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Make an Art Deco Folding Screen
(September 2005)
Hi, Diorama Divas!
Today the Diorama Diva is going to show you how to make a folding screen to jazz up your displays. I make folding screens in all different themes: asian, classic, Art Deco, French, Indian, exotic, etc. from cardstock used for scrapbooking and also from scrapbook papers. Once you make one, you’ll go crazy making up a bunch more in different designs.
You can take these instructions and pretty much convert them to make any type of screen you want using many different patterned papers, but today, I’m focusing on an Art Deco inspired screen. In the future, I’ll give some ideas for other screens.
At right is a photo using the Deco screen we’re going to learn how to make today.
What you need:
- Two 8 1/2 x 11” sheets of black cardstock
- Gold brushed card stock or paper (or silver or copper or white - whatever color you prefer)
- 1/2” and 1” circle punches (if you don’t have circle punches, you can cut squares instead and set them as diamonds)
- Micro hole punch or Japanese screw punch
- Paper trimmer and/or Xacto knife w/metal edge ruler & cutting mat
- Adhesive: Spray adhesive, Xyron, glue sticks, Monoadhesive all work well.
- Scoring tool or butter knife, empty ball point pen, etc.
1) Start by trimming a quarter inch off the edge of your black card so the width is now 8 1/4”
2) Measure over 2-3/4 inches and score the cardstock vertically down the 11” side so you will have a nice sharp fold. Measure 2 3/4 in from the other edge and score on the opposite side of the card stock (since this fold will be folding the opposite way). Now you have 3 equal panels.
3) From your gold paper, cut 6 panels measuring 1 7/8” wide by 1/2” high
4) From your gold paper, cut 3 panels measuring 1 7/8” wide by 7 7/8” high
5) From your gold paper, punch 3 (three) 1/2” circles
6) From your second sheet of black cardstock, punch 3 1” circles and 6 1/2” circles - use your micro punch or Japanese screw punch to punch holes in the middle of the small black circles. Or, if you are low on patience, use a marker in a matching shade to draw circles (Galaxy markers work for this, too).
7) Use your paper trimmer or craft knife to cut 6 strips of black paper 1/8” wide. Cut them between 9 and 11 inches (the width of the paper edge is cut, then trim to fit)
8) Lay the gold panels on the screen as show in the photo. Then criss cross the black strips on top, making an X design. Then layer your punched shapes as shown.
9) Ta-dah! A cool folding screen.
Having the right craft tools helps, but if you invest in them, you will use them for all sorts of things. Let me know what screens you are whipping up in the future!
Make a Folding Screen Challenge!
OK, Diorama Divas... now’s the time to roll up your sleeves and show us your stuff! I’m challenging you to make a screen of your own and share it with all of us! It’s the Diorama Diva Folding Screen Challenge and I want YOU to join in the creativity.
Here’s what to do:
Create a folding screen of any kind and post your photos!
- Screens can be for any size doll... just make it to scale.
- It can be a three-panel, four-panel or five panel screen, and panels can be secured with folds, hardware, ribbons, bamboo rods or any other crafty way you think will make for a great look.
- It can be made of whatever materials you wish... paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, placemats, glass, mirrors, foamboard... anything you can think of.
- It can be any style you want... french provencal, asian, Indian, mod,... the sky is the limit! Try cutting different shapes.
- You can decorate it with anything you want... fabric, gems, rubber stamps, lace, silk flowers, decorative paper, wood, ribbons, photographs, wallpaper scraps, etc.
Don’t be discouraged... your screen can be an elaborate masterpiece or something that only takes 5 minutes to make. We’re just looking to share ideas!
At right is another screen of a different type that I have made.
Here’s a tip...
if you are using an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper or cardstock to make your screen for 12” dolls:
- Start by trimming a quarter inch off the edge of your black card so the width is now 8 1/4”
Measure over 2-3/4 inches and score the cardstock vertically down the 11” side so you will have a nice sharp fold. Measure 2-3/4 in from the other edge and score on the opposite side of the card stock (since this fold will be folding the opposite way). Now you have 3 equal panels.
Make a Folding Screen - by DeeinNJ
Hello, Divas!
I began to think what sort of screen could I whip up for today. Well, I just got my Riveting Premiere Isha and she has lots of lux fabrics waiting to be used in a diorama. So, I decided to make an Indian inspired folding screen that would coordinate with some fabrics I had purchased.
Here is the result:
I made this screen from card stock and paper. I folded the card stock, creating three panels and cut the fancy top on all three panels at one time so they’d all be uniform. I did the same when cutting the arch at the bottom. I used rubber stamps to decorate some plain purple card stock with an Indian design and I used some embroidered paper from India, as well as some quilted gift wrap. The fancy gold scrollwork was created with a border punch and metallic paper. The screen isn’t very elaborate on its own, but I made it to complement the other items and fabrics in my diorama, so it just needed to fill that void and add a bit of color. It took me about an hour to make.
Yesterday, I set it up with my diorama props and Isha in her sari and snapped some photos (see below). I think it works well to create the mood for Isha’s room and adds a pop of color. I mean, just imagine this photo without the screen...boooooring!
