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Tuesday, May 7, 2024

MOM Stacked Letters Pop Out Card

 

Four “slices” pop out to stand in a column to allow 
bottom nib to fit into thickened base slot. 
Front slice is decorated with “M-O-M” letters plus 
leafy sprigs, shaded oval berries to celebrate Mother’s Day, 
birthdays, or other festive occasions. 
Folded flat, card assembly can fit into envelope sized 
for 5x7 card for neatly packaged giving. 
Coordinated “Env Leaf Berry” envelope design 
is also available. (NOTE that the design title in
the Silhouette America store indicates "oversize"
but this envelope is standard 5x7.)

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A front "offset" panel   B letters overlays for "M O M"
C front pop up panel (with attachment tabs at bottom)
D center pop up panels (2) with flat bottom edges
E back pop up panel (with bottom positioning nib)
F back offset panel overlay
G "bridge" strips which connect slice panels
H base panel with nib slots   I reversed base bottom panel
J base overlay with slots for attaching front pop up panel
K opt. sentiment panel to place on base bottom
L & M berry base with overlay (3 sets of each style)
N sprigs large and single
2. Identify the base shapes for preliminary glue up.
NOTE that 5 panels will be stacked and glued up for
thickness as reinforcement and to provide a deep slot
into which the back panel nib can fit to keep
card upright when "popped out".
Below at left, 4 regular face up panels are shown, 
with the slot at the left. 
Below at right, the face up panel is reversed so that
the slot is on the right. 
(When the reversed panel is rotated to attach on 
the bottom of the stack, the slots will line up as needed.)
Stack the four reg. panels and glue together, taking care
that all edges and the slots align as precisely as
possible. Then quickly . . .
. . . rotate the reverse panel so that it will be
back to back with the glued-up stack, and position,
adjust and attach.
Immediately, press the stack under a flat heavy weight
and leave in place for several hours or over night until
completely dried. This will help minimize or overcome
warping or curling due to the use of liquid adhesive.
3. Prepare the front panel "overlay". Position
the long sprig over the panel, using the offset
"echo" edges as positioning guides. Use glue
to "tack" the bottom end ONLY in place, to allow
for weaving the vine and leaves  around letters.
Next, position the M bottom letter, tucking
the lead "leg" behind the vine as shown.
Finish gluing the M in place.
4. Position the O letter so that the lower leaf trio
overlaps the O . . .
. . . then manipulate the sprig so that the upper
portion comes up through the center of the O.
Reposition the O and glue in place.
5. Position the top M, then position the sprig over
the top, allowing . . .
. . . the bottom serif of front leg to overlap
vine and leaf, and the rest of sprig to overlap
letter. Carefully apply glue and attach in place.
6. Position the short sprig over the bottom M
as shown. 
7. Prepare the berry units, beginning with the "shadow" edge
base with highlight overlay as shown:
top unit here including the round out to imply attachment
to the vine, bottom with plain edges.
Overlay the highlight shape to align with side of base
as shown, and attach in place. Complete 3 of each.
Here is how the decorated front panel should appear.
SLICES & POP UP ASSEMBLY
8. Prepare the 4 bridge strips by bending
forward the end "attachment" tabs.
The interior tabs will also pop forward eventually,
however, it may be easier to thread through slice slots
if they remain as flat as possible at this stage.
9. Begin with the front slice. Thread the front end tab
through one of the vertical slots.
Push tab through fully so that perforation bend is
even with panel edge, then bend outward and glue
securely in place.
10. Continue in the same manner to insert front
tabs of three more strips of the front panel.
11. Next position the first of the interior panels
so that the bridge strips can be threaded through
the corresponding slots.
Continue sliding the panel forward until it is caught by
the first cut-in tab which has been bent outward. 
Apply glue to the backside of the cut-in tab and attach
to the front of the first interior panel.
12. In the same manner, insert the back tab of same bridge
through the corresponding slot of second interior panel.
Slide panel forward until it catches at the second cut-in
tab that has been bent outward.
13. Repeat the process for the other three bridge strips.
14. Finally, insert the back tab ends of each strip through
the corresponding slot (backside toward outer face)
of back panel.
At backside, bend tabs outward and glue
in place securely to back panel.
Complete all bridge strip insertions.
15. At this point, "prime" the slices assembly by gently
laying slices with back down on work surface and pressing
flat as the slices will appear when prepared for inserting
 into envelope.
Apply adhesive to the backside of the decorated
front panel, then position onto the front slice panel
and attach in place. NOTE that decorated panel
has a miniscule offset smaller margin in the design,
so outer cut edges at not intended to align precisely.
Repeat the process to position and attach
the back offset panel.
Press the assembly under a heavy flat object 
such as a book, possibly with something heavy
placed on top, and allow the assembly to dry.
16. Position the base top accent shape below slices
assembly and insert the front panel bottom tabs to
insert into the slots.
On the underside of the accent base, bend the tabs
along the perf lines toward the front, and glue in place.
17. Apply adhesive to the underside of the accent base,
then position over the layered base, leaving narrow offset
margin all around, and making sure the back slots
are centered with each other, then glue in place.
Press with flat weight until thoroughly dried.
18. To open the card, simple arrange the slices
so they are perpendicular to the base, then swing
the slices so they are one behind the next.
At bottom back, the nib should be able to slide into
the remaining slot to keep it in opened position
for display.
Here is the opened card.
To close, unhook the nib, flatten slides,
bend the base up behind the flattened
assembly.
19. If desired, position and attach the sentiment plaque
on the bottom of the base where it will not
interfere with the base.
ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY
20. Identify and cut the shapes for the coordinated
envelope:
A main one-piece envelope hull
B flap overlay with cut outs
C contrast show-thru for vines
D inset shapes for berry shading crescent
and berry main
21. To assist with positioning of the show-thru shapes,
turn the flap overlay face down, then position the contrast
oval (for the sample, the front of this shape is brown,
but the back is white) face-to-backside over the design area
so that the slight offset of the berry oval fits neatly around
the flap overlay cut outs.
Hold in position then lightly trace the outside of oval
so that it can eventually be returned to that place.
23. Turn oval face up, place a short piece of cello tape
beneath with sticky side up, then position the berry main
and shading crescent next to it within the oval cut out,
like puzzle pieces.
24. Now reposition the oval unit with insets to
the backside of the flap, taking care to fit it
to the traced line.
The coloring shapes should now be showing thru
in desired positions. Apply glue to secure the oval
and insets to the backside of flap.
25. Prepare the envelope main shape by bending side
flaps inward along perforations, bottom up, then
apply glue or double-stick tape between the edges
that will overlap, creating the envelope's pocket.
26. Position and attach the flap assembly, with
the straight top edge even with top perforation line
of main shape, curved edges an even narrow margin
all around.
The MOM Stacked Letters Pop Out card should
slide inside - take care about edges that may catch.

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