Check out this Z fold box card assembly tutorial that shows how you can easily add die cut details to the bands.

I have made lots of Z fold box cards.  I love the dimensional scene you can build with any theme you like and you can really bring it to life with your own vision of the details. One of the ways I customize these designs is to add elements to the bands that form the structure of the card and today I want to share my Z fold box card assembly tutorial so you can see how this works.

On today’s project, I used what I am sharing in this tutorial to add the snowy banks. Now, I do use the Z Fold Box Card Kit from The Paper Cut. It is so much easier and faster to have all the parts and pieces pre-cut and pre-scored. This way you can decorate or – as I did here – cut the bands before adding them to the project for a truly custom look. I added to all the fabulous snow by cutting the tops of the inserts as well.

Here’s a card where I created layers of grass and here’s one where I created some sandy banks on Z fold box cards. For those projects I cut the pieces from colored card stock and attached them to the bands. If you wanted to cut them as I did here, you can always use Rubbernecker’s Color Fuse Inks to blend your own color combinations and shading and then cut the bands with your choice of dies.

For all the other details on this card, I used Rubbernecker’s Tabbed House, Truck, Three Trees, Deckle Hills, Three Pine Tree Forest, Evergreen Tree, Winter Door Parts, Greenery #1, Christmas Mini, and Tiny Leaves dies and their Splatter Background to add the falling snow to the trees.

Let me share my Z fold box card assembly tutorial with you so you can see how easy it is to modify the components.

The Z Fold Card Assembly

• Begin by attaching embossed snowfall background layers to the card base panels using double stick tape.
  • You want to cut two 2.50″ x 4.00″ layers for the left front and “side” and one 5.25″  x 4.00″ layer for the background.
• Now take one band and use the Deckle Hills die to create two snowy layers (once the piece is bisected you have two long strips with the same style cut edge). It is helpful if you do NOT divide the band evenly in half. If you cut the band at roughly 1/3 down you will end up with two pieces at different heights which will look spectacular on your card!

• PRO TIP: I switched ends of the die, lined it up over the first cut, secured it in place with masking tape and cut to create a seamless cut.

• In case your die cut is a tiny bit off in the center you can smooth out the cut line with your snips.

• Fold at the pre-scored lines and apply double stick all the way across the back of the band with two short folds on the left side and attach it directly to the card base. PRO TIP: Start with the “side” panel and adhere the die cut layer there first, then attaching the front and the background; if you can keep the card partially folded as you press down the adhesive, this will help you strip get around the corners more easily.
• Fold and apply double stick tape to both ends of the second snow layer band, attach the 5.50″ end of the layer to the lest side of the card base, fold it in and attach to the right side of the base to create the box.  Note:  I failed to get pictures when I was assembling the card.  The two pictures below show the assembly of adding the box section to the base as well as the inserts in the box.

• Use the Deckle Hills die to also cut the top of all the inserts so they match the bands and create that lush snowy look.
• Fold the ends of the inserts, attach double stick tape to both ends and attach inside the box.  NOTE – This is an uncut insert – I wanted you to see where and how it inserts into the box area. 
• Repeat adding three more inserts.

Here you can see the Z fold box card base all modified and ready to be turned into whatever scene you want to create!

Build Your Choice of  Scene on Your Z Fold Box Card

I loved adding all the wonderful die cut elements to my card.  Just imagine how many different themed die cuts you could use to build any kind of scene, whether snowy like this one or for spring, summer or fall.  Check out my Z Fold Card Category to see all of the different themed cards I’ve made.

For today’s wintry project, here are more details:

• Cut and assemble the house and truck parts.
• Cut sections of the Three Trees and Three Pine Tree Forest and use Splatter Background stamp, white pigment ink and white embossing powder to create the snow.
• Attach the house and trees to the card base using strips of mounting tape.
• Tuck smaller trees in the box opening and attach to the back of the inserts using glossy accents.
• Use green cardstock to cut an Evergreen tree, crimp it and attach to the back of the truck using double stick tape.  Pro Tip:  I didn’t apply falling snow to the house or truck and tree because I wanted them to stand out and pop against the white.
• Add the star and holly leaves to the truck using glossy accents and attach it to the snow layer using strips of mounting tape.
• Tuck a few sections of greenery behind the snow layers and attach using glossy accents.

I love that this card has so much detail both in the elements and from the way I modified the pieces in the kit. To be honest, it takes a while to make this but that’s only because I love adding more and more tiny touches that bring it to life. It’s such a fun card to make!

Here’s are the products I used today from Brass and Bliss:

5516-01D House Die [ B&B ] 5162-11D Truck Die [ B&B ] 5165-01D Three Trees Die — Brass &… [ B&B ] 5173-02D Deckle Hills Die [ B&B ] 5164-01D Three Pine Tree Forest Die [ B&B ] 5217-01D Evergreen Tree Die [ B&B ] 5615-02D Winter Door Parts Die [ B&B ] 5162-09D Greenery #1 Die [ B&B ] 5338-02D Christmas Mini Die [ B&B ] 5162-04D Tiny Leaves #1 Die [ B&B ] 3461 Splatter Background – 4.25×5.5… [ B&B ]

And here are all the other things from my stash that I used today.

I hope you get some fresh inspiration from this Z fold box card assembly tutorial that gives you permission to modify the elements! Never be afraid to experiment – it is just paper!