In the new mini catalog being released January 4th from Stampin' Up! is a bundle designed to help you make interactive cards. This means that the receiver of the card needs to do something - pull a tab or flap to open a part of the card in order to reveal the hidden message or item below the surface of the card. How fun is that? In the catalog, they show pictures of these cards, but they don't tell you the best way to make them. That's why I did this video! I have a great tip that will help you get perfect placement of the hidden message or item!
Let's begin by looking at what comes in the bundle. As you can see there are are quite a few sentiments, some dies that cut out four of the stamped images, four other die cut shapes and four dies that make the interactive card work. Three of these interactive dies let you reveal a larger opening, while the last one reveals a strip where you can fit a slim sentiment. However, I have another trick up my sleeve and I'll show you a card where you can use this die to reveal a larger opening. When you look closely at the interactive dies, you will see that the shape is attached to the background piece by just a few little connection points, making it stay together, but also easily pulled away.
Gather your supplies:
- Cardstock: Crumb Cake 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", 4" x 5-1/4", scrap; Basic White scrap; Sweet Sorbet 2-1/4" x 2-1/2"
- Stamp Bundle: Hooray for Surprises
- Ink: Crumb Cake, Sweet Sorbet and Versamark
- Ribbon: Herringbone 6" and Linen Thread (enough to tie a bow)
- Other: Basics Embossing Powder (White), copy paper
- Adhesive and Tools including a Heat Tool
The key to knowing how to place the parts that get revealed when the tab is pulled is copy paper! Fold your card base and set it aside. Cut a piece of copy paper to the same dimensions as your Crumb Cake layer (4" x 5-1/4"). With the copy paper on top of the cardstock piece, position the heart near the lower right corner as shown and cut with the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine - it will easily cut through both layers at the same time. Set the copy paper aside - we will come back to it shortly.
Decorate the perforated heart with the flower heart stamp and Sweet Sorbet ink. Before adding your sentiment, use the anti-static embossing buddy over the portion of your card above the heart. Stamp in Versamark ink, then cover it with white Embossing Powder and set with the Heat Tool. (I just love watching the powder melt and become shiny, don't you?) With the Linen Thread, tie a bow around the middle of the white Herringbone Ribbon and attach it to the right side of your card using Seal+ on the back side of the layer.
For the "surprise" underneath the heart, cut out a polka dot heart in Sweet Sorbet, the laurel leaves in Basic White and the Flower in Crumb Cake. I also hand cut a small circle of White to place beneath the center of the flower so the dots would show as white. Attach the leaves directly to the heart, but add the flower with a Dimensional. Now is the time to retrieve the scrap paper. Remove the opening of the heart and position the scrap paper on the card base, centering it just as you will with the Crumb Cake layer. Add small amounts of adhesive under the heart and position in the opening revealed by the scrap paper.
You are now ready to finish the card front! Add Dimensionals to the layer, placing a few more than you might usually use. I like to add some near the opening of the heart (but not on the heart itself!) to make it easier to pull the tab and remove the heart from the card front. Position this layer over the card base. All that is left to do is add your sentiment (also embossed in white) and some little hearts to the inside and decorate your envelope with hearts along the left side. Now your interactive card is ready to give and surprise someone!!
My next sample was actually the first card I made with this bundle, and before I figured out the scrap paper trick. Because I was starting with a square shape, it was pretty easy to center my birthday sentiment under the Make a Wish opening on a second layer of Basic White. I cut the underneath layer just a little bit smaller than the top layer so that it wouldn't show when I glued them together. I used some new paper from the upcoming catalog - Bee Mine DSP and Rock & Roll DSP. The ribbon is the Black and White Gingham.
For the next card, I used the strip which gets pulled to reveal a single line sentiment. For this one, all I needed was a strip of copy paper about an inch wide and the same width of the white layer. Just like we did in the video with the heart, I placed the copy paper on the bottom portion of the white layer before cutting with the die. I also cut another piece of Basic white to be 1" x 5" so I could stamp my hidden sentiment. I placed the copy paper over this piece, stamped my message, then added this to the back of my white panel. I glued this to a layer of Daffodil Delight and decorated the front with a heart and flowers (and a few little Iridescent Pearls) as well as the Thank You that I made with the upcoming Thoughtful Moments Hybrid embossing folder and colored with Stampin' Blends. I decorated the inside with You're the Best and a die cut flower and leaves.
While I liked the strip, I wanted to see if I could use it to reveal a larger portion as a surprise. I played around and found that by using the partial die cutting technique, I could have two strips pull apart to reveal a corner flap that when lifted, could have a larger sentiment! I used the Adoring Hearts stamp set to decorate the card front and stamped the message "You are most Loved" on the underneath layer which is the Most Adored DSP (one of the free products you can receive from the Sale-a-Bration (SAB) promotion).
The previous three samples all had the secret layer glued directly to the top layer. For this card, I popped up my layer like I did in the
video. I used the Lighter than Air DSP and cut two of the smaller circles (with my copy paper on top, of course). Then I cut two additional circles from Basic White, decorated them with the cakes and unlit candles, and glued them to the striped paper. For my white layer that is behind, I stamped and cut two more cakes in the same colors. Then using my copy paper as a guide, I stamped the candles with the flame and popped up the cakes with Dimensionals - it will look so adorable when the circles are pulled away! The embellishments are Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (also part of the Lighter than Air Suite) and Pool Party Crinkle Ribbon (another free choice from the SAB brochure).
My last card is just a regular card - nothing interactive at all! I just wanted to show you that this is a great set, even without the interactive dies. I used strips of the Stargazing DSP pack on a Daffodil Delight panel. The rectangle is cut using the Everyday Details dies (I LOVE this new set of dies!). For my flower, I inked it in Daffodil Delight, then used Sponge Daubers to add Lemon Lime Twist to the center, and Pumpkin Pie to the outer edges.
This has been such a fun
video to make. I started out not knowing how to use the dies effectively and came up with a very simple way to teach others how to get perfect placement of the secret message/image. I also thought about all the other stamp sets in our Annual Catalog that would make wonderful interactive cards - Construction Zone, Taco Fiesta, Crafting with You, It's a Science, Gone Fishing, and so many more! I really think this is a set that many people might skip over and I hope I've changed your mind if you didn't add it to your wish list. Since I used products from the new mini catalog, I won't be able to update the links until the catalog goes live on January 4th. I hope you have the confidence to use this bundle and I can't wait to hear all about the cards you make!
Karen
ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com
Etsy Shop: The Power of a Card
https://karensliwinski.stampinup.net
https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com
Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®
Find me on Facebook - The Power of a Card or
Join my Facebook Group (The Power of a Cardmaker): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1042676296088278/?ref=share
My current host code for January is: VGHH3RT9
Please use this for orders less than $150 and you’ll get a special treat from me.
For orders over $150, you qualify for host rewards from Stampin’ Up! (plus a treat from me!).
Product List
The previous three samples all had the secret layer glued directly to the top layer. For this card, I popped up my layer like I did in the video. I used the Lighter than Air DSP and cut two of the smaller circles (with my copy paper on top, of course). Then I cut two additional circles from Basic White, decorated them with the cakes and unlit candles, and glued them to the striped paper. For my white layer that is behind, I stamped and cut two more cakes in the same colors. Then using my copy paper as a guide, I stamped the candles with the flame and popped up the cakes with Dimensionals - it will look so adorable when the circles are pulled away! The embellishments are Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (also part of the Lighter than Air Suite) and Pool Party Crinkle Ribbon (another free choice from the SAB brochure). 
