Beccy's Place: Tutorial - Twist & Pop Card

Twist and Pop cards are fabulous, interactive cards with a central panel that twists and pops outward to reveal a message, image or combination of embellishments that is sure to impress the lucky receiver.

TEMPLATE

1. Place the 11" x 41/4" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 51/2". Fold along the score line to form your card base.

2. Use some patterned paper and an assortment of embellishments to decorate the front of the card as desired. I used one of the images and sentiments from the new Make A Wish digital stamp set.

3. Place the 11" x 33/4" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 23/4", 51/2" and 81/4". Fold along each of the score lines starting with a valley fold, then a mountain fold and then another valley fold.

4. Decorate your image panel as desired. This is the section of the card that "twists and pops" as the card is open so you will probably want to display your main message or image here.

5. To create the mechanism, place the 8" x 3" piece of card stock horizontally on the desk in front of you. Use a pencil and ruler to measure and mark 21/2" from either end of the card stock, on both the top and bottom edge. See the template above for correct placement.

6. Place the 8" x 3" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 4".

7. Rotate the card stock so that it is now vertical on your score board. Score at 11/2" intersecting the first score line.

8. Now we're going to score between the pencil marks you made in step five. Start at the top, left hand mark and score down to the bottom, right hand mark. Now score from the bottom, left hand mark up to the top, right hand mark. The four score lines should intersect in the middle of the card stock. Refer to the template above.

9. Fold and burnish all score lines with a bone folder.

10. Use your index fingers to fold the long sections inward as shown in the photos below.

11. Use a bone folder to burnish all the folds.

12. Now we're ready to construct our twist and pop card. You should have an image panel, the inner mechanism and the card base.

13. Apply some glue to the triangle shaped area on the card mechanism. Lay a ruler along the centre of the card base to find the mid point and line up the mechanism, directly below the fold, making sure the card still closes easily. Apply the mechanism, glue side down, and allow to dry for a couple of minutes.

14. Apply more glue to the second triangle section, then close the card to adhere in place. Allow the card to dry for a few minutes to ensure the mechanism is securely attached.

15. Open the card. The mechanism should unfold and lay almost flat on top of the card. Place the image panel on top of the mechanism, matching the centre score lines and keeping the edges flush.

16. Fold the right hand panel over to reveal the mechanism. Use a pencil to mark the position of the image panel.

17. Repeat on the left hand side, so that you have two clear pencil lines on the mechanism.

18. Apply glue on the top, right hand section of the mechanism. Keep the glue between the pencil line and the edge of the card stock as seen in the photo below.

19. Move the image panel so that it's flush with the pencil line and centred over the mechanism (see below). Unfold the image panel and press against the glue. Allow to dry for a minute.

20. Apply glue on the bottom, left hand section of the mechanism, keeping the glue between the pencil line and the edge of the card stock as seen in the photo below.