Gatefold Double Pop-Up Card

I was recently a winner at the Creative Creases Challenge, and the Stampin' Up! prize I chose was the Whale Done stamp set. (Thanks so much for the prize, Debbie!) I knew I wanted to create a special card for my daughter's upcoming graduation from the final stage of her 18- month training in the Navy's nuclear power program, and this ocean-themed stamp set with the fun "Whale Done" and "You're Kind of a Big Deal" sentiments seemed perfect to celebrate my favorite Sailor's graduation! 

Now that I had the stamp set picked out, I needed to decide on a fun fold card design. I ended up choosing to try my hand at a gatefold double pop-up card. The inspiration for this type of card design came from Miriam Napier's video here:  (1) Gate Fold Double Pop-Up Card - YouTube. I used her measurements to create a cut file in my Silhouette Design Studio software to make this card. Thanks, Miriam!

After creating the cut file for the card, I chose the papers I would use. I happened to have one sheet left of an adorable whale-themed paper that I used for the outside of the card. Then came the most challenging part of making this card: the ocean scene inside the card. I had purchased a 6X6 rubber background stamp that depicted an underwater scene soon after I requested the Whale Done stamp set because I thought it would pair well with that set. I don't have much experience with using such a large stamp, and let me tell you, I was grateful for my MISTI stamping platform! The stamp had places that didn't want to stamp despite my best efforts at inking it up evenly, but eventually I was able to create 2 6X6 panels that I cut to size for the inside of this card to create the ocean background. 

Then I had fun playing with the Whale Done stamp set and stamped the whale, a couple sentiments (one for the belly band in front and one for the inside of the card), several sea horses, a jellyfish, a turtle, some bubbles, a couple ocean plants, and several schools of fish. Some I stamped on white card stock squares (for the belly band and the 2 pop-ups inside the card) and the rest I fussy cut and adhered to the ocean background to add some color and interest to the flat scene created by the 6X6 stamp. Then I assembled all the pieces I had cut out using my Silhouette Cameo 4. It was a bit challenging to line up the pop-ups properly, but I was able to get everything in place after doing a practice card first. I have learned the hard way not to use my good card stock the first time I'm trying a new card design 😂! I have also started keeping a sample copy of each new fun fold card style I've designed with a post-it note labeling it so I can find the file again on my external hard drive where I save card files I've made using my Silhouette Design Studio software. It's great to have a sample of the cards to see the sizing of all the details and figure out what stamps/word art would work well with the design.

I added one green and several blue gems to the front and the inside of the card as a finishing touch. 

Here's the card front with the belly band:

Video of me opening the card: 

Close up of the sentiment on the belly band:

Views of the inside of the card: 

Can you spot the jellyfish?

Here's the back of the card:

Here's a look at the stamp set I used. If you'd like to purchase it, please visit Debbie Mageed's SU! link here: Whale Stamp, Turtle Stamp & Seahorse Stamp SET | Stampin' Up! (stampinup.com)

Challenges I'm entering: 

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #49 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends Feb. 3)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; ends Feb. 1)

Dream Valley Challenges: Hip to be Square (2/3; ends Feb. 4)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends Jan. 30)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month)

Crafting Happiness Challenges

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog: Blue (1/3; ends Feb. 6)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends Jan. 30) C10

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (2/2; ends Feb. 2)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 2/2/23) C10

No more challenges