Pop ups are greeting cards that deliver a surprise. When you open the card, pieces inside move - they jump out at you, blossom into a 3-D construction, or move across the page. Pop ups have a long history, growing out of three-dimensional book-crafts that appeared as early as the 13th century when writers began including movable elements in books. By the 17th century, "novelty books" with flaps and peepholes were delighting children. By the 1840s, those crafty Victorians adapted these techniques in a big way, mass-producing greeting cards and books with pop ups, rotating wheels, honeycomb papers, and fold-out constructions.
Most pop up cards are relatively simple paper crafts with some special engineering. The first requirement is paper: construction paper or cardstock in a variety of colors; patterned papers; and photos and illustrations, depending on the card design. You'll need some basic tools: scissors, a craft knife and cutting mat, a bone folder and scorer to make crisp folds, and a ruler (a metal ruler is best for guiding the cutting blade). You'll also need adhesives such as glue sticks for light paper, and white craft glue or tacky glue for heavy paper. Have pencils and markers for drawing your designs and writing words. Finally, you might need special fasteners such as paper fasteners, string, and rubber bands, and embellishments such as fabric, buttons, ribbons or feathers.
Let's make one of the simplest forms of pop up cards - a single figure that stands up when you open the card. Begin with your basic card, an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of white cardstock. Fold it in half horizontally, burnishing the fold with a bone scorer. You now have a folded card, 5 1/2" X 8 1/2". This card will open upwards, not to the side.
Choose a photograph of a standing person (like you) - complete from head to foot and about 4" high. Cut out the figure in as much detail as possible.
Cut a strip of paper or cardstock, 4 1/2" long and 1/2" wide. Make a fold 1/2" from one end. Apply glue to one side of that folded end. Loop the strip around as if making a circle and glue it to the other end of the strip, so that the unglued end of the paper overlaps the glued end and just meets to fold line. Press together until the glue dries.
Holding the fold with one hand, pull the loop flat and crease a fold at the other end of the loop. Bring those two folds together exactly, and crease folds at the two remaining ends of the loop. You now have a square of paper, 1" on each side.
Place the folded card in front of you, with the folded side away from you. Open it so the top flap stands vertically. Position the paper square in the center of the fold so it stands out with the sides parallel to the faces of the card. Glue the two sides in place on both inside faces of the card. Let it dry. Close the card so the folded strip lays open and flat inside. When you open and close the card, this strip should now form a 3-D square that folds opposite to the fold of the card.
With the card open, glue the feet and legs of the cut-out figure to the front face of the pop up strip. The feet should just touch the card, while the body will extend 3" above the folded support.
Now - decorate! Add a personal greeting from the photo, written beside the head in a comic "talk balloon" if you wish. Draw a background that fits the photo, or one that will make someone laugh. Draw in a floor, or grass, for your figure to stand on. Finally - save some space for a personal message and signature.
Fold it up. Put it in an envelope. And deliver a big surprise to someone!
There are scores of types of pop up card constructions, and most of them can be adapted to your own handmade cards. Don't settle for the card that just sits there - make a pop up!
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