Thursday, October 1, 2020

Witch Hat 3D Easel Card

Round card has layered under-lid panel that bends 
to prop up the “attached” witch’s peaked hat. 
Attach the double layer sentiment panel with “Witchy Wishes” 
and bat to provide the “stop” for the easel mechanism. 
Decorate with included hat band and layered buckle shapes, 
inverted-scallop oval and smaller bats. 
Add blossoms, leaves or ribbon tails as desired for 
this extra special card suitable for Halloween giving
 and display. 
Card measures approx. 5” x 5” x 3.5” tall when closed. 
Companion “Pyramid 3D Box” design provides a stylish, 
unique package for gifting this dimensional card. 


ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main card base (two-part, connected circles panel)
B front disc (matches circle size of base panel)
C interior offset accent circle
D interior offset accent half circle
E back disc (matches circle size of base panel)
F 'stop' medallion panel (cut 2-3 for glued-together thickness)
G stop panel accents: bat, witchy wishes word cuts
H hat brim   I hat brim rim (2 half circles)
J ruffle platform boxing wall strip and top disc
K hat crown cone    L crown band arc
M buckle (cut 2-3 for glued-together thickness)
N crown accent sawtooth panel   O crown bat accents (2)
P pleating layer perforated strips (3)
2. Prepare the main card base shape by bending
halves together at mid perforation short line
(mountain fold, so surfaces are backsides-together),
and also bending forward (mountain fold) at the halfway
perforation line on front panel, as shown.
3. Position and attach the bottom disc onto the underside
of the card base lower circle panel.
4. Position the front disc over the front circle of the card
base, with edges aligned, then attach only the front
half of base to lower half of whole circle disc.
NOTE: this is the easel mechanism that allows
the front edge of card's 'lid' to bend and display the hat.
5. Position and attach the interior whole circle panel
on the inside face of the card base lower whole circle,
with narrow offset margin all around)
6. Position and attach the interior half circle panel
onto the middle-most half of the upper circles panel,
aligning the straight edge of accent along the perforation
cuts line, with offset margin at curve edges.
7. Layer the stop panels and glue into a stack,
taking care to align all cut edges as precisely
as possible (here and whenever shapes are stacked
as part of this project). NOTE: the sample project card
has an accent paper as top layer of the three stacked.
While the glue for these layers dries, place the stack under
a heavy flat object such as a wood plank or thick book,
to help avoid curling and warping, until thoroughly dried,
at least one hour, but up to several.
8. Position and attach the bat and "Witchy Wishes"
word cut accents.
9. Position the stop panel at interior bottom center,
with approx. .125" offset from accent circle edge.
10. Position and attach the half rim shapes onto
the hat brim edges (whole rim shape is also available).
10. Prepare the platform layer for ruffle by adding curl
to the strip using a rounded shape such as a dowel or
pencil shaft.
11. Form the strip into a ring and overlap the straight edge
across the end tab to the guidemarks, and glue in place.
12. Bend the top tabs inward (with wedged cutouts between).
13. Invert the boxing ring and pply glue to the back/underside
 of the top tabs, then . . .
. . . insert the disc into the ring tube to snuggly rest
against the walls and on top of the tabs.
Apply fingertip pressure all around the disc edges
until all tabs are securely attached in place.
14. Bend the bottom tabs of boxing strip outward.
Insert the platform top first upward through the brim
circle opening . . .
. . . until the bottom tabs stop at the opening edge.
Apply glue and attach the tabs to the underside of brim.
Place the brim assembly on a flat surface to apply
fingertip pressure all around next to the base
of the platform to assist tabs to securely attach.
15.  Prepare the pleating strips by bending forward
(valley fold) the end tab (slightly angled top and 
bottom ends), then . . .
. . . bend back (mountain fold) at the next perforation.
Continue in alternating forward/backward order to form
pleat accordion folds across the entire strip length.
Repeat for two more strips.
16. Attach the strips into a single length by tucking
the tab end of second strip under/behind the end straight
edge of the first, and glue the seam. Add third strip
in same manner, then . . . 
. . . form the pleating into a ring to complete the final seam.
17. Locate the one-third guidemarks along the middle
of the brim shape. These will assist in distributing
the pleating ring evening, by noting the three marks
and aligning the strip seams with these.
18. Collapse the pleating ring so that pleat edges are flat
against the work surface, then . . . 
. . . apply quick-grab glue along brim at platform edge,
and also within the 1/4" margin of platform walls.
Working quickly . . . 
. . . arrange and push the pleats up against the platform,
aligning the seams with the guidemarks until . . . 
. . . the full pleating ring is snugged up against platform.
Hold in place until pleats are glued securely.
19. Position the brim assembly onto the top panel
of the main card assembly, centering it in from edges.
and attach in place.
20. Prepare the form the crown cone by locating
the seam guidemarks along one angled edge of cut shape.
(Difficult to see with the selected print.)
To help form the cone, roll a rod-like tool in a radiating
motion pivoting from the point out to the wide edge.
Gently form the cone, pushing firmly together
then overlap the straight (non-flange edge) across
to align at guidemarks. Outer curved edges that overlap
should align; adjust toward the point of the cone as necessary.
21. Add curl to the band, then . . . 
. . . position and attach at bottom edge of cone
so that lower edges of both align, with seams aligning.
If necessary, trim excess from one band end so that
ends abut. 
22. Apply quick-grab adhesive to the bottom rim
of cone/band, then center over the platform
and attach to pleating layer.
23. Bend the bat wings forward slightly at perf cut
at body side.
24. Add curl to accent medallion oval so that it can
conform to crown cone.
25. Position and attach oval to crown, in relation
to how the card opens to easel formation, and
how the accents will be viewed. Then position
and attach small bat at bodies to the oval.
26. Prepare the buckle layers by bending forward
slightly at the bottom portion at perf cuts. Then . . .
. . . layer and attach the shapes into one stack,
aligning all cut edges precisely, maintaining the bends.
27. Position the buckle over the band as desired,
nestling the bend into the angle between cone and crown,
and attach in place.
28. Here is the assembled card.
Open the card and tip the hat brim and card base upper panel
downward to catch at the back center edge of the 'stop' panel
for display as shown.
29. As desired, attach artificial blossom heads,
wire curls, ribbon loops and ends, berries, etc.
Here is the decorated, completed card.
For an extra special card gift, purchase, download
and assemble the pyramid gift box, as shown
here, where the closed hat card is fit into the 'tray'
of the gift box, before . . .
. . . closing with the medallion and stick latch.
You can preview that project HERE.

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