It's so dark in here...

It's raining again.

Seems like it's been raining for a long time.

Dark.

Dreary.

Bleah.

Let's light a few candles shall we?

Ingredients: (all SU!) Stamps - Big Birthday Candle; Paper - Washington Apple DSP, Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White; Ink - Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron; Other - Vintage Brads, Basic Small Grommets (Occasions Mini), Fine Supernova Glitter, black gingham ribbon, Basic Black marker, dimensionals, eyelet border punch....and the SECRET INGREDIENT.

YES IT IS SO TOTALLY AWESOMELY GOJUS!!! (YILM!) But it gets better!

Is it any lighter where you are now that these candles are lit? Funny thing...

when I see candles like this....

I really really...

want...

a....

BIRTHDAY CAKE TO GO UNDER THEM!!!

Stampin' Up! told us earlier this month that we will be getting some new dies from Sissix. These are not exclusive to Stampin' Up!, but Stampin' Up! *will* be the first to release these dies. They will be available for you to purchase as of April 1st, but us demo types got to preorder them with our Occasions mini stuff. There are two dies:

I ordered the Three Tier Cake Pop-Up Bigz XL die, but not the 3-D Ball one. I received it last week and finally got to play with it this weekend.

Another view:

 

I was thinking of posting a tutorial for it, but the die itself comes with very good instructions with pictures of each step, so why reinvent the wheel? However, there were things I figured out about how to use this die, so I am here to give you tips about this die and pop-up cards in general.

•  The first thing to remember is that this is going to be a thick card. You will have to have a padded envelope to send it in or hand it to the person you are giving it to.
• The cutting area of the die is longer than 12", so you will need to use more than one piece of cardstock.
• In the instructions they tell you to use strong double sided tape and they show tape like our Sticky Strip. LISTEN TO THEM. There are some areas of the cake that could do with regular adhesive, but for the most part, you need the strongest tape you can get. I tried to get away with using ATG, which is pretty strong stuff, and ended up have to scrape it off and put Sticky strip in instead...it's no fun trying to do this when the areas you are working with are small and the thing is already constructed. Oh, well...mother always said if you can't be a shining example, at least you can be a horrible warning!
• The candles are pretty delicate after they are die cut, so put them on at the very last. The flames on mine are a little wobbly on their wicks thanks to all the messing about I was doing as I was retrofitting the adhesive in it. There are also a bride and groom shape...I'm telling you, I've got so many ideas running through my head for this die, I'm about to EXPLODE!!!
• The cake is not going to look perfect, with all it's layers sitting nicely and the top of the layers smooth and straight. It's gonna be a bit wonky looking. But if you go with that look, it ends up looking QUITE impressive!
• The hard part of a pop up card is that if you put the pop up part on a liner and then put that liner inside a card front, either the inside buckles as you close it or the you can't open the card all the way because the outside is bigger than the inside. Both of these options SUCK, honestly, but I have figured out a way out of this problem!!! I'm SO CLEVER!!!(YILM!) And I'm also SO NICE that I am going to tell you what it is! What I do with my pop ups is I adhere just the bottom part of the liner to the inside of the card. Then...well, lookie:

This is the top edge of the card.



TADA!!!

  

The upper part of the card liner is NOT adhered at all to the outside of the card. Instead I created a pocket on the upper edge, trimmed about 1/4" off the top of the liner and then slid it into the pocket. When the card is closed, the edge of the liner slides further into the pocket. When it is open, it slides out a little, but not enough to come OUT of the pocket!

Oh, one more thing about this card:

This is one of the new small grommets in the Occasions Mini. To make it into a glitter button, I inserted the grommet, filled the inside with Crystal Effects, then sprinkled some pumpkin colored glitter from the new Fine Supernova Glitter assortment. Is this not just the most GOJUS idea?!?!? (YILM!)

Thank you, thank you! It isn't easy being this wonderful (YILM to the MAX!), but I can just about manage it...with a little chocolate, that is!

It goes without saying that you would only give this to one of the most wonderful people in your life. Some people just are not worthy of a card like this. Exercise caution and restraint. And if you make one of these and keep it all to yourself to light up those rainy days, well, I won't tell on ya. Ta!

Comments

[Lisa Martz]

YOU CRACK ME UP! Reading your blog is the highlight of my day! Thanks for all the great tips, oh wise one! LOVE the pocket idea so the card doesn't get all buckled up...because that DOES suck! And the glitter grommet...I have named it...is a stroke of genious! I just added the glitter to my order! ENABLER!

[Denise~Paper Ponderings]

So much for saving money in this economy...I HAVE to get this.

[amysings]

You just keep getting better. I think you can't, but you DO! Awesome! Thanks for the tips!

[Lori]

you have outdone yourself this time - that is spectacular!

i will never in this lifetime be making that card - FAR too compliated for me!

[Jen]

You always brighten my day with your posts and your work!

This is a great WOW! card! Love it:)

[Terri]

Well, you certainly do deserve applause for that card. Fantastic!

[Carol]

WOW, both cards are WOW; great idea about the glitter and of course that eye popping 3D card came out BEAUTIFUL! Very nice job!

[KellyL]

BRAVO! clap clap clap clap ... thunderous applause - I really needed this little light of yours to brighten my day! Thank you for posting a great new card from YOU and SU!!!

[Nancy Y.]

all I can say is WOW!

[Lisa (crazycatstamper)]

How STINKIN CLEVER is THAT???!!!! It's like a book jacket! You TOTALLY ROCK!

[Vicki]

You da bomb, girl! Most excellent card!

[Connie]

Well, aren't you just the clever one! Great job! Love the pocket idea... Now...I just told someone I wasn't going to get THAT die! lol!

[Sharon Bridwell]

Jan, you are simply amazing gal. Thanks for sharing you ideas and posting your great card on Stampin' Addicts and linking to your fantastic blog!

[MaryR]

I just love reading what you write, but this card and your comments on the 3D cake are brilliant! super love the liner - you rock Ms Jan and thank you for sharing with us!

[Meredith Socha]

JanTink you ROCK my world!!!!! This is totally awesome and YILY (yes I love YOU!!!). I just got this die in my preorder and have been itching to play with it....thanks for the tips and pointers ;) And for the totally adorable card!

[Gail S.]

When I saw your card, my first thought was really cute but when I saw the picture with the card opened I thought WOW THAT IS COOL!!! I love it!

[Jan Hoyt]

absolutely GO JUS indeed!!! And I love the sliding pocket idea almost as much as those adorable little blinking smilies. Too cute! Jan

[Paula Jaggi]

Oh Jan you have out done yourself this time!
AWESOME!! thanks for sharing!!
pj/Colorado

[Carol]

I often struggle with the fold on multiple layers, too. I have had some success with scoring TWO lines, very close together, on the outer layer. Another trick I've heard is to fold the wrong way and then refold the right way. It's SUPPOSED to make a W shaped fold instead of a V, but I'm not convinced :)

Interesting to finally see this die in action. I have made one like this that has a support in the center of each layer that seems to pop the layers up pretty well. (Does this die have that?) My complaint with THAT design was the unsightly gap between the top and the sides of each layer.

See it here:
http://extremecards.blogspot.com/2008/10/wedding-cake-pop-up-card.html

[Debbi]

Bravo! You are such a wonderful entertainer, and not a bad stamper either!

[Samantha Oikawa]

Fantastic! Absolutely gorgeous, and I love the idea of the pocket at the top for the liner sheet. I've always avoided pop-ups for that very reason.

[Jayne S.]

Okay, Jan... now you're in for it. I already have one consistent "enabler", and you're also contributing. I wasn't going to buy this die. I was going to show some restraint. (Yeah, and I wasn't going to buy or eat chocolate for awhile -- guess how that turned out?) How am I supposed to control myself when you keep showing such adorable projects??? It's NOT my fault! :-p

[Anne]

Absolutely FANtabulous! WOOHOO!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your awesomeness with the rest of us :-) Awesome card!!!!!

[Heather Fullerton (Retired Heather)]

Wow. What a lot of work...it will be hard to pass this one along to someone else. It looks great.
Hugs
Heather

[Wendy Bond]

Way too much work for a birthday card...but I love it so thanks!

[Jean Fitch]

WOW! Somebody turn down the lights i can't handle the brilliance and the megacandlewatt of deliciousness and daring, darling, delirious dandy greatness.

Thanks for sharing - Now I'm loving this paper & this die!

blessings - Jean

[Terri E.]

LOVE IT!!! Your tips and tricks as always ROCK.

It's a good life!
Terri E.

[Jean Fitch]

Hi again Jan,

Check out this link for a blog challenge:
http://threecloversdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/three-clover-thursday-challenge-4.html

Your card with cake would fit in perfectly! Still making me jump for joy. Still in my pj's cause I've been phoning friends and telling them to check this out(okay so that's not the only reason I'm still in jammies :D).

And yes I've emailed them too.

Hugs - Jean

[Sharon Carr]

It's just so cool! I think you need to send it to me for my birthday. What do you think? Of course it would be hard to wait that long. It really is lovely!

[Bev Victory]

This is fabulous! I just got the die Friday and haven't used it yet. Referred to "stampinaddicts" today, checked out your gallery and came right to your blog! You are hysterical - enjoyed reading this blog so much and now will give this cake a try. I'm so glad I found you first! May make the difference in making a cake rather than throwing the die out the window - that's a good thing. Thanks.