Pop Up Stage Technique

Hello all, it's time for another interactive card!  This card looks rather complicated but is very simple to make.  I created another Halloween card.  This one uses stamps by Rubbernecker and MFT and features a little punch art as well.  The first shot is what the card looks like on the outside.  There is a belly band that wraps around the outside of the card to hold it closed.  Please see the step by step instructions below to make a Pop Up Stage card.

Pop-Up Stage Instructions:

1) The base is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" (night of navy) folded in half.  The pop up stage is 5 1/2" x 5" (green print).  Score along the shorter side at 1/2", 4" and 4 1/2".

2) Use your fiskars cutter or a ruler and xacto knife to cut several slits into the top.  Make slit a little longer than 1/2".  Choose the number of figures or object you are going to put on the stage and cut those many slits.  Keep in mind that the figures on the stage should not be taller than the measurement from the slit  to the outer edge of the stage, otherwise, when you close the card, the figures will be peeking out from inside the card.

3) Add score tape (or glue, sticky strip, etc.) to the outer 1/2" sections as shown.  Apply the tape along the score line. 

4) Adhere the stage piece to the inside of the card base.  Line up the bottom of the stage piece along the center fold of the card base as shown.

5) Cut several pop up tabs 1/2" x 2".  Cut as many tabs as you need for all of the slits on the stage.  Score one end at 1/2" and add score tape at the score line.

6) Pull the backing off the score tape and carefully put the tab into a slot.  Make sure that the little tab is facing the center of the card as shown.  While holding the card open at a 90 degree angle, carefully adhere the tab to the card base so that it's parallel to the card back.

7) Once all of the tabs are in place, fold the stage edge under and adhere to the card base as shown. The card will fold nice and flat if you fold the stage end under, remove the backing on the sticky strip and then carefully close the card. Smooth and flatten card closed.  The edge of the stage will ahere to the base of the card as shown.

8) This is what the card looks like when it's fully opened flat.

9)This is what the card looks like when opened at a 90 degree angle.  Now you can decorate with your own images.  Remember that the height of the figure can not exceed the length from the base of the tab to the outer edge of the stage, or it will stick out when the card is closed.

I embellished my card with grass that I cut using an MFT die.  The tombstones were created by punching a Stampin' Up! Wide Oval punch and cutting off the bottom.  Snip away some little wedges to look like a crack.  Use a zig pen to draw on some cracks and RIP.  Sponge the edges with basic grey ink.  The mummy and greeting is from Rubbernecker and the tree and owl is from My Favorite Things.

For the belly band, cut a strip that is 3" x 12" and another that is 1 1/2 x 12".  Wrap the wider band around the closed card and tape ends together with score tape (but make sure not to get it stuck to the card base).  Wrap the smaller band around the center of the wider band and tape. The witch is by Rubbernecker and was watercolored with stampin up ink pads and a blender pen.

Are you a visual learner?  Check out the instructional video HERE.

MORE POP-UP STAGE IDEAS:

Dancing Penguins

Winter Wonderland
Snowmany Thanks