Tulips Folk Art Card Assembly

Fancy Jacobean applique-style motif is the centerpiece 

of this "window" card, with full-blown middle tulip, 

two side tulip blossoms that include tiny poke holes 

to be stitched with perle cotton or soft twine. 

Card base front has window cutouts 

around leaves and stems. 

Hearts swag anchors bottom of design. 

Punch dots and teardrops show thru or 

are cut to add elegance and detail. 

Measures approx. 5x7 when closed.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main card base       B card front
C & D underlays for dots and teardrop details
E stem and tulips silhouette base
F two-part side tulips overlays (stitching detail)
G two-part side tulips base shapes
H center "full blown" tulip base shapes
with two-part heart, two-part top flourish

2. Prepare components by layering:

top flourish two shapes;

heart two shapes;

full blown tulip two shapes;

side tulip partials as base two shapes (yellow)

and overlay two shapes (red)

3. Add optional perle cotton or floss or twine

stitches to the side overlay units as follows

(or choose to cut non-punch hole shapes):

A) attach length of "thread" end behind shapes

with glue or cello tape;

B) insert needle and thread up through top hole;

C) Continue the down and up track through
successive holes to create stitching on front . . . 

. . . all along the punch hole row . . . 

. . . until all the stitching is complete.

D) clip tail end short and attach invisibly

on the back side as was done with lead end.

4. Layer the two components of the side tulips

and attach.

5. Prepare the card front by positioning

the hearts in the heart arch below the window

following the tiny cut guide marks included 

on the shape.

6. Position the large detail underlay behind 

the card front . . . 

. . . centering and using the top edges to register

the underlay correctly, noting that the teardrop

cutouts of card front will remain clear and open.

Attach in place.

7. Position the smaller underlay behind

the card front in similar fashion so that

teardrop openings are colored.

Center and attach in place.

8. Position card front assembly over

card front base so that the window cutout

edges align as exactly as possible,

and attach in place.

9. Position and attach tulip units (large center and sides)
over the stem base silhouette,
matching cut edges as exactly as possible.
10. Position stem assembly over the corresponding
shape of the card, adjust for accurate alignment,
then attach in place.

11. Position the heart and flourish units

 above large tulip, in between the dot details,

center, and attach in place.

Here is the completed card.

Tulips Bloom! Box Card

Dimensional card (approx 2.75" wide x 2.75" deep by 5.875" tall) 

folds flat for sending, opens into box tube form for display. 

Two bridges cross interior box space to support design elements:

(#1) pair of layered tulips with scroll leaf stem, 

and (#2) arch with 7 layered miniature tulips. 

Leaf spike arch decorates the back panel. 

Layered oval card with punch hole for mini brad 

attaches to front accent panel. 

"Bloom!" word cut can express sentiment on tag. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card base (in two halves)
B-D base outside accent panels: front and sides
E base inside back accent panel
F leaf spike arch accent
G, H & I side and front flaps with accents
J bridge #1 with flower and swirl accents
K bridge #2 with 2 arch, two-part flowers, punch dots
L front two-part tag with "bloom!" word cut

2. Prepare the card base halves by bending

back (mountain fold) at all vertical perforation lines.

3. Overlap the left edge of the half that includes

the taller back panel over the corresponding

side tab of the other half to perforation libne,

adjust so that top and bottom edges align,

and glue the side seam.

4. Prepare the tag by layering the ovals and

attaching the word cut.

5. Position the tag punch hole over the corresponding

hole on the front (center) accent panel, and attach 

in place with a dab of glue and a contrast mini brad.

6. Position and attach the front side and center

accent panels over the card base corresponding

panels, with bottom edges aligned, and centered

side to side.

7. Position and attach the tall back panel
on the inside of the card base panel
in similar manner.

8. Form the card into a tube to bring the side tab flange

to wrap around the corresponding side edge of

tall panel (tab will be on the outside of the card tube).

 Align bottom edges, and glue in place.

9. Prepare the three flaps by bending back
the top edge tab/flanges.
Center and glue in place
the flap accent shapes,
then attach punch circle into hole cutout,
leaves pair on each side.
10. Position the tab/flange of the appropriate flap unit 
along the side or front edge of the box
and glue in place. Attach two side and one
front flap.

11. Prepare to attach the spike leaf accent

by first identifying the position cut marks

on the back accent panel . . .

. . . then position the bottom inner rounded edges
at the guide marks, and glue in place.

12. Prepare the larger flower units by attaching

the front 'petal' shapes to the base shape.

13. Position and attach the left flower onto

bridge #1, then leaf swirl, then right flower.

Bend the bridge side tabs back.

14. Prepare bridge #2 by layering and attaching
the outer and inner arch accent shapes.
(NOTE the final cut shape has been modified
to remove the inner 'dots' shaping.)
Build the tiny flower units by layering the petal pair
and dot shapes onto the base.
Position and attach the flower shapes over
the corresponding positions over the arch.
Bend the bridge side tabs back.

15. Apply glue to the side tabs of bridge #2,

then insert into the interior of the box

and prepare to attach the tabs to the inside

surfaces of the side panels, at approximately

a one-third distance forward from the back.

Push the bridge downward into the box
cavity until the top of the tab flange is even
with the flap fold edge.
Also take care that the bridge is perpendicular
to the box's sides.

Before the glue sets, fold the box card into its

flattened position and apply pressure through

the layers in the areas where the tab flanges are

attaching to the box sides.

(Repeat this flattening and pressure-applying

step after bridge #1 is attached, too.)

This allows the attachment to "self adjust" slightly

if needed.

16. Insert bridge #1 in the same manner,

placing it approx. halfway between bridge #2

and box front, and attach.

Here is the flattened box prepared to

insert into an envelope for sending or giving.

Here is the completed box in its opened form.