Teabag Folding Instructions

You will need;

Scissors

Ruler or straight edge

Pencil

A little stamp about 1” square or smaller

Ink pad

Coloring medium, such as markers, chalks, or pencils (optional)

Glue stick

Instructions 

Make a sample “Kite”;

  1.     Stamp your image in the lower corner of one of the squares. (See enclosed example.

2.     Cut out your square.

3.     Fold your sample square in the center, corner to corner, being sure you are folding your stamped design vertically instead of horizontally.  Don’t crease too sharply because this is just a guideline for the next step.

4.     Open up your square.  You now have a fold line to be used for the next step.

5.     Hold your open square so that the back faces you.  Fold one of the opposite corners to the center fold line. Don’t crease sharply yet. 

6.     Fold the other side towards the center fold line to meet the first one.  Make sure you have a sharp point at the top and the edges of the paper butt up against each other down the center on the back..  When you are happy with your fold, use your finger to crease both edges sharply.

7.     You have just made your sample that resembles a kite.  It will be used later on to choose your best stamped squares for your completed design by laying it over your 8 best stamped squares before coloring and cutting. If you are not happy with your stamp placement, then this sample will help you in changing the placement of your stamped image.  You will see how in a few minutes.

8.     Once you are happy with your fold and the way your stamped design appears on your folded paper, stamp 8 squares for your “soon-to-be” completed design.

9.     Lay your first sample kite over each stamped square to make sure the placement of the stamped images are correct.  The image should not show around the edges of your sample.  If it shows, then that part of your stamped image will be hidden when folded.

10. Color your “best” eight stamped images if desired.  It is easier to color before you cut the square out.  Keep in mind the color of cardstock base you are planning to use for your card and try to coordinate the colors to tie in with cardstock color.

11. Cut out your eight squares and set aside.

12. Go to the sheet that has your eight-sided templates.  With your pencil on one of the shapes, draw a line from point to point four times.  This will be used for your center placement of your little kites and will act as a base to hold the design together for mounting on your card. Where the lines cross is the center point that will guide you in the placement of your first “kite”.

13. Cut out this template.

14. Take one of your kites and, using your glue stick, glue the two folds to the back of the kite.  This will help your design to lay more flat when it is mounted to the template.

15. Next, glue one kite to your template base.  You will place the point of the kite in the center.  There is no need to put glue on the entire back of the “kite” – only the part that will touch the base template piece.

16. Next, repeat with the remaining 7 kites.

17. Your design is now ready to be mounted on your card.  If you have too much clear space in the center,  you can stamp the same image on another piece of paper, cut it out, and glue in the center.  I sometimes use crystal lacquer on this center piece to make it look like a button.  Buttons and charms are also cute mounted in the center.

 Here are some cards made using this technique;

If you have any problems or questions, please feel free to email me and I will help you any way I can.    Have fun!

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