Iris Folding
Iris folding is a paper craft technique that involves folding strips of colored paper in such a way to form a spiraling design. The center of the design forms an iris -- similar to the shape of the iris of a camera lens.
Iris folding originated in Holland. Designs initially were made using patterned paper cut from the inside of envelopes. Any light weight paper, such as scrapbook paper, origami paper, wrapping paper, the inside of envelopes, pages of magazines or even ribbon can be used. I would not recommend using card stock. It becomes too bulky when folded in half. The Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! is perfect for Iris Folding.
Iris Folding can be used as the front of a greeting card, as a scrapbook embellishment or on numerous other paper crafting projects.
Supplies for iris folding include a pattern, strips of colored paper, permanent adhesive, cutting tools and a temporary tape such as painters tape. The temporary tape is used to hold the pattern in place while the design is created.
Iris folding always begins with a pattern. Iris folding patterns are available in books or can be downloaded from numerous web sites. My favorite patterns are found in the book Iris Folding Compendium, Iris Folding with Iris Folding Paper and Iris Folding with Greetings by Maruscha Gaasenbeek and Tine Beauveser. I purchased this several years ago through Amazon.com.
The main 3 patterns for Iris Folding are the square, the circle and the triangle. Click on the link below to view.
The basic circle pattern was used for both the Balloon and Christmas Ornament cards found below in this post. A video tutorial on Iris Folding can also be found at the end of this post.
Iris Folded Kiss
This is a perfect pattern to use for a Valentine or thinking of someone special card.
Click here to view the Kiss pattern.
Change it up by using reds and pinks for a more traditional Valentine's or use silver glimmer paper like I did with this card.
The kiss pattern is a very straight forward and easy to follow. The first color will be placed on sections marked A, the 2nd color will be placed on sections marked B and the third color will be placed on sections marked C.
And as always, work from the BACK SIDE of the project and do any stamping or embossing before you start Iris Folding.
I actually did not fold the designer paper in half as you would traditionally do with Iris Folding because I wanted to keep down the bulk on the back side. This is especially true with the heavier-weight glimmer paper. Instead, I cut 3/4" wide strips and placed the edge of the paper against the edge of the pattern.
Iris Folded Cowboy Boot
For the cowboy boot, I used the pattern found on circleofcrafters.com
There is not really anything out of the ordinary when creating this boot. Follow the basic Iris Folding instructions below. If you are going to emboss the piece with the boot, do so before starting the Iris Fold. And remember, always work from the BACK side of your project. I used the same paper for all sections of the pattern except for the section 1 which is the heel.
Iris Folded Victorian Shoe
For the Victorian Shoe, I used this pattern found on circleofcrafters.com
Print out the pattern and reduce to 80%. Print again, making 2 copies. You will cut out the shoe from one of your copies. This will be the one you use to trace the pattern that will be cut out from your card front. The 2nd copy needs to remain intact. This copy will be laid on your work surface face up with the card front with the shoe cut out of it placed on top. It will also have the pattern you will follow. I reduced the original pattern because it was just a little too big to fit on a standard 5 1/4" x 4" card front.
Be sure to do any embossing or stamping prior to starting Iris Folding. The front of the image will be too bulky to do any of this after the Iris Folding in complete.
Remember, you always work from the back side of your project.
1. Cut out the shoe from one of your printed patterns. Lay it on the back side of your project face up. Trace the outline of the shoe with a pencil.
Photo 1: Printed shoe pattern cut out and ready to be traced onto the back side of the project:
Photo 2: Back side with traced shoe pattern, ready to be cut out:
2. Cut out the shoe using a pair of scissors. I find it makes cutting the pattern out it easier if you start a hole somewhere inside the shoe by using a small hole punch.
Photo 3: View of front side, embossed, stamped and with shoe cut out. For this card, I used my Big Shot die cut machine and Framed Tulips Embossing Folder. I also stamped "Friend" from the From the Heart Vogue stamp set from Stampin' Up!
3. Lay your 2nd printed pattern face up on your work surface. Lay the cut card front over the pattern BACK SIDE FACING UP
Adhere the card stock to the pattern on the right or left side only using painter's tape, creating a hinge so you are able to lift up your card stock to check the progress on the front side as you go.
Decide on your design and cut your paper into strips. The number of strips needed will depend on the pattern and the length of the paper. I usually cut the paper into 3/4" x 12" strips. Because the sections of this shoe pattern are a little wider, I cut the paper into 1"x 12" strips.
Fold the strips in half lengthwise. I find the final project is less bulky if you glue the folded strips closed with Mono or SNAIL adhesive. While most of the instructions I’ve seen for Iris Folding say to use scotch tape to secure the folded pieces, I find this creates added bulk and prefer to use Mono or SNAIL adhesive. Be sure to use a bone folder to get sharp, crisp crease.
Tip: Once you have decided on and have cut the paper you’d like for your design, lay the strips in front of you in the order that you will be using them. Keep them in this order as you are working on the pattern. Or write down a description of the design (circles, stripes, solids etc) and number them in the order of use in the margins of the pattern you are following. It can get confusing once you begin working with the paper, especially if you are working with a more complicated pattern.
This Victorian Shoe pattern calls for 4 paper designs. I decided to only work with 2 paper designs. I used 12"x12" Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!
Photo 4: View of back side of project with cut out laying over the pattern and adhered with painters tape to create a hinge. Two strips of patterned paper have been chosen and laid out:
This pattern calls for 4 colors. Again, I have chosen to use only 2 colors. I am substituting color #1 for color #3 and color #2 for color #4.
For this pattern color #1 will be placed on sections 1,2,3,4,5,9,13,17,21,25
color# 2 will be placed on sections 6,10,14,18,22,26
color#1 will again be placed on sections 7,11,15,19,23,27
color#2 will again be placed on sections 8,12,16,20,24,28
6. Begin with folded color #1 and following the pattern guide, place it over section 1 exactly against the line of the pattern with the fold facing towards the middle. Cut with a pair of scissors or hand-tear the paper to the size needed to fill the section. I usually just hand-tear the paper. Apply Mono or SNAIL Adhesive to only the outside facing ends to adhere the strips to the back of the project. If you apply it towards the center of the paper, the adhesive will show on the front of the project. Repeat, using color #1 on sections 2,3,4,5
7. Following the pattern guide, adhere color #2 to section 6.
8. Following the pattern guide, adhere color #1 to section 7.
9. Following the pattern guide, adhere color #2 to section 8.
Photo 5: View from the back, completed sections 1-8:
As you progress with the spiral sections, be sure to check your work by viewing the project from the front, lifting the card front using the hinge created with the painter's tape.
Photo 6: View of front of card, completed sections 1-8:
10. Continue adding colors #1 and #2 to numbered sections following the pattern guide.
When you have completed all of the sections, the back of your project will look like this-
Photo 7: View of back side, completed sections:
11. It is time to add the iris to the center. Use a stamped or punched image or an attractive piece of paper to cover the hole in the middle, again adhering it from the back.
Photo 8: View from back side with paper added to the center for the iris:
Photo 9: View from front side:
12. I added brads to look like buttons on the shoe. From the front side, I pierced 4 holes using my paper piercing tool and mat, then inserted the brads, opening the "wings" on the back of the project.
Photo 10: View of front with brads for buttons:
13. Once complete, remove the painter's tape and remove the project from the pattern. To finish, apply Sticky Strip to the 4 edges of the back side of Iris Folded design, then attach to the card base. I find that Sticky Strip best helps adhere the card front to the card base, especially with the bulk of the folded paper.
Iris Folded Victorian Shoe
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: From the Heart
Ink: Rose Red
Paper: Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Iris Folded shoe pattern, printer, scissors, Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, SNAIL Adhesive, paper piercing tool and mat, Garden Green Brads, painter's tape
Iris Folded Christmas Ornament Card-Instructions
1. Trace your design on card stock and then cut out with a pair of detail scissors. You may also use a punch, Big Shot and dies, or the Circles Scissors Plus from Stampin’ Up! For the Christmas ornament design below, I used this circle pattern and cut a 3” circle using the Circles Scissors Plus. Be sure to to do any embossing, stamping or other additions to the front of the card before starting the iris folding pattern. The front will be too bulky to add these designs afterwards.
2. Decide on your design and cut your paper into 3/4" wide strips. The number of strips needed will depend on the pattern and the length of the paper. Fold the strips in half lengthwise. I find the final project is less bulky if you glue the folded strips closed with Mono or SNAIL adhesive. While most of the instructions I’ve seen for Iris Folding say to use scotch tape to secure the folded pieces, I find this creates added bulk and prefer to use Mono or SNAIL adhesive. Be sure to use a bone folder to get sharp, crisp crease.
Tip: Once you have decided on and have cut the paper you’d like for your design, lay the strips in front of you in the order that you will be using them. Keep them in this order as you are working on the pattern. Or write down a description of the design (circles, stripes, solids etc) and number them in the order of use in the margins of the pattern you are following. It can get confusing once you begin working with the paper, especially if you are working with a more complicated pattern.
Photo 1: 5 designs of cut 3/4" x 12" paper:
3. Lay the pattern down on your work surface face up. Lay your cut or punched piece of card stock FACE DOWN on the pattern. You always work with the back side of the project. Adhere the card stock to the pattern on the right or left side only using painters or scotch tape, creating a hinge so you are able to lift up your card stock to check the progress on the front side as you go.
Photo 2: Back side of card secured to pattern creating a hinge:
Photo 3: Hinged card opened to the front:
Photo 4: Strips of paper laid out in the order of use along the side of the pattern. You are ready to get started!
For this circle, pattern color 1 will be placed on sections 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31
color 2 will be placed on sections 7, 12, 17, 22, 27, 32
color 3 will be placed on sections 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33
color 4 will be placed on sections 9, 14, 19, 24, 29, 34
color 5 will be placed on sections 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35
4. Begin with folded color 1, placing it over section 1 exactly against the line of the pattern with the fold facing towards the middle. Cut with a pair of scissors or hand-tear the paper to the size needed to fill the section. Apply Mono or SNAIL Adhesive to only the outside facing ends to adhere the strips to the back of the project. If you apply it towards the center of the paper, the adhesive will show on the front of the project.
5. Take color 2 and place it on the section 2 of the pattern. Take color 3 and place it on the section 3 of the pattern. Continue with color 4 placed on section 4 of the pattern and color 5 placed on section 5 of the pattern. You will now have completed the first spiral of the pattern.
Photo 5: 1st spiral of the pattern has been completed. View from the back side of project:
6. Continue working the pattern with color 1 placed on section 6, color 2 on section 7, color 3 on section 8, color 4 on section 9 and color 5 on section 10.
As you progress with the spiral sections, be sure to check your work by viewing the project from the front, lifting the card stock using the hinge created with the painter's tape.
Photo 6: 2nd spiral of the pattern has been completed. View of the back side of the project:
7. Continue working the pattern in sections until you have a hole in the center which is the "iris".
Photo 7: Back side of completed pattern with hole in the center left for the iris:
8. When you have completed the pattern, it is time to add the iris to the center of the pattern. Use a stamped and punched image or an attractive piece of paper to cover the hole in the middle, again adhering it from the back.
Photo 8: Front view of Iris with rhinestone brad in the center.
9. Once complete, remove the painter's tape and remove the project from the pattern. To finish, apply Sticky Strip to the 4 edges of the back side of Iris Folded design, then attach to the card base. I find that Sticky Strip best helps adhere the card front to the card base, especially with the bulk of the folded paper.
Iris Folded Christmas Ornament Card
Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets: Sweet Centers (the top of the ornament), Cute by the Inch (iris) and Four for the Holidays (greeting)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper cut into 3/4" x 12" strips. I used approx 1 1/2 strips for each part of the pattern.
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Circle Scssors Plus and Glass Cutting Mat, 1 1/4" square punch, rhinestone, paper piercing tool and mat, sticky strip
Iris Folded Balloon Card
As promised, I have completed my iris folding video tutorial! Still learning the ropes, especially when it comes to the lighting. Check below for the video link. Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think.
I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to align the gondola to the punched circle. I have learned to really like the stamp-a-ma-jig!
Stamp Set: Sweat Centers, Stem Sayings
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Ballet Blue, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac (for clouds)
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, Large Scallop Circle die, Big Shot
To download the circle pattern, click here
