Happy Birthday Wreath – A Beautiful and Simple Cut and Fold Design
A Group Suggestion Turned Into a Beautiful Project
I recently asked my Facebook group which of the free patterns they’d like to see me make next, and this Happy Birthday Wreath design was one of the top suggestions. It’s a simple but elegant pattern and makes a wonderful handmade birthday gift.
About the Design
This book features an inverted (debossed) cut and fold design with added black card stock to make the details stand out. I used a 537-page book, which turned out to be the perfect size to maintain the wreath’s circular shape. A smaller or larger book could have easily distorted the roundness of the design..
A Small Setback Along the Way
Not every book fold goes perfectly! Partway through this project, I noticed the print starting to show through during the 180° fold. It’s something I really dislike in finished books, as it can distract from the design.
Usually, if the print shows early, I’ll switch to another book, or if it happens later but won’t affect the finished image, I’ll remove the affected pages. Unfortunately, with this pattern, removing pages would have lost some of the finer details in the text and wreath. As I was already more than halfway through, I decided to continue — and I’m glad I did!
The Finished Book
Despite the minor frustration, I’m so pleased with how this piece turned out. The crisp folds, clean circular design, and contrast of the black card make it an eye-catching piece — especially since it’s not a style I would normally choose for myself.
Make It Yourself
If you’d like to create this design, it’s available for free in my Facebook group – Clarebedo Cut and Fold Book Folding.
You can find it by searching for Pattern #258 in the group’s files.
If you’d like me to make one of the other free patterns from the group, feel free to leave your suggestion in the pinned post in the featured section — I love taking on your requests and seeing which designs inspire you most!
Join the Community
If you’re not already part of the Clarebedo Cut and Fold Book Folding Group, we’d love to have you join us! It’s a friendly space where book folders of all levels can share their work, ask for advice, and access over 300 free patterns.
Clare x
