How to Make Pop Up Cards With Quickutz Silhouette

Add pop-up elements to your handmade cards.

Pop-up greeting cards are fun to make and are always well received. Use one of the many ready-made designs that are available to create cards for every occasion or, if you are feeling creative, use your Quickutz Silhouette to cut your own designs. Pop-up cards are surprisingly simple to make and once you have grasped the basics, you will find you are soon creating highly ornate and complex cards which make lovely and thoughtful keepsakes

Things You'll Need

• Quickutz Silhouette cutting machine
• Cardstock
• Scrap paper
• Card scorer (bone folder)
• Ruler
• Design for cutting

Instructions

1. Open the Quickutz Silhouette software and create a new file pressing the 'New File' button on the left of the tool bar. Create a document the same size as your cardstock (remember that the cardstock will be folded when complete to form a greeting card). Open 'My Library' and pick the desired design. Click on the design and place the design in your new document. Resize the design if required.

2. Open the 'Controller' and under 'Media Type' select the weight of the paper or cardstock that you are using. It is best to do a test cut onto scrap or waste paper first. Change the cutting blade adjustment cap if this is indicated on the screen.

3. Place the cardstock or paper onto the cutting mat and load this into the Quickutz Silhouette machine and cut the design. If you have cut a test piece, check that the design works well and make any final adjustments before cutting the design from quality cardstock.

4. Use a card scorer (bone folder) and ruler to score and then fold the card as required. The pop-up elements of the card will fold outwards. Finish the card by adding embellishments and sentiments as required.

Tips & Warnings

• Scoring the cardstock before folding will ensure that you create good crisp folds. This is important and will make the pop-up stand out correctly.

• If you do not have a card scorer or bone folder, use the end of a knitting needle or an empty ballpoint pen.

• Adapt your favorite designs for use in pop-up cards by editing the shapes to ensure that some of the design remains attached to the cardstock.

• Use simple designs while you build up confidence before moving onto more intricate pop-up projects.

• The cutting blades of the Quickutz Silhouette are very sharp and should always be handled with care.

References

• Silhouetette Machine: Manufacturer's website)

Resources

• Making Greeting Cards: Handmade card ideas and tutorials
• Silhouetette Machine: Tutorials