Thanksgiving Rocker Side Step Cards

Round-edged rocker-style cards, each available

as separate design files, have either 

right side bends that create a pair of “steps”

on one side, or single steps on both sides 

for a more symmetrical look . 

Scalloped doily and faux-stitched overlay panels 

add interest to base. Upper half-circle of card bends back 

to form a self stand. Double layer bracket frame panels 

displays either folk art wheat stalks with 

layered quilt star hanger ornament or 

pair of wheat stalk curls. 

“Thankful” or "Gather" welded word cut card fronts. 

Each card measures approx. 7x7 flat. 

Gather Wheat Curl design will be described first,
followed by the Thankful Quilt Block design at Step 11.

GATHER WHEAT CURL CARD
ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card base   B front scallop shape   C front faux stitch shape
D back scallop shape  E back faux stitch shape
F & G left and right side scallop and faux stitch shapes
H frame whole base  I frame accent  J frame front
K Gather word cut  L wheat curl base silhouette
M shorter wheat curl overlay
N optional additional Gather word cuts for layering

2. Prepare the card base by bending back at "mountain" folds

perforation lines across center portion, side back

and side front, and bending forward at 

"valley" fold lines at mid sides . . .

. . . following the diagram.

Arrange and adjust folds so that the card is folded into
its roughly half-circle form.
Use folding tool or finger tips to ensure crisp folds,
including those beneath the top layer.

3. Layer the contrast scallop shapes with corresponding

faux stitch shapes: front, back and sides.

Use straight edges to align layers then join.

4. Position the front layers onto the front portion

of the card base, aligning the top straight edge

at the top fold, side cut edges, and lower side

fold lines, then attach in place.

NOTE: it may be easier to accomplish this positioning

while the card base is open and flat on the work surface.

5. Repeat to position the back accent assemblies . . . 

. . . and the side assemblies as shown.
NOTE that the side pieces should be snug up against
the back shapes at cut edge which will allow
folding space at the valley folds.

This is how the card assembly will look at this point.

6. Prepare the frame assembly by layering

the front frame with the accent margin middle layer . . .

. . . then adding the back whole layer behind.
Secure all layers together.

7. Position and attach the frame assembly on card front,

centered side to side, and just high enough that

the side edges being indicated will still hide

the corner of the first step.

8. If you have chosen to use multiple layers of

the "Gather" word cut, stack, carefully align,

and glue those together at this point.

If using liquid glue, consider using a flat weight

to press during the glue-drying process.

9. Prepare the wheat curl layered shape by
positioning and attaching the shorter overlay
on top of the base silhouette, aligning cut edges.

10. Position and attach the wheat curl unit on top

of the frame, then position and attach the Gather

word cut on top.

Here is the completed card, in folded position.

Here card is shown in its flat position to slide into

an envelope for mailing or giving.

THANKFUL WHEAT SIDE STEP CARD

11. Prepare the card base by carefully folding along

perforation lines as shown, bending back as

"mountain" folds on the left side center fold,

at the top, bottom and center left folds.

Bend forward as "valley" folds on the remaining two lines . . .

. . . according to the diagram as shown.

NOTE that it is a little tricky to fold in different directions
on the same round shape, and will require a little
manipulation to allow portions not being folded to extend
away as the folds are bent.

With folds started, force the side steps into their finished
positions . . . 

. . . and apply pressure with a folding tool or
finger tip pressure to ensure crisp folds.
Here is the "arial" view.

12. Layer and attach the front and back contrast scallop 

shapes with corresponding faux stitch shapes, using

straight cut edges as alignment guides

13. Position and attach the front assembly onto

the front panel of the case base, using straight 

cut side edge or perforation lines to align accurately.

NOTE it may be easiest to position and attach

these assemblies as the card base is flat on work surface.

14. Position and attach the back unit in similar manner.

15. Position and attach the side contrast shapes into
corresponding step panels, using upper cut edges
to align with panel perforation or cut edges.

16. Assemble the frame by layering the front frame

over the contrast margin middle layer, using

outer edges to align, then . . . 

. . . position and attach to the whole frame base.

17. Assemble the wheat stalks unit by layering
and attaching the middle unit on top of the base unit 
(with square) and then the front unit . . . 

. . . using straight 
edges to position and align.

18. Assemble the quilt square by layering and

attaching the star cutout shape over the base shape . . .

. . . with the frame on top. Take care to align

the hole punches of each layer.

Position and attach the pentagon shape

over the star cutout.

19. Position and attach the quilt square over
the square base of the wheat assembly.

20. Thread thin twine or perle cotton thick thread
through the punch holes, and tie a knot and bow.
21. Position and attach the wheat/quilt square assembly
over the center of the frame unit.

22. Position the frame assembly over the card front

with the side tip aligned at the mid fold 

on the left, and . . .

. . . the lower right curved edge barely hiding

the step-to-cut corner on the right, and glue in place.

23. Position and attach the stars and circle punches
onto the back step edge where the accent panel
indicates with cut outs.

24. If you have chosen to use a built-up "thankful"
word cut, layer and attach the shapes into a stack
and press under a flat weight until dry.

25. Position the word cut onto the front step . . .

. . . aligning it so that the drop portion of the 'f'

clears the front fold and . . .

. . . end 'l' does not extend beyond the side edges.

Here is the completed card in its rocker folded shape.

Here the card is shown in its flat position for

inserting into an envelope for sending or giving.

Thanksgiving Impossible Cards Quartet

Impossible Card is the name of this style card 

the base of which is cut in one shape and then 

one panel is "rotated" to produce 

the pop-up center panel. 

(Select a sturdy solid card stock paper for the card base

so that the rotation required will present

the same color on face and reverse sides

which BOTH show on the front of card when completed.)

Designs include: Cornucopia Stencil, Pumpkins with Fence, 

Acorn Raffia Half Wreath, Pilgrim Hat.

Card bases measure 5x7, but center "stand up" 

will alter that flat measurement. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
(NOTE: the card designs will be presented in this order -
Pilgrim Hat, Cornucopia, Acorn Wreath, Pumpkins.
Initial assembly steps that are common to all
will ONLY be presented with the Pilgrim Hat assembly,
and referred back to.)

PILGRIM HAT CARD
ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes.

2. Prepare the impossible care base. First,

position the card as shown, with the center split cut

at the bottom edge, the shaped center toward top,

with the "upright" L and reversed L arms on top sides.

Next, rotate the left front half of card downward

and toward the back, until . . . 

. . . the half cut edge is finally at center back,
and the left L upright is at the left front edge.
This is the FINISHED layout of the card base.

3. Position the reverse L offset accent shapes

within the base L areas as shown, and attach.

4. Position and attach each of the plaque center shapes

onto the base accent plaque shapes.

5. Prepare to lock the arms of the card base shape 

into final position by using a straight edge ruler or

grid mat to position the card so that front edges

are all aligned on a straight edge, and that

side edges are perpendicular, and on the grid.

6. Reverse the plaque assembly shapes, and center

under the space between L arms.

Mark the position of the opening edges left

and right (on backside).

NOTE: this is being demonstrated with a different

card design from the Pilgrim Hat.

7. Turn plaque assembly face side up 
bridging the gap, and equal distance from
pop up and card front, and
glue the ends in place on bottom panels.
8. Rotate the card, realign on grid, position
and attach back plaque.

9. Assemble the hat decoration:

a) position and attach brim strip;

b) position and attach hatband lower edge ONLY,
then tuck leaf stem, swirl and wheat stalk ends
under band as each is positioned and attached to hat,
then complete attachment of hat band.

c) position and attach buckle over band at center.

10. Position the hat assembly over the pop-up

shape at card base center, align side edges,

and attach in place.

11. Position and attach "blessed" word cut.

12. Position and attach hat back shape

over the back side of pop up.

13. Prepare the optional stand shape by bending
on the vertical body perforation and 
on the end tab perf line.

14. To attach the easel stand, position the straight

edge contiguous to the bottom tab snugly

 behind the pop up shape and toward the center

enough that A) it doesn't extend beyond the card edge

when folded flat; and B) is the least conspicuous

when the card is viewed from the back,

then attach the tab in place.

When standing, the pop up leans slightly

backward against the stand

To fold the card flat for sending or storage,

the pop up folds forward and the stand can

un-open to flat configuration, and be folded toward

the edge of the card.

CORNUCOPIA STENCIL
15. Follow steps 1-8 for card construction
that is similar or identical; also step 13 for
stand preparation and attachment, etc.

16. Prepare the cornucopia overlay shapes

by adding the bend to the vine loop below

pumpkin that extends below the base edge.

One way to do this is to lay a straight edge

along the base edge, then . . . 

. . . carefully lift the vine extending beyond edge
and bend upward/forward (along the tiny perf cuts
that are there in the design). 

17. Position the front stencil overlay on the pop up

extension of card base, taking care to align all

outer edges and interior cutout shapes . . . 

. . . with bottom vine loop folded out of the way

slightly, and when alignment is as perfect as possible,

attach the overlay in place.

Position and attach the vine extension to

L shape where it ends up.

18. Repeat step 17 for the backside stencil overlay.

19. Position and attach the "thanksgiving" word cut.

Prepare and attach the self stand, if needed

(the pop up for this design is not as heavy

as others in the Thanksgiving set, and may

stand well without it).

ACORN HALF WREATH

20. Follow steps 1-8 for card construction

that is similar or identical; also step 13 for
stand preparation and attachment, etc.

21. Identify the vine layers with acorn silhouettes

for layering order. Each layer includes

circle punches to indicate order:

one punch is first - or bottom - layer.

Two punches is second, etc.

22. Assemble the half arches in order,

carefully overlapping and aligning the acorn

silhouette portions and base straight edge.

Attach the acorn silhouette overlaps and

bottom "bar" overlaps together as layers are added.

23. Identify and arrange the three acorn units.

Shapes shown here are assembled 

from bottom upward, 

with bottom whole silhouette as build-on base.

Complete A-D to assemble three acorn units.

A. Position the half shape (cream - shows as
the "light" part of the half-checker accent) 
over the whole base with matching edges
aligned. NOTE: the highlight cutout
will allow the base shape to show through
to the finished acorn front.
Also, the "nut" shape shown here
was inadvertently reversed
and is shown here upside-down.

B. Position and attach the next half shape
(green - shows as "dark" part of half-checker row)
on top of the assembly, carefully lining up
the matching edges. 

C. Position and attach the "nut" half shape.

D. Finally position and attach the cap shape.

24. Position each acorn unit atop an acorn silhouette
on the vine half arch assembly.

25. Position the half-arch shape over the center

pop up of card base assembly, matching up

outer edges that correspond, using the top cap

knob to help register the shape.

NOTE: the bottom straight edge should sit

slightly above the perforation and fold line

of the pop up base to allow it to bend freely.

26. Position and attach the "Gathering" script

word cut, taking care that bottom edges

do not extend beyond pop up edge.

Here is the completed card.

(This pop up design is heavy enough that

it probably is best to prepare and attach stand.)

PUMPKINS & FENCE

27. Follow steps 1-8 for card construction
that is similar or identical; also step 13 for

stand preparation and attachment, etc.

28. Prepare the fence by positioning and attaching

the cross beams over corresponding portion

of fence cut outs.

29. Prepare pumpkin accents by positioning and
attaching the tiny stems to each.
30. Position and tack only the pumpkins 
onto the fence assembly with bottom edges 
slightly above fence bottom edge.

31. Position the vine shapes as desired or

following the completed card image, tucking ends

under the pumpkin edges, with swirls and leaves

overlapping on fronts. When preferred arrangement

is achieved, glue vines and pumpkins

completely in place.

32. Position the fence assembly shape

over matching shape on pop up, align edges

that correspond, and attach in place.

33. Prepare the "floating" happy harvest word arch

by positioning and attaching the word cuts

over corresponding edges atop the clear vinyl

or acetate cutout panel as shown using

appropriate adhesive.

NOTE: if preferred, the word cuts can be

arranged behind the top of the fence pop up

and attached where there is overlap.

34. Position the word panel behind the pop up
extension, with the bottom straight edge a tiny bit
above the perforation line (to allow free bending),
and with side straight edges even, and attach.

35. On the card backside, position and attach

the back simple fence shape to clear panel

where fence-shaped edges will align.

Here is the completed card.