Elegant Pop-Up Card Tutorial

 

Hello, G45ers!

  It is time to unfold the magic of Z-Fold Pop-up Cards.  In this post Brand Ambassador, Sandi Nagel shares a step by step video tutorial in both English and Spanish.  Sandi highlights our Joy to the World paper collection tutorial and Metal Dies to create these elegant holiday cards.  We encourage you to grab your papers and play along with this month's #G45PopUp – September Challenge.  

 

 

Graphic 45 Z-Fold Pop Up Christmas Card Tutorial

By Sandi Nagel

 

“Hello G45ers!

 

Hello G45rs! Today I bring you a Graphic 45 Joy to the World Christmas Card tutorial.  This tutorial shows you an easy way to make beautiful, dimensional pop up cards, using the Z-Fold card method.

 

 

 

 

I’m using gold color cardstock for my Graphic 45 Z-Fold card. It measures 10 x 4 ½ inches.  I score it at 3 ½ then 5 ½ .

 

 

Then I fold along the scored line in a zig-zag fashion.

 

 

Now it’s time to cut down the panels that will go on each section of your Graphic 45 Christmas Card.  

 

I cut one panel at 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ , then I cut two panels at 4 ¼ x 1 ¾ , then two more at 4 ¼ x 4 ¼ .  Then I take a plain piece of white card stock and trim one more panel at 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ . This is the piece where your sentiments go.

 

Once you have your panels trimmed, you’re ready to adhere them to your card stock, with some wet glue.

 

 

Tip: Use a contrasting design for your 4 ¼ x 1 ¾ piece, and match your embellishments to this design. This will keep everything from blending in too much on your card.

 

 

Once you’ve applied the papers to the back of your Z-Fold Christmas card, write in your sentiment on the plain, white piece of card stock.  It’ll be a lot easier to do this when your card is still flat.

 

Now it’s time to embellish the inside of your card.  The first piece is a frame die-cut, using the clock frame die from the Graphic 45 Square Tag & Clock Dies.

 

 

The second piece is a circle that I die-cut from the same clock frame die.

 

 

The third piece is a Christmas tree die-cut from my stash.

 

To make the z-fold mechanism, trim a piece of card stock to 1 x 9 inches; you then score at 5 ½ and 7 inches.

 

 

With a little bit of eye measuring, trim the pieces to cover your z-fold strip then glue.
 

 

Apply glue to the areas that will be adhered to the card only. Then while holding your card flat, you will adhere your z-fold strip to the bottom third of your card.

 

 

 

 

Once the glue is dry, it’s time to build the pop-up part.  You do this by measuring the part of your z-fold that faces you, that’s not glued down. You take this number and add an inch to it.  Keep in mind that your strip will be an inch wide, just like your z-fold strip. Trim this piece down, place it on your scoring board, and score at a half-inch from both ends.  Remember to add a couple of pieces of paper on top of your cardstock, just like you did for your larger strip.

 

Once you’ve folded along the score marks, you’re ready to glue.

 

 

 

Once you have your strips in place, you are ready to embellish once again!

 

 

I like to embellish with flourish die-cuts, Graphic 45 chipboard pieces, and ribbon.  

 

 

I also like to make my cards very dimensional.

 

 

I hot-glued a pretty bow, and then a snowflake die cut.

 

 

I also used my Graphic 45 Matte Pearl Gems as an accent on the snowflake. 

 

 

I used a 2” circle punch to attach a snowflake sticker to it.  Then I glued it to the pop up strip.

 

 

 

And to finish it off, I glued a paper bow in front of the snowflake.

 

 

Listed below are all the supplies that I used for this beautiful Z-Fold Pop-up Christmas Card:

 

 

Graphic 45 Supply List:

 

• Graphic 45 Joy to the World 8×8 Paper Pad

• Graphic 45 Joy to the World Chipboard Pieces

• Graphic 45 Matte Pearl Gems

• Graphic 45 Square Tag & Clock Die-set

 

Other Supplies:

• Wet Adhesive
• Gold Card Stock
• Paper Trimmer
• Scissors
• Die-cutting Machine
• Scoring Board
• Dies from the following: Spellbinders, Fun Stampers Journey and Magnolia Doohickeys
• White Card Stock
• Ribbon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Snowflake Sticker
• Glitter Foam (for Christmas Tree)

 

Pre-cutting Guide and Measurements (in inches)

• Card Base – 10 x 4 ½ 

• Card Base Scoring – 3 ½ , 5 ½ 

• Z-Fold Strip – 1 x 9 

• Z-Fold Strip Scoring – 5 ½ , 7

 

Video Tutorials in English and Spanish:

 

Graphic 45 ZFold PopOut Christmas Card Tutorial | Joy To the World Paper Collection

 

 

Tarjeta de Navidad 2019 | Graphic 45 Joy To the World Spanish Christmas Card Tutorial

 

 

 

I've put together an easy-to-follow video tutorial for you.  I hope that you enjoy this process and that you get inspiration to make one of your very own.  

Thank you for stopping by and happy paper crafting!” ~Sandi

 

 

Happy Papercrafting!  

 

 

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