Awash with Color: Sweet Puppy Pop-up Birthday Card

I used this sweet Dreamerland Crafts stamp "Love My Puppy" as the foundation for my Spinner Square Pop-up birthday card. I wanted to have the image peeking through a front window in the card, then when opened, have the sentiment move down as the image pops up. The fun Doodlebug Design papers I used - Sugar Shoppe - are older (from 2014) although you can still find some around. Of course you can substitute some of the newer Doodlebug Design papers, just adjust the colors to match.

Once again I'm testing Lavender Spike Oil as my blending solvent. It has a very strong smell of lavender so if you don't like lavender, I don't recommend it. The fumes are not toxic (unlike other popular solvents). This time I'm using it with oil based pencils - Faber-Castell Polychromos. I must say, they blended beautifully.

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Making the Card

1. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Love My Puppy (Dreamerland Crafts) on Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Use Black Copic Multiliner SP .3 to draw a ground line across image background.

2. Color image using Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils, blending with Lavender Spike Oil and blending stumps. Note: I use a Kum Long Point Sharpener to sharpen my pencils - it gives you a very fine point in two steps. Once the image has been colored, use the largest square from Spinner Square Pop-up to die cut image. This will be your pop-up platform (step 3).

3. Before assembling the card, watch the video below - specific notes follow. I recommend watching the video then looking at the notes, and finally assembling the card while watching the video a second time.

Cut teal cardstock for the base card as shown in the video, 4 1/4 x 11 inches. Die cut teal for the arm - mark with Xs where shown. Cut the inside papers - see photos for the patterns I used; note: I used 4 x 5 5/16 inches instead of 4 x 5 1/4 inches to put the inside edges a little closer to the fold. Remember to only tack down the left side of the window sheet (inside left) as shown in the video. I used recycled plastic packaging for the window. For the front of the card, I cut the paper to 4 x 5 1/4 inches. You could adhere it to the front temporarily and try to cut through 3 layers but it probably won't cut all the way through. I recommend cutting two layers as in the video, removing the resulting cut squares (keep them), adhering the front patterned paper, then fitting the die into the hole to cut the front.

Cut frame, from diagonal teal striped side of paper, as shown in video. Keep squares that fall out of windows. I used the teal one for the rectangle that moves inside. For adhesive, Lineco in a fine tip bottle (shown in video) works very well; it creates a strong bond, and dries quickly.

4. For the sentiment, use the leftover inside square from the front of the card - the backside has light teal stripes. Use Stamp Platform to stamp "Happy Birthday" (Birthday 11) in VersaMark ink. Heat emboss with Gun Metal (note: I cut my stamp words apart; if you do not want to cut them, then you will have to mask them). Trim to fit on movable arm and adhere (I used removable tape to test before gluing down to make sure it wouldn't stick out of card when closed).

5. Using balloon from Birthday Charms, cut three from teal cardstock, one from yellow cardstock, and one from dark pink cardstock. Be sure to keep all holes! You will glue them back in and flatten with a Teflon bone folder (which flattens but won't make the paper shiny). Use white Gelly Roll to draw shine on balloon (you may use the stencil provided with the die). Note where each balloon goes on the card (the teal ones should all line up), cut twine for strings, adhere top of twine where it will be behind each balloon (if it helps mark with pencil first). Adhere balloons where shown, using dimensional tape to pop up dark pink balloon on front of card. Die cut small heart (Birthday Charms) from dark pink cardstock; adhere where shown, gluing front balloon strings together. Adhere sequins where shown (note: be sure sequins do not interfere with arm movement).