Needles 'n' Knowledge: Easter 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.)

The Easter Trio designs feature Lilies Trio,

Chick in Half Egg, and Bunny Race Arch.

This tutorial will describe assembly details

for all three, beginning with

the Chick in Half Egg design,

followed by Lilies Trio at step 14,

and finally Bunny Race Arch at step 21.

CHICK IN HALF EGG IMPOSSIBLE CARD
ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A impossible card base shape
B 'L' accent panels for base
C & D bracket "bridge" shapes (2 ea.)
E flower shape (2) F flower center circle (2)
G half egg overlay H chick base
I eye contrast underlay J beak
K bow and strip L bow center "knot"

2. Prepare to form the "impossible" folds and bends

of the base shape by bending forward along

the base of the pop up panel, on perforation lines.

3. Hold the right half of the 'L' (reversed) portion
of base steady in place, while carefully rotating
the left 'L' half front edge downward and
toward the back, until . . .

. . . its back (shorter) edge becomes . . .

. . . the front edge.

Here is the base shape in finished configuration,

with pop up panel standing perpendicular.

4. Position and attach the offset 'L' accent shapes

over their respective base panels.

5. Layer the pairs of bracket "bridge" shapes

to attach the smaller shape to its offset base.

6. Prepare the stabilize the base shape by

placing it on a gridded mat or equivalent

so that the front edge (as well as others)

can be squared up to conform to the 5x7 base size.

Hold in this position until . . .

. . . the first bridge unit can be positioned across
the gap on the front portion of the base,
centering it from side to side, and also from
top to bottom in the gap front half portion.
Attach to the overlapping surfaces.

7. Repeat the positioning and attaching process
to place the back half bridge bracket assembly.

8. Prepare to assemble the pop up designs.

Position and attach the half egg over
the lower portion of the chick base.
Position and attach flower centers.

Position and attach the beak shape

where the tiny window guide cuts are

(beak should overlap and cover openings).

Position the eye contrast behind the head
so that eye openings are covered, and attach.

9. Prepare the bow strip shape by bending

on the vertical perforations as shown . . .

. . . bending forward (valley folds) or

back (mountain folds) as shown.

This should create two loops (the shaped portions

of the strip) with a short "knot" platform between,

with left and right bands that extend from the fold

that meets at center behind the "knot" platform.

Apply dots of glue to attach the loop layers

in place.

10. Position the bow unit across the half egg overlay
at a level where the ends align with egg edges,
and glue in place.

11. Position and attach the knot at center.

12. Position and attach flower units
over the pop up panel where edges align.
13. Bend the bottom of the egg forward
(valley fold) at perforation.
Finally, position and attach chick assembly
over center of pop up, offset at edges as shown
so that pop up margin remains visibly, and
with the bottom bend aligned at base center
cross perforation line.

Here is the completed card.

Pop up can be laid back flat to insert into

envelope, re-positioned once opened again.

LILIES TRIO IMPOSSIBLE CARD

14. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base B 'L' accent shape overlays

C & D bracket "bridge" and base (2 ea.)

E greenery saw tooth overlay

F leaf base G & H left and right leaf overlays

I lily base (2 left, 1 right)

J lily sepal layer (2 left 1 right)

K lily bottom shape (2 left, 1 right)

L lily calyx (2 left, 1 right)

M lily rim (2 left, 1 right)

15. Follow steps 2-7 of Chick design to prepare

in similar manner the Lily design base with

"impossible" twist folding and arrangement,

and with 'L' accent shapes plus bracket "bridges".

16. Prepare the leaf unit by positioning and attaching

the individual left and right leaf overlays onto base

where the edges will match.

17. Position and attach the leaves assembly onto
the pop up silhouette where the edges will align.
NOTE that the bottom straight edge may be a fraction
above the perforation fold.

18. Position, centered, and attach the saw tooth

greenery shape over the pop up panel.

19. Prepare to assemble the lilies by arranging

shapes for convenience and understanding.

Prepare 2 left and 1 right blossoms.

(Left is shown here.)

Position and attach the stamen shape
at the base edges of the base shape.

Position the lower front shape on top
of the previous assembly, and attach.

Position and attach the rim shapes at upper edges
of base shape, and bottom calyx shape overlapping
bottom tip (edges don't align).

Here are the completed blossoms,
2 left and 1 right as they will attach to pop up.

20. Position the center blossom over the pop up
base edges where tip and contours will match up.

Position and attach the side blossoms where

base edges that remain exposed will line up

with blossom contours.

Here is the completed Lilies card.

BUNNY RACE ARCH IMPOSSIBLE CARD

21. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base B 'L' accent shape overlays

C & D bracket "bridge" shapes (2 each)

E tulips lattice overlay F arch strip

G bunny body base (3)

H bunny body overlay (3)

I bunny head overlay (3) J tummy overlay (3)

K tail overlay (3) L eye dot punches (3)

22. Follow steps 2-7 of Chick design to prepare

in similar manner the Lily design base with

"impossible" twist folding and arrangement,

and with 'L' accent shapes plus bracket "bridges".

23. Position and attach the arch strip over the matching

portion of the tulips overlay lattice shape.

24. Position and attach the lattice arch assembly
over the corresponding part of pop up base panel.

25. Prepare to assemble the three bunnies

by organizing the shapes.

Position and attach the body overlay
over the base shape, matching up
edges that correspond.

Position the tummy into the corresponding
angle at the body overlay lower edge,
and attach in place.
Position and attach the tail overlay
where it aligns with body base edges
next to the body overlay edge.