Tutorial - Free Standing Pop-Up Card

These fabulous cards pop open to reveal a festive display that will stand up proudly throughout a special holiday or event, and they even fold completely flat for postage in a standard size envelope! 

SCORING TEMPLATE

1. Place a piece of card stock measuring 11" x 41/4" horizontally on your score board and score at 1" 23/4", 33/4", 51/2", 71/4", 81/4" and 10". Fold along all the score lines.

2. Make a vertical cut at the 51/2" score line that is 3/4" from the top and 3/4" from the bottom of the card stock. See the template above for correct placement.

3. Prepare your sentiment panel. Start with a piece of card stock measuring 51/2" x 23/4" and decorate as desired. Keep the surface of the card stock smooth so that it can slide up and down the cut you made in step two - don't add any embellishments, foam tape or card stock cut outs. I added a coloured image that is slightly smaller than the piece of card stock.

4. Place the 51/2" x 23/4" piece of card stock into the slot you cut in step two. It should be a snug fit, but still able to move. If it's too tight, cut the slot a tiny bit at either end.

5. I've added pencil marks to the areas of the card that require adhesive. Use wet glue to give yourself time to manoeuvre everything into position.

6. Fold the card in half where the slot was cut. Your image panel should still be in place. The panels on each end of the card will be folded in and adhered together with the bottom of the image panel sandwiched firmly between.

7. We'll start by adhering the image panel to one side of the card. Add some glue to the panel that's resting on your desk and centre the image panel over the top, keeping the bottom edge flush with the edge of the card base.

8. Apply more glue along the entire length of the bottom panel including a small section of the image panel as shown below. Press the two sides together firmly and allow to dry completely.

9. To decorate, cut some patterned paper into strips. You'll need two strips measuring 4" x 3/4" and four strips measuring 4" x 11/2". Adhere them around the card base leaving a small, even border around each strip.

10. Once your card is completely dry you can try out the pop-up feature. Press gently but firmly on the middle fold where the slot was cut. The card base will form a little box that acts as a stand for the image panel.

11. The last step is to add some embellishments. Avoid the area on the image panel that slides in and out of the slot as it will prevent the card from opening and closing properly. You can add some die cuts on the outside of the box and the very top of the image panel, and you can also add some ribbon or twine around the top of the box if you wish.

Stamps: