Needles 'n' Knowledge: Easter Egg Pop Can Tabs Card

Create a unique Easter "hollow" egg card with

pop can tab window edge and ribbon decoration

that brings to mind the scenic sugar eggs of past holidays.

Card measures approx. 5x7 when the hinged back is closed

in place. Aluminum tabs are laced in place with soft twine

perle cotton or 6-ply floss, using a blunt needle inserted

through the inner and outer series of needle holes.

Here the card is shown with a special,

coordinated insert that peeks through the window

to express "happy Easter" with layered grassy bottom accent.
(Find the assembly steps for the "Happy Easter Grass" plaque
beginning in step 26.)

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card "base" front B card "base" back (jointed)
C egg front D "icing" accent shape
E top "banner" tag (for personalization)
NOT SHOWN: plain interior sentiment plaque

2. Position and attach the "icing" accent ring

on the front of the egg card front, taking care

to line up each of the many needle holes

for lacing the tabs in place.

NOTE: it may be helpful to use a narrow pointed

tool such as an awl or large needle to push

into the holes in strategic places to make sure

holes line up exactly before glue cures completely.

3. Prepare for the lacing steps by cutting

two 30" lengths of selected lacing materials

(no. 5 perle cotton shown here; soft baker's twine,

6-ply embroidery floss, or crochet cotton

are other good choices). You will also need

a blunt tapestry needle or darning needle

that is the smallest size that will accept

your "thread" through its eye.

Check to make sure it will travel through

needle holes easily.

4. Collect and prepare 18 aluminum "pop can"
pull tabs, and make sure that the "break"
is uniform on all, and that any sharp edges are
bent flat, filed or removed.
5. Position the first tab at the center bottom position.
NOTE: the tabs can be held in position until
the first lacing stitches secure them in place.
OR, as is suggested by this image, a little
quick-grab "invisible" glue can be used to
"tack" them in place as the assembly progresses.

NOTE that each tab, when positioned correctly,
should be "between" the needle punch holes . . .

. . . that are configured "around" each tab pair position,

which can be more easily seen in this illustration.

NOTE how each of the irregular "scallops" of

the "icing" accent shape indicate where a tab

should be placed.

6. Thread one length onto the needle.

Position the tail end on the backside below

the bottom holes sequence for the center bottom tab,

and anchor in place with a small piece of cello tape.

7. Begin the first stitch by pushing the needle

through to the front on the right side inner holes row

on the INSIDE of the tab.

(ONLY the right stitch is completed now;

see step 13 for the final, left side stitch.)

8. Complete the first stitch by moving the needle

across the tab structure to the hole immediately

to the right of the first hole just exited

and inserting into the hole, pulling the thread

through completely to the back.

The "stitch" just completed should lace

the tab in place.

9. Position the next tab to the right, "centered"
over the holes assigned to it.
Insert the needle into the inner row hole
on the left INSIDE position . . .

. . . and pull the thread completely through
to the front.
10. Complete the left side lacing stitch by
inserting the needle into the "shared" hole
that is between the first and second tabs.
NOTE that this sharing of the needle holes
between the tabs will happen all around the
INNER row of lacing stitches.

11. Complete the right side lacing stitch

in similar fashion, inserting the needle into

the right inner hole, pull thread through,

then insert into the hole across the tab structure

and pull thread through to the back side.

Here is a closeup of the first stitches.

12. Continue to add a new tab, stitch in place
with left and then right stitches, sharing the hole
between the tabs when two adjacent tabs are
laced in place, etc., until all 18 tabs are in place.
NOTE that only the inner stitching is completed.
13. Complete the left side stitch of the FIRST
tab to complete the inner lacing row.

14. Clip excess thread leaving a short tail,

then anchor the tail in place with a small

piece of cello tape.

15. Cut a 36" length of silk-style ribbon

(1/2" wide or so), and thread it down-up through

the center bottom slots. Pull through to center

the length evenly on each side.

16. Lace one side, then the other (left shown here,

with ribbon threaded through a large eye needle)

by taking ribbon OVER the left side tab structure,

then UNDER the adjacent tab structure and UP

through the inner center opening, then OVER/UNDER

in sequence all around the left side until the ribbon

comes UP through the center of the TOP MIDDLE tab.

17. Repeat the process of ribbon lacing for the

right half (in mirror image), going OVER the tab

structure of the bottom tab, then UNDER

the adjacent tab, then continuing OVER/UNDER

until all tabs are laced and the ribbon exits

at the center of the top middle tab.

(NOTE that the ribbon ends will eventually be

tied into a knot and bow; it can be done now

but the outer lacing row may cause it to

become un-tied.)

18. Prepare the second length of lacing thread

by threading needle, anchoring tail end

at top of the egg backside, above the outer ring of

needle holes near center.

19. Insert and push the needle through on one side

of the top center tab, cross the tab structure

to insert down through adjacent hole and

through to backside to complete first stitch.

Continue the same lacing process
as was used for the INNER lacing row,
except that the outer row does not share
holes between tabs EXCEPT . . .

. . . for the three tabs at the mid sides, shown here.

20. When lacing of the outer row is complete,

trim excess thread leaving a short tail,

anchor on the backside with cello tape as before.

21. Tie the ribbon bow, trim excess ends.

22. Position and attach the egg assembly

onto the card base FRONT, matching the inner

window scallop edges exactly.

Use appropriate adhesive for the added weight

from the tabs.

23. Position the sentiment plaque on the
inside of the card back base
using the cut guide marks.
(OR, assemble and position the coordinated
"Happy Easter Grass" plaque design
as described beginning in step 26).

24. Position the card front assembly over the

card back base (shown here without the interior plaque),

with outer edges aligned, and attach the upper portion ONLY

above the dashed line.

25. Add the personalization banner

with embellishments.

This completes the card.

HAPPY EASTER GRASS PLAQUE
This design is specially designed
to coordinate as the accent insert
for the hollow Easter egg card.
It can also be used as a postcard-style
card, with additional decoration such as
a loop of twine or ribbon, threaded through
a hand-punched hole or holes, etc.
26. Identify and cut the shapes:
plaque base with positioning guide marks
"happy" and "Easter" word cuts
grass layers (bottom to top) 1 thru 4