Surprise Pop Up Card

by Beate Johns

A few cuts and scores and you will surely make someone smile with this card.

Supplies

  • One 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock for the front (here Old Olive)

  • One 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock for the back (here Ruby Red)

  • One 3 1/4" x 4 3/4" piece of cardstock for the slider (optional, here Tempting Turquoise)

  • One 1/2" x 7" piece of copy paper for stabilizer (optional)

  • Scraps of cardstock for your pop-up image

  • Paper cutter with cutting and scoring blade

  • Sticky Strip™

  • Tape runner

  • Ribbon

  • Circle punch

  • Hole punch

  • Stamps

  • Ink and colors for your image

Step-by-Step

  1. Step 1

    Decorate your 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock for the front of the card.

  2. Step 2

    Slide your front cardstock into the paper cutter vertically. Line it up with the 3 1/2" mark and cut from 3/4" to 4 3/4".

  3. Step 3

    Take your cardstock out, flip it around and make the same cut on the other side.

  4. Step 4

    Slide your cardstock into the paper cutter horizontally and line it up at the 4 3/4" line.

    Cut from 3/4" to 3 1/2", connecting the two vertical lines.

  5. Step 5

    Take your cutting blade out of the paper cutter and insert the scoring blade.

    Slide your front cardstock in horizontally. Make sure the short cut is on the left hand side. Line it up with the 4" mark and score from 3/4" to 3 1/2" (from one cut to the other).

    Ed. Note: The following measurements have been corrected. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

    Slide the cardstock to the 2 3/8" mark and again score from 3/4" to 3 1/2". Now slide it again to the 3/4" mark and make the same score one more time.

  6. Step 6

    Lay your front and back piece of cardstock on top of each other.

    Slide them about 1/4" into the circle punch and punch out a half circle.

    Note: Make sure you make the punch on the side of the front cardstock, where you have a score on the 3/4" mark, not the cut.

  7. Step 7 (Optional)

    Take your 3 1/4" x 4 3/4" piece of cardstock for the slider part of the card. Wrap your 1/2" x 7" piece of copy paper loosely around it and tape the end together. This loop will keep your slider part stable.

  8. Step 8 (Optional)

    Tape your "stabilizer" to the back of your front piece of cardstock. Tape it right over the the top score. If it shows through the circle cut out, just use your circle punch to punch it out.

  9. Step 9 (Optional)

    Take your slider piece and cut the top ends off to create a tag.

    You can also leave it as it is, or use the corner rounder. Whatever works for your card.

  10. Step 10

    Tape Sticky Strip™ on the left, right and bottom of the back of your front piece of cardstock. Also add a strip on the bottom of the flap.

  11. Step 11

    Take your slider part, slide it through your "stabilizer" loop. Peel off the liner of the Sticky Strip™ on the flap and line the end of your slider part up with the end of your flap. Tape it on.

  12. Step 12

    Remove the rest of the Sticky Strip™ plastic and line up the back piece of cardstock over the front piece. Tape together.

  13. Step 13

    Stamp the image for your front and color and layer if needed.

  14. Step 14

    Tape the image to the front of your card. Line the image up with the bottom score. Only add tape up to the middle score and no further.

  15. Step 15

    Pull your slider part out a bit and punch a hole in the middle of the top.

  16. Step 16

    Tie ribbon through the hole.

  17. Step 17

    Pull your slider out a bit, revealing the red back. Stamp an image or a saying in it. You could also write your message here if you want.

    Your card is finished.

Variations

    Size it differently
    Instead of making your long cuts from 3/4" to 4 3/4", cut from 0 all the way to 4". Then make the horizontal scores at 1/2", 2 1/4" and 4" of the flap.

    Change your punch shape
    Use a square punch or even cut out a rectangle on top instead of the circle punch shown here.

    Pop up a cutout image
    Use a cut out image to pop up instead of the stamped piece of cardstock.

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Surprise Pop Up Card. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

Thanks Beate for the lucid instructions! I followed them and I my card turned out perfect!
Smriti  |  Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 7:53 PM
I modified this card with ATC measurements a few years ago. Here are the measurements I use:
3 1/4 x 2 1/4" piece of cardstock for front piece
2- 3 1/2 x 2 1/2" piece for the base (You can make the back stronger by
double layering it)
1 1/4" x 3" piece for the slider piece
1 1/4 x 1" piece of cardstock for the pop up piece

I try to modify most cards I make to be an ATC size. Cyndi
Cyndi Evans  |  Tue Jul 1, 2008 at 6:43 AM

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