Four Panel Accordion Fun Fold Card

May 9, 2025

Recently I was participating in a mystery card challenge (a perk if you join my team) and I recognized the measurements to be a four panel accordion fun fold. Since I enjoyed playing with this card I thought you might enjoy making one as well. There are two different ways I have seen the accordion fun fold made. One way is to add a belly band around the card to hold it closed and the other way is to attach a small piece of cardstock to the front panel. I will share both ways of making the four panel accordion fun fold with you below. Please reach out with any question.

Supplies Needed for Belly Band Option

• A piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut to 11½″ x 5½″

• Cardstock that coordinates with the DSP cut to 4¼″ x 5½″ (card base)

• Cardstock ¾″ x 9½″ (belly band)

• Punch or diecut a circle/oval/scallop circle (decoration for the belly band)

• White cardstock 5″ x 2½” (inside of card)

• Stamp set and ink

• Embellishments optional.
• Paper Trimmer/Scorer/

• Adhesive

Instructions for Accordion Fun Fold with Belly Band

1. Before scoring the DSP, turn it over to the reverse side. Gently score it @ 4″, 6¾″, and 9½″ being careful not to tear it. Crease the score lines with mountain fold in the middle and valley folds on either end. See photos below.

2. Attach the back of the larger piece of DSP to the left-hand side of the card base. This will leave about 1/4″ of the card base exposed along the right-hand side.

3. Next, attach the white cardstock to the inside of the card (the 4th panel that is attached to the card base).

4. Then stamp and decorate your circle (or oval or scallop circle).

5. Decorating the belly band is optional.

6. Then wrap the 3/4″ wide cardstock around the card while holding it closed and attach the ends. Make sure it is not too tight because you need the belly band to be able to slide up and down to put it on and take it off the card itself.

7. Next, attach the circle to the belly band.

8. Lastly, stamp your sentiment on the inside piece.

Below is an ariel view looking down at the card while it is standing up.

Supplies Needed for Accordion Fun Fold (without a belly band)

Cardstock measuring 12″ x 5-1/2″ scored along the 12″ side at 1-3/4″, 4-3/4″, 7-3/4″
Designer Series Paper (DSP) measuring 2-1/2″ x 6″ (envelope flap decoration), 1-1/2″ x 5-1/4″ (two pieces for panel 1 inside and outside of card), 2-3/4 x 5-1/4″ (two pieces for panel 2 and 3 inside card), 1″ x 5-1/4″ for outer edge panel 4 inside card
White cardstock measuring 2-7/8″ x 5-1/4″ (panel 4 inside card), 3″ x 2″ (panel 1 outside decoration)
Cardstock measuring 3-1/4″ x 2-1/4″
Stamp set and ink
Adhesive
Paper trimmer/scorer
Envelope
Snips

Instructions for Four Panel Accordion Fun Fold

First crease your cardstock along the score lines as shown below.

2. Second attach two DSP pieces measuring 1-1/2″ x 5-1/4″ to the front and back of the first panel on the left.
3. Next, attach two DSP pieces measuring 2-3/4 x 5-1/4″ to the inside of the cardstock on panels two and three in the middle.
4. Attach the white cardstock just to the right of the score line on the inside of panel 4 leaving room for 1″ strip of DSP next to it. Stamp your sentiment and decorate as desired.
5. Then attach the 1″ x 5-1/4″ DSP to the right of the white cardstock on the inside of panel 4 as shown in the photo.

Inside View

Reverse side

6. Then stamp/decorate and attach 3″ x 2″ white cardstock to 3-1/4″ x 2-1/4″ cardstock to create your label for the front panel decoration.
7. Finally apply adhesive just to the left-hand side of the label and adhere it to the first panel as shown below.

8. Adhere the last piece of DSP (2-1/2″ x 6″) to the flap of the envelope and trim off the excess with your snips as shown.

Misc.

If you found this tutorial helpful, please share it with your crafty friends. I’d love to see your version of the accordion fun fold. Just post a photo over on my Facebook VIP group page.

You can shop for supplies to create handmade greeting cards or to scrapbooking over in my online store. Stampin’ Up! will ship them right to your door plus you will earn Stampin’ Rewards! As long as your order is over $20 you will earn 10% in Stampin’ Rewards that you can use to reduce the cost of your next order. I would love to be your Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. But if you prefer shopping from a catalog versus online, you can request one here.