Zig Zag Sunflower Card - Tutorial

Project Description

Create this versatile 3D Zig Zag Sunflower Card to keep or give. The sunflower theme is perfect for many autumn occasions and this download comes with the add ons for Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday, Thinking of You, Get Well and Congratulations. It is designed to fold flat for storage or mailing. It fits in a standard 6 x 9” booklet envelope. It is about 10” w and 7” tall.

Construction techniques are a simple version of my other zig zag projects like the Valentine Garden or the Tulip Card. There is a video of the assembly below. Scroll to step 6 to start watching.

Cutting File available here from 3dcuts.com. http://3dcuts.com/birthday-celebrations/zig-zag-sunflower-card

Supplies needed:

• Cutting File available here from 3dcuts.com.

• 8.5 x 11" card stock - I used the 65lb Cardstock from Recollections for colors and Neenah 110 Index Card stock from Amazon for white.

• Adhesive - Art Glitter Glue and Scor-Tape 1/2” and 1/8”, Xyron sticker maker

• Envelopes- Link below to 6 x 9” booklet envelopes

• Ribbon - 8” of 1/8” satin

• Scotch Tape

Major Parts Sizes - as download.

Keep grouped for sizing: Measurements match the grouping and orientation in the diagram below. Measurements maybe needed if using dxf files.

• Green Parts 1 - 3 parts: 6.4236" w x 8.4115" h

• Green Parts 2- 6.7583" w x 8.6542"h

• Green Parts 3- 6.8847" w x 9.0111"h

• Yellow Parts grouped - 7.6903" w x 10.2625"h

• Assorted Group: 7.1555" w x 9.3547" h

• White Group 1- inc fences: 7.9931" w x 9.0042" h

Note: Many layers have smaller pieces inside them. Keep them grouped together if you must re-size pieces.

• Zig Zag Sunflowers ALL Files - 24.4236” W x 19.5042” H

Note: Not all software and cutting machine combinations can use the ALL file. Some resizes files to fit in a smaller mat area. Import the individual files if your machine has size limitations. I create the ALL file in case you want to re-size everything.

Steps for completing the Zig Zag Sunflower Card:

Special Note: I update the instructions online. Check here for adjustments and additional information.

1. Download the cutting files for your cutting machine here from the 3dcuts.com store. http://3dcuts.com/birthday-celebrations/zig-zag-sunflower-card. For those of you that are reading this as a pdf I recommend viewing it online at my tutorials page at this url. There all the links will be live.

2. Load the files into your cutting software following the steps for your cutting machine.

3. Prepare the files:.

• For the Silhouette:

  • From the SIL Store: Important! If you downloaded your cutting file from the SIL store you will need to expand it before ungrouping. (This only for Silhouette users that downloaded the file from the SIL store.) Do a proportional expand and expand the file to 24.4236” w. The height should automatically go to 19.5042”. The file is grouped by 8.5. x 11” cutting pages. Ungroup the file and regroup each 8.5” x 11 group. Cut each group according to the color displayed.

  • SIL Files from upload SVG purchased from 3dcuts.com:

    • The SVG files may need to be turned into cutting files. Click here for detailed steps on how to use SVG files on your Silhouette. http://www.3dcuts.com/tutorial-upload-svg-silhouette

    • DXF files can be opened in the basic edition of Silhouette Design Studio but often require modifications. I recommend using the Designer Edition and using svg files. DXF files do not always maintain file sizes and you may need to adjust according to sizes noted above.

• For Cricut Explore: Here is a guide for importing into Cricut Design Space. http://www.3dcuts.com/tutorial-adding-3dcuts-files-to-cricut. Remember to attach files before cutting in Cricut. There have been some issues with the latest Cricut release (August 2019) that will not allow yo to use the ALL file. You must import in individual groups. Hopefully this gets resolved.

• For Brother ScanNCut: The svg files will need to be transferred to files for your particular machine. You can change SVG files to FCM files at http://www.canvasworkspace.com/ or Google "How to import SVG files into a ScanNCut" for links to tutorials. Some models of Brother Scan N Cut can directly import the SVG files.

4.  Cut the files.

• All pieces are cut from card stock (although experimenting with paper might be fun!).

• The files are grouped to fit well on 8.5” x 11” card stock. I recommend keeping them grouped as is. The measurements listed above are by group.

• There are 15 sunflowers on the design. You will need to cut two for every sunflower plus two for the sentiment card. Cut the yellow page of flowers 2 times.

• The sentiments do not all need to be cut. Decide which you want and cut only that one.

5. Things I would do differently and adjustments:

Every time I do a project I see things to vary next time. Here are some observations about things I might change next time.

• In the video I start adding sunflowers to the green section in Green layer 2. I used a fairly large sunflower on the fourth one and it covered the slit in the picket. This caused problems later with folding. Make sure that 4th one is a small one. It will make folding easier. There is an added note in the video.

• Have you thought of doing this card in a smaller size? A customer did that by mistake and found it precious.

6. Assembly

• The assembly steps are detailed in the video below. Here is the YouTube url https://youtu.be/ujO23ooWrFY.

 7. Sending the card:

• This project is designed to fold flat for storage or to be mailed in a 6" x 9" booklet envelope.

• There is an affiliate link in the supplies above for ordering them from Amazon.

• Place a cardboard support in the envelope to prevent bending.

• It will require extra postage.

Creative Applications:

I will post photos of cards other crafters have made. Send a photo to 3dcuts.com if you have done something interesting with this file.

Other Zig Zag Card Designs available from 3dCuts.com -