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Anastasiia Tysevych – Czech Republic
Tamara Morton – United Kingdom
Ready to make waves with your next handmade card? If you’ve been looking for an interactive card tutorial that’s equal parts impressive and achievable, you’re in the right place! Today, Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Evanjelene is sharing a stunning Window Pop-Up Card featuring our Ocean Blue Keepsake Collection. This step-by-step papercrafting project combines layered cardmaking techniques, interactive paper engineering, and beautifully detailed metal die cuts to create a handmade card that’s full of dimension, movement, and seaside charm. Whether you’re new to interactive cards or an experienced paper crafter searching for fresh inspiration, this versatile design is perfect for birthdays, thank-you cards, thinking-of-you greetings, or any occasion that deserves a delightful surprise.
“Hello, crafty friends!
If you know me, you know I’m a complete ocean girl. There is just something magical about waves, salty air and every beautiful shade of blue. So when I saw the Ocean Blue Keepsake Collection, I knew I had to turn it into something interactive!
Today we’re making a fun pop-up window card that’s easier than it looks. Grab your supplies, your favourite drink and let’s make something beautiful!
Make Waves with a Window Pop-Up Card
Materials Used
Part 1 – Making the Card Base
Cut a piece of Kraft cardstock to 8.5″ × 5″.
Now score it at:
This creates sections measuring:
The tiny 0.5″ flap is going to be our little helper later, so don’t cut it off, it has an important job!
Next, cut a window measuring approximately 3.5″ × 2.5″ in the front panel. You can either use a paper cutter with a craft knife or your favourite rectangle die.
Once that’s done, fold your score lines:
Give everything a nice burnish so your folds stay crisp.
Part 2 – Creating the Second Section
Now cut another piece of Kraft cardstock measuring 8″ × 5″.
Repeat exactly the same process except this time there’s no extra flap because Part 1 already has one.
Once both pieces are ready, glue the 0.5″ tab from Part 1 onto Part 2 to create one long card base.
Now comes my favourite part…
Decorate both sections using your favourite papers from the Ocean Blue Keepsake Collection.
Mix your patterns, layer them up and don’t be afraid to combine different blues. After all… the ocean has thousands of shades, so why should our card stop at one?
Part 3 – Making the Pop-Up Mechanism
Now for the fun magic!
Cut Kraft cardstock to:
9.5″ × 3.25″
Score at:
This gives you the following sections:
Before folding, cover everything except the first and last 0.5″ tabs with your chosen pattern papers.
Now fold the mechanism in this order:
Congratulations!
You’ve just made the pop-up mechanism!
Attach the two outside tabs to the inside of your card, making sure everything lines up neatly. Once you close and reopen your card, you’ll see the pop-up section spring to life.
Time to Decorate!
Create Depth Like the Ocean: One of the easiest ways to make an interactive card feel even more dynamic is to layer embellishments from front to back. Start with patterned paper in the background, build your pop-up mechanism, then finish with die-cut shells, seaweed, coral, sentiments, and dimensional accents. Varying the height of your layers with foam adhesive creates beautiful depth while allowing the pop-up feature to remain the star of the show. And don’t be afraid to mix multiple patterned papers—the ocean is filled with endless shades of blue, making this the perfect collection for playful layering.
This is where the card really starts to tell a story.
I used the Ocean Blue Keepsake Metal Dies and I absolutely adore how beautifully detailed they are. From delicate sea elements to all the tiny finishing touches, they add so much depth and dimension without any extra effort. They’re the perfect little details that make the entire project feel complete.
Add die cuts, shells, seaweed, frames, sentiments, layers and anything else that makes your ocean loving heart happy.
And that’s it!
I hope you enjoyed making this pop-up card as much as I did. If you’re anything like me and can’t resist an ocean inspired collection, this project is such a fun way to showcase all those gorgeous papers and intricate dies.
Now go make some waves… one card at a time!” ~Evanjelene
We hope this Window Pop-Up Card inspires you to try a new interactive technique and create something that’s just as fun to make as it is to give. A special thank you to Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Evanjelene for sharing this beautiful design and easy-to-follow process. If you recreate this project, we’d love to see it! Share your creations on social media by tagging @Graphic45 so our crafting community can celebrate your creativity. For even more cardmaking ideas, paper crafting tutorials, and inspiration featuring the Ocean Blue Keepsake Collection, be sure to explore the Graphic 45 blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Until next time, keep creating—and keep making waves!
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