A tiered wiper card looks like a neat stack of panels until you pull a tab. Then little characters swing out from the side, one per tier, and slide back when you push it closed. Sam Calcott of Mixed Up Craft builds this Christmas version with three tiers, a hidden folded mechanism behind each one, and no dies at all. The idea comes from Cary's Creative Table; Sam converts the measurements to inches and simplifies them.
How to make a tiered wiper card: the short version
- Cut and mat four panels: 5x7, 5x6, 5x5 and a 5x4 front.
- Score three 6-1/2 x 1-1/2 inch strips and fold each into a wiper mechanism.
- Cut three 1 inch wide levers, 6, 5-1/2 and 5 inches long.
- Glue a mechanism and lever into the bottom corner of each panel, then stack the panels.
- Stick a character to the end of each lever and decorate the front.
The panel sizes
Every panel is 5 inches wide and steps down in height, so each tier peeks out above the next. Mat each with patterned paper 1/4 inch smaller: 4-3/4 x 6-3/4 on the 5x7, 4-3/4 x 5-3/4 on the 5x6, a 4-3/4 inch square on the 5x5. The 5x4 front holds your main scene. Sam embossed hers with a brick wall folder to look like the front of the North Pole.
Make a mechanism template first
The mechanism has several score lines and two diagonals. Make one from scrap paper, write the measurements on it, and keep it in a clear pocket with your card supplies. Sam calls it a mechanism you can add to almost any fold, so it earns its place in the drawer. Test it on scrap card before you glue anything to a good panel.
Card weight and posting
Use a 220 to 230 gsm cardstock (around 80 lb). Heavier is not needed, since the mats and layers add strength. With all three tiers the finished card is about 1/4 inch thick, which can push it into a higher postage rate. One tier keeps it slim and still works. It fits a 5x7 envelope.
Showing bigger pop-outs
With every panel at the full 5 inch width, only small images fit at the lever ends. Keep the heights as given but trim the front two panels narrower. More of each lever shows, so larger characters or photos fit and still slide back in.
Ideas beyond Christmas
- Sea creatures sliding out of an underwater scene.
- A name, one letter per tier, for a birthday.
- Small family photos for a grandparent.
- A short sentiment on each lever that shows as it slides out.
Common problems
- The mechanism resists folding flat. Trim a thin sliver off the end flap and fold again.
- The lever sticks. Glue only the small triangle, never the edge you see when the card is open.
- Characters catch on the way in. Tuck part of each image under the next panel and curve any ends slightly under.
More interactive cards
Try a slider card, a waterfall card or a stepper card. For something that springs up instead of out, see how to make a pop-up card.
