Hat 3D Easel Card and Gift Box

Round card has layered panel that bends 

to stand the “attached” fancy dimensional hat 

almost upright. Attach the double layer sentiment panel 

to provide the “stop” for the easel mechanism. 

(Shown here with "Valentine Wishes" sentiment from

a separate file; Hat file includes rounded rectangle panels

as can be seen in other thumbnails below.)

Offset accent circles “brim” provides a low-relief platform 

for the round hat crown. 

Scalloped band wraps around 

dimensional cylinder crown at lower edge. 

Add “found” .375” wide ribbon band, streamers and bow, 

blossom buds and leaves as desired for 

this extra special card suitable for many giving occasions, 

such as birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, 

get well, appreciation and more. 

Card measures approx. 5” x 5” x .8” tall when closed. 

Also available is the quick-assembly gift container 

to enclose and protect the Hat 3D Easel Card 

design for giving, but also suitable for other contents 

and occasions. Decorate the sides and top with 

rounded corner offset shapes, plus a circle “window” 

and interior circle for top. 

Add recipient name to one of the two length labels

 and attach for a fun companion container. 

Embellish with “found” decorations for more flair and fun. 

Box measures approx. 5.125” x 5.125” x 1” deep.

(File also includes a 1.5" deep box that allows

the Hat 3D Easel Card to have dimensional

decorations attached to top, if desired, and still fit.)

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes for Hat card:
A card base (front and back fused at narrow neck)
B "extra" plain card front circle
(NOTE: for extra strength on the base, cut
an additional B to glue to the bottom outside face
of the base)
C & D internal offset accent shapes
E rectangle sentiment offset base (2) and plain rectangle
which acts as "stop" for easel standing action
F "Valentine Wishes" sentiment arch 
(alternative to E)
G - I brim stacking offset circles
J cylinder strip for crown riser
K cylinder bottom ring (fits inside cylinder)
L cylinder top circle with 'T' cut (fits inside cylinder)
M cylinder top mount plain circle (does NOT fit inside)
N scallop accent cylinder wrap strip

2. Identify and cut the shapes for Hat card gift box:
O front and side box hull
P back and side box hull
Q  front offset accent panel with thumb cutout (1)
R back and sides offset accent panel (3)
S & T lid accent frame and center offset circle
U (long) diagonal label strip
V (short) horizontal label strip

3. Prepare the card main base by bending in half

at the "weld" joint, also bend back at the horizontal

half perforation line - this fold creates the easel stand.

4. Position the card top whole plain circle over the front

of the card base, align edges exactly, then attach

to the lower half ONLY of card base front panel

(that is, to the half that is AWAY from the weld 

perforation fold).

This is how the easel card base should look at
this point in assembly: front circle attached
ONLY at the bottom half, as shown.
(NOTE: if adding a reinforcement whole plain circle
to the outer bottom of the card base, do that now.)

5. Position and attach the interior accent whole

circle on the interior bottom face of card base,

and the half circle on the top "upper" half of

the card front backside (straight edge aligns

a smidge below the perforation hold line).

6. Position and join the three brim offset layered

circles, centered on previous level, as shown. 

7. Position and attach the circles brim stack onto

the card base plain circle front, with narrow offset

margin around.

8. Identify the hat's cylinder "crown" shapes,
including the cylinder strip with multiple wedge tabs
along upper and lower edges, lower ring,
upper circle with 'T' cut, and top-mount plain circle.

9. Begin by adding some curl to the cylinder strip
by running the strip across a rod tool such as the dowel
shown, while applying pressure with thumb or
finger (think curling ribbon effect).

10. Form the strip into a ring to bring the ends together,

overlay straight end over opposite tab to perforation line,

and glue together. NOTE it will be helpful NOT to

bend the strip's end tab back.

11. Carefully bend the wedge tabs inward all around,
both on upper and on lower edges.

12. Insert the bottom ring first into the interior
of the cylinder so that tabs are on the outside.
Apply glue to the underside of the tabs (or to the equivalent
margin on the ring's face), then flip the assembly face down . . .

. . . onto a flat surface and apply fingertip pressure

all around, the ring edge, repeatedly, working until

the ring is fully attached to all the wedge tabs.

13. Repeat the process for the top 'T' circle by inserting
it into the cylinder, then folding the tabs over the edges.

Invert the cylinder with top face down on flat surface

then reaching fingertips in to the interior through

the opening of the lower ring shape to press and attach

the top ring to wedge tabs all around.

14. Position and attach the plain top circle over
the 'T' circle with wedge tab construction concealed.

15. Apply a quick-grab adhesive such as Fabri-Tack

or hot-melt glue to the bottom ring, then carefully

position, centered, on the top layer ring of the brim

build up . . . 

. . . and apply pressure downward on cylinder

all around until fully attached in place.

16. Prepare the scalloped band by adding curl using

rod tool as was done previously to cylinder strip.

17. Position around the cylinder at the base . . .

. . . and glue in place, with the ends abutting ends.
(NOTE: you may want to plan where the seam ends
up so that it will be camouflaged by the ribbon bow, etc.)

18. Position and attach a length of decorative ribbon
(.375" or narrower) over the scallop band, then cut
excess with a small overlap or abutted edges.
Tie a tiny ribbon bow and extra streamers and
attach in selected strategic place (at ribbon ends join).
Refer to the completed thumbnail further on in this
tutorial or at the beginning, then add purchased
buds, flowers & leaves, jewels, etc. as desired.

19. Prepare the "stop" for the easel as a sentiment tag

or just an accent piece by layering two (or more) of

the base rectangle, then . . .

. . . position and attach the top offset rectangle.

20. Position and attach the completed "thick" panel

at the center bottom of the interior accent circle,

right at the edge.

Here is the sample completed hat easel card, closed.

Here is the card opened with front rim edge . . .

. . . "stopped" at the label top edge.

21. If using the alternative "downward arch" word cut

designs such as the "Valentine Wishes" selection used

on the sample card, layer and join the doubled base shapes.

Position, arrange evening along arch, then attach

on the arch.

Finally, position and attach at the bottom center
of the interior accent circle as shown.
(NOTE: these down arch labels "stop" the easel
a little farther forward, so the angle is less upright.)

GIFT BOX 3D ASSEMBLY

22. Prepare the two hull sections by bending back on

all the perforation lines for flaps, tabs, walls and panels.

Also position and attach the accent squares and rectangles

over their respective areas on side walls and lid.

Position and attach the circle accent shape within

the square's circle cut out.

23. Align the first side seam straight edge over
opposite tab to perforation line and join. Then . . .

. . . form the hull into a tube to align and join

the second side seam in identical fashion.

24. Complete the bottom assembly by first bending

inward the "slot" back panel, then . . .

. . . fold the side panels inward, and finally . . . 

. . . bend the front tab panel inward.

Flex the bottom panels beyond perpendicular

so that the tab can insert under the slot edge . . .

. . . then allow them to flex back to perpendicular

to complete the bottom assembly.

NOTE that the process can be reversed if needed

to un-assemble the box and flatten for storage.

25. Complete the top, if desired, by positioning
and attaching the "direction" (to:  ) panel over
the box's front, using a stamp or hand writing
the receiver's name onto it before attaching, etc.
Here is the horizontal shorter tag, and . . .

. . . here is the alternative diagonal longer tag.

Also note that the down arch word cut labels
can also be used on the front of the box.

26. Open the box and insert the dimensional hat card

into the box, then . . .

. . .close sides and tuck 

the lid to complete the gift.

Embellish the lid to match the hat, as desired.