of blank pink thank you notes or wedding invitation.
Karniewska / Getty Images

Although it is possible to buy card blanks, many card-makers like to make their own cards from sheets of cardstock. This is the ideal way to get the perfect card, as you have complete control over the color and size of the card. This can also be extremely cost-effective.

A crisp fold in a greeting card makes it look professional and allows it to stand up straight when displayed. However, this is one part of cardmaking that often gets overlooked. If you think of the fold as being the backbone of the card, you will realize how important it is. After all, if you are going to put time and effort into making a card, then make sure you have a neat clean fold to really make the card look its best.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Bone folder or dull knife
  • Eraser

Materials

  • Paper or cardstock

Instructions

  1. Measure the Center of the Card

    Use a ruler to measure the center of the card at the top and the bottom. With a pencil, lightly mark these points and draw a straight line between them.

    Using a ruler and pencil to mark the center of the card
    Kate Pullen

  2. Score the Card

    Use the bone folder to score the card. This will make folding the card easier and ensure a crisp smooth fold. If you don't have a bone folder, try using a dull knife, such as a butter knife. Use a soft eraser to rub away the paper marks.

    Scoring the card with a bone folder and ruler
    Kate Pullen

  3. Flatten the Fold

    Carefully fold the card along the scored line. Use the bone folder or another flat implement to flatten the fold. Press firmly but not so hard that you mark the cardstock.

    Flatten the fold with the bone folder
    Kate Pullen

Another Way to Fold Cardstock

Another popular way to fold cardstock is to carefully hand-fold the two sides of the card, holding the card at the edges away from the fold. Place these edges against a ruler to keep them straight and press the fold flat. While this is quicker to do than measuring the card, it will take a little practice to get perfect results.