Graduation Fun Fold Card

Today I'm sharing the measurements for making this fun-fold graduation card that includes a gift card pocket on the inside.  I've actually been wanting to write this post for a couple of years, but I haven't managed to do it!  Unfortunately, most of the products I used have retired, but you can still make the general card base with a fold-back cap and pocket inside; all you need to do is use different dies to get the same effect.  I have swapped out different dies through the years of making this card.

I saw this card design from Kimberly Myers several years ago.  You can see me make this card at the video below:

Here are the measurements:

• Card base: 4-1/4 x 8-1/2"; with 8-1/2 edge along the top, score in 2-1/8" from each side 
• White card (on the inside): 4 x 8-1/2; with 8-1/2 edge along the top, score at 4" and 8" (you will have a 1/2" flap at the end)
• Cap: 2-7/8" square
• Collar piece (inner layer): 2-3/4" square (cut on the diagonal, you only need half per card)
• Collar piece (outer layer): 3" square (cut on the diagonal, you only need half per card)
• Tab for cap: 7/8 x 2", with 2" edge at the top, score at 1"
• Pocket strip: 1-1/2 x 4" (attach along the bottom to the folded up tab on the inside white card, watch video for clarification)

Note: You will cut the triangle pieces in half again to put one on each side of the card base flaps.  Do this before attaching to the base.

Here it is in another color (I'm getting ahead for a graduation next year!):

This is such a fun card pattern (though not a quick one) that is easy to swap out colors according to the school.  We made these at a class in May with all sorts of different colors to coordinate with the school colors.  For the cards shown above, I used the following products (all retired now):

• Alphabet a la Mode Dies for the numbers
• Birthday Celebration Dies for the "tassel" on the cap
• Beautiful Balloons Bundle for star dies and some greeting stamps
• Cap & Gown stamp set for some of the greetings

In the older sample below, I used a different die from Beautiful Balloons for the tassel and my small numbers were cut with an old set--Little Numbers Thinlit dies.  As you can see, it's easy to change thing around on this card.

I hope you enjoy making this card!  I think I will continue to make it for years to come!

Before you go, I want to invite you to join us on a crafting cruise!  We'll be cruising to the Caribbean Nov. 15-22, 2026, leaving out of Miami.  You get to craft on sea days and visit ports on shore days.  It's the best of both worlds!  Our group rates are good until July 17th.  Read all about it HERE.

Pop & Twist Cards

 

My friend recently celebrated her 50th birthday.  I wanted to make her a special "wow" card.  I thought back to some "pop & twist" cards I made over five years ago (see photo below), but couldn't remember how to do it.  Luckily, I found my old notebook and I still had one of the cards in my stash so I could figure out how to recreate the inside mechanism.  These are the cards I made years ago:

You can watch the tutorial video for this card on Facebook HERE  or watch it on YouTube at the link below.

You can turn any card into a pop & twist card.  I found the front design for the blue version of the card on Pinterest from Stampin' Gala.  I made a pink version for my friend.  

It lays mostly flat when closed.  It is a little bulky!

When you open it, this accordion "book" pops out at you!

This is how it looks as it is closing/opening.

This is how it looks when it's closed.

Measurements for inside parts:

• Twisting mechanism (match the color with card base color): 2-1/4" x 7-1/2"
• With 2-1/4" at the top of trimmer, score at 1-1/8"
• Turn so 7-1/2" side is at the top of the trimmer and score at 3-3/4.
• Using a ruler, mark 1-1/8" to the right and left of that center score line at the top and bottom. Then score diagonally between those marks to get an X in the middle as shown below.

• Panel piece attached to mechanism: 2-3/4 x 8"
• White layers on each panel (cut 4): 1-3/4" x 2-1/2"

To see how to attach the panel to the mechanism, you definitely want to watch the video.  My panels are smaller than some I've seen, so you could search "Pop & Twist" cards on YouTube or Pinterest to see other versions.  This version is made so it can fit in either a horizontal or vertical card (measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2") when closed.

Measurements for front of the card:

• Card base (Bubble Bath or Azure Afternoon): 4-1/4 x 11, score at 5-1/2"
• White panel: 3-1/4 x 4-3/4"
• Mat behind white (Berry Burst or Granny Apple Green): 3-3/8 x 4-7/8"
• Stamp your images first, then emboss the white panel with one of the Basics 3D Embossing Folders

I used current products for the front of my card, but pulled out several old retired sets for the inside panels, as well as for the sentiment on the back of the envelope.  The blue card is for my hubby who is turning 50 this month.  He doesn't like me to make a big deal about his birthdays because he has issues with aging, so I thought this sentiment was a perfect reminder that aging is a good thing!

You can find links for the current products I used at the end of this post.  This is a list of retired sets I used on the inside panels:

• Framed Florets set (pink version)
• Inspired Thoughts set (pink version)
• Number of Years set (both)
• Picture Perfect Birthday set (blue version)
• Approaching Perfection (sentiment on envelope)
• Balloon Bouquet Punch (both)
• The "Hooray" came from an old Paper Pumpkin kit

I hope you give this pop & twist card a try!  The next one I need to make is for my daughter's college graduation at the end of this month.

Need a crafty get-away?  Read all about my July Retreat in Leesburg, VA and my Eastern Caribbean Crafty Cruise in October.

Click on the images below to order the supplies I used on this project.  You can earn a free gift and frequent stamper rewards when you shop with me!

Happy Stamping!

Marsha

Product List

Beautiful Balloons Bundle (English) [161457] $52.00	Biggest Wish Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [155052] $17.00	Basics 3 D Embossing Folders [161598] $30.00	Bubble Bath 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161718] $10.00
Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $10.00	Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161719] $10.00	Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990] $10.00	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [147143] $9.00
Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $9.00	Bubble Bath Classic Stampin' Pad [161664] $9.00	Starry Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [159212] $9.00	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $9.00
Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad [161663] $9.00	Iridescent Adhesive Backed Discs [161954] $7.00	Sweet Sorbet 1/8'' (3.2 Mm) Metallic Woven Ribbon [159200] $9.00	Parakeet Party 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Metallic Woven Ribbon [159196] $9.00