Surprise your friends and family with a card that’s bursting at the seams — really! There are no real explosives involved, but explosive cards are tons of fun because no one suspects the inside of the card to pop open bigger than the card itself. With just a few folds and inverted tucks, your next card recipient will be thrilled and amazed by your creativity!
Wow friends and family with a card that explodes open to reveal heartfelt sentiments!
Before you get started… Keep these tips in mind when making an explosion card:
- An 8½” x 8½” block of card stock serves as the folded insert, fitting perfectly within a 4½” x 4½” card base. Larger or smaller cards can be created by adjusting the size of the explosive panel and card base to fit.
- Use one-sided patterned paper if a color or pattern is desired on the folded sides. Otherwise, use plain light-weight paper, as heavy card stock is harder to fold and will result in a thicker finished card.
- Crease each fold firmly with a bone folder. Doing so will result in a flatter, more professional finish.
- All stamping on the insert should be completed before folding to ensure solid impressions where fold lines will appear.
- Once assembled, the card will open flat for easy signing so there is no need to write a personal message before assembly is complete.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Light-weight one-sided patterned paper or light-weight white card stock, cut to 8½” x 8½“
- Bone folder
- Zero centering ruler (not required but helpful)
- 3″ x 3″ sticky note (or printer paper and temporary adhesive)
- Stamps (I used Great Chemistry by Paper Smooches)
- Acrylic block
- Ink
- Coordinating 4½” x 4½” folded card base
- Double-sided adhesive tape
- Additional supplies to finish front of the card
Explosion Card Tutorial
Step 1:
Using a zero centering ruler, if available, center a 3″ x 3″ sticky note on the back side of your patterned paper to serve as a mask. This will mask an area for a sentiment and short personal note. If a longer greeting is desired, adhere a larger mask, or omit it entirely. If omitting, continue to Step 3.
Step 2:
Stamp images over back side of patterned paper. Once stamped, remove the mask and stamp desired sentiment.
Step 3:
Fold up one corner to create a triangle. Stamped images should be inside.
Step 4:
Unfold triangle, turn paper and refold in the opposite direction.
Step 5:
Open paper, flip over and fold into a rectangle. This time the stamped images should be on the outside.
Once unfolded, the paper should look like the photo below.
Step 6:
With patterned side facing up (as shown above), push in the left and right sides (at the valley folds) to once again form a triangle.
Step 7:
Lightly mark the center of the bottom edge with a pencil on both sides.
Step 8:
Fold the top layer of left and right corners in to center point.
Step 9:
Flip over and repeat, folding in corners on the second side.
Step 10a:
Working with one side at a time, unfold left and right corners.
Step 10b:
Invert the right corner to inside at fold line as shown below.
Step 10c:
Repeat on left side.
Step 10d:
Flip piece over and repeat, inverting left and right corners. Once folded, piece should look like photo below.
Step 11a:
Apply adhesive to both sides as shown.
Step 11b:
Remove release paper from tape and center the folded paper over inside of card. Press to adhere firmly.
Step 11c:
Remove release paper from adhesive on remaining side. Carefully close the card and press firmly to adhere remaining side.
If desired, add small embellishments to the inside of the card.
Finish card front as desired.
credits to: craftsy.com
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