Constructing your portfolio folder

PORTFOLIO PROJECT

Supplies and materials needed24” x 36” sheet of tagboard pencil36” straightedge (yardstick) pair of scissorsPrecision attention to detail magic wand

Step 1: m & m

Measuring and Marking

Measuring and MarkingEnsure your fold lines will be parallel to the edge of the board—make sure the end of the ruler, which represents 0 (zero) is even with the edge of the board by using your finger to line them up.

Starting with the side flaps at 4 ½”

Measuring and MarkingMake a guidemark on the board at 4 ½ “ from the edge. Make sure it is going in the same direction as the fold line you will be making.

Make a second guidemark at 4 ½ “ from the same edge as far from the first one as you can make it. If your straightedge does not reach all the way across your board give yourself more guidemarks to work from.

Measuring and MarkingLay your straightedge (ruler) on the two quidemarks. Make sure the straightedge is touching both guidemarks and..

Putting firm pressure on the straightedge, while keeping your fingers from hanging over the edge of the ruler, draw the line using light pressure by holding the pencil at it’s end.

Repeat the previous stepsFor the center line at 18” Then the top and bottom flaps at

2 ½”

Step 2:

Making the Cut

Making the CutYou will be cutting away the corners and making slits at the mid line. BUT, you will not be cutting along the lines that you just finished drawing. Instead, you will be cutting at an angle toward the drawn corner. AND at the mid line you will be cutting away a narrow wedge instead of a slit.

Your board should look like this when you have finished cutting.

Step 3: The Magic Fold

Drum roll please* * *AND* * *prepare yourself for ART MAGIC!

Actually, it’s called “Scoring”, but it works like magic.

Buy first NOT The Magic FoldWe don’t want any of the lines that we drew to show on the outside of the portfolio, so we have to fold them to the inside.

SO, how will we be able to fold along the line if we can’t see it?

ALSO, how can we fold cardboard without getting a lumpy, bumpy, ugly fold?

You will need a pair of scissors and a straightedge.•Place the straightedge along your foldline. Open the scissors and old them in the palm of your hand placing your index finger on one of the tips. Putting heavy pressure on the straightedge, draw the tip of the scissors along the straightedge and pressing into the board with light to medium pressure.•You only want to dent (or slightly break the surface). You do not want to cut all the way through the board.•Repeat this along all your fold lines.

Here comes the MAGIC……..Start bending along a fold line and …

Begin bending the board over at the score line, as it starts to break to a crease…

Smooth out the fold

ART MAGIC! It practically folds itself.

Finishing up..Repeat these folding steps at each of the lines you scored until all flaps are folded to the inside and you portfolio folder is complete.

Your finished portfolio folder can now be personalized with decoration and used to store your completed works of art as well as your works in progress.

Melissa Finkes, Art Teacher, Xenia High School, Xenia, Ohio, 2009.