I love the mirror fold! I do not know who originated this design. The earliest video of it I could find was a little over four years ago. However, I am on a campaign to bring it back! It looks complicated, brings the wow factor and is a great showcase for your Designer Series Papers. You will probably have to go slow with the first one of these you make but after that you will be going through your stash and quickly popping out cards that will amaze your friends and family.
Supplies
Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set
Thoughtful Expressions Die Set
Poetic Expression Designer Series Paper
Lost Lagoon Card Stock
Basic White Card Stock
Lost Lagoon Stampin Pad
Memento Tuxedo Black Stamp Pad
Lost Lagoon Stampin Blend Marker, light
Granny Apple Green Stampin Blend Marker, light
Ivory Stampin Blend Marker
Wink of Stella
2023-25 In Color Dots, wild wheat
Multipurpose Glue
Stampin Dimensionals
Paper Trimmer
Mini Cut & Emboss Machine
Directions
Cut a card base from Lost Lagoon card stock, 29cm x 14.85cm (10-1/2″ X 5-1/2″) Score at 9.6cm ( 3-1/2″) and again at 19.2cm ( 7″). From the left over piece of card stock cut a belly band approximately 2.5cm x 23.5cm (1″ x 8-1/2″).
Lay out your card base, long side at the top. On the first score line (9.6c or 3-1/2″) measure down from the top 5cm (2″) and place a pencil mark. On the second score line measure 5cm (2″) up from the bottom.
Using a metal ruler and a scoring tool or bone folder draw a line from the mark on the first score line up to the left corner. Next draw a line from that mark up to the second score line. You can click on the picture below to enlarge it.
Next repeat this step with the second score line. From the pencil mark on the score a line score a line down to the right hand corner. Score another line from the mark down to the first vertical score line. See photos below.
Pinch the score lines to start the folds to create the shape in photo above. Once you have the fold started then you can fold the card flat and score all the edges. Be sure to line up the folds, the example card shifted a bit and I did not notice it until I was in the decorating stage. You can see the ‘extra’ bit to the right in the finished photo of the inside of the card. I wanted to leave the mistake in to show how easy it is to shift the fold. Be sure to watch closely the original vertical score lines. Before I send the card out I will trim the excess off.
From the first chosen pattern of the Poetic Expression Designer Series Paper cut two 9cm x 14.3cm (3-1/4″ x 5-1/4″). From Basic White card stock cut another piece the same size.
Lay your patterned paper out as shown in the photo left. For your first piece, (far left in photo), measure down 4.8cm and mark. Using the paper trimmer or a metal ruler and craft knife, cut from the top left down to the mark and discard the triangle piece (or save for another project).
For the second piece of patterned paper measure up from the left side of the bottom and mark 4.8cm (1-3/4″), trim away the triangle piece as above. You can see from the photo I did it wrong the first time, the correct cutting line is marked in white. I did not discover my mistake until I was in the glue down stage. Remember I said the first time making this card can be a bit tricky? Sadly I only had one more piece of that paper left so I could not set up the shot again.
The center white rectangle has two cuts, for the first measure down 4.8cm (2″)from the left side and cut from the line up to the top right corner. For the second cut measure up 4.8cm (2″) from the bottom right corner and cut down to the bottom left corner. Discard triangles or save for another project.
Using a second pattern from the Poetic Expression Designer Series Paper, cut two rectangles 9cm x 4.5cm (3-1/4″ x 1-3/4″) Of note: If you are using directional patterned paper be sure both rectangles have the pattern going in the same direction.
These pieces will be cut diagonally from corner to corner. Be sure to cut one diagonal going one way and the other going in the opposite direction, keeping the pattern in the same direction on each piece. See the photo left.
I stamped a greeting onto the white center piece. If you plan to do this I recommend doing it now before you clue it to the center as the card will never truly lay flat. I used the greeting and flower from the Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set and stamped in Lost Lagoon ink.
It’s time to put the card base together, look at the photo on the left if you get confused while gluing down the pieces.
The final component is the belly band. The card will not stay closed without one. Wrap the band around the center of the card and over lap the ends, glue together. Before gluing be sure the band will be able to slide off the card. (I made the rookie mistake of making it too tight the first time and had to tear it off to get the card open.)
To decorate the band I die cut the rectangle from a scrap of white card stock using the middle sized rectangle from the Thoughtful Expressions Die Set. I stamped the happy birthday onto the center of the rectangle with Lost Lagoon ink. There is no ‘happy birthday’ greeting in the Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set so I used the one from the Beach Day Photopolymer Stamp Set.
I next stamped the humming bird and small flower images from the Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set onto another scrap of white card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
The images were colored with the Lost Lagoon light, Granny Apple Green light and Ivory Stampin Blends. I went over the entire humming bird with Wink of Stella to get a shimmer effect. It is a shame that does not show up in the photo as the little bird turned out truly stunning.
The humming bird and flower were mounted onto the white rectangle with dimensionals and the rectangle was then glued to the belly band.
Sign the inside, slip the belly band on and you are ready to send!
Notes: I spent some time working out the metric measurements and the card turned out a little larger than the original imperial card. All of the imperial measurements have come from the Amazing Robbin Armbrecht of Really Robbin Stamps. Here is a link to her video, it is well worth a watch. She will also give you measurements for making a mirror fold card using 12″ x 12″ designer series paper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF3Ivg_kTiI&ab_channel=RobinArmbrecht%2CReallyRobinStamps
Thanks for your visit today, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. If you make a this card or your own version please post a picture below or on social media and tag me @loriothen. We also have a Facebook Group called Stampinology Connections for posting all of your creations and the sharing of ideas. We would love to have you join us there. Happy crafting!
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