Cascading Pleats Tropical Christmas Fun Fold Card

Every now and then, I find myself wanting to create something that’s just a little extra. You know the kind of card I mean—the one that feels like a gift in itself. The kind that stands up tall on a mantle, gets a few “wows” from the recipient, and still folds flat enough to fit in a standard envelope. That’s exactly what today’s Cascading Pleats Fun Fold Card turned out to be. And I have to say, pairing this fold with the bold, cheerful Tropical Christmas collection made it such a joy to bring together.

Cascading Pleats Tropical Christmas Fun Fold Card

A Fold That Adds the “Wow” Factor

The Cascading Pleats Fun Fold is one of those designs that looks complicated but comes together with a few simple score lines and strategic cuts. It’s perfect for highlighting your favorite patterned papers and gives you multiple surfaces to play with. I used Basic White A4 Cardstock as my foundation and scored it to create those accordion-style folds. What I love most about this format is how it creates layers that cascade down at an angle—just begging for bright, layered embellishments.

And speaking of layers, I couldn’t resist diving into the Tropical Christmas 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Collection. That pink plaid paper for the back panel immediately caught my eye. It feels festive, but in a non-traditional way—like celebrating the holidays in flip-flops with a fruity drink in hand.

Mixing Pattern and Texture for a Tropical Holiday Vibe

Once I had my card base built, I started playing with patterned paper layers and cardstock mats. I used pink cardstock from the Baby Dreams A4 Assorted Smooth Cardstock Pack to pull out the tones in the tropical patterns and give the design a cohesive feel. For the middle section, I added a smaller striped panel with that soft pink mat underneath to create dimension without a lot of bulk.

Pro tip: When working with fun folds like this, use lightweight patterned paper for layering. It keeps the card from becoming too bulky and helps it fold up neatly. I like to prep all my mats and patterned layers at once so I can mix and match until everything feels balanced.

Layering with Die Cuts That Tell a Story

Now here’s where the fun really kicks in—decorating! I had a blast digging into the Tropical Christmas 6 x 8 Die Cuts & Sentiments and Tropical Christmas Embossed Die Cuts. These sets are packed with whimsical tropical holiday icons, from palm leaves to floral arrangements with ornaments, and even a beachy Santa or two.

For the front flap, I used one of the large circular images from the 6 x 8 die cuts—just the right size to anchor the design without overwhelming it. I popped up the “Celebrate the Season” sentiment label on a foam square to give it a little extra lift. On the center panel, I placed a dimensional floral cluster with ornaments from the embossed die cut set, which added that perfect blend of Christmas and island flair.

There’s something really satisfying about working with these pre-made die cuts. They’re high quality and add instant charm. If you’re short on time or just want a card that looks polished and professional, they do a lot of the heavy lifting.

Finishing Touches with a Surprise Inside

While I kept the front sections pretty layered, I also made sure the inside had a sweet surprise. I added a strip of patterned paper and one of the Santa embossed die cuts on the white cardstock inside the bottom section. It’s hidden when the card is standing or folded but peeks out when opened—just a little extra detail that feels special.

I also added a white panel with a pink mat on the inside for writing a message. When designing with interactive folds, I always like to make sure there’s space to personalize the card, without taking away from the decorative front. The layered look and strategic placement of the panels really help with that.

Try It Yourself – Free PDF Tutorial Available

If you’re looking to try something different for your holiday cards this year—or maybe you just need a creative kickstart for Christmas in July—I think you’ll love giving this Cascading Pleats fold a go. To make it even easier, I’ve created a free downloadable PDF tutorial that walks you through the process step-by-step.

Tropical Christmas Cascading Pleats Fun Fold Card.pdf

Download PDF • 3.47MB

Whether you're using the Tropical Christmas collection or pulling from your own stash, this design is so adaptable. It’s festive, dimensional, and lets your favorite papers and die cuts shine.

Until next time, happy crafting and may your scissors always be sharp.

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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