How To Make a Super Cool Graduation Card With an Exploding Envelope

Graduation season has officially arrived and it's not too soon to think about special ways to celebrate our graduates! This handmade graduation card idea is fun to make, and equally fun to receive. Your grad will love the pockets and surprises inside this exploding envelope card! Let's take a look and I'll show you just how to make one yourself. 

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The main idea of this card, is that the envelope is actually the card. When it's opened, it can be filled with tiny pockets, notes, embellishments, and even a gift card. The envelope is held closed with a belly band, (a cardstock or paper strip wrapped around it.) 

Getting Started - How To Make An Envelope

Have you ever made your own envelopes using a scoring board? I'm a big fan of my FSJ Scoring Board but you can use any brand of scoring board you have. Each one is a little different, but if you need a refresher/want to learn more about the Journey Scoring Board from Spellbinders, click here for my simple tutorial.

To begin this project, make an envelope in any size you'd like. (TIP: Don't have a scoring board? Gently disassemble any envelope you have and use it as a stencil to make your own from scratch!) This one is a standard envelope for a 4.25x5.5" card. It's fun to play with different sizes though! Once you score and fold your envelope - don't seal it up. Why? Because it's time to add the surprise inside....

Let's Look Inside 

The envelope IS the card on this fun handmade project and there are so many surfaces to create with. Does this feel overwhelming? Let's think about it - the main rectangle of your envelope is the same size as a card. So tackle the layout as if you're creating a card. As you're creating, think about the flaps and how to incorporate them into your design. Your exploding envelope can be packed with embellishments, die cut shapes, stamped images, pockets and more - or you can keep it pretty clean and simple.

I love to add mini envelopes and pockets to add a gift card, notes or even photos. These exploding envelopes are really fun to theme for birthdays too. After you're done decorating the inside of the envelope, fold it up and then decide how to handle the front. I like to wrap a strip of patterned paper around it like a belly band or maybe some fabulous ribbon with a big bow. The recipient can just slide the band off and open the envelope.

Customize your exploding envelope with your graduates favorite colors, or school colors. Think about ways you can make it unique just for them. If you keep a little bin or basket of embellishments or stamped bits that haven't made it onto other cards, dig through there and see what might be perfect to add into your project! At the end of this post you'll find a supply list with all the items I used in case you see something that would be perfect for your exploding envelopes!

Supplies on Today's Graduation Card

Scoring Board

Hat's Off Die Set

Bravo Grad Stamp Set

Note Pocket Die

Grown Up Stuff Stamp Set

Baby Envelope Die

Vagabond Chips - clearance!

Fam Bam Paperclip Elements - clearance!

Need some more exploding envelope inspiration? You're in luck! I have two springtime exploding envelopes that I'd love to share with you. 

Click here to see this plus a floral exploding envelope idea, and even a video tutorial for this project!

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