Congrats Grad Accordion Money Pocket Card

 This four-panel accordion card has "Grad" word cut 

and offset with mortar board hat shapes, 

accent panel on card front, bottom strip money pocket 

 attached behind on front interior panel. 

"Congrats" word cut panel is attached to 

offset interior back panel, with top-flange tab back panel 

that attaches behind Congrats panel. 

Unique and full of interest, this card makes 

gift giving extra easy. 

Card measures approx. 5x7 when accordion-folded. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main card front with inner front panel
B front accent panel
C "Grad" word cut with offset for word and hat
D grad cap shape
E money pocket
F interior front panel base (includes offset of "congrats")
G interior front panel overlay (includes "congrats")
H message panel    I card back panel with top flange

2. Prepare the card front by bending back along

horizontal center perforation line.

3. Position and attach the shaped accent 

front panel onto card front (lower half)

4. Position and attach the "Grad" word cut onto

the offset shape with hat. Then position and attach

this assembly onto card front accent.

5. Prepare the money holder panel by bending

back on all perforation lines.

6. Fold the "pocket" lower panel 
upward into position, with side tabs folded inward . . . 

. . . tuck side tabs between layers and glue in place

to opposite panel backside only.

7. Position money pocket as shown on the back
portion of main front panel, with the pocket fold
parallel to the long cut edge, centered.

8. Prepare the "congrats" base panel by

bending forward along flange tab perforation line.

Layer the "congrats" accent panel over the front

of the base panel, with side edges matched,

and with the upper corners aligned as indicated

by the pointing finger.

9. Position and attach the message panel
onto the assembly as shown.

10. Position the bottom of the front two-panel

assembly over the flange on the bottom of

the "congrats" panel assembly, adjust for

side-to-side alignment and glue overlapping

surfaces together.

11. Prepare the back panel by bending back

the top flange tab on the perforation line.

12. Position the back panel onto the backside

of the "congrats" panel assembly, and align

into position so that the top perf fold ends

are positioned even with the "corners" at ends

(see step 8 where pointing finger indicates corners),

and glue flange in position.

13. Position and attach a brad button accent
(or stud) at the grad cap punch hole,
and bend brad prongs back behind hat.

14. Position the grad cap either exactly over

the corresponding cap outline on word cut offset,

OR offset slightly, and glue in place.

The card assembly is complete.
Insert paper cash gift in the money panel
as shown.

Here the completed four-panel layout is shown.

Fold in accordion style as shown to fit into

a 5x7 envelope for mailing or giving.

Add additional studs and embellishments

as desired.

Grad Box Card Construction Tutorial

Box card brimming over with little paper "celebrations"

of a graduate's accomplishments.

Bottomless box folds flat to put into special sized envelope.

Open, it holds grad tag on front flap, congratulations arch

with grad year marquee (updated design includes 2025-2029), 

two balloon sets, grad cap with tassel, diploma.

CONSTRUCTION:

1. Identify and cut the shapes. Gray shapes are the box body and the two bridges.

Stripe shapes are the outer box decorative shapes.

Lower accent shapes are for the flaps of the inner box surfaces.

2. Glue the short and tall box accent shapes to the front of the box sections.

3. Glue the short and tall flap accent shapes to the inside of the box.

(NOTE: these were laid in place incorrectly for the photo. The full-length shape will be in the far left position, directly behind the tall box accent shape on the box front, as shown in the above image.)

4. Fold the box into a tube, bring the side tab to align with the short box edge and join.

5. If you are using the center front flap accent shape with the hole for inserting a brad, you will need to create the hole through the box layer. Use a sharp pointed tool like this awl to push through the layers.

6. Layer and glue the "GRAD" tag, then position on front with punch holes aligned, and glue in place. Insert and attach the brad.

7. Fold the end tabs of bridge pieces back. Apply glue to the tabs of front bridge, then insert into box opening and attach tabs to side edges approx. 1/3 of the way back from front of box, making sure bridge is parallel to box front.

(Move on to next step before glue is completely dried.)

8. Fold the box into its "flat" shape to make sure bridge will work properly as the box is folded. Allow slight ends adjustment, then pinch layers to secure the bridge ends to the box.

9. Repeat the positioning, gluing, folding and "pinching" process for the second bridge, placing it halfway between front bridge and box back.

10. Pre-assemble the decor shapes.

NOTE 1: This prep shows '2014' as the year from an earlier version of the design. The updated file includes year date numbers 2025-2029.

NOTE 2: The balloon "strings"/balloon base shapes need to be doubled for strength.

11. Position "congratulations" shape centered at back top of box, and glue bottom area in place where the two touch.

12. Center and attach the year plaque in place (see next frame for more detail).

NOTE:  I moved my shape up to be snugly under the congrats arch later in my construction, so it will show better.

To give the decorations more dimension, attach a few foam squares behind the year plaque shape, then attach in place on the box back.

13. Place and attach balloon shapes on each side of year plaque on box back. I attached balloon overlapping edge to the plaque which is in front of the box back surface since I used the foam squares to attach the plaque. I also attached the balloon strings down inside the box back.

14. Position grad cap extension behind the back bridge, angled slightly to the right, with the tassel brought over the bridge to lie in front of it (glue tip in place, too).

15. Position and glue the diploma shape along the front bridge, angled with swirly end up toward the left. 

NOTE: If you plan to use the companion box card envelope from Hearthsewn, be sure that attached decor shapes DO NOT extend beyond the 7x7 inch square size of the envelope when folded flat.

This image shows how to measure to ensure this sizing, at least for the width size.

FINISHED!