How to Make Expanding Christmas Cards

LEARN HOW TO MAKE SHOWSTOPPER CHRISTMAS CARDS USING YOUR CRICUT CUTTING MACHINE

Okay, this card is definitely a showstopper! It expands out to roughly 24 inches but folds into a 5×7 card size.

Now, I didn't come up with the basic design for this card. I have seen this style on Pinterest before but it wasn't until I saw it a YouTube video from Sam at Mixed Up Craft that I knew I wanted to bring this style to my Cricut and add my own embellishments to it.

I chose muted colors of silver, gold, cream, and gray. The patterned paper also makes everything pop in silver snowflakes. So pretty!

This card may seem intimidating because of the layers involved but once you make it, it is well worth it. Display this on your mantle for years to come. Slip the belly band on it and store it in one of my envelope boxes to bring out every year!

In this tutorial, I’ll give you my step by step instructions and tell you what materials I think work best when making this project.

Basic and Premium TBH Crafters Club Members can download the SVG cut file for this project in the File Library.

Not a Member? Click here or the link at the bottom of the page to join!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS EXPANDING CARD – MATERIALS LIST

Merry Christmas Expanding Cards

Merry Christmas Expanding Cards

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate

This tutorial will show you how to make a very impressive expanding Christmas card that folds into a 5x7 size!

Materials

  • My Merry Christmas Expanding Card SVG Cut File
  • Cardstock
  • Glitter Cardstock (optional)
  • Glue or adhesive

Tools

  • A way to cut out your cardstock. I am using my FABULOUS Cricut Maker!
  • Cricut LightGrip Cutting Mat (blue) or StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
  • Cricut Scoring Wheel or Stylus
  • Cricut Brayer
  • Cricut Scraper
  • Cricut Tweezers (optional but so helpful!)

Instructions

STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE

Download the SVG Cut file for the Merry Christmas Expanding Card (#109) from The File Vault. Get access by joining the club.

STEP 2 - UPLOAD THE SVG FILE TO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

If you aren't familiar with uploading SVG files into Design Space, take a look at my quick and easy tutorial here. Using your smartphone? Click here for my step-by-step guide on uploading SVG files with the Cricut App.

STEP 3 - UNGROUP CARD LAYERS

The file will upload into Cricut Design Space grouped together. You will want to hit the UNGROUP button to separate the layers.

ungroup the design

STEP 4 - CONVERT FOLD LINES TO SCORE LINES

Scroll down the list in the LAYERS panel and find the envelope. Click the fold line.

find the fold line for the envelope

Change the fold lines to score lines by changing the OPERATION from BASIC CUT to SCORE.

change it to score under the operation menu

Attach the score line and the envelope by highlighting the GROUP and selecting the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.

highlight the group and select attach

Repeat this step for the three card base pieces.

repeat this step for the card base pieces

Click the GREEN Make It Button.

click the green make it button

STEP 5 - MAKE YOUR MATERIAL SELECTIONS AND PREPARE YOUR MATS

You will see the thirteen mats for this card in the mat preview.

Click the CONTINUE button.

after seeing the 15 mats for this card, click the continue button

For this tutorial, I am using Medium Cardstock as well as Glitter Cardstock. Select your materials accordingly.

make your material selections

Attach your cardstock to the Cricut StandardGrip Mat using the Cricut Brayer.

STEP 6 - LOADING YOUR MATS AND CUTTING YOUR MATERIALS

To load the mat into the machine, press the double arrows button. Do make sure that the mat is positioned under the mat guides.

to load you rmat, press the flashing arrows

You will know the machine is ready to cut your material when you see the flashing "C" button. Press that to start the cut.

to begin the cut, press the flashing "C" button

Follow Design Space prompts to change out the scoring wheel and fine point cutting blade.

Once the cut is complete, make sure to peel the mat away from the cardstock rather than the cardstock from the mat. This will prevent any curling of your design.

Repeat Step 6 for until all layers have been cut.

STEP 7 - ASSEMBLE YOUR CARD

Now that everything is cut, we can start to assemble the card.

Begin by layering the letter panels together.

layer the small card pieces

Set aside.

Layer the inside cover panels. Adhere the rectangular pieces together then place the two oval pieces on top.

layer the inside cover panels

Next, layer the angel together.

place in the center of the oval on the cover panels

Place the angel onto the cover panel..

repeat for the second cover panel

Repeat for the other inside cover panel.

Now, layer the front and back cover panels.

layer the front and back cover panels

Set aside.'

Fold the card bases along the score line. With the 5x7 portion at the top, fold the card toward you on the first score line.

fold the card bases. start with the larger pieces. fold the card toward you

Continue folding in an accordion style until your card looks like the picture below. Burnish the folds.

continue in an accordian style until the card has been folded.

Repeat this step for the other card base.

repeat for the other piece

Fold the extender piece along the score lines in an accordion making a "W" shape.

fold the expander piece forming a "w" shape

Apply glue to the extender pieces and attach to the two card bases.

add glue to the expander and attach to the card basesnow you have one continuous card

Attach the front and back cover panels to the card.

add the front and back cover panels

Next, attach the inside cover panels to the card.

add the inside cover panels

Now, attach the letter panels to the accordion of the card. Apply the top layer from left to right and the bottom layer from right to left.

adhere the letter card pieces to the top and the bottom of the accordian

The top row needs to be flush with the top of the card base and the bottom needs to be flush with the bottom of the card base.

line up the top edge with the top of the accordian

Add the letters and snowflakes to the letter panels. The top row needs to be in the lower right corner and the bototm row needs to be in the lower left corner.

add glue to the letters and snowflakesadhere into place

Fold the card up.

fold it up and set aside

To form the belly band, add glue to one piece and attach together.

add glue to the belly band piecesattach together

Place the card on the belly band making sure to center it.

place the card in the center

Wrap the belly band around the card and cut off the excess.

wrap the band around the middle of the card and cut the excess off

Add glue to one side of the belly band and attach the other side.

add glue to one sideattach the two pieces together forming a band

Layer the angel cutout onto the circle.

layer the angel embellishment onto the circle

Place onto the belly band covering the seam.

place the circle on top of the seam

Your card is all set.

I wouldn't recommed using the included envelope. The card is quite thick so I wouild use one of my Envelope Boxes. You can find that tutorial here.

Keep the included envelope for another card!

I know this card will make anyone say “WOW!” I hope you make this one!

Post a photo in the comment section or tag your projects on social media @thebeardedhousewife using the hashtag #beardedhousewife! I’d love to see how yours turn out!!

Happy Holidays!

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Responses

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  1. Wow, you ended this holiday series with a huge bang Nick! This card is gorgeous and so elegant looking. I love it so much. Sad to see this holiday series come to an end, but all good things do. lol It was a great first annual holiday series and I’m already looking forward to next year. Thanks for a wonderful 12 days of files and fun! Hugs, Brenda

  2. What a wonderful 12 days with you. All of the cards are beautiful. Can’t wait to make the ones I haven’t had time to do yet.
    Thank you so much Nick!! 😊

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