Easel Card with Kirigami Pop Up Card Instructions

Easel Card with Kirigami Pop up

This Easel Card with a Kirigami Pop up combines embossing, stamping and a self designed Kirigami pop up pattern! 

I hand embossed the roses using a gorgeous embossing plate Lisa Jane of MIM sent me as part of a giveaway win.

Embossed Rose

I used a wooden leaf stamp also sent from the UK by Lisa Jane[from MIM]to add red leaves.

So far I have made Kirigami cards using designs from books or the net - today I wanted my design to match the rose- leaf pattern so designed my own pattern-- It was fun and not as difficult as I thought.

Kirigami Pop up card Tutorial

I made the Kirigami Pop up pattern look "CAS" [Clean and Simple] and not too complicated! What do your say?

How to make a Kirigami Pop Up card
This is not the best of my tutorials as the light was atrocious while I made it and so didnt snap many pictures.If you need clarifications do let me know and I shall post clearer instructions in another Kirigami card tutorial.

Materials Required to make a Kirigami Pop up card

Paper: Use 180 g or lesser card stock - White , cream give the best effect in Kirigami pop up cards

For this pattern I just used a cream sheet from my daughters drawing book as my pattern is not elaborate and does not have much cutting involved. If your pattern has lots of cuts you need to use a card stock.I dont like to use very thick card stock as it doesnt fold very well.

White Glue: For kirigami pop up cards,the trick is to use a glue which is strong and fast drying. Use the minimal amount of glue but be sure to apply it evenly till the edges of your design.

Craft Knife: A sharp craft knife is essential- I don't recommend any brand- even cheap brands would do as long as the blade is new and sharp.

Cutting Surface: Use your Kitchen cutting board or a cutting mat if you have one.

Kirigami Pattern: There are many free patterns on the net if you Google it but today I will share how you can design a simple pattern yourself.
Draw a kirigami pattern
I wanted my Kirigami pop up to match my rose - leaf pattern so roughly drew a rose and leaf. For a kirigami pattern you need to have the top and the bottom a bit flat as these are the anchor points of your pop up so I designed the lower 2 petals flat and positioned the leaf to be slanting at the top

Kirigami Pop up card Tutorial

Draw some simple cutting patterns within your main image- I kept mine simple for this card.You can plan and draw your pattern on the reverse side so that you dont have to erase lines[just reverse your fold lines accordingly in that case]

Kirigami Pop up card Tutorial

Cut out areas as I have done her- dont cut out more as then you will compromise on the support of your pop up and your Kirigami Pop up may buckle.

Kirigami Pop up card Tutorial

Plan your creases.Now comes the maths! I am not a maths enthusiast [ that's why I became a doctor!!] but you need a bit of "paper engineering calculation" to get a pop up card right!
The blue  line will be the central crease [which lies on your card's central gully].Note that it does not run through the image.

The red lines- are valley folds and are the places where your popup is anchored to your base.
The green line- is a mountain fold. And its position is such that distances a= a.

Kirigami Pop up card Tutorial

Cut your Kirigami pop up pattern image all around except at the anchoring points shown by the dotted red lines.

Score creases at red and blue lines.

Fold and let the green crease occur naturally![So you can get around the maths too!!]

Kirigami Pop up card

Your Kirigami pop up pattern is ready.Apply glue till the edges and stick on a backing card of contrasting colors.