Birthday Card Pop Up Hot Air Balloon with Envelope!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE DESIGN FILEs

First, download my Birthday Card Pop Up SVG/DXF/PDF files from my free resource library. It's Design #402.

In the SVG folder, there are files for the card and envelope that use either dashed cut lines or score lines for the creases. You can use whichever version you prefer. I’m going to show you the score tool version of the card. If you want to make the envelope, cut your preferred version and assemble it following my envelope tutorial.

This project has a lot of pieces, so I added a printable reference sheet for you in the PDF folder!

Upload the design file to Cricut Design Space and add it to your Canvas.

If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made.

If you are on an iPad or iPhone, here is how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

STEP 2: PREPARE THE FILE

Here is how my Birthday Card Pop Up file looks on the Canvas. You can zoom out to see all of the design by clicking on the minus (-) sign on the lower left.



The file is almost ready to cut.

First, click "UnGroup" above the Layers Panel.



Next, we need to adjust the lines that should be scores. There are thirteen in this design.

Click the top object in the Layers Panel. It just looks like a line, but we want it to be made with a score tool. With the layer selected, click the menu under Operation and select Score. Then, hold Shift and click the layer it’s grouped with. Click Attach to keep the score line with that cut piece.



Another way is to scroll through the Layers Panel changing the intended score lines one by one. Then, either click on the cut shape or drag a bounding box over each shape and its score line on the Canvas to select both and click Attach. You can use whichever approach you prefer. When you attach layers, they might jump to the top of the Layers Panel, so make sure to check that you got all of them by scrolling down!

If you'd like to have the Cricut write a short message on the inside clouds, we'll add that now.

Click the Text icon to the left of the Canvas and type "Happy" in the text box. Change the Style to "Writing" and the Operation to "Pen" so you'll know what it will look like.



I want to use the Cricut Sans font so won’t change it from the default. Drag the text over one of the plain clouds.

Make sure the top lock icon is closed and click and drag a corner of the bounding box until the word fits in the cloud.

Right click the text box and select "Duplicate" to make a copy. Double click it and type in "Birthday" then click and drag it over the second cloud and resize it to fit.

Drag a bounding box over both text boxes and the clouds then click Attach.



And if you’d like to change the colors on any of the pieces that haven’t been attached, just select them and use the color box next to Operation. Keep in mind, this might change the amount of paper you need for each color, but it’s a fun way to personalize the project! I’m going to keep mine as it is.

Make sure the correct machine is selected and click Make It!

STEP 3: CUT THE BIRTHDAY POP UP

If prompted, select On Mat and 12" x 12" for your load type.

On the Prepare screen, set the "Material Size" for each color to reflect your materials. I'm using 8.5" x 11" for everything.

Click back on the first mat and then Continue.

On the Make screen, set your mats to "Medium Cardstock" with "More" Pressure.

Different cardstock can cut better with different material and pressure settings, so a test cut is always helpful. Some of the paper I tested worked better with the heavy cardstock setting while others did best with the intricate cuts option!

If you’re using the same cardstock for each mat, check the box next to Remember Material Settings to save time.

My first mat has score and pen lines, so the tools are different than usual. If you’re making the score version like me, Design Space will prompt you to put the tool in clamp B. You can choose between the scoring wheel and scoring stylus by clicking edit tools. Add the tool on your machine.

And if you’re adding a message, there will also be a prompt to put your pen in clamp A.

Add the first mat's material to a StandardGrip Machine Mat and adhere it well with a brayer.

Load the first mat into your Cricut and press the flashing button to begin drawing and scoring. When the first steps are complete, don’t unload the mat. Follow the prompt to swap in your fine-point blade and press the flashing button again to cut the pieces. Then, unload the mat. Flip your design over and gently peel the mat away from your material. You can use a spatula if delicate pieces get stuck.

Follow the prompts to load the correct cardstock and tool as needed for the rest of the mats.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE THE BIRTHDAY CARD POP UP

Most of the balloon pieces have slits, which we'll use to slide them together.

First, locate the large balloon center pieces. Piece B has a slit at the bottom and A has one at the top. Line up the slits and gently slide the pieces together.



When the bottoms of the slits meet each other, the top and bottom edges of the balloons should be aligned.

The bottom piece with the slit will be a little floppy, so grab the H-shaped support piece. Add dots of glue to the top and bottom of each vertical line.



Hold the balloon pieces in your left hand so the split parts of piece A are horizontal.

Place one slit of the H support on to the top cross part of piece A with the glue facing toward you. Make sure it's flush with the bottom of the balloon assembly.

Lightly press the glued section to piece B, which will start to stabilize the floppy parts.

Then carefully fold down the top H tabs to meet the other side of piece B. Now the bottom will stay still!



Once the glue sets, stand the balloon up.

Now we can add the base. Grab your F and G pieces. Slide the lower slit of an F piece into the top cut in a G



When they’re properly seated, they’ll be able to collapse flat open or closed.

Repeat with the other set. The pairs should now look identical. Press them both open with the slotted overlapping pieces facing up.

Slide the edges together using the top slit on one pair and the bottom cut on the other.

Collapse the pieces so they match up. Fold each pair of tabs down to the exterior sides.

Unfold the support base assembly so it is long with unattached sides.

Hold the assembled balloon so you can see the slits on top of the lower parts.

Take one free edge of the support base assembly and slide one of the bottom slits into the balloon cut. Make sure the crossed base pieces face away from the balloon.

Continue wrapping the support base assembly around the balloon bottom and joining the slits. This is fiddly, so take your time to avoid weakening or tearing the paper.

When you get back to the beginning, join the last two slits to complete the base.

Make everything flush and carefully collapse the balloon in both directions to make sure it’s all in place.

Also, the folded tabs should overlap each other and point out from the balloon.

Now we'll add the round pieces to build out the balloon. Those are the C’s and D’s.

Take a C and slide the bottom slit to match an inner top cut on balloon center piece B.

Add the other C on the other half of B.

The D’s will slide down on to A, bridging it with the two C pieces on each side.

Lining these all up can take patience, so take your time. If something isn't sliding into place, make sure the other pieces haven't shifted out of place. Try to keep the pieces of paper straight and the slits positioned correctly.

When you are done placing the middle circles on the four sides, make sure they are all at the correct height to create the round look of the balloon.

Looking down from the top, you'll start to see a series of "boxes" as the balloon pieces begin to nestle together.



The four outside circle E’s with shapes slide into place from the top down onto the outer slits of the middle circles.

Once they are in place, make sure all your pieces are straight and lined up where you'd like them to sit for the finished look.



Grab the basket base J’s and K's and place them face up in the orientation of the reference sheet.

Add glue to the backs of the basket decorations and glue one to the center of each basket base. Let them dry well.



Now take the oval sky piece and crease the score line so that the curved ends meet. Orient it so the slits cut in the base that are furthest out from the center are at the top.

Collapse the balloon and slide the tabs of the balloon support base on one side into the sky’s left vertical slit closest to the center line.

Pull the tabs through and glue them down to the underside of the sky.

Repeat on the right side as well.

Make sure it can close.

Now carefully open the sky piece back up to make sure your balloon opens correctly. The cardstock is stiff, so you may have to give the balloon gentle pressure on the sides to open fully. Once it opens smoothly, set it aside.

Assemble the decorated basket side pieces just like you did for the balloon support base. Don't forget to fold the tabs!

Wrap it around the support assembly in the same way, and secure the last slots. Make sure the folded tabs face the second set of vertical cuts on the sky.

Insert the folded tabs on one side into the vertical slit and glue them to the back of the sky.

Repeat on the other side. Make sure to pull the tabs snug before gluing.

Grab your cloud pieces. Slide the lower slit on M on to the top slit in N.

Repeat for O and P.
Hold the assembled cloud pairs with the tabs at either end. Join the central slits.

Fold the tabs to the back, then insert one into each of the diagonal sky cuts starting on the left.

Make sure the tabs are all visible on the bottom and glue them in place.

Open the sky and balloon back up. Glue down the clouds with the text in the front of the balloon piece.

Add the two L floating clouds to the back and sides of the balloon, one on each side. Place a bit of glue on each cloud’s slit and slide one on to the far edges of the balloon assemblies where they meet the outside circles.

Glue a small balloon to the outer pop up cloud on each side.

Make sure the balloon still collapses and pops up reliably and adjust anything if needed.

Grab the card pieces T through W.

You can use either side of the front hot air balloon piece as the front of the card. Pick the orientation you prefer and place it face down. Add glue around the design and lightly on the inner parts of the balloon.

Then add glue around the edges of a V piece on the back.

Flip over the V piece and place it on top of the front cover. Line up the right edges and center them vertically.

Add piece W on top, using the same alignment.
Then make the back cover in the same order. Align the left edges for the back, though, and place it close to the front to make sure the colored pieces will be even across the fold.

Once the cover assemblies have dried, place your balloon structure on top, lining up the crease in the sky where the covers join. Make sure everything will fit and close, then add glue to the back of the sky that will attach to the inner front cover.

Press it in place, making sure the sky fold is about an eighth of an inch beyond the cover’s edge. That will help it fold and shift smoothly. You can get a clearer view from the front.

Place glue on the bottom of the other half of the sky piece. Line the back cover up with the front at the center cut.

Carefully bring it up to meet the glue.

Press everything in place until it dries. Make sure it opens and closes smoothly and you’re all set!

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF!

Cut and assemble the included envelope and you have the perfect gift!