How to Make Pop-Up Cards With Crafts

A pop-up card makes an ordinary greeting card seem plain.

Pop-up cards go further than traditional greeting cards because their messages or images come closer to the recipient--literally popping out at him or her. Unfortunately, they make up a small percentage of greeting cards in the average card section of a store. Luckily, you don't have to depend on the paltry selections at your local stores, or search tirelessly for one online. You can create your own unique pop-up card using very basic cutting and folding techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper (multi-colored)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers

Instructions

1. Take two sheets of construction paper and fold them in half widthwise from top to bottom. Decide which sheet you would like to have as the exterior of your card and which sheet you would like to have as the interior of your card. Set the exterior sheet aside.

2. Take the folded interior sheet and mark the center of the folded edge. 1/2 inch from either side of that mark, make an inch-long cut on the fold so that the two cuts are now a full inch apart. You now have three flaps. Fold the two outer flaps down towards you. Unfold them. Open the card.

3. Bend the outer flaps towards you as you invert the center crease so that these flaps will jut out towards you and look like little "steps" coming forward.

4. Refold the card now in this new formation. With the card closed, the middle flap should stick straight out by itself from the spine of the card and the two outer flaps should be hidden as they are tucked into the card's interior.

5. Make a 1/2 inch slit through the creased edge of each tucked away outer flap. Thus, you are making cuts parallel to, and to the side of, your initial two cuts. When finished, you will have made cuts through four layers of paper.

6. Open the card back up. Push the new tabs that you just made towards the interior of the card, once again inverting the pre-existing crease. This will make additional steps on the outside of your first steps, giving the paper a sort of accordion effect.

7. Cut small figures out of construction paper such as people, animals, trees, cars, or food. What you decide to cut out really just depends on your personal tastes and the tastes of the person that you're giving your card to. Make sure that you don't cut anything that is taller than the width of your folded card.

8. Glue your figures to the only sides of the steps facing the viewer so that they are upright when the card is open 90 degrees. Put smaller figures on the smaller steps, and larger figures on the larger steps. Allow the glue to dry while the card is open. Close the card and make sure none of the figures stick out of the card or get bent when you close it.

9. Apply glue along the edges of the first piece of paper that you designated as the exterior of the card, making a border of glue. Press the exterior card on top of the interior card so that their corners and sides are precisely even and lined up with each other. Write a message in magic marker on the front of the exterior card once the glue has dried. Write a corresponding message on the inside of the card and sign your name.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Pop-up Flower Garden Card

Resources

• Andrew Glassner: Pop-Up Card Design
• Technology Student: Pop-Up Card Mechanisms