Making Four Patch Greeting Cards

Read through the tutorial before starting.

Step 1: Card blanks and envelopes

One of the most economical ways to make greeting cards is by using white, letter-size (A4) cardstock and computer paper. A 250 sheet ream of 8½″ by 11″ white cardstock makes 500 cards and a 500 sheet ream of white 20# paper makes 500 envelopes. That works out to a few pennies for a card and envelope.

For a card
Cut a full sheet of cardstock in half to make two 8 1/2″ by 5 1/2″ card blanks.
Fold the card blank in half to make a 4 1/4″ by 5 1/2″ card.

For an envelope
Trace or print an envelope template onto a sheet of paper.
Cut, fold and glue according to instructions.

Here are some templates from Canon Creative Park to use:
http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3210/e00008/downloads/e-white0008_k03l4s.pdf
http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3210/e00001/downloads/e-white0001_k03l4p.pdf

The templates are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.

Step 2: Select and prepare decorative paper

Select one decorative paper or two papers one light and one dark of the same color or one plain and one patterned of the same color.

Cut two rectangles measuring 3½″ by 2¼″, one of each paper or two from one 6″ by 6″ paper. Use this layout to make good use of a 6″ by 6″ sheet of paper.

Download a PDF file with the suggested layout and cutting templates to size.

Step 3: Make second cut

Stack the two rectangles and, while holding them firmly together, cut horizontally about 1/3 from the top. The cut can be straight, v-shaped or curved, but the beginning and ending of the cut must be the same distance from the top.

Step 4: Arrange cut pieces

Arrange the four cut pieces on the card to your liking. To make cards like the examples, separate the patches with equal spacing horizontal and vertical, and, when using two different papers, swap the tops or bottoms.

Step 5: Make a medallion embellishment

Create a medallion for the card center – cut a 1″ to 1½″ square of cardstock or punch a 1″ circle. Decorate with a rubberstamp or with punched paper.

Glue the medallion to the center of the card. For an added touch, stick the embellishment on the card using double-side foam tape. This will give it a 3-D look. A piece of corrugated cardboard can be used in place of the foam tape — just cut it to size, glue to the back of the embellishment then glue to the card.

Step 6: Wrap-up

The remaining paper from the 6″ square(s) can be used to make another card or to decorate the inside of the card or the envelope.

There will be more design continuity if the card's message is decorated similarly to the card front.

Share images of your four patch cards to the Greeting Card Class Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cardclass/