Fun with Gatefolds :: Lori Gentile

Hello! Lori Gentile here with you today to show you a really fun technique: making a gatefold. I mostly use this technique for the cover of mini books, but it can be used any way you choose. Today, I am using it to create a fun invitation to a Vintage Tea Party.

Invitation Material List:

Patterned Paper - Restoration - Refinish, Ruffles and Lace
Chipboard - Restoration
Border Stickers - Restoration
Label Stickers - Restoration
Ribbon
Chipboard Album Page (4" x 5" or less than 6" wide)
Crop-a-Dile
X-Acto Knife
Metal Ruler

1. Start by measuring your chipboard album page width. You will want to cut a piece of patterned paper to the height and double the width of your album page. In my case, I cut my paper to 4” x 10”

2. Pick a spot on the chipboard page where you want to cut it in half. I like to cut mine off center.

3. Use a metal ruler and an X-acto knife to make your cut. It make take several attempts to get all the way through.

4. Adhere the left side of the chipboard page to the backside of the left side of your patterned paper. Be sure to line up the edges.

5. Once it is adhered fold it to the right so the crease is directly under the left edge of the cover.

6. Fold the right side of the patterned paper to the left until it meets up to the edge of the left cover.

7. Adhere the right side of the chipboard page to the top of the right fold.

8. Cut a piece of patterned paper to match the chipboard page dimensions. In my case 4” x 5”.

9. Adhere the patterned paper to the left side of the chipboard page only.

10. Unfold the page, flip it to the backside and use an X-acto knife to cut the paper along the outside edge. In my photo I’m cutting off the pink piece of paper.

11. Now you can cover the right side of the chipboard page using the piece - just cut away!

12. Punch a hole in each cover. Use a ruler to make them even.

13. Fold a knot in one end of two even length of ribbon. Pull the end with no knot up through the inside of each cover.

14. Decorate the inside and the outside as desired.

15. Tie a bow when it's complete and you're done!

This is a great way to use up extra mini book pages. It makes for a bulky card, but one that is greatly appreciated when received. It makes a really fun cover for a mini book, as well.

Thanks for spending time with me today!! I hope you enjoyed the tutorial :)