How to Make Pop Up Cards for Any Occasion

Learn to create beautiful pop up cards with your family using simple materials and easy folding techniques.

  1. Gather Your Materials. You'll need cardstock or construction paper in two colors, scissors, glue stick, ruler, pencil, and markers or crayons for decorating. Choose a sturdy paper for the card base and a contrasting color for the pop up element. Having a bone folder or the back of a spoon helps create crisp folds, but isn't essential.
  2. Create the Card Base. Cut your main cardstock to 8.5 by 11 inches, then fold it in half to create a 5.5 by 8.5 inch card. Make sure your fold is sharp and clean by running your finger or bone folder along the crease. This will be the foundation that holds your pop up surprise.
  3. Make the Basic Pop Up Mechanism. Open your folded card and place it flat. Measure 2 inches from the center fold and make two parallel cuts about 1 inch apart, cutting through the fold about 1 inch deep. Push this small rectangular tab forward and fold it in the opposite direction from the main card fold. When you close and reopen the card, this tab should pop forward - this is your pop up base.
  4. Design and Attach Your Pop Up Element. Cut your pop up design from contrasting paper - this could be a birthday cake, flower, heart, or any shape that fits your occasion. Keep it small enough to fit comfortably within your card when closed. Apply glue to the back of your design and attach it to the front face of the pop up tab you created. Test the card by closing and opening it to ensure smooth movement.
  5. Add Decorative Details. Decorate both the inside and outside of your card with markers, crayons, stickers, or additional paper cutouts. Write your message on the inside, keeping text away from the pop up mechanism. Consider adding a background scene around your pop up element to create a complete picture when the card opens.
  6. Test and Adjust. Close your card completely and reopen it several times to make sure the pop up works smoothly. If it catches or doesn't fold flat, trim the pop up element slightly or adjust its position. The card should close completely flat and the pop up should spring forward when opened.