Iris Folding

Iris folding is a paper folding technique. It's easy to do and is used often in scrapbooking and cardmaking. Derived from patchwork, iris folding consists of placing strips of paper over each other, following a pattern, to put a design into relief. The name comes from a camera shutter (the iris) and the pattern is folded along marks drawn by hand or pre-printed.

Cath explains this technique as done with a pre-printed template. All of the assembly is done on the back of the piece.

Supplies

Materials

• Sheet of cardstock bigger than the template below
  
• 3 matching sheets of paper measuring 15 x 15 cm (6 x 6 inches)

Tools

• Scissors
• Repositionable tape
• Sheet of scrap paper

Instructions

Preparation

• Download and print the template at the desired size.

• Cut strips of paper 3.5 cm (1-3/8 inch) wide from the matching sheets of paper.
  

• Fold them in half lengthwise and decide which color will be A, B, and C.

• Carefully cut out the template.
  

• Trace the outline of the template on the back of the cardstock.


• Cut out the cardstock along the outline, discarding the center portion.

• Tape the template onto the sheet of scrap paper.
  

• Position it on top of the cut-out cardstock, lining up the edges carefully.


• Fix it in place with 2 small pieces of tape.

Glue the strips

• Put the first strip on the template, placing the folded side toward the center of the design and making sure all sides except the folded one overlap onto the cardstock.


• Tape each end in place.


• Do this for the rest of the strips, following the numbers on the template and the color code you established, until you reach the center of the iris.

• Once all of the strips are in place, place a piece of paper (either matte or glossy) in the center.


• Remove the tape that's holding the cardstock in place.

• Turn it over.

Tip

• To limit the thickness of your iris folding (a serious consideration with some scrapbook albums), don't fold your strips of paper. Cut them thin and straight.
  NB: A thinner design means you'll lose some of the depth of your relief effect.

Source: "Blog de Cath" ("Cath's Blog")

:laura: