Sunshine & Rainbows - Fun Folds and Many Variations

Jun 16

May 2025 Release from Concord & 9th

I made a birthday card for a friend using the new Sunshine & Rainbows die set from Concord & 9th. I delivered it to my friend, and was getting ready to clean up my table a couple of days later when I looked at the collection of extra rainbow pieces I had, and decided to maybe make a couple more cards and use them up. Well, that one or two became SIX more, so far. I’ll be adding them all here over the week, so check back!

card 1 - Accordion Gatefold

Techniques:

This card looks like a gatefold, except that the two panels on the front are actually accordion folds. Rather than opening like a true gatefold, they pull out to the sides.

I made this for a friend who I knew would appreciate the little extra, so I wanted to come up with something that has that little extra. When I come up with a card like this, I often start with a sketch of what’s in my head, or I just jump in folding a piece of scrap paper to figure out how I want it to work. I always like to figure out the rough dimensions before I start in on the good paper. If I’m uncertain, I always leave it a little bigger than I think I might want because it is easier to trim down than add on to.

I use the sketch and scrap folds to figure out the mechanics / function of the card, and it also gives me the chance to be sure the dies or stamps I plan to use hav the right scale for the card.
- If you take a look at the photo here, you’ll see that I get the rough visual of what I’m thinking, and also do a top or side view as appropriate. (The example above for this card shows the top view, above the front.
- Below that sketch, you can see the dimensions as I’m planning it out. For a gatefold of any kind, if you want the inside to be fully hidden before the card is opened, the two folded sides (numbers with the arrows) need to equal the center panel (number is circled). You may notice that at first I made mine too big, thinking only about the opened size and not the fully closed, so I adapted it.
The card was quite simple to put together, actually. A stenciled monochromatic background, and some die cut elements.

I added the bright die cut rainbow and sun elements with 1/16” foam tapes to add a little dimension. The rainbow is only attached on the left side, so it lays over the right flap when folded, but opens up with the card.

I used a folded paper support for the cloud, because I wanted it to lay flat when folded. The new Simple Pop-Up Dies set is perfect for those, and includes lots of variety of size/thickness options, or DIY one if you’re comfortable with that. (Which is how I’ve always done it, until now.)

Colors:

ink: Concord & 9th Aqua Sky, Powder, Blueberry, White.
cardstock: Concord & 9th Dragonfruit, Sweet Pea, Pimento, Sorbet, Sunflower, Buttercup, Aqua Sky.