First of all, welcome to SCS! You'll love it here, and will be inspired (and awed!).
As for your search for info on techniques, if you click on the Resources link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, there are excellent tutorials there on how to do a number of these techniques.
For a pop-up card, check this thread:
Forums at Splitcoaststampers
For a magic card, check here:
Forums at Splitcoaststampers
HTH!