Pop-up books and cards always fascinated me as a kid. Once, when I was about ten years old, someone gave my dad a birthday card that popped up in the middle. I took it apart and figured out how it was made. These little Valentine’s Day pop up cards are pretty simple to make. They’re based on the one I taught myself how to make all those years ago. It may require a little finessing (I’ve had about 28 years to practice), so it’s a good idea to try it out with some copy paper before you use nice paper.
Supplies:
- White copy paper for practicing
- Nice paper (8 1/2 x 11″) for the inside of the card
- Card stock (12 x12″) for the outside
- Any kind of paper you would like for embellishing
- Scissors
- Ruler or straight edge
- Glue stick
Directions:
Step 1: Fold a 4 x 4″ piece of paper in half and cut it into a symmetrical heart shape. Fold an 8 1/2 x 11″ piece of paper in half. Place the heart halfway down the side of the paper so the folded edges match up. Trace the heart shape.
Step 2: Use a straight edge to draw a line from the outermost edge of the heart to the other edge of the paper. Cut along the rounded top of the heart and along the straight line, all the way to the edge of the paper.
Step 3: The paper should look like the picture below. Now make another cut along rounded edge of the heart and stop when you get a little past halfway down the side of the heart—just to where the bottom of the heart turns into a straight line.
Step 4: Now make a fold along the bottom straight edge of the heart. The rounded top of the heart should not stick up past the top edge of the paper (where you made the line with the straight edge).
Step 5: Open up the paper. You can now see your card taking shape. Now take the center fold of the heart and fold it so the center fold pops out toward you. Fold the bottom edges of the heart so that they fold away from you.
Step 6: Fold the card in half. It should look something like the picture below. When you are happy with the way it turns out, repeat the same process with the nicer paper you will use for the card. Once it’s folded up, place it on the bottom edge of a 12 x 12″ piece of card stock so that a 1/4″ border shows around the edges of the pop-up portion of the card.
Step 7: Use a straight edge or a ruler to measure another 1/4″ border along the top of the pop-up. Cut the card stock and then fold it in half to create the outer portion of the card. Use a glue stick to glue the side of the pop-up portion of the card that is facing up.
Step 8: Making sure the inside folds of the outside portion of the card and the inside portion of the card are matching up, press the card stock firmly onto the pop-up portion of the card. Open the back side of the card and repeat the process. Allow to dry.
Step 9: Open up your card, and the heart should pop out at you!
Step 10: Use more paper and markers to embellish the card however you choose.
More DIY Valentine’s Day Projects:
