How to Make Graduation Z-Fold Cards

Make a Fun Graduation Z-Fold Card on your Cricut

LEARN HOW TO MAKE FUN GRADUATION Z-FOLD CARDS WITH GIFT CARD HOLDERS ON A CRICUT CUTTING MACHINE

Are you tired of just handing gift cards to the graduate at their open house? Well, make this fun z-fold card for them! The card features a fun pop up gift card holder, too!

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.

You can download the SVG file for this project at the bottom of this post.

This post contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.

GRADUATION Z-FOLD CARD – MATERIALS LIST

  • I am using my Cricut Maker. You could also use your Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Explore 3, or Cricut Maker 3!
  • Cricut Scoring Wheel or Scoring Stylus
  • Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
  • Cardstock. I am using white, blue, brown, green, light blue, orange, and black.
  • Glue. I am using Beacon 3 in 1 and Art Glitter Glue.
  • Cricut Pen. I am using Black.
  • Cricut Brayer
  • Cricut Scraper
  • Graduation Z-Fold Card

    Graduation Z-Fold Card

    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Active Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Difficulty: Easy

    This tutorial will show you how to make an fun Graduation Z-Fold Card with a gift card holder!

    Materials

    • My FREE Graduation Z-Fold Card SVG Cut File
    • Cardstock
    • Glue

    Tools

    • A way to cut out your cardstock. I am using my FABULOUS Cricut Maker but you can use a Cricut Explore series as well!
    • Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
    • Cricut Scoring Wheel or Stylus
    • Cricut Pen. I am using Black.
    • Cricut Scraper
    • Cricut Brayer

    Instructions

    STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE

    Download the Graduation Z-Fold Card SVG Cut File (#124) 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 and change the fold lines to score lines by changing the OPERATION from BASIC CUT to SCORE.

    find the score line for the envelope and convert to score

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

    highlight the group and attach

    Repeat this step for the card base and band.

    Then, the pop-up piece.

    Finally, the gift card holder.

    Now, find the sentiment layer. Select the text and change the line by changing the OPERATION from BASIC CUT to PEN. You can then change the color of the pen as you wish.

    find the text layer and convert to pen

    Attach the text and the card piece together by highlighting the GROUP the card layer is under and selecting the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.

    highlight the group and attach

    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 mats for this card in the mat preview.

    Click the CONTINUE button.

    click continue

    For this tutorial, I am using Medium 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.

    load the mat

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

    press the "C" button to begin the cut

    Follow Design Space prompts to change out the scoring wheel, pen, 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.

    time to assemble

    Begin by folding and burnishing the card base and band as shown.

    fold the card base as shownfold the band as shown

    Add the cover panels to the band and card base.

    attach cover panels to the band

    Mat and layer the messaging panel and attach to the back of the card base.mat and layer the messaging panelattach messaging panel to the back of the card base

    Attach the band to the card base one side at a time.

    fold the card base and attach the left side of the band to the left side of the cardattach the right side

    Fold and burnish the insert piece with the tabs facing forward. Set aside.

    fold the gift card insert piece

    Fold and burnish the gift card holder.

    fold the gift card holder and burnish

    Add glue along the tabs of the gift card holder and fold closed.

    add glue along the tabs on the gift card holderfold closed

    Attach the gift card holder to the pop-up piece.

    attach gift card holder to the insert

    Mat and layer the sentiment layer.

    mat and layer the messaging panel

    Layer the embellishments from left to right as shown. I have included a Layering Guide as a resource for you.

    [layer the graduation owl

    Attach the tree segments to the band then add the leaves to the branches.

    attach the tree sections to the bandadd the leaves

    Now, add glue to the tabs on the pop ups and insert into the card. Make sure to attach the tabs to the band and the card base. I find it best to flip the card base upside down to do this part.

    place the insert into the opening on the card base

    Attach the sentiment layer and graduation caps to the card.

    add the sentiment layer and graduation caps

    Add the clouds.

    add clouds

    Add glue to the back left side of the owl.

    add glue to the left backside of the owl

    Fold the card base up and attach the owl.

    attach the owl

    STEP 8 - FORM THE ENVELOPE

    To make the envelope, begin by folding along the score lines and burnish the folds with your scraper.

    Add glue to the back of the inlay panel as well as around the cutout.

    Place the inlay panel over the cutout on the envelope making sure to center it well.

    Add glue to the bottom of the side flaps.

    Bring the bottom flap up and press to form the envelope.

    Your card and envelope are complete.

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

    Happy Crafting!

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    Make a Fun Graduation Z-Fold Card on your Cricut

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