St. Patrick's Day Impossible Cards Trio

This style card gets 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.)

"Unicorn Shamrocks" version offers TWO measures of luckiness for

a special recipient. (Assembly of this card will be shown first.)

"Leprechaun Torso" features the pint-sized

magical fellow with his usual bowler hat and bow tie details.
(Assembly steps of this card begin in Step 17.)

"LUCKY Shamrock Arches" layers arches with letter cutouts.
(Assembly of this design begins in Step 28.)

Each begins with the same 5x7 base size and similar
starting assembly steps, with variations

on the flat height measure depending on extension details.

ASSEMBLY: 
Unicorn Card 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main base shape   B 'L' accent shapes (2)
C head base   D ear accent underlays
E nostril accent underlays
F eyelashes   G shamrocks array  
H contrast underlay for center shamrock
I horn base    J horn overlay crescents
K back head partial shape   L shamrocks position guide
M cloud bridge base (2)   N cloud overlay (2)

2. Prepare the card twist base by bending the center

pop up panel forward along the horizontal perforated line.

Next, take the left front corner and rotate it down
and back until . . . 

. . .  the narrow back part rotates above the top of card
to the position previously occupied by the wide corner.
This is the "finished" arrangement of the twist base.

3. Position and attach each of the 'L' accent

overlays over the corresponding base areas,

with slight offset around the edges as shown.

4. Prepare the two cloud bridge units by
positioning and attaching the smaller cloud over
the larger base, with parts of the outer left end
edges aligning as shown.

5. Prepare the attach the bridges across the gaps

between the 'L' shapes, which will stabilize

the twisted bases, by placing on a flat work surface,

and lining up the front straight edges along

a straight edge such as plastic ruler shown,

or on a gridded mat, etc. Once aligned and

straightened, retain in that positioning, until . . . 

. . . the bridge can be centered side to side
and front to back over the gap, and attached
where the surfaces overlap.

6. Prepare to assemble the horn unit by laying out

the horn base and the crescent overlays.

Begin at the bottom partial shape to align 

lower and side edges that correspond,

 and attach in place.

Continue to position and attach in upward order

until all shapes are in place.

7. Prepare the head shape by bending forward

along the center horizontal perforation line.

8. Position and attach each ear underlay behind

the head ear openings. 

Position and attach each nostril underlay behind

the nose openings.

9. Locate the eyelash tip guide mark cuts on

head front, then . . . 

. . . position and attach the eyelashes

in place with ends aligned inside the guide corners.

10. Position the head assembly over the pop up

panel with corresponding edges aligned, and

the bend aligned at the bottom of the pop up panel,

then attach the upper head half to pop up panel,

and the lower part of head where surfaces overlap.

11. Position and attach the back head shape

behind the pop up panel.

NOTE that the horn foundation will now be in place.

12. Position and attach the horn assembly
over the horn foundation portion of the head back,
with lower end of horn overlapping the head front,
and corresponding horn edges aligned as closely
as possible.

14. Prepare the largest shamrock by positioning

and attaching the contrast petal shape behind

 the openings.

15. Prepare to attach the shamrock array by

positioning the guide shape over the flattened head

pop up, using the interior angle edges to align 

with ear-to-head edge transition, centering,

then holding in place . . . 

. . . then positioning and attaching the largest center

shamrock through the guide center window.

Position and attach both end smallest shamrocks
through corresponding openings, then . . . 

. . . carefully lift and remove the guide shape,

making sure that the attached shamrocks stay in place.

16. Position the middle shamrocks in between
the others already in place to complete the array.

Here is the completed Unicorn Impossible Card.

Leprechaun Card Assembly: 

17. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main card base    B accent 'L' shapes

C bridge base shapes (2)   D bridge accents (2)

E face    F head (ears)   G smile

H eyes contrast panel

I hat brim, crown, band and shamrock accent

J beard with cut slit to accept head unit bottom edge

K bow tie base and knot

L lapel overlay   M jacket shoulders

18. Refer to steps 2 & 3 to prepare the base

and attach the 'L' accent shapes.

19. Prepare the two bridges by layering

the front accent panel over the base shamrock

cutout shape, and attaching in place.

20. Refer to step 5 to align the card base legs,

then center and attach the bridges in place.

21. Prepare the pre assembly of hat, lapel/shoulders,

and bow tie by layering or positioning overlay shapes

and attaching in place.

For lapel and jacket shoulder shapes, bend

forward on the perforation lines before assembling.

Here are the units assembled.

22. Prepare to assemble the face/head/beard

by laying out the shapes. Then . . . 

. . . position and attach the face over 

the head/ears shape, and attach the smile

over the lower portion of face.

Reverse the head/face assembly (face down)

and slide the eye contrast shape into the recent window

and glue in place.

23. Assemble the head with the beard by
positioning in front and toward top of beard,
then . . . 

. . . slip the bottom edge of face through slit

and move down as far as possible, adjust

to be centered, then glue the overlapping surfaces.

24. Position the lapel/shoulders unit at the pop up

transition with perforation bends lined up,

and corresponding edges aligned, and glue in place.

NOTE: bend the pop up panel forward to

help align bends. 

25. Position and attach the bow tie unit at center
lower front edge of lapel/shoulder assembly,
making sure it is completely below perforation bend.

26. Position and attach the head/beard unit
over the center of pop up with corresponding
edges aligned.

27. Position and attach the hat in place where

edges will align.

Here is the completed leprechaun card.

Shamrock Arch Card Assembly: 

28. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base    B 'L' accent shapes

C shamrock bridge (2)  D shamrocks (4)

E arch scallop base

F loopy edge arch layer 2

G shamrock edge arch layer 3

H plain edge arch - letters base

I "LUCKY" letters

NOT SHOWN: folding easel shape

29. Prepare the twisted base.

For this version, begin by bending the center
pop up arch portion forward on the perf lines.

Then, as in step 2, twist the front left portion downward
and to the back. 

NOTE that this variation has NO connection

at the very center, so handle with care.

30. As with the other two card designs in this trio,

position and attach 'L' accent shapes onto base.

Use straight edge or grid to line up front straight edges,

and secure in place until . . . 

. . . assembled shamrock bridge units can be

positioned across the gap and glued in place.

31. Prepare to assemble the arch by laying out

the shapes, then . . . 

. . . layer the base, layer 1 and layer 2

with inner arch and bottom straight edges aligned,

and attach together.

32. Prepare the front arch with letters by
positioning and attaching each letter in radiating
orientation where the bottom inside arch edge
indicates the letter bottom shape will fit.

33. Position the letters arch on top of the previous

arch assembly, and attach in place.

34. Position the arch assembly over the pop up

panel where some of the edges will align,

and glue in place.

35. Prepare the easel shape by bending the bottom

tab forward, and the side triangle panel back.

36. Position the easel behind the left arch, with
the lead upright edge next to the arch,
and the bottom tab a tiny margin away from
the pop up perforation. Hold in position until . . . 

. . . the easel can unfolded into flattened
position to check that tip will not extend
beyond card side edge, then glue tab in place.

Here is the completed shamrock arch card.