Welcome back to another installment of In Detail. This week I’m reviewing two die cut sets that create interactive cards aka flip-its, pop-ups, stand-ups – the Sizzix Stephanie Barnard Triple Circle Flip-Its Die Set and the Elizabeth Craft Designs Lucy Label Pop Up Die, designed by Karen Burniston.
Let start with the Sizzix Stephanie Barnard Triple Circle Flip-Its Die Set.
The set comes in its own plastic storage pouch with all of the ten dies separate. There’s no need to cut anything apart. The instructions include a diagram showing the measurements of the individual pieces which include the card base, the card front pieces, a scallop border die, and six circles of various diameters and edge treatments.
To begin, I cut the card base using the Sizzix Magnetic Platform and my Big Shot machine. (Interested in knowing more about the Magnetic Platform? – Check out my review of the platform in a previous In Detail post.) After cutting, I scored the card center (valley fold) and the card front flap (mountain/peak fold).
Next I cut the left-hand piece of the card front out of patterned paper.
I also cut the right-hand piece of the card front out of patterned paper.
The card design is such that there really isn’t a place for a traditional sentiment. I’ve seen examples with word sentiments in all three of the front circles. The circles are 1 3/8" diameter, but the set doesn’t include a circle die of that diameter. I’m guessing that if the circle sections were covered with circles of the exact diameter, there might be issues opening and closing the card, because the paper could somehow catch. The set does include a 1 ¼" diameter circle with a scalloped edge and two 1/8" circles, one with a pierced edge and the other plain.
The most difficult part in the creation of this card was making design decisions about what to use on the six circles (three front and three back) so that the pattern would be pleasing. I tend to be matchy-matchy at times in my thinking, so I wanted the paper patterns, colors and motifs to hang together.
I’ve seen examples of cards repeating the same element, a small stamped flower or flower die cut on all of the circles. I’ve also seen examples in which a die-cut element was used on the card front left-hand corner and/or one on the card front right-hand corner. I just didn’t find anything in my supplies that I thought would work well or look coordinated.
I decided to use a Lawn Fawn flair button in the center of the three front circles for my sentiment, even though by doing so, I’d be adding bulk for mailing the card. I attached the flair to a circle cut with scalloped edge 1 ¼" diameter circle front the set. After I searched through my stamp sets and came up short on any small stamps that I thought would work, I searched through my die cuts for small items. I cut pieces with the Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts Hearts Dies and the Poppystamps Groovy Flower Set and attached them to plain-edge 1 1/8" circles cut from the die included in the Sizzix set.
I attached a circle, cut with the set’s 2" scallop-edge circle die, for an area on which to include a short, personal note or signature.
The finished card, when folded, is 4 1/4" wide by 5 1/2" tall. Before adhering all of the pieces, I smoothed off the die cut burrs with a PolyShrink Sanding Block.
There are two other Sizzix Stephanie Barnard sets similar to the Triple Circle Flip-Its Die Set: the Triple Fancy Frame Flip-its Die Set and Triple Square Flip-Its Die Set. There are also different style flip-its and stand-ups in the Sizzix Stephanie Barnard line.
Let's take a look at the Elizabeth Craft Designs Lucy Label Pop Up Die. This set is the most generic of the Pop It Ups designed by Karen Burniston.
The set must be cut apart before use. (The Elizabeth Crafts Design Die Snips and File Set are suggested tools for this use.) The Pop Up set includes the main pop-up piece, three label dies of various sizes and designs, and two dies to create slots for decorative elements or creating a ribbon slide. I only used the main piece and one of the label dies for the card I created.
Unlike the Pop 'n Cuts products designed by Karen Burniston for Sizzix, the card interior and card base aka cover (which covers up the hole created by the pop-up) must be cut by the crafter. The card shape and orientation (square/circular/rectangular, vertical/horizontal) and size (as long as the width doesn’t exceed the width of the die cutting machine’s plate width) are left up to the crafter.
According to the package directions, the center of the pop-up die should be aligned over the center of the center fold of the cardstock. The photograph of the pop-up die piece is shown die side up.
I cut the interior piece cardstock and scored it at the center of its 11" length. I placed the pop-up piece on the scored line on the cutting plate and magnetic platform of my Big Shot machine. I found it difficult to see the placement of the die over the fold, so I marked the center with some pencil scribbling. The pencil was darker on the fold.
I also found it helpful to use the Tim Holtz ruler to determine the center from left to right.
After cutting, I began by popping out the label and shelf, folding the shelf on the back wall as a valley fold and closing the card. Then I folded the stair-step platform above the top shelf. This stair-step platform could also be left lying flat.
My advice is to practice cutting the pop-up on scrap cardstock before commiting to your final paper. The scrap does not need to be a full-sized card strip, just large enough to cut the size of the die and a bit more.
With the cutting and folding of the pop-up interior, the difficult part of the card creation is done. Before I go to my final design, I want to discuss some options.
The card interior piece can be slightly smaller in width than the exterior/cover. This border provides a nice finished look.
I also crafted a card with a piece of scrapbook paper I had in my stash, which had a pattern front and back. I cut the scrapbook paper in half, using one half for the interior and the other for the exterior. For this example, I turned the die around. The top-half of the card interior has the label die and the bottom-half has the shelf. The stair-step pop-up is left flat.
Another option is to use the Elizabeth Craft Designs Agatha Edges Die Set to cut a flourish edge on the card. The set work for any cards created with the Pop It Ups Collection by Karen Burniston.
I created a scene for my pop-up interior using pieces cut with the following die sets: Memory Box Garden Watering Can, Memory Box Marshmallow Clouds, Memory Box Puffy Clouds, Poppystamps Tulip Fanfare, and Elizabeth Craft Designs Bees Die. The watering can base is attached to the stair-step label piece.
I added a sentiment stamped from the Hero Arts Enjoy Today set, which I cut with the label shape included with the Lucy Label set. I also cut a label using a Lifestyle Crafts nesting set (the set is included in the purchase of the Genius platform, but not sold separately) to attach to the card interior bottom half for a hand-written note and/or signature.
I dry-embossed the card exterior (backing card) front with the Elizabeth Crafts Design Bees Embossing Folder.
The finished card, when folded, is 4 1/4" wide by 5 1/2" tall.
A couple of design considerations:
- Because I attached the watering can and flowers to the stair-step platform, when the card is closed, the can and flowers move up ½" (the height of the platform). For that reason, the design should not come within ½" of the top of the card; otherwise those pieces will be exposed when the card is closed.
- When the interior is attached to the exterior card cover, the interior piece extends a bit vertically, due to the fold of the card cover. I attached the interior, closed the card, and measured the amount I needed to trim the interior.
As I stated earlier, the Lucy Label Pop Up Die is the most generic of the Pop It Ups designed by Karen Burniston for Elizabeth Craft Designs. Be sure to check out the ever-growing collection of Pop It Ups including Lots of Pops and Garden Bench.
Did you know there’s an Interactive Card Design Class offered at Ellen Hutson?
Save $3 on the HOWnow Fold It, Pop It, Flip It, Zip It! Interactive Card Making Class with the coupon code FIPIFIZI3. Offer valid from April 26 to May 3, 2014.
--Jean
