Pop it Ups

Pop it Ups Wednesday With Shelly – Steampunk Birthday Pull Card

January 11, 2017

Hi all! It’s Shelly Hickox here today to share a grungy masculine card that is perfect for any man in your life. I’ve started with one of my favorite dies from Karen Burniston – the Oval Pull Card – then incorporated more of my favorite dies, stamps, and stencils to create a steampunk birthday card.

When the card is in the closed position, it hints at what is hidden inside, but the real magic happens when the recipient pulls it open!

A cool little steampunk balloon attached to a ruler slides across the card, revealing a hidden message stamped on a tag, plus more gears and other grungy details. So fun! Read on to see how to create this card.

Cut a piece of manila cardstock to 8.5″ x 5.5″. Color the panel by pressing Distress ink onto a nonstick craft sheet, spritzing it with water, and laying your card panel into the ink. Let dry completely, then score down the center.
Create a panel for the front of the card by cutting an oval from Rich Black cardstock and embossing it with the Gears die (not shown). You can find a tutorial for this technique here. Adhere panel to front of card.
Flip the card over to the inside. Align the nubs of the Oval Pull Card die with the center score line and die cut. Use the slot punch from the same set to cut the opening for the slider mechanism. Stamp gear images onto panel using black ink.
Use the medium sized tag from the Tag Pull Card die set to cut two tags from cork and two from black cardstock. Stamp as shown and adhere cork tag to black tag, shifting it slightly to create a shadow layer.
Die cut several gears from silver and gold Shimmer Sheetz using dies from the Clock and Gears die set. Sand lightly and sponge with permanent black ink to give an aged appearance. Reminder: A metal adaptor plate or Big Shot machine with Precision Base Plate are REQUIRED for die cutting Shimmer Sheetz. Review Els van de Burgt’s YouTube tutorial if you are new to this technique.
Die cut the Hot Air Balloon from silver Shimmer Sheetz and Rust and Rich Black Soft Finish cardstock. Assemble, adding stitching details with a black marker, and screw brads as shown.
Cut two slider arms from Rich Black cardstock using the die from the Oval Pull Card set. Cover with a strip of measuring tape washi tape.

8. Assemble your card by folding all score lines. Thread slider arm through the slot and adhere to the left side of the card. Adhere the balloon to the other end.

9. Adhere the other slider mechanism to the bottom of the card as shown (this is just a decoration) and attach a metal plaque. Adhere the stamped tag to the card, making sure the balloon is able to move freely.

10. Complete the card by adding gears as shown, using foam dots on some to give them dimension. Thread black and white baker’s twine through the hole in tag and attach tag to oval panel.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my masculine steampunk birthday card and are inspired to make one yourself! You could also change the colors and make this into a great Valentine’s Day card for your favorite guy.