The August BetterPress Plate of the Month is such a fun one! The large circular plate (about 3.75”) features a whole school of quirky little fish in all shapes and sizes, along with three coordinating sentiments:
A little note from the whole group
Together is a good place to be
Even little fish make big waves
For this month’s projects, I wanted to do something different—so I created square pop-up cards where the fishy focal point really makes a splash!
Navy & Gold Pop-Up Card
For the first card, I went bold with a navy background. I embossed the background with the Spellbinders 3D Embossing Folder of the Month and added gold highlights to the fish with a gel pen for a striking contrast.
The BetterPress plate was heat-embossed in gold on white cardstock and then die-cut into a circle. This circle is attached inside the card with a pop-up mechanism, so it rises as the card opens, giving the fish extra dimension.
The sentiment “Even little fish make big waves” is heat embossed in gold and popped up on foam tape across the circle for added focus.
Ocean Ombre Pop-Up Card
For the second card, I leaned into Distress Oxide inks—Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers, and Tumbled Glass—for an ocean-inspired background. After inking, I ran the panel through the 3D embossing folder for texture and again accented the embossed fish with a gold pen.
Inside, I repeated the same technique with the BetterPress plate—this time heat embossing in gold—and added the sentiment “Together is a good place to be.” The circular pop-up looks like it’s floating in the middle of the ocean scene.
The Pop-Up Mechanism
To create the pop-up:
- Cut a 4″ x 1.5″ strip out of heavy cardstock, such as Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lbs
Score the strip at 1″, 2″ and 3″ mark, and fold it into a simple box “arm.”
Adhere one side of the strip to the inside base of the card and the other side to the back of the die-cut circle.
When the card opens, the circle pops forward, adding depth and surprise!
This simple mechanism works perfectly with the large circular plate and lets the embossed fish become the star of the show.
To see this in action, please refer to my YouTube video: CLICK HERE
I had so much fun creating these pop-up cards with the Spellbinders August BetterPress Club. The circular school of fish plate is so unique, and I love how it works beautifully in both bold, dramatic colors and soft, ocean-inspired blends. Adding a pop-up mechanism really makes the design shine, and it’s such a fun surprise for the recipient when they open the card.
If you enjoyed these projects, I’d love for you to stick around for more! 💙 You can follow me for future tutorials, inspiration, and Spellbinders Club projects. I’m also on the journey to reaching my 1K milestone, and every follow, share, and comment helps me get there. Thank you so much for supporting my crafty adventure — it truly means the world! ✨
