Easy Interactive Card Tutorial

Interactive Slider Card

I love interactive books and cards and this particular tutorial is for a super simple easy to make interactive mechanism which can be used in cards,scrapbooks or even a school chart like we have done .

Kinetic slider card

The pic I have used to illustrate the sliding mechanism in this interactive card is of our  Lhasa-apso Snowy who is sitting majestically on the bed posing for the photo!
Yesterday my 7 year old  had to take a chart on "time measuring devices" to her school.

Clocks school project

She had to write interesting facts for each type of clock and we made interactive sliders below each clock picture to pack in all the extra information and still keep the chart "clean"!!

Clock Interactive school project

It was fun reading up about various crazy types of clocks [ Have you heard of an incense clock or a calibrated candle clock?!!]

Interactive school project

Rather than type out the "facts' like we had done in the Festivals of India school project this time my kiddo proudly used her own cutie handwriting on all her hidden sliders!

Clock school project

As the center focus of her school chart we made an interactive clock with moving hands using a split pin [brad]

Interactive clock

We also made an interactive "princess" swinging pendulum clock using a hidden brad

Interactive School chart

How to make an easy Interactive Card

Each photo we used in the school chart has a pull tab which when pulled slides out to reveal a hidden message.

This slider mechanism is quite easy to make but I am posting lots of step by step photos so that it may benefit a "non crafter" too!!

Interactive card tutorial

Materials required

• Thick sturdy card stock [Indian readers- ask for Ivory sheets in stationary shops] - size depends on the size of your picture
• Scissors
• Double sided foam tape - the narrow 1 cm variety is the best for slider cards
• Glue

If you want to make a slider for photos ..paste the photo on card stock and create the slider mechanism on the other side of the card.

Interactive card tutorial

Stick double sided tape on 3 sides of the card leaving one side open for your slider

Interactive card tutorial

Cut a card strip to loosely fit within the area framed by the foam tape

Interactive card tutorial

To make a stopper mechanism for your slider strip stick squares of foam tape at the slider opening as shown above

Interactive card tutorial

Cut off approximately 1/2 inch strips off your slider strip at the top and bottom edges as shown leaving around an inch on one side to  get a T shaped slider

Interactive card tutorial

Test if your slider moves freely by sliding it in and out of the foam tape framed card.

Easy Interactive Card Tutorial

The T stopper of the slider strip bears the maximum wear and tear in this type of slider card so it needs to be strengthened.To do this fold and stick as shown above

Easy Interactive Card Tutorial

Your slider mechanism is ready. You can trim excess lengths of your slider strip at the region where you will pull it.
Keep the T slider strip within the foam framed area and Peel off the paper from the foam tape,taking care the T slider doesnt stick to the tape.
Stick to a base card or a sturdy chart to make your fun kinetic card.

Kinetic card tutorial

Of all the types of clocks ,my daughter was terribly fascinated by the water clock also called the Clepsydra and wanted me to make a 3 D model but we compromised by making an interactive water clock!

The water clock also works on a sliding mechanism.On pulling the  slider strip the shiny holographic water empties from the container!!

Slider card

I modified the basic slider card tutorial explained above to make this interactive water clock!

I hope this interactive card tutorial comes in handy to add a bit of fun in card making ,scrapbooking or to jazz up any type of presentation at school,college or office!

Do tell me how you liked it!
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