These action cards are surprisingly easy to
assemble,
with Thanksgiving and Autumn themed card bases
and front decorations for fun seasonal giving.
and front decorations for fun seasonal giving.
Lift card front
to open and see the panels spread wide
with smaller stylized stencil panels mounted.
Offset interior panel provides more visual interest.
Each card measures approx. 5.25” wide x 7” tall.
Here is are 10 second videos to demonstrate
how the cards open with a "twist" and the arms "pop" wide:
ASSEMBLY: (NOTE the shapes layouts for both appear first,
followed by the Hat assembly, with Acorn following at Step 21.)
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
FOR THE ACORN CARD:
A card base front panel B card base back panel (with perf.)
C mechanism D mechanism lower accent panel
F 'arms' accordion strip with acorn stencil panels
G acorn silhouette (shows thru as lower acorn nut)
H acorn cap (sample uses the punch hole version)
I rickrack body overlay J leaf accent shapes
(not shown: contrast underlays for E stencils;
see Step 10)
F hat crown base G brim H band with buckle
I lrg and med leaves, tendril swirl
J wheat stem
b) open, then fold back along each of the diagonal
perforation lines.
c) open, then direct the side 'arms' in . . .
. . . toward center
as shown to create . . .
. . . the basic house silhouette.
d) apply pressure to each crease, including those
middle layers to make sure it can fold as flat as possible.
14. Apply adhesive to the backside of the lower
center extension 'house' shape of the mechanism
(strong hold roll-on double sided
adhesive 'tape' recommended). Position the mechanism
(centered) on the card base with the tip exactly at
the center of the perforation line.
Then BEFORE applying pressure, carefully close
the card top/front to allow the mechanism to
"self-adjust" slightly to allow the card to continue
to close appropriately, then open and apply pressure
to ensure that the mechanism is fully secure.
15. Open top layer and apply adhesive 'tape'
to the top 'house' panel portion of the mechanism . . .
. . . then close the card and apply pressure
to attach in place to the inside front of card.
. . . unfold the strip to position and . . .
. . . apply pressure to secure the left end of strip.
19. Assist the mechanism with strip to close up
as intended by slowly folding the top portion
forward into place . . .
. . . as the mechanism arms pull inward
with the right end twisting downward and
the left end twisting upward . . .
. . . until the arms strip is fully rotated into its 'stacked'
position between the front and back panels as shown.
Apply full pressure to secure all the inner surfaces.
The card assembly is complete at this point.
. . . fold back at top and bottom to wrap around
card. On back side, overlap the ends
(trim if necessary), then . . .
Position the rickrack overlay below the cap edge,
center and attach. Position and attach the berry
punch circles into the leaf overlay recesses.
Attach decorative brad or stud at cap punch hole
if desired, then position leaf and
attach overlapped surfaces.
26. Refer to the Pilgrim Hat card Steps 2, 13-19
to prepare the mechanism shape, position
and attach it (point of 'house' shape should be
placed just below the perforation line where
base shapes attach), position and attach 'arm' strip
to mechanism arm extensions, etc.
. . . wrap ends around to backside of card,
overlap (trim if necessary), then attach with
a seal shape of some kind, such as the leaf cutout
'waste' from the Pilgrim Hat arms panel.
how the cards open with a "twist" and the arms "pop" wide:
ASSEMBLY: (NOTE the shapes layouts for both appear first,
followed by the Hat assembly, with Acorn following at Step 21.)
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
FOR THE ACORN CARD:
A card base front panel B card base back panel (with perf.)
C mechanism D mechanism lower accent panel
F 'arms' accordion strip with acorn stencil panels
G acorn silhouette (shows thru as lower acorn nut)
H acorn cap (sample uses the punch hole version)
I rickrack body overlay J leaf accent shapes
FOR THE PILGRIM HAT CARD
A hat base (combined front and back)
B mechanism C mechanism lower accent panel
D mechanism lower accent panel
E 'arms' accordion strip with acorn stencil panels(not shown: contrast underlays for E stencils;
see Step 10)
F hat crown base G brim H band with buckle
I lrg and med leaves, tendril swirl
J wheat stem
2. Prepare the mechanism interior panel
(this is the same for either card design):
a) fold forward in half and crease the horizontal
perforation line all across;
perforation lines.
as shown to create . . .
d) apply pressure to each crease, including those
middle layers to make sure it can fold as flat as possible.
3. Position and attach the lower interior accent panel
on the bottom extension, offset slightly
on sides and bottom.
HAT CARD ASSEMBLY (continued)
4. Position and attach the brim strip along
the bottom of the hat crown base shape.
5. Locate the spread out perforation guide marks
across the crown, then . . .
. . . position (centered) and attach the hat band
at along and above the perf guide line.
6. Before the hat band adhesive is completely joined . . .
. . . tuck the tendril stem and the wheat stem
under the hat band, and attach.
(NOTE it is better to have the wheat stem down
further onto the crown than the sample shows
to avoid having it bent when the card is opened.)
Also position (centered) and attach the buckle.
7. Arrange and attach the medium and larger leaves
at the left edge, overlapping the band, tendril
and crown as shown.
8. Fold the hat base in half at middle cross perforation.
9. Position the hat assembly on the card front,
with offset margin all around, and attach in place.
10. If desired, position and attach the contrast panels
behind the leaf and turkey stencil shapes.
11. Fold the 'arms' strip in accordion fashion
to form the 'W' shape as shown.
12. Position and attach each of the accent stencil
panels in each section of the arm panel.
13. Prepare to attach the mechanism to the inside
of card base by opening flat on work surface,
and locating the visual center of the perforation line.
center extension 'house' shape of the mechanism
(strong hold roll-on double sided
adhesive 'tape' recommended). Position the mechanism
(centered) on the card base with the tip exactly at
the center of the perforation line.
the card top/front to allow the mechanism to
"self-adjust" slightly to allow the card to continue
to close appropriately, then open and apply pressure
to ensure that the mechanism is fully secure.
to the top 'house' panel portion of the mechanism . . .
to attach in place to the inside front of card.
The result should be that the card will open as shown.
16. Prepare to attach the 'arm' strip by folding in half
and positioning the fold, centered top to bottom,
at the middle point of mechanism where perf lines
intersect. Take care that it is perpendicular
to the cross perforation fold line, and that
the tiny portions of the mechanism 'arm' extensions
that remain exposed above and below it
(left portion in this image) are equal.
17. Apply adhesive tape to the upper portion
of the right arm extension, keeping it only
in the area where the arm end panel will connect
(as shown with the dash line and arrow).
Open the arm strip flat and apply pressure so that
it attaches firmly where the adhesive was applied.
18. Fold the left half back . . .
. . . and apply adhesive
tape to the lower portion in similar manner
as in Step 17 above, then . .
as intended by slowly folding the top portion
forward into place . . .
with the right end twisting downward and
the left end twisting upward . . .
position between the front and back panels as shown.
The card assembly is complete at this point.
20. If desired, rotary cut a .5" wide x 11-12" long strip
of decorative print-weight paper as a band
to keep the card closed for gifting.
Position it vertically across center of card, then . . .
card. On back side, overlap the ends
(trim if necessary), then . . .
. . . use a 'seal' shape of some kind -- such as
this 'waste' turkey shape from the stencil panels --
to attach and hold the band in place.
ACORN CARD ASSEMBLY (continued)
21. Prepare the card base back by bending
forward at the tip perforation line.
22. Position the card front and back base panels
back to back, align edges, then attach the two
above the perforation line to create a 'hinged' base.
23. Prepare the acorn decorative front by attaching
cap on top of 'nut' base with edges aligned.
Position and attach the oak leaf half overlay.
center and attach. Position and attach the berry
punch circles into the leaf overlay recesses.
if desired, then position leaf and
attach overlapped surfaces.
24. Prepare the 'arm' strip by folding in accordion
manner into the 'W' shape as shown.
25. Position and attach the acorn stencil panels
into each of the 'arm' sections
(attach the contrast panels behind stencils first
if desired).
to prepare the mechanism shape, position
and attach it (point of 'house' shape should be
placed just below the perforation line where
base shapes attach), position and attach 'arm' strip
to mechanism arm extensions, etc.
Then assist the card and mechanism to
close initially in the same way.
Here is the completed Acorn card.
27. If desired, rotary cut a .5" wide x 9-10" long strip
of decorative print-weight paper as a band
to keep the card closed for gifting.
Position it horizontally across card, then . . .
overlap (trim if necessary), then attach with
a seal shape of some kind, such as the leaf cutout
'waste' from the Pilgrim Hat arms panel.
