If you follow my blog, you have probably already guessed that I have a theme going on: pop-ups. Pop-ups were one of the first things that I fell in love with when I started stamping. What’s not to love about pop-ups? They are a step up from a regular card and generally get a great response from the recipient. Soooooo, if you love pop-ups, be sure to check my blog all summer long for my latest pop-up creations.
This birthday card is for my DS, who is turning 11 this summer. I just love the way the cake pop-ups when you open the card. This is another example of an angle fold using a very obtuse angle this time. I played a lot with the angle to get the maximum height out of my cake without anything sticking out when the card is closed. This is an easy and versatile pop-up. If you would like to find out how to make your own, please follow my tutorial below.
Step 1 Pop-up Base
Start with a piece of 8-½” x 11” card stock. On the long side, score at the 5-½” mark.
Step 2
On the short side, score at the 4-¼” mark.
Step 3
On the shorter score line, make a pencil mark 2” away from the center score line on either side (see blue dots). On the long score line, make a pencil mark ¾” below the center score line (see red dot).
Step 4
Cut away the card stock from the 2” marks outward and from the shorter score line upwards.
Step 5
Score from the ¾” mark to the 2” marks you made in step 3.
Step 6
Fold along the angled score lines you made in the previous step. (Do not fold along the straight score line that runs horizontal in the photo. This score line will be covered and ignored). Now fold along the vertical score line to close the card.
Step 7
When you close the card, you will notice that part of the pop-up piece sticks out.
Step 8
Snip off the piece that is sticking out.
Step 9 Birthday Cake
Start with a piece of Designer Series Paper 4” x 4”. Score in half at the 2” mark.
Step 10
Cut a Scallop Oval Frame out of Very Vanilla Card Stock. Center the inside oval piece of the frame close to the bottom edge of the 4” x 4” piece (make sure the score line is running vertically). Cut away the designer series paper along the curved edge of the oval.
Step 11
Now center the inside oval piece of the frame close to the top edge of the 4” x 4” piece. Cut away the designer series paper along the curved edge of the oval.
Step 12
Your cake piece should now look like this with a curved edge on the top and bottom and the score mark running vertically down the middle.
Step 13 Cake Icing
Take the oval frame piece and score it in half on the long side. Here I have lined my frame up on the 6” score mark and score in between the bumps of the frame.
Step 14
Adhere the scallop oval frame to the cake, taking care to line up the score marks on the cake and the frame.
Step 15
Turn the cake over and trim off the excess scallop oval frame.
Step 16
Adhere the cake just above the angled score lines, making sure to line up the vertical score line of the cake with the vertical score line of the card.
Step 17
Cut away the excess card stock from the top of the cake. Save the piece you cut away (we will use it to determine the height of the candles in an upcoming step.
Step 18 Candles
Start preparing the candles for the top of the cake. I used the Alphabet Simple Numbers Die for the numbers and a 1/8” thick strip of Basic Black card stock for the wick. Here I’m preparing to glue more “number ones” to the back of my “number one” fronts, to finish off the backs. Leave off the flames until the next step, so that you can make sure they fit on the pop-up piece.
Step 19
Place the saved piece (from step 17) right above the cake. Now lay your candles on top of the cake to determine placement and how high you can go without going higher or wider than the saved piece. Adhere your candles to the cake.
Step 20
Decorate the rest of the card as desired.
Pop-up half closed
Stampin’ Up! Supplies: Stamp Sets: Word Play, Broadsheet Alphabet; Paper: Elegant Soiree, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Very Vanilla; Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobbler; Big Shot: Framed Tulips Embossing Folder; Scallop Oval Frame, Alphabet Simple Numbers; Punches: Bird Punch, Scallop Edge Border; Baroque Border Wheel; Standard Wheel Handle, Baja Breeze Seam Binding.
Thanks for visiting!! I love reading your comments!!

Hi Brenda, thank you for the very clear tutorial. The finished card looks fantastic, I'm off to give it a go myself.