Pop Up Teacup Cards - revisited

This was so popular last year that I thought it deserved to be revisited. Spring is in the air! AND - Anna Griffin has just come out with her version of a pop-up teacup very much like the one I sent her last year that she highlighted on one of her 'Fan Mail Friday' shows https://annagriffin.com/fan-mail-friday-easels-birthday-cards-and-more/ starting at position 9:20 on the video.

ENJOY my free pattern by clicking the link on the right! -----> And check out all my pop up teacup cards by clicking the link above. ^  Thanks!

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I spent a long 4th of July weekend designing these cards. I was inspired by the pop up cards engineering and the little paper teacups I've seen. The biggest difference with my card is that is folds flat. It's not just a paper sculpture, it's a 5" x 7" greeting card that you can mail.

The pattern I made is only three pieces to make the cup but you can add as many embellishments as you want like little tea bags, spoon, doilies and a ton of flowers and butterflies. You could even add some candy or a little napkin.

There are so many ways to make this card unique so I'll be making more of them. I've used a lot of Anna Griffin embellishments on them. The flowers are from her Vintage Collage Card Toppers and I've used her spoon die and teabag from her Tea Party Cut and Emboss Dies. I did the doily from Cricut Design Space and I got my butterflies from the public domain.

Click on the "FREE Pattern" button on the right to go get it. For mobile users, click on this page link.

Those Little Red Trucks

They were so popular last year and apparently just as popular this year too. If you can find them at your fav DT then you'll probably want to get a few to make this adorable truck. I couldn't find any in my area so I just cut out the shape on heavy card and made my own.

I cut out two on cereal box weight card and painted them red. I used aluminum tape to cut out the hub caps for the wheels and put some red glitter on the fenders. I got out my popsicle sticks and cut them about 5 inches long and glued them between the two trucks with a hot glue gun all around.

It's just that easy. A little paint and a little sign hand drawn on the sides makes it pop. I also added a little tree and wreath for the front of the truck.

So yes you can make your own even if you can't find what you want locally. Add some mini lights and you have a light up decoration. I added wood rails to my truck bed so use your imagination and have fun with this one.

How To Make a Glam Deer - part 2

PART 2

I cut out the cardboard first and make sure the ridges are going in the right direction to bend the head, body and neck into round shapes. I cut the fabric pieces a little larger so I can wrap the edges over the cardboard. I don't measure the fabric, I use the cardboard as a guide and cut the fabric about a half inch longer than the edges. Then I tape the edges of the cardboard pieces together before I add fabric to the cardboard. I only glue the edges of the fabric overlapping underneath the belly, the underside of the head and the front of the neck. Then I apply glue to the inside of the tube edges and fold the fabric over.

Here are the dimensions of the cardboard pieces:

body - 5" x 8"
head - 2" x 6"
neck - 4-1/2" - 1-1/4" lengthwise from the center top, angle a downward cut on each side to almost half of the side so the head will angle up or down when it's attached as shown
body end pieces - cut two circles 2-1/2" across
head end piece - cut one circle 2" across

DANCER

The round end pieces are cut out and covered with fabric that has been cut slightly larger to fold over the edges and glue. After all is covered with fabric, I poke holes into the bottom near the edges on each end and push the dowels through about an inch, making sure the deer sits even on all fours. I hot glue them from inside the tube and let them set before I hot glue the end pieces on.

DASHER

I also tape up the nose end of the head and only finish the edge of the antlers/ears end. Then I cut slits in the top of the nead near the back and hot glue the antlers from the inside to hold them in place. I cover the end with the fabric covered circle and carefully hot glue it in place. The nose end has fabric hanging over it and needs to be stuffed with cotton or batting before gathering the edge up. I sew it but you could just glue it. It's easier and looks better to sew it. I then put a little cardboard circle covered with fabric over the stitching. (You will have to hot glue the fabric seam together under the chin.)

DONNER

I shape the neck piece into an oval and now that all the pieces are finished, they can be glued together. You can give your glam deer some attitude by positioning the head and legs.

PRANCER

I decorate with ribbons, faux leather belts and bells. I used florist's wire to make a little ring for the collar so I could attach my bell.

Don't forget to add that little pinecone tail! And don't forget the ears either. To make the ears you just fold up a 1" x 2" scrap into thirds lengthwise and bring the ends together. Hold with a dab of glue and then glue the edges to the head as shown.

Tip: It's faster and easier to gather and assemble several deers at one time than it is to do one deer at a time because you only have to get out your materials and put them away once. I usually do it assembly line fashion to make 6 at a time.


RUDOLPH

You can put a little button cell light in the nose of a reindeer and paint it red with alcohol inks for Rudolph's nose.

RUDOLPH

Instead of filling out the nose with cotton or fabric scraps, you make a similar shape by cutting a 2" styrofoam ball in half and hollow out the center for the bulb to fit inside, making sure it has enough room to turn without touching the sides. You can get these lights on Amazon. They look like little bullets and go in chinese lanterns, wedding decorations and balloon lanterns. The ends twist to make a battery connection and that's how they light up.

I covered my styrofoam with paper clay and painted it gold when it was dry. Then I just glued the fabric over it. I hot glued the light to a cardboard circle inside the head, careful not to glue the moving parts.

Now Rudolph can lead the team and his nose lights up - LIKE A LIGHT BULB!

How To Make a Glam Deer - part 1

PART 1

There are so many little parts that go with making my glam deers but I tried to use a lot of my stash. I"ve been saving bits and pieces for years to make things like this. You could make these as simple or complicated as you want. Here's the supply list:

cardboard box cut into pieces
fabric scraps
glue gun and hot melt glue
dowels 1/4" x 6"
glitter
tacky glue or mod podge
ribbons
small pinecones
florist wire
small bells

CUPID

   

BLITZEN

Just about all the supplies can be bought at the Dollar Tree except for fabric scraps and glue gun. Or just use what you have on hand. You can substitute dowels with sticks you find outdoors, etc.

VIXEN

The first step is to cut out the cardboard and fabric but you might want to pre-make the antlers and paint the dowels and set them aside to dry. The antlers are glued over a pattern you draw on parchment or silicone. You just squeeze out hot glue in the shape of an antler and let it cool. Peel it off, turn it over and do the other side if you want a rounded thicker antler. Repeat to make 2 antlers for each deer. When they cool off you can add glitter to them.

COMET

I paint my deer legs with metallic acrylic paints, stick them into a piece of foam and let them dry. Then I add leather strips to the foot end and glue with a little piece of fuzzy material at the top to look like fur lining.

What Am I Working On Now?

Hmmm.... what indeed.

Believe it or not, these are reindeer antlers. I recently saw a YouTube DIY where these antlers were made so I was inspired to make some reindeer of my own.

To make the antlers you use hot glue. I didn't have parchment paper to make them on so I used an old silicone baking mat I had. The glue will not stick to either surface and you can peel it up after it hardens. I traced out an antler pattern right onto the silicone with a white gel pen. Then I just added glue and let it set. I flipped mine over when they were solid and put more glue on the backs to make them sturdier.

I will just add glitter as needed when I put my "Glam Deers" together. My Christmas theme this year is going to be Wildlife Forest. So I have paper mache animals hanging on my wall, a deer with antlers, a bear, porcupines and various sisal animals, and about half a dozen pencil trees with various rustic or "farmhouse" type decorations, trucks, etc. I even made a pinecone pencil tree about 3 foot tall to decorate. I even made some little felt animals to hang on one tree with pinecones and berries.

I have a larger deer made and a smaller table deer in buffalo check already done but I wanted to make some fabulous sequined and blinged out little reindeer to give as gifts. I'm doing Dollar Tree gift baskets this year but they needed a personal touch.

It gives me a chance to use some of my beautiful fabric remnants that I've been hoarding for doll clothes. Time to use the stash! I have beautiful velvets and brocades with metallic prints and all kinds of fancy glittered tulle and lame fabrics that I get as remnants in smaller amounts for half price.

Next, I'm going to cut out all the pieces and start putting them together.

Paper Clay Santas

So besides making cards, paper is a wonderful medium for creating all kinds of things. I recently discovered a paper clay that dries almost hard as a rock. It's pretty wonderful stuff for making little gifts like toppers for trinket gift boxes or Christmas ornaments..

I got the free instructions from bhg.com but the page is no longer there. You start with a 1-1/2" styrofoam ball and cut it in half for the body. Attach a 1" ball to the top of it with a toothpick.

Push two short dowel pieces into the bottom for legs and bend florist's wire into arms and stick into each side. Then all you do is cover the shapes with paper clay and smooth it out. When it's dry, you add more details with a little bit more paper clay for facial features, clothing and shoes..

I glued mine to a piece of card to make it stand up. Let the piece dry thoroughly before you paint it. I put mine near a register over night and they are dry by morning. You can put these on a paper mache trinket box and they make wonderful little gifts.

This acrylic paint from the Dollar Tree gives good coverage and has a satin sheen when it dries. I love the texture of it although it only comes in primary colors.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Another Teacup Card

Just a little get away from the spooky stuff. I know it's Halloween this month but I'm almost out of spooky ideas and cards so I thought since I'm missing spring so much and all the flowers (and it's not even winter yet) that I would just show another pretty teacup card.

Doesn't this card make you wish for spring again?

So maybe the next post will be something spooky for this month but - I don't know. I'm already working on Christmas Santas and snowmen...