Monday, March 28, 2011

What's with the Top Fold?

Someone asked why I make portrait-oriented cards with folds on the top rather than the side. Honestly, I hadn't really thought about it. No good reason, I guess, except that I find it easier to photograph them that way and they seem to stand up better for display.

Here's a portrait-oriented card with a top fold. See how nicely it stands for its picture?


Now, here's a landscape-oriented picture with a top fold. It also stands nicely.


As far as I know, there are no rules about folds. I certainly don't judge folds. In fact, you can fold any way you want and as long as you're not hurting anyone, it's okay in my book.

Orientation, on the other hand, does have certain design rules, but those pertain to balance and harmonious composition for each individual card. Neither orientation is right or wrong in and of itself; orientation is a case-by-case issue, as these two cards show.

And by the way, I don't judge orientation, either.

Supplies
stamps: Shady Tree Studio Eastertide (a gift from STS's owner Nancy)
ink: Palette noir
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: colored pencils, dimensionals, scallop scissors

17 comments:

  1. I tend to favour a top fold too. I'm not entirely sure why, it just seems to work better for me. And they definitely photograph better!

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  2. thank you for highlighting the propositional positioning of image to create balance in different foldings..I have learnt something new today.

    hugs,
    Heaney
    paperpapier.blogspot.com

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  3. I definitely prefer a top fold too...I think its because on our birthdays we hang our cards over a display string and they look better the right way up :)
    So thats the way I make cards.

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  4. These are beautiful Easter cards, well done, Susan :o)
    Blessings

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  5. Smashing card Susan. I've always favoured side fold cards but so far this year I think most of mine have become top fold too - is this your fault then?????

    Kathyk

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  6. Beautiful Easter card. I prefer to fold on the shortest side and have it either portrait or landscape X

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  7. I wonder if she meant what Jenny said? You could have it folded like that and still stamp it the same way you did in the first photo. Love both cards. I normally fold like you do in case I'm adding ribbon and can wrap it around the base of the card.

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  8. Both cards are great....I almost never fold a card at the top - why? - because whilst they may sit well enough to photograph they tend not to sit properly at all for any length of time...gradually they will open and are a perfect nuisance and I end up setting them with the fold at the side anyhow. This is even with the thickest and best cardstock and the cards are folded and scored too so if you have a solution for cards orientated this way I'd be glad to know how to fix them.

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  9. Que bella tajeta Susan, en ambas opciones se ve muy delicada y "limpia". Me gusta mucho

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  10. Joyce, well, to a certain extent I agree with you. But Papertrey Ink's cardstock tends to stand up well for long-term if it's on a surface with some friction (not, for instance, a highly polished wood surface). Gravity will win eventually!

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  11. So glad to hear that you judge neither fold nor orientation. ;) I tend to chose my fold based on how any ribbon or lace will be applied (if it's going to run horizontally, then I'll put my fold at the top so I can wrap the ends of the ribbon/lace around to the inside of my card). I also think about whether I'll need to punch anything in the center of my card base (or use my Crop-A-Dile to attach something in the middle), and will choose my fold to get the best "reach." But I agree--cards with folds at the top *are* easiest to photograph! And I tend to go with those the majority of the time. :)

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  12. Oh my, I adore this cross ... and you colored it .. with your own 2 hands ... this is becomming more and more of a habit I think :-) I like!!!

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  13. I like making the top fold for certain layouts too. Lovely cards. Love the cross. Is it stamped ,colored & cut?

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  14. Lovely Easter card. And I don't know how to say this, but I like that the card is religious, without being TOO much. It's just right. As for the fold, I had NEVER folded any the long way (your first card) until your blog. I just always did them the same way (your second card), arranging stamps & ribbon so it looked "right." Then came you, and now I have a new folding freedom! I love having choices!

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  15. I tend to cut my 8.5 x 11 cardstock in half across the short side so end up with side folds for portrait cards and top folds for landscape cards. I guess it's just habit! I agree with Joyce that side folds make the card stand up better. And Susie, if I need to wrap ribbon around a side fold card, I just cut a slit in the fold with a craft knife (added advantage to this is it helps hold the ribbon in place).

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  16. Wow Susan I LOVE both of these cards...but I think I do like the first one the best...I have noticed Paper Crafts Magazine tends to pick cards done is that style...LOVE your card! Have a great week!

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  17. I usually let cards tell me if they want a top fold or not :P Sometimes it just seems right.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!