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Accordion Fold Pictures

From "Carol Duvall Show"
episode CDS-1538F

For years I've been fascinated with looking at and making these accordion pictures. No reason, I just find them fascinating. They take a bit of time and patience to make because your measurements must be exact and your cutting straight, but there is basically nothing difficult about them.

Materials

frame
photocopies of two photographs*
50 lb. watercolor paper
mat (opening size of photo)
glue
see-through ruler
sharp craft knife
dry ballpoint pen, stylus or bone folder

*The photos should be the same size, both either vertical or horizontal.

Steps:

1. Have color photocopies made of the photographs.

2. Measure photos. In our case they were 5" x 7". Cut a length of the watercolor paper the same height (5 inches) and twice as long (14 inches) (figure A).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

3. Measure and vertically mark off the paper strip and the backs of the photos in 3/8-inch increments (figure B).

4. Number every section on each of the two photos so that after they are cut, you will know what goes where in case they get mixed up. Using a sharp-bladed craft knife and ruler, cut along all the lines drawn on the photocopies and lay them out in order (figure C).

5. Using an empty ball point pen, a stylus or a bone folder, crease every drawn line on the watercolor paper strip. Accordion-fold the strip along all of the lines (figure D). Crease sharply.

6. Decide whether you want the photos to extend above the surface of the mat or to be even with it (figure E). Experiment by placing the accordion-folded paper strip in the opening of the mat. To have the pictures extend above the surface, place the two end strips flat against the back of the mat on either end of the opening. The first visible fold in the opening will be a mountain fold. If you prefer it to be flat with the opening (I do), turn the strip over so that the first fold is a valley fold. Whichever you decide you like, place the strip that side up on the table top to add the photos.

7. Starting at one end, pick up the first strip of one of the cut photos and place it in the first V-shaped space on the folded strip. Pick up the first strip from the second photo and place it in the same V-shaped space, but place it against the opposite side of the V. Repeat with several more strips to see that they all seem to fit perfectly, then start to glue them in one at a time (figure F). NOTE: If, for any reason one or more of the strips doesn't seem to fit properly, it can be fixed before gluing it in place. If it is too wide and comes above the fold in the paper, simply cut off a very thin strip of the photo. If it is too narrow and some of the white paper shows along the top edge, simply glue the photo so it matches the top edge. The extra white space will now be at the bottom of the V and will not be noticeable.

8. Continue down the full length of the accordion-folded strip. You should use all of the photo strips.

9. Glue the two end folds into position on the back of the mat (figure G).

10. Place the mat in a frame, hang on the wall and enjoy!