I LOVE folded cards!  To me they are more of a gift than just a greeting card.  The Joy Fold card is another super fun card to make and to give.  There are so many design opportunities with this type of card.  I hope this tutorial inspires you to make a Joy Fold card. 

Step 1.  Measure Large and Small Flaps of Card Base

The Joy Fold card starts with 2 pieces of cardstock.  One will be for what I call the large flap and one will be for the small flap.  Using these measurements will result in a 5 1/4 inch square card.  The large flap piece of cardstock measures 7 inches by 5 1/4 inches.  The small flap piece of cards stock measures 8 inches by 4 inches.

Step 2.  Score Large and Small Flaps

Measure and score the 7 inch by 5 1/4 inch piece of cardstock at 5 1/4 inches.  Measure and score the 8 inch by 4 inch piece of cardstock at 4 inches.

Step 3.  Fold

Fold both pieces at the score lines. 

Step 4.  Measure Paper for Large Flap

For my card I used two pieces of paper for the inner area of the large flap.  The off white piece is a 5 inch square and the brown patterned paper piece is a 4 3/4 inch square.

Step 5.  Sewing and Gluing Large Flap Mats

For my card I chose to use stitching arount the brown patterned paper.  I first used adhesive to attach the brown paper to the off white paper.  I used a zig zag stitch to go around all 4 sides of the square.  When the stitching is done add adhesive to the back of the off white paper and attach it to the inside of the large flap.

Step 6.  Measure Paper for Small Flap

Now measure the paper for the front and inside of the small flap.  Cut two pieces of off white paper at 3 3/4 inches square.  One of these will be used later to print the sentiment for the inside of the small flap.  Cut one piece of paper that is 3 1/2 inches square.  Use adhesive to attach the patterned paper to the top of the off white paper.  Again, I chose to add the zig zag stitching.  Use adhesive to attach the stitched paper to the front of the small flap

Step 7.  Decorative Punch and Front of Large Flap

For my card I chose to use a Martha Stewart Punch to decorate the front of the large flap of paper.  This flap will become the bottom of my card.  The punch will be 5 1/4 inches wide and will attach to the inside of the front flap. 

I decorated the front area with patterned paper and again used stitching around all four sides of the paper.  This piece of paper measures 5 inches by 1 1/2 inches.  I chose straight stitching for these stitches on my card.

Step 8.  Working with the Image

My card uses the Rooster Image.  I printed the image and then used a circle cutter to trim the paper around the image.  I then used my Cricut to make a scalloped circle to mat the rooster image.

Step 9.  Coloring with MCPT and Attaching to Card

I used the magic colored pencil technique to color the rooster.  I really use this technique most often.  This picture shows the image after coloring.  Now adhere the image to the scalloped circle.  Using adhesive attach the rooster and scalloped circle to the front of the small flap.

Step 10.  Adding the Sentiment and Attaching the Small Flap to the Card Base.

I used a computer font for the sentiment in my card.  I like to use Word for my card printing. 

The sentiment is printed on the 2nd piece of 3 3/4 inch paper that we cut in step 6.  I used my brown ink pad to ink the edges of the off white paper after it was printed.

Adhere the sentiment to the inside of the small flap. 

Also adhere the small flap to the large flap.  The small and large flap will overlap.  The punched area of the large flap goes between the front and back of the small flap.

Step 11.  Applying Adhesive to the Flap Holder

To attach the flap holder you will want to use a 3-d adhesive.  I used 1/8 " thick double sided foam squares.  Apply the adhesive to the bottom left edge of your flap holder.  With the card folded so that the edge with the punch is between the front and back of the small flap attach the flap holder.  This allows you to eye where the bottom left hand corner of the small flap actually lands on the front of the large flap.  Now try it out.  When the small flap is tucked under the flap holder it should stay closed.  But the small flap should slip out of the holder so that the recipient of the card can open it to view the inside of the card.

Step 12.  Applying Flap Holder

With the card folded so that the edge with the scallop punch is between the front and back of the small flap attach the flap holder.  This allows you to eye where the bottom left hand corner of the small flap actually lands on the front of the large flap.  Now try it out.  When the small flap is tucked under the flap holder it should stay closed.  But the small flap should slip out of the holder so that the recipient of the card can open it to view the inside of the card.

All Done!

Try one of these cards for yourself.  I think you will enjoy making it as much as I enjoyed making mine.  Don't forget to visit the online store to get the Rooster image or any of the other images.  And don't forget to send me a picture of your completed card!  I would love to see what you have created.

Happy Crafting!