How to Add Tabs to a Shape for Seamless Cricut Projects

Mastering Cricut Tabs: A Simple Trick for Seamless Assembly

Have you ever needed to extend the size of a Cricut project but weren’t sure how to join the pieces seamlessly? Whether you're designing an oversized greeting card, creating a pocket-style project, or assembling larger designs, adding tabs is a simple yet effective way to connect multiple pieces of cardstock or other materials. In this Tuesday Tip, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process to add tabs to your shapes, making assembly a breeze.

Why Add Tabs?
Adding tabs allows you to:

• Extend the size of a project beyond your machine’s cutting limitations.
• Create foldable, lockable designs.
• Assemble pockets or layered elements efficiently.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Tabs to a Square

1. Create Your Base Shape
Start with a simple square shape in Cricut Design Space. If you want a finished piece that’s 7 inches by 7 inches when assembled, create a square of that size. This will serve as one half of your final project.

2. Duplicate the Shape

You'll need a second identical square for the back piece of your project. Simply duplicate your original square so you have two identical pieces.

3. Design the Tabs

Now, it’s time to add the connecting tabs. 

• Create a rectangle that is 0.5 inches wide and 7 inches tall (to match the square's height).
• Change its color to distinguish it from the main shape.
• Position this rectangle along one edge of the square—this will serve as the folding tab.

4. Shaping the Tabs

To make assembly cleaner, cut off the top and bottom corners of your tab to create angled edges. Here's how: 

• Insert a second square and rotate it 45 degrees.
• Position it over the top corner of your tab rectangle so it overlaps just enough to remove the pointed end.
• Use the Slice tool to cut away the corner.
• Repeat the process for the bottom edge.

5. Duplicate and Position the Tabs

You'll need four tabs—one for each side (left, right, and bottom). You can opt to leave off the top tab is you wish. To do this: 

• Duplicate the original tab and position it on the opposite side.
• Flip one tab horizontally so it aligns properly.
• Create a third tab for the bottom edge, rotating it 90 degrees to fit. Repeat for the top tab.
• Align all tabs perfectly using the Position tool.

6. Weld Everything Together

Select all four tabs along with the base square and weld them together. This ensures they become one solid piece, ready for cutting.

7. Add Score Lines

Since the tabs need to fold, add score lines along their inner edges: 

• Select the Score tool and draw a line where each tab meets the main shape.
• Attach the score lines to your design so they cut correctly.

8. Final Assembly

Once cut, fold the tabs along the score lines and use adhesive to attach the front and back pieces together. The result? A seamless pocket or extended shape ready for embellishments! With the top tab, you can fold it and glue it on the inside so the top edge will not tear as easily.

Final Thoughts

Adding tabs to a shape in Cricut Design Space is a game-changer for large-scale and interactive paper crafts. With this simple technique, you can create larger cards, pockets, and other layered designs with ease. Try it out on your next project and see the difference it makes! 

Happy crafting!

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