Custom Folded Cards for Every Occasion
Custom folded cards serve countless purposes, from holiday greetings and wedding invitations to product announcements and thank-you notes. Teal Packaging produces folded cards with professional finishing and quality materials that make lasting impressions. Our cards work for personal occasions, corporate communications, retail inserts, and direct mail campaigns.
Card Formats and Sizes
We offer multiple folding configurations to match your content needs. Single-fold (bifold) cards create four panels: front cover, inside spread, and back cover. This format works well for invitations, announcements, and simple messages. Tri-fold cards provide six panels in a compact format, ideal for event programs, product features, or sequential information.
Standard sizes include 5x7 inches (folded), 5.5x8.5 inches, and A7 (5.125x7 inches). Custom dimensions are available for unique presentations. We also produce gate-fold and z-fold configurations for specific design needs. Scored folding ensures clean, professional creases that open and close smoothly.
Available Formats
- Single-fold (bifold): 4 panels, classic card layout
- Tri-fold: 6 panels, compact presentation
- Gate-fold: Opens from center, dramatic reveal
- Z-fold: Accordion style, sequential viewing
- Custom folds: Designed to your specifications
Paper Stocks and Finishes
Teal Packaging prints folded cards on premium cardstock selected for durability and print quality. Standard options include 100 lb cover stock in gloss, matte, or uncoated finishes. Gloss coating enhances color saturation and provides a professional shine. Matte coating reduces fingerprints and glare while maintaining rich colors. Uncoated stock offers a natural feel and accepts writing.
For premium cards, we offer 130 lb cover stock with extra thickness and rigidity. Textured stocks like linen and felt add tactile interest. Metallic stocks create eye-catching shimmer for special occasions. All papers are available in white or natural tones, with colored stocks available on request.
Paper Options
- 100 lb cover gloss: Vibrant colors, professional shine
- 100 lb cover matte: Smooth finish, reduced glare
- 100 lb cover uncoated: Natural texture, writable surface
- 130 lb cover: Premium weight, extra rigidity
- Recycled stocks: 30% or 100% post-consumer content
- Textured finishes: Linen, felt, or laid patterns
Printing and Color Options
Our printing capabilities include full-color CMYK on both sides of the card. This allows for different designs on each panel, maximizing your creative options. Single-sided printing is also available for budget-conscious projects. Spot color matching (Pantone) ensures brand colors reproduce accurately for corporate communications.
We use professional color management to maintain consistency across print runs. Digital proofs show exact colors and layout before production begins. For photos and complex graphics, our high-resolution printing captures fine details and smooth gradients.
Finishing Options
Professional finishing elevates folded cards from good to exceptional. UV coating adds a protective gloss layer that resists scratches and fingerprints. Spot UV creates contrast by applying gloss coating to specific areas while leaving others matte. Foil stamping adds metallic accents in gold, silver, copper, or colored foils.
Embossing creates raised areas that add dimension and tactile interest. Rounded corners provide a softer, more polished look. Die-cutting creates custom shapes or windows in the card. These finishing options can be combined for unique presentations.
Available Finishes
- UV coating: Full coverage protective gloss
- Spot UV: Selective gloss areas for contrast
- Foil stamping: Metallic accents in multiple colors
- Embossing: Raised areas for dimension
- Rounded corners: Polished, professional edges
- Die-cutting: Custom shapes or windows
Pricing and Order Quantities
Minimum order quantity for custom folded cards is 100 units. Our tiered pricing structure provides cost savings at higher volumes. Standard pricing applies to single-fold 5x7 inch cards printed full-color on both sides using 100 lb cover stock:
- 100 units: Small batch pricing for limited distributions
- 500 units: Mid-volume pricing for events and campaigns
- 1,000 units: Optimal per-unit cost for regular mailings
- 2,500+ units: Volume discounts for large campaigns
Premium finishes, specialty papers, and custom sizes affect pricing. Request a detailed quote with your specifications for accurate pricing. We provide transparent quotes showing all costs including setup, printing, finishing, and shipping.
Production Timeline
Standard production runs 15-20 business days from artwork approval. This timeline includes prepress work, printing, scoring, folding, finishing, quality inspection, and preparation for shipping. We send digital proofs within 2-3 business days of receiving your files.
Rush production may be available for tight deadlines, with additional fees. Reorders typically process faster since artwork files are already prepared. We provide production updates and tracking information when orders ship.
Common Applications
Folded cards serve diverse needs across personal and professional contexts. Wedding invitations, birth announcements, and holiday cards are classic uses. Corporate applications include product launch announcements, event invitations, thank-you notes to clients, and quarterly updates to stakeholders.
Retail businesses use folded cards as bag inserts, loyalty program explanations, and promotional offers. Non-profits print fundraising appeals, event invitations, and donor thank-you cards. Real estate agents send property announcements and market updates. Service providers mail appointment reminders and seasonal greetings.
Use Cases
- Wedding and event invitations
- Holiday greeting cards
- Birth and graduation announcements
- Corporate event invitations
- Product launch cards
- Thank-you notes and acknowledgments
- Fundraising appeals
- Retail promotional inserts
Envelope Options
We can coordinate envelope printing to match your folded cards. Standard envelope sizes include A7, A6, and custom sizes to fit your card dimensions. Envelopes are available in white, natural, and colored stocks. Return address printing, mailing panels, and closure options (gum seal, peel-and-seal) can be specified.
For direct mail campaigns, we offer envelope printing services including recipient addressing, return addressing, and postal sorting. This simplifies your mailing process and ensures cards reach their destination in pristine condition.
Design Guidelines
When designing folded cards, consider the fold orientation and panel sequence. Allow 0.125-inch safety margin on fold lines to prevent important content from being obscured by the crease. Keep critical text and images at least 0.25 inches from trim edges.
Supply print-ready PDFs with 300 dpi resolution, CMYK color mode, and 0.125-inch bleed on all sides. Include crop marks and fold indications. Embed all fonts or convert to outlines. For double-sided printing, ensure proper page orientation so panels align correctly when folded.
Quality Assurance
Every card order undergoes thorough quality control. Prepress review catches file issues before printing. Digital proofs confirm layout, colors, and text. Production samples verify color accuracy and fold precision. Final inspection ensures trimming accuracy and finish quality.
We maintain calibrated equipment and controlled production environments for consistent results. Any deviations from specifications are corrected during production. Our quality standards ensure your cards arrive ready to distribute with confidence.
Sustainable Printing
Teal Packaging offers environmentally responsible options for folded cards. Recycled cardstock with 30% or 100% post-consumer content prints with the same quality as virgin fiber. Soy-based and vegetable-based inks reduce environmental impact. Water-based coatings provide eco-friendly finishing.
Sustainable printing does not compromise quality or appearance. Your cards will look professional while reducing environmental footprint. Many clients appreciate the ability to include recycled content messaging on their cards.
Related Products
Complement your folded cards with other printed materials. Business cards maintain brand consistency across communications. Custom flyers work well for broader distribution. Branded shopping bags extend your message when used as bag inserts.
For more detailed content, brochures and booklets provide additional pages. Postcards offer simpler, more economical alternatives for certain messages. We can coordinate printing across multiple products for cohesive branding.
Ordering Process
Start by requesting a quote with your card size, fold type, quantity, paper stock, and finishing preferences. We will provide detailed pricing and timeline. Submit your print-ready files or work with our team on design preparation.
Review and approve digital proofs before production begins. We keep you informed throughout production and provide tracking when orders ship. Payment options include credit card, ACH transfer, or net terms for qualified accounts.
Why Teal Packaging
Teal Packaging combines technical expertise with customer-focused service. Our production team understands the nuances of folded card printing and finishing. We invest in quality equipment and materials to deliver consistent results. Competitive pricing makes professional cards accessible for projects of any size.
We are responsive to questions and committed to meeting deadlines. Whether you need 100 cards for a small event or 10,000 for a national campaign, we handle your project with the same attention to detail. Get your custom folded card quote today and experience the difference quality printing makes.