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This pull-and-rotate mechanism allows an element to gently swing as the pull tab is moved. On my Build-A-Cat card, I used it to make the little witch stir her bubbling cauldron, bringing the scene to life with a simple interactive movement. The tutorial below shows the basic version with one rotating element, as used on the Build-A-Cat card featured above. Once you understand the principle, it can easily be repeated to animate several elements at the same time.
Tutorial
You can read the full tutorial below or download the printable PDF version here .
This pull-and-rotate mechanism allows an image to swing naturally as the pull tab is moved. On my Build-A-Cat card, I used it to make the little witch stir her bubbling cauldron, bringing the entire scene to life with a simple interactive movement.
Although this tutorial demonstrates the basic version with a single rotating element, the same mechanism can easily be adapted to create much more complex interactive scenes. You can add multiple rotating elements, make them move in the same or in opposite directions, and even influence the amount and style of movement by choosing where your image is attached to the pivot point.
To keep the tutorial easy to follow, we’ll first build the basic mechanism step by step. Once you’ve mastered the principle, we’ll take a closer look at these design considerations and explore how small changes can create very different movement effects.
Preparation
Before assembling the mechanism, prepare all of the pieces shown here.
For one rotating element, you will need:
- a lever with a hole just big enough for the tiny brad
- a foam dot
- a tiny brad
- a washer
- a pull tab
- a card panel
Cut the pull tab slightly longer than you think you will need. It can easily be trimmed at either end later, once the final position of the mechanism has been determined.
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Use sturdy cardstock for the pull tab. The longer the pull tab, the more stability it needs, so for longer designs such as slimline cards, consider using two or three layers of cardstock. Cut the layers now, but do not glue them together yet – we’ll do that after punching or die cutting the hole in Step 3.
Position the Pivot Point
Decide where you want the moving element to sit on your card panel and mark the position of the pivot point. Punch or die cut a hole at this position.
The hole should be slightly larger than the foam dot so that the foam dot can rotate freely within the opening, but not so large that it has too much play.
This hole will become the pivot point for the mechanism, so take a moment to check the placement before punching or die cutting.
Prepare the Pull Tab
Place the pull tab on top of the card panel and position it exactly where you want it to sit in the finished card. Decide which side of the card you want the pull tab to extend from and make sure there is enough room for it to move freely.
Use the hole in the card panel as a guide to mark the corresponding position on the pull tab. The mark should be at exactly the same height as the hole in the card panel. Then punch or die cut a hole in the pull tab at the marked position.
Make this hole slightly larger than the hole in the lever. The tiny brad needs a little room to move freely within the opening when the mechanism is operated.
If your design uses only one rotating element, it does not matter whether the pull tab runs above or below the pivot point. With multiple rotating elements, however, the position of the pull tab affects the direction in which the elements move. We’ll take a closer look at this in the design variations below.
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If you prepared multiple layers for the pull tab in Step 1, punch or die cut the hole in each layer at exactly the same position. Once all holes are prepared, glue the layers together, making sure the holes align perfectly.
Decide how you want the pull tab to be accessed once the mechanism is finished. You can let it extend beyond the edge of the card so that it is easy to grip, or keep it flush with the card edge when fully pushed in and punch or die cut a small notch in the card panel to make it accessible.
Do not trim the pull tab to its final length yet. Leave enough extra length at the front so that you can adjust it later after testing how far the tab moves in and out. If the pull tab extends too far beyond the back of the mechanism when fully pushed in, you can trim the excess from that end as well.
At this stage, you only need to decide whether you want the finished pull tab to extend beyond the card edge or sit flush with it and use a notch for access.
If the pull tab extends beyond the card, keep in mind that the finished card may no longer fit a standard-size envelope.
Attach the Lever to the Pull Tab
Start with the prepared pull tab, lever and washer.
Place the lever behind the pull tab and align the holes.
Place the washer on the front of the pull tab, directly over the opening. The washer prevents the brad from slipping through the slightly larger hole in the pull tab while still allowing the mechanism to move freely.
Thread the tiny brad through the lever, pull tab and washer, then close it on the back. Do not close the brad too tightly. The connection needs a little play so the lever can move freely when the pull tab is operated.
The image shows the assembled pull tab from the front and from the back, with the lever attached and the brad closed in place.
Position the Mechanism
Place the pull tab on the back of the card panel and position the lever vertically behind the opening. Temporarily secure the pull tab in place with a small piece of washi tape so it cannot shift.
Turn the card panel over so that you are looking at the front. Through the opening in the card panel, attach a foam dot directly to the lever.
Make sure the foam dot sits within the opening without touching its edges, so the mechanism can move freely.
Secure the Pull Tab
Remove the temporary washi tape and move the pull tab all the way in and out to see how far the lever swings. Position the paper sleeves outside the lever’s range of movement so that they do not interfere with the mechanism.
Each paper sleeve has two fold lines. Place it around the pull tab and adhere the centre section to the back of the card panel. Fold the upper and lower sections around the pull tab and adhere them to each other. Be careful not to adhere the sleeve to the pull tab itself – the pull tab must be able to slide freely inside the sleeve.
Repeat this on the other side of the mechanism. Two paper sleeves provide the most stability and help the pull tab move back and forth in a straight line. If there is not enough space for two, one sleeve will also work.
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The paper sleeves can be as wide or as narrow as needed to fit the available space.
Assembly
Add foam adhesive to the back of the card panel, making sure to keep the area around the pull tab and lever clear so that the mechanism can move freely. Then adhere the panel to your card base.
Attach the rotating element to the foam dot on the front of the card and complete your scene. When adding the remaining elements, make sure that nothing overlaps or obstructs the moving parts of the mechanism.
Test the pull tab several times before adding any final details to make sure that everything moves smoothly.
Design Considerations
Once you understand the basic mechanism, you can adapt it in several ways to create different types of movement. The number of moving elements, the position of the pivot point, and the position of the pull tab all influence how the finished mechanism behaves.
Number of Moving Elements
This tutorial demonstrates the mechanism with a single moving element, but you are not limited to just one. You can attach several levers to the same pull tab and create multiple moving elements, as long as there is enough space on your card for the individual parts of the mechanism to move freely.
With a single moving element, the position of the pivot point already affects the movement. The position of the pull tab in relation to the pivot point becomes particularly important when you combine multiple moving elements.
Pivot Point Position
The position of the pivot point on your moving element determines how that element rotates and where the movement will be most noticeable.
Parts of the element that are farther away from the pivot point travel through a larger arc, while parts closer to the pivot point move less. Placing the pivot point near one end therefore creates more visible movement at the opposite end. A more central pivot point produces a more balanced movement on both sides.
Pull Tab Position & Movement Direction
When you are using only one moving element, it does not matter whether the pull tab runs above or below the pivot point. The element will still rotate as the pull tab is moved.
With multiple moving elements, however, their position in relation to the pull tab becomes a useful design tool. Elements positioned on opposite sides of the pull tab rotate in opposite directions. This allows a single pull tab to create coordinated movement between several elements.
The example below uses the centred position of the pull tab as a reference point. From this position, pushing the pull tab in rotates the two elements in opposite directions. Pulling the tab out reverses those movements. By positioning individual elements above or below the pull tab, you can therefore control how multiple elements move in relation to one another.
Project Gallery
Looking for more inspiration? Here are a few additional projects featuring this mechanism.
Happy Crafting!
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