How to Make Gate-Fold Invitations With Hearts

Gate-fold cards have two folds on the front of the card to give it a gate-like appearance. Although the folding method is uncomplicated, the effect can be dramatic because it steps away from the traditional single-fold greeting card. Make your own gate-fold card using your favorite color card stock. Add hearts to it to create a homemade Valentine’s Day, anniversary or thinking-of-you card.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 4-inch by 12-inch card stock
• 3-inch by 11-inch stationery
• Craft glue
• Pencil
• Spoon
• Bone folder (optional)
• Red card stock
• Scissors
• Hot glue
• Hot glue gun
• 2 1/2-inch heart buttons
• 6-inch piece of sewing machine thread

1. • 1
     Lay a piece of 4-inch by 12-inch piece of colored card stock on your workspace. Position it with a 12-inch side parallel to you. Place a piece of 3-inch by 11-inch piece of stationery on top of the card stock. Look for stationery at a paper supply store or craft store with a heart pattern you like. Center it so there is a 1/2-inch border of card stock on all four sides of the stationery. Secure it in place with craft glue. Let the glue dry for three to five hours.
   • 2
     Mark the edge of the card stock closes to you with a pencil. Put the first mark at 3 inches, the second at 6 inches and the third at 9 inches.
   • 3
     Fold the paper inward at the 3-inch and 9-inch marks toward the center, meeting at the 6-inch mark.Crease the folds with the edge of a spoon or a bone folder.
   • 4
     Cut out a 3-inch by 3-inch heart from a piece of red card stock. Cut the heart in half down the length of it. Attach it to the front of the gate-fold card, using craft glue, with the cut edges against the opening of the gate-fold. Center it on the front of the card. Let the glue dry for three to five hours.
   • 5
     Apply hot glue to the back of two 1/2-inch heart buttons. Place one button in the center of each card stock heart half. Press the buttons against the card stock. Underneath the left button, place the end of a 6-inch piece of sewing machine thread, before pushing the button against the card stock heart, to glue it in place.
   • 6
     Wrap the loose end the string the two buttons in a Figure 8 to secure it.