Idea of the Month

Shirt Card

Here's the perfect card for Father's Day: simply adorable!  You'll probably need to practice a couple times on scrap paper to master the folds, but I've included a lot of photos for this project to help you out!  Even my kids learned how to do this one, so I just know that you can, too!

Step 1

Start with an 8.5 x 11" sheet of lightweight paper such as our background and texture paper; card stock will not work for this project.   With 60 colors of  Close To My Heart® background and texture paper to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect color for that special guy in your life.  Striped or plaid patterns make great looking shirt cards!  Personalize the shirt even further by first stamping the paper with your choice of small stamps.

Once the paper is decorated, lay it face-down and vertically on the table and fold both sides to the center as shown.  You may find it helpful to mark the center point lightly with a pencil first.  This first fold needs to be as accurate as possible so that the shirt's "arms" fold correctly later on.

Step 2

Turn the paper over (so the flaps are down), and fold up the lower edge approximately 3/4-1" to begin forming the collar.

Step 3

Turn the paper over again with the flaps facing up and the folded edge on top.  Fold the upper right corner in as shown so the corner just touches the center fold line.  Repeat with the upper left corner.  The collar area is now complete.

Step 4

Now turn your attention to the bottom of the shirt.  Fold up the lower right flap on an angle as shown so the corner touches the right edge, forming a triangle.  Repeat with the lower left flap.  (Have I lost you yet?  Hope not!)

Step 5

Ok, here's an easy step, LOL!  Just reverse the folds you just made at the bottom  so that the triangular flaps are now on the inside of the shirt.

Steps 6 and 7

Ok...this is the trickiest step, so pay attention, LOL!   The following folds form the "arms" that stick out of the shirt.  Let's start with the lower right part of the shirt: locate the corners I have identified above in the upper left photo.  You need to lift these  2 corners so the flap comes slightly away from the back of the shirt.   Pull the corners together and match  them up so the inside surfaces of the flap touch.  Pinch the resulting fold slightly.  Repeat with the lower left portion of the shirt. 

Step 8

Grasp the ends of the shirt "arms" and pull outwards in opposite directions.  You should be able to press the arms down flat and crease the bottom fold.  Note:  if your arms are not exactly straight across but instead are somewhat crooked, it's because your first vertical fold was not exactly centered.

Step 9

Almost done!  Now, just fold the bottom of the shirt up and tuck it under the collar slightly; crease the bottom fold.  The collar will hold the card shut for you.  To finish the card, stamp a message inside and add a paper "tie"  and/or pocket cut from matching cardstock.  Too cute!

Note:  If you had a hard time with this project, don't give up!  It really does take a couple tries before you get the "hang" of all the folds.

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 © Linda Harrison 2002