Rectangle Twist N Pop Cards

Surprisingly easy to assemble, these top fold action cards 

have internal ‘arms’ mechanism that holds accordion-folded panel. 

Lift card front to open and see panels spread wide. 

Offset accent shapes provide scope to use coordinated prints and panels. 

Large rectangle card, above, measures

approx. 4.5" wide x 5.75" tall when closed

(requires 12x12 cutting capacity).

It includes special patchwork classic star optional panel 

which can decorate pop out panels if desired 

(four panels can alternately be decorated with stamps 

or sentiments, or as a story board for specialty prints). 

Small rectangle card, below, measures

approx. 3.5” wide x 4.5” tall when closed. 

Add embellishments, dimensional foam to 

front accent panels, then tie to close 

with encased ribbon. 

Shown here below is the small rectangle card using

the included, optional front accent panel that may be

suitable to cameo a "postcard" style panel

from specialty print paper.

(This one is from "Authentique" Twilight 8x8 bundle.)

These two cards have nearly identical assembly steps.
The large rectangle card will be thoroughly described,
with the basics of smaller card shown after
beginning with Step 18.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main card base   B card front panel (2)
C front accent base   D front accent panel
E pop mechanism shape   F interior accent panel
G four-panel "arms" base strip
H patchwork star accent 'squares' for arms (4)
(plain whole squares are also included in file)

2. Prepare the shapes by bending on perforations:

a. 'arms' four-panel strip by bending

at the perforations in accordion style.

NOTE: in its final configuration, the folds 

will  be re-directed to form 'W', but to begin,

the 'M' form is best.

b. bend card base at perforation, then open flat

c. bend the pop mechanism forward on horizontal
center perforation - (mountain fold), and also . . .

. . . fold as mountain fold on each of the diagonal
perforation lines.

3. Now configure the mechanism so that is can

fold up as needed, by assisting the cross fold 

indicated here . . . 

. . . to fold inward directly toward center, as . . . 

. . .  the diagonal folds engage, causing the 'arms'
at each side to continue to move in to meet
at center.

When the mechanism is fully closed, as shown

in this frame, it resembles a classic house block shape.

Apply ample pressure through the layers along

the areas where the perforation edges are laying

underneath. Press from one side, then reverse

the folded shape and apply same pressure again.

Also, apply pressure along the 'crest' diagonal

perforation edges to ensure a crisp crease.

4. Audition the position the mechanism in its

folded form on the back card base panel interior

face, with the point tip exactly at the center of

mid perforation line, with bottom corners offset

within base edges.

5. Apply adhesive (double-stick permanent hold

tape is recommended over liquid here) to the first

face of the folded mechanism, then re-position

on the interior back face of card base as shown above. 

NOTE to ensure that the point

self-adjusts to move down slightly to allow the card

to fold appropriately and close, wait to apply pressure

to permanently affix mechanism in place until

the card can be closed, then apply pressure.

6A. Apply adhesive tape to the front 

of the mechanism . . . 

. . . then fold the card front down into position . . .

. . .to align the front and back base corners 
for best match . . . 

. . . and apply pressure through layers to affix.

Demonstrate how the mechanism now installed

functions: lift the card front . . .

. . . to see the arms begin to spread open, until . . .

. . . they open fully to lay nearly flat on each side.

6B. Position the interior accent panel, slightly offset,

on the lower portion of the mechanism, as shown.

7. Position each of the accent squares onto

a segment of the 'arms' strip, centered.

8. Position the arms assembly to prepare to attach

in place on the arm extensions of the mechanism.

The center fold should be aligned at the intersections

of the mechanisms' perforation lines, and also . . . 

. . . be centered from top to bottom on
the horizontal perforation line. Pointing fingers
in this frame show that the angled margins at
the inner end of arms should be equally revealed
to help indicate the centered position.

9. Apply adhesive to the UPPER SECTION
of the right arm, keeping glue ONLY about 3/4
in from right end as shown here.

10. Un-fold the arm panel carefully without
un-adjusting, re-check that it is still squared up,
then apply pressure to affix in place.

11. Fold the left half of strip out of the way

to repeat the 3/4 only glue application to

the LOWER SECTION of the left arm, as shown.

12. Un-fold the panels strip to position and apply

pressure to the arm end, checking

for perpendicular alignment in relation to

the card base edges.

13. Bend the arms in very slightly to re-configure

the bending direction of the panels to the 'W' form.

Continue the bending in, to direct the unattached

 arm ends: DOWN and TOWARD CENTER for

right arm, and UP and TOWARD CENTER

for the left arm.

In this frame, those unattached portions are

being fingertip-grasped to pull them in

the directions outlined above, until . . . 

. . . the panel begins to ease itself into folded

position with panel squares beginning to stack . . . 

. . . with the front and back covers moving
together to enclose the squares.
NOTE: it may take a little patience to fold
the initial time, but after that, it will fold as designed.

Apply pressure through all layers to ensure

that everything inside as locked into best position.

14. Cut a 22-24" length of ribbon, locate the center

of both ribbon and card, then . . . 

. . . glue the ribbon in place within approx. 1/4"

 of each side edge.

Position and attach the backside accent shape,

enclosing and affixing the ribbon between.

15. Use dark colored foam squares to add dimension

to the next panel-attachment steps.

Or, if preferred, set up a multi-squares cutting

job on your die cutter. Those used in this example

are approx. 1/2" square. Cut approx. 9 per 1/8"

thick dimensional square (multiples of 9 for

each square desired).

Layer and glue the squares together, taking care

to line up the edges as precisely as possible,

and apply pressure to the stack.

(If possible, press the stacks under a heavy weight

while they dry completely.)

16. Position and attach the dimensional squares
behind the accent panel/base, then . . .

. . . position and attach the accent panel onto 

the front of card.

17.  Finish the card by tying the ribbon and

trimming the ends.

Add jewels, nail head studs, etc, as desired.

Here is the sample completed card

ready to give.

18. For the Small Rectangle card version,

Follow steps 1-16 in this tutorial,

substituting the fussy-cut portrait mini postcard

as the front accent panel. Then complete

step 17.

Identify and cut the shapes: 

A card base   B front and back accent panels (2)

C front accent base   D front offset accent panel

E optional fussy-cut accent panel

F mechanism for twist and pop

G interior accent rectangle

H 'arms' panel with 4 sections

I 'arms' accent shapes (4)

19. Position and attach the front accent panel

onto the front accent base.

Complete the card as described in previous steps.

Optional: fussy-cut the desired panel,

adjust size if necessary to cut accent base panel,

then position and attach.

As reference, this is the "Authentique" 

Twilight 8x8 bundle from which the panel was cut.

Here is the completed card using
the specialty paper panel.