IMPORTANT! Click here if you are shopping from outside the UK -> Etsy Store

FAQs - Frequently asked questions

What countries to you ship to?

You can use this website to place an order from within the UK. ForΒ non-UK orders please visitΒ https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PrettyInPaperByB
Etsy take care of all of the different sales taxes involved. It would be impossible for a small business like mine to collect these and remit them to each country.

What is included in theΒ DigitalΒ Download (PDF)?

EachΒ Digital Download (PDF) includes:

  • Iris folding patternΒ 
  • Pattern guide
  • Greeting card template
  • Detailed instructions
  • Co-ordinating embellishment templates (selected PDFs only)
  • SVG Cut file (selected PDFs only)

When will I get my order?

Digital downloads are sent by emailΒ which is generated automatically immediately after your payment is received and purchase confirmed.

Usually the email arrives in a matter of minutes, but there are a few things that can go wrong:

  • Internet speeds can delay emails for several hours. If you still haven't receivedΒ anything within 24 hours, please get in touch and we'll investigate further.Β 
  • Sometimes a customer makes a mistake enteringΒ their email address, which means they never arrive. InΒ this case, we will amend the order with the correct email address and resend the download email.Β 
  • Very rarely the emails are marked as spam.Β Please check your junk or spam folder to see if this has happened.

All other UK orders are dispatched within 1-3 working days and delivered by Royal Mail first class (1-3 working days from dispatch date). However, Royal Mail advises, at busy times of year, please allow five working days for delivery.

Where do I find my Digital Downloads?

Try searching your email inbox for 'Pretty in Paper by B'.

After purchase you will be sent two emailsΒ which are automatically generated. The first confirms your order. The second contains a link to a page where you can download your digital files.Β These emails are generated automaticallyΒ as soon as your payment is received and purchase confirmed.

Usually the email arrives in a matter of minutes, but there are a few things that can go wrong:

  • Internet speeds can delay emails for several hours. If you still haven't receivedΒ anything within 24 hours, please get in touch and we'll investigate further.Β 
  • Sometimes a customer makes a mistake enteringΒ their email address, which means they never arrive. InΒ this case, we will amend the order with the correct email address and resend the download email.Β 
  • Very rarely the emails are marked as spam.Β Please check your junk or spam folder to see if this hasΒ happened.

How do I use my Digital Download?

With most (not all) of ourΒ digitalΒ downloads there are two documents - a PDF document which you can print out, and an optional SVG document that can be uploaded toΒ a cuttingΒ machine. To make downloading easier, these two filesΒ are zipped together into a single folder.Β You should download the zipped folder by clicking on the link inΒ your download email.
To unzip all the contents of the zipped folder (SVG & PDF), press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.
You should then be able to use each document separately - to print out the pdf booklet, or upload the SVG cut file to a cutting machine.

What is an SVG file?

An SVG file is a special kind of image file that can be usedΒ with a modern cutting machine (such as a Cricut or Silhouette machine) to tell the machine what lines to cut out and where.Β EachΒ SVG file matchesΒ the correspondingΒ iris folding pattern PDF. This means that your cutting machineΒ can cut out anΒ  aperture from a piece of card so that it perfectly fits the pattern in the PDF document. Please see your cutting machine manual or website for further instructions.Β  SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics.Β 

Why do I get an error when I try to use the SVG file in my cutting machine?

An error can sometimes happen when youΒ try to use an SVG that is still compressed/zipped. All of our downloadsΒ come compressed/zipped to make downloading easier and faster. But you will need to unzip these files so that they can be used in the cutting machine.

To unzip a single SVG file,Β open the zipped folder that you downloaded, then drag the SVG file from the zipped folder to a new location. To unzip all the contents of the zipped folder (SVG & PDF), press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.

Why is my iris folding template in the PDF a different size to the shape in the SVG file?Β 

There are twoΒ main reasons why this may occur:

  • The iris folding pattern has printed too small. ToΒ print it correctly,Β your printer settingsΒ must be set to print β€œfull size”, and the printerΒ must be correctly aligned to the paper.
  • The SVG file could have changed size within the cut software. Measure the dimensions of your (correctly printed) pattern template and compare them to the dimensions of theΒ SVG in the cut software. They should be the same.

Please get in touch with us if you continue to have problems after checking these two things.

How doΒ I place a custom order?

Please get in touch via our Contact Us page.

What papers are best for iris folding?

It's best to use fairly thin paper that folds well, typically that means 80-120gsm in weight. Any thicker than that and your work will become too bulky. Thinner and you won't get the lovely 3D feel to your work. Origami paper works well. And there are some gorgeous colours in my pretty paper packs.Β 

Where can I learn how to iris fold?

I've written a blog post called "Everything you need to know about iris folding". Plus, I've recorded lots of instructional videos with tips on how to make iris folding cards and art work, which you can browse on my Tutorials page or on my Youtube channel. I often give workshops and taster sessions at craft shows around the UK, so keep an eye out for these. And lastly follow me on social media (@prettyinpaperbyb) for lotsΒ more inspiration and iris folding ideas.

Where can I find iris folding templates and patterns?

The secret to producing a quality iris folding greeting card, or wall art, that will have a real wow factor, is to use a good quality iris folding pattern, template and pattern guide. While there are some free downloads out there, I would always advise buying a professional pattern template to ensure the best outcome.

There are over a hundred to choose from right here on my website. Simply browse All Iris Folding Patterns to find one that is perfect for you! All of these patterns come as a downloadable PDF document. A link is emailed to you immediately after purchase so you can print it at home and get crafting straight away. 😊

Most also come with a free (optional) SVG cut file, so if you're lucky enough to own a cutting machine such as a Cricut or Silhouette, you canΒ use the SVG file to program your machine to cut out the iris fold aperture for you. If you don't own a cutting machine, don't worry, you can simplyΒ cut your own aperture using a craft knife. The template and step-by-step instructions provided in the PDF ensure thatΒ the apertureΒ will be perfectly centred on the front of your card.

Just take your time and don't rush! You'll enjoy the mindful experience so much more if you work slowly and carefully. 😊

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Crafting love, B🌸

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