birthday pop up

This pop up was a fun make — proved challenging at times, but overall, worked out as planned. Based on a Pinterest inspo and made using a go-to file from Simply Crafty SVGs. You can find the Valentine Gnome box card file on Creative Fabrica.

I changed the wrap around piece to a straight across piece and added a half circle edging across the top in SCAL 6. Once that piece was finalized, I copied that piece and then cut the bottom third off and added some small ovals using back minus front and union. Then made a few adjustments using the node tool to finish the icing for the cake. Remove the scoring lines from the icing piece. You won’t need them or the tab on the end. You can use the knife tool to remove it or leave it and use some scissors after cutting to take it.

The inside part of the box weren’t altered. No inserts were used on the bottom tier — and the cutouts don’t alter the support as the base and can’t be seen when the 2nd tier is glued in place.

The inserts were adapted by cutting off the pieces that would have supported the elements used in the original design. You can glue the candles to the tabs and the transparency has a long enough insert that it can be secured with some double sided tape and you don’t need to cut that tab/insert unless you want to.

A blocky font was selected for the HAPPY and BIRTHDAY. He turns 15 this year and so we added that as well. All lettering and the candles were cut in white and then colored with markers. A bit of Mod Podge was brushed across the top of each letter and number for a little more gloss.

Just a note: A previous test of the design was done in cardstock. The red cardstock was just a little too heavy and didn’t adapt to the folding/training as well as I’d hoped. However, after another 24 hours of training, it’s holding much better, but being the impatient sole I am, I did a print and cut version in a slightly lighter weight and had better luck there almost immediately. The version shown above is the print and cut version.

The base tier is cut at 100% and the second tier is cut at 85%. Both tiers can be cut using a single 8.5 x 11 sheet if you’re doing a single color base — white on white or pink on pink, etc. The candles and lettering/numbers can be cut on a single sheet as well. Alcohol markers were used for colors and some inking along the edges of the inserts, icing and inside box were also done to add a little more depth to the cakes.

Assemble using the video as a guide. Do not put the wrap or icing on the botton tier until you’ve glued the 2nd tier to the base. While the bottom tier is standing, apply glue to the base of the second tier also open and standing. Center on the top of the base and once the glue has had a few seconds to grab hold, fold the base to flatten. Place a weight on top and allow the glue to dry. You may need to retrain the pop up a bit, but it should open and shut as designed. Now add the wrap and the icing and any additional elements that you have chosen to add to your design to the base.

If you use pop up dots, you’ll need a boxy envelope. This is added postage if you send it through the mail system. But we’re offering hand delivery on this one. 🙂

Have an awesome day — hoping it’s a crafty and creative one for you.

good, great and greater

3 Positives:
Surgery on time yesterday – grateful it wasn’t his good eye they were working on.
AC tech called — we have an appointment for…. Friday!
We have fans that are super helpful in the mornings
Cold supper – chicken, 2 salads, and watermelon for dessert
BONUS: Studio time today, I hope.

Our Journey notes:
T’s surgery went as planned… but dr still worried about the pressures (IOP). He hopes breaking up the scar tissue helped, but he still couldn’t see a reason for the bleb not to be working. Patch and shield come off this morning at the first post-op and a first IOP reading. Let’s hope it’s down where it needs to be and stays there from this point on. T slept for most of the afternoon. His nurses for the day were amazing! We listened to another episode of the Ken Burns Civil War documentary on PBS last evening. T seemed to enjoy it and had some additional interesting tidbits to add from things he remembered from our visit to Virginia about 15 years ago.

Good energy is Contagious!

3 Positives:
Sleep – and lots of it.
a little reading time
Grateful! Fans to the rescue!*

Our Journey Notes:
T has the time for tthe time for check in at the surgical center on Monday. Sounds like a packed schedule for the day.

The shingles shot did me in again. Fever, headache and lots of pain at the injection site. Same as in April. Happy to be done with the vaccines for now. Feeling better this morning. Lots to catch up on today.

*The AC went out. No callback from the warranty company as it was a holiday, so calling the emergency line this morning. The temp on the main floor is in the 80’s still — we have windows open, ceiling fans going and two large fans trying to circulate the air.

Never hurts to keep an extra in your pocket

3 Positives:
BLTs the first of the season
a little more sleep than the night before
Even though yesterday’s studio time didn’t turn out as hoped, It was a good attempt.

Our Journey Notes:
Second Shingles shot in the books for me. Vaccinations done until fall. Arm is hurting a lot — it wasn’t a gentle stab.
T has today and Monday off. Pre-registration for the surgery on Monday completed. They didn’t ask for payment during that process, so assuming we’ll get that on Monday when he checks in at the surgical center. This site is more expensive than the other – but is closer to the dr’s office. Let’s hope they have the correct paperwork this go round. A previous time, wrong name and wrong insurance.