Trio of Valentine Impossible Cards

This style card get’s its “impossible” name from 

the one-piece base that “twists” to “impossibly” create 

the platform with pop-up center from a single cut shape. 

(Use card stock for base that is the same 

on both sides for the proper effect.) 

Three different designs are available separately:

Cupid Impossible Card features scalloped fan with 

offset base that attaches to the pop-up panel, with multi-shape cupid.

Measures approx. 7” wide x 6” wide when flat. 

 

Heart Lace Impossible Card

Scallop edge heart is divided in half with 

Venice-style lace overlay at “seam”. 

Grille bars help support and connect heart to base. 

Measures approx. 7” tall x 6.25” wide when flat. 

 

LOVE Letters Impossible Card

has stylized Times letters with varied sizes 

that spell out “LOVE”, including ‘O’ tipped with 

heart bridging the center, and ‘E’ that has 

exclamation mark cutout and contrast liner. 

The Cupid card will be shown as the sample
assembly (steps 1-12, with the other two cards 
 explained after.

CUPID CARD ASSEMBLY:  
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main "twist" card base shape
B base 'L' accent shapes left and right
C scalloped backdrop center panel shape
base and accent overlay; optional back accent
D "bridge" label base and accent overlay (2 pr.)
E cupid figure assembly: (l to r)
wings pair, body overlay, body base, front arm, 
arrow assembly with shaft, heart tip and fletching
F optional easel stand

2A. Prepare the twisting base by bending the upper

scallop-top panel back along the perforation

left and right lines; also make sure that

the center bottom cut and the scallop side cuts

are free from end connection.

2B. Rotate the left half lower edge downward

and toward the back . . . 

. . . until it is a full 180 degrees from its start position,
with the underside now showing as the top front surface.
The center panel will be able to pop up as shown,
with the two gaps visible between the 'L' shaped panels.
(The card base is rather fragile at this point,
so handle with card.)

3. Position and attach the 'L' accent panels

onto each 'L' area of the base, offset in an

equal distance (approx. .125") all around.

4. Layer the 2 bridge label bases and accent shapes

and attach together.

5. Use a ruler or other straight edge to align

the front bottom card edges and keep them squared up,

as the first label is positioned, center over the front gap,

then apply glue at label edges and glue in place.

Repeat for the back label.

(Attaching these two shapes will lock the card base

into its final position and make it stable.)

6. Layer the scallop front and offset accent panels

with bottom edges aligned.

7. Position the scallop assembly over the front

 of the pop up card, top scallop edge align where

they match up (NOTE that side of scalloped panel

will extend beyond the pop up shape),

bottom straight edges matched, and glue in place.

8. Position and attach the optional scallop base accent

to the backside of the pop up panel.

9. Prepare and assemble the cupid figure components:

A. here are the shapes separately

with the base shape with attached arm shown at

bottom of frame.

B. Position and attach the mid body shape

over the base body shape, aligning shoulder

hold punch and bottom straight edges

(and others that match), and glue together.

C. Position the separate arm shape over
the assembly with the shoulder hole punches aligned,
and hold in place only . . . 

. . . while the arrow is positioned between the hands,
then adjust the separate arm to its best position,
and glue shoulder/upper arm to body, arrow
to hands where they overlap.

D. Layer the wings together with pivot punch holes
aligned, with front wing rotated slightly upward
to shown scallop edge of bottom wing slightly,
and glue together.
E. Position hole-punch extension of wings under
the body to align holes of all, adjust so that
the wing upper and lower edges are visible (centered)
between the head and rump, then glue in place.

10. Position the cupid assembly onto the front

scallop pop up panel, with bottom edges aligned,

and adjust left or right until it is in most pleasing

position, then glue in place where edges overlap.

11. Prepare the optional easel shape by bending
back at the vertical perforation line, and
bending forward at the bottom tab perf line.

12. Position the easel tab onto the back base panel

with the vertical cut edge behind the scallop 

pop up panel . . . 

. . . in a position where the tip will not extend

beyond the card side edge when easel is in

its flattened position.

Here again is the completed card.

HEART LACE IMPOSSIBLE CARD

13. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base   B 'L' accent shapes

C labels and overlay accents (2 sets)

D "grille" heart lower accent underlay

E heart scallop edge doily base

F heart shape

G heart lower half   H venice lace overlay

I optional easel

14. Prepare the "twist" card base in a manner

similar to the cupid card base shape shown in

step 2 above, taking care with this design which

has only single perforation cuts in the bottom

of the "grille" bar shapes of center pop-up panel.

Rotate left half down and back . . . 

. . . to its "twisted" position.
Follow the cupid card design assembly shown
in steps 3-5 to complete the base with 'L' accents
and bridge labels.

15. Assemble the lace heart by positioning

and attaching the lower heart overlay onto

the main whole heart.

Position the venice lace overlay so that

the downward connecting loop portion covers

the heart bottom half edge, and ends align

at heart edges, and glue in place.

Position the assembly over the scallop doily

shape, centered, and glue in place.

16. Position and attach the "grille" overlay
where it matches the pop up edges.
(NOTE that duplicate cut shapes can be
attached to the back of pop up as desired,
including this grille shape, and the whole heart.)

17. Position the heart unit over the heart portion

of the pop up, centering side to side, and

aligning the blunt bottom edge at perforation,

and attach in place.

Here is the completed card.

LOVE LETTERS CARD

18. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main card base   B 'L' accent overlays

C labels for gap bridging (2 pair)

D LOVE panel shapes, including base,

bottom heart cutout overlay, exclamation mark

contrast underlay, separate heart, 'O' and 'V' letters

E optional easel

19. Follow the cupid card design in steps 2-5

to prepare the card base shape.

20. Position the contrast shape behind exclamation

mark cutout in E, and attach.

21. Position and attach the contrast small heart
onto the separate 'O' shape.

22. Position and attach the hearts strip
at bottom edge of the LOVE panel.
23. Position and attach the separate 'V' letter
and then the 'O' assembly onto the base. 

24. Position and attach the LOVE letters assembly

onto the front of the pop-up panel.

Here is the completed card.