Needles 'n' Knowledge: Mothers Day 3D Hat Easel Card

Round card has attached under-lid panel that bends
to prop the attached dimensional hat up at an angle.

Hat features daisy petals and circle punch pattern
on scalloped-edge brim, and on crown top.
Scalloped band wraps around crown cylinder.
Attach the double layer sentiment panel with “Mother”
and heart to provide the “stop” for the easel mechanism.
Four sizes and styles of paper flowers plus
mini leaf sprigs included to decorate the brim.
Card measures approx. 5” x 5” x .8” deep when closed.

Check out “Arch Down Curve Sentiments Quartet”
word cuts (separate design) for substitute sentiments
for other card giving occasions.
Enclose the card in a custom-fit container
(Round 3D Box of Hat Easel Card) companion design.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A joined circle card base
B card front circle C card back circle
D & E internal offset accent shapes
F sentiment/stop plaque (2) with heart, 'Mother'
G hat brim overlay with daisy cutouts
H hat brim contrast 'show-thru' I fill in small circles (9)
J crown platform overlay K crown contrast underlay
L crown platform top circle M crown platform bottom ring
N crown platform boxing strip
O decoration flowers, centers, leaf sprigs

NOTE: the contrast underlay shapes from the layout

above (H, K) can be 'stacked' and centered when

cutting to conserve with zero waste, as shown here.

2. Prepare the card base by bending back (with

face sides together) at center short perforation line,

and back at top panel horizontal perforation line,

to provide the easel standing mechanism for hat.

3. Position the top-most front half panel of the mechanism

base to align with the bottom half of the front circle,

align edges that correspond, and join together.

4. Position the back reinforcing circle shape face-outward
under the mechanism's bottom "whole" circle,
align edges, and attach.

5. Layer and attach the two layers of the stop plaque.

NOTE this extra thickness will help the edge of card

mechanism 'catch' and stay upright better.

6. Position, centered as shown, and attach heart

and 'Mother' fused word onto stop plaque.

7. Position and attach the interior accent panel shapes
to the inside of card mechanism bottom/back, and
to the inward half of the front as shown.
8. Position and attach the stop plaque assembly
at the center, with slight offset, as shown.

9. Prepare to assemble the hat platform by adding

some curl to the boxing strip using a rod tool such

as the wooden dowel (or a round pencil).

10. Bend back the edge tabs at perforations . . .

. . . then pinch them to get a crisp fold.

11. NOTE that the end tab of the strip has a couple
of cut guide lines (not fold perforations). DO NOT FOLD.

Overlap the straight end edge across tab to align
at guide cuts, and glue in place.

12. Prepare to insert the platform ring: bend the top

boxing strip edge tabs array to open the way into

the platform's interior space.

Apply adhesive to the backside/inside face of

each of the tabs on the bottom of boxing strip. Then . . .

. . . slip the platform ring into the cylinder and push
down until it seats at the bottom tabs bend perforation
all around.

Adjust to make sure it is fully seated into place,

then apply fingertip pressure all around until

ALL of the mini tabs are well attached to the OUTSIDE

face of the ring, as shown . . .

. . . in this image.

13. From the top of the cylinder, slip the whole circle

TOP of the platform into the cylinder interior . . .

. . . allow it to fall down to bottom of the cylinder
to rest on the ring layer.
14. Bend the top tabs array inward at right angle . . .

. . . and apply glue to ONE of these: either along

the top edge of the whole circle, OR . . .

. . . to the UNDERNEATH face of each of the multiple
mini tabs all around. Then . . .

. . . flip the cylinder over, allowing the whole circle to
fall back into place at the top tabs bends.
Adjust as necessary to ensure that the circle seats
fully at the top tab perf lines all around, then
apply fingertip pressure through the ring to the edge
of circle/tabs all around.

15. Layer the contrast circles (or brim ring) behind

the brim and crown overlays, adjust so that edges

of underlays do NOT show from front, and glue in place.

16. If including contrast fill in shapes on brim
overlay, position and attach them now.

17. Position the crown top assembly over the whole

circle TOP of the crown cylinder, adjust so that edges

align, and attach in place.

18. Prepare to attach the crown cylinder to the brim

assembly by identifying the vertical center, shown by

my fingers that identify the in-line larger and pair of

smaller circle punches, then . . .

. . . select the middle petal of a daisy motif on brim

where the vertical (TOP) center of crown will align,

position (centered) cylinder over brim and attach.

Take care that an even "reveal" margin is maintained

between cylinder bottom edge and cut outs, to ensure

the crown cylinder is centered.

19. Prepare the attach the hat band by adding curl.

20. Apply glue, position the band around the cylinder

at lower edge, with straight band ends abutting in

strategically-selected position on hat (possibly to be

hidden by flower cluster), and attach.

21. Apply glue, position hat over front round card base
panel, adjust, and glue in place.

22. Prepare the leaf sprigs by adding a little curl to

tips using a fine rod tool such as this stylus.

Add some shape to the round flower petals
by placing face down on a surface with some give
such as this cork coaster, then embossing a circular
area with the rounded tip of a giant stylus or
paint brush end.