Inky Inspirations: Fish Tank Pop Up

This fabulous card was born from a hospital trip with my son!!! I have seen this design on pinterest a number of times but it is always just one mechanism and is usually something like a vase of flowers. Anyone that has ever had a teenage boy knows that conversation can be minimal especially when they are being forced to do something that removes them from tings that they enjoy, such as a hospital trip! When I finally resigned myself to the fact that I would be getting no more conversation I started to look around and saw a huge floor to ceiling fish tank but did not really pay it much attention. I finally got my phone out and started to scroll on pintrest and saw the vase card again and had a light bulb moment! I have make a double mechanism and make a fish tank!!!

And so my fish tank card was born

There is of course a video tutorial up on my YouTube channel

Card making supplies

Sweet November stamps hoodie stamp set

Sweet November stamps the guppies Stamp Set

Made to surprise sentiment die

Made to Surprise North Star Embossing Folder

Distress Oxide in Uncharted Marina, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Lucky clover and pine needles

Time For Tea Designs Circles Dies

Flat Backed Clear Gems

Card Making Instructions

Begin with a sheet of card which you want to be the card base. This should measure 8 by 8 1/4. This needs scoring on the shorter edge at 4 inch and burnishing

I added Mats and Layers. For my pattern I used a slightly lighter blue which I had embossed using the north star embossing folder ( It is the only 8 inch embossing folder I can find! I appear to have lost an entire bag full!)

The silver mat measured 8 by 3 3/4

The embossed layer measured 7 3/4 by 3 1/2

You then need 2 pieces of card to create the mechanism measuring 2 by 7 3/4 inch

On the long edge score both of these at 1/2, 3 3/4 and 7 inch.

Turn so the 1/2 inch score line is at the top and score up to the 1/2 inch score line at 1/2 and 1 1/2 inch

Tuen this around so the opposite short edge is at the top and score down to the second score line at 5/8th inch and 1 3/8th inch

See video for clarity but you then need to cut away the middle upto the 1/2 inch mark

Then cut away the outer edges of the other side so it looks like below. (See video for clarity)

The mats for these measure 1 3/4 by 3.

Using your bone folder tease these into a rounded shape

You need the long tab on your right hand side and you need to attach a piece of thin acetate measuring 3 by 7 1/2 inch to the inside. This needs to be really flimsy not the usual strong stuff we use. This is almost the thickness of food packaging

I attached the sand to the inside using clear glue

Using the blue distress oxides I swashed these onto a glass mat, squirted with water and rubbed a piece of white card measuring 7 by 2 1/4 inch through the inks.

I allowed this to dry and repeated with the greens.

This was then adhered one inch from the centre fold of the card base

Lay your top mechanism on the card so you can see what space you have to work with and glue on your fishes.

I glued someone the acetate and some onto the green

You need 2 pieces of the blue card you cut away from the mechanism and cut to 2 inch, Score both at 1/2 and 1 1/2.

Lay the mechanism so the long tab end is in line with the centre fold and glue the top and bottom tab you have just created so that the long tab goes through the middle and can move freely. Line the piece with the glue on up with the right hand edge of the green card. See video for clarity

Once both mechanisms are secured, put glue on the 2 small tabs and fold the rounded part back towards the centre. These two tabs want to be in line with the left hand edge of the green. This should mean that when folded flat the right hand edge of the mechanism is in line with the right hand edge of the card base

Place glue on the 2 tabs that are left on the mechanism, ensure they are in line with the centre fold of the card base. Trim if needed. Then add glue and fold the card base closed.