Pop-up Holiday Cards

No matter what age you are, pop-up cards are pretty irresistible. You can buy all sorts of exciting ones around this time of year, but if you’ve got a curious kid, why not try making one yourselves? Here’s a nifty pattern to get you started.

What You Need:

• 2 sheets of cardstock paper, 8-1/2”x11”
• 2 blank stick-on labels, 4”x2” size preferred
• Digital camera
• Markers
• Exacto-knife, scissors
• Glue stick or rubber cement

What to Do:

1. This is a pop-up card for a very special person in your child’s life. Before you start working, have your child pick this person and be sure to talk about why he or she is extra wonderful!
2. Have your child dress in holiday attire and take a smiling photograph, with your child’s whole body in the frame. Print it out to 3”x5” size.
3. Take out your cardstock paper and cut it in half to make two sheets, each 5-1/2” by 8-1/2”.  Have your child draw a colorful, fancy box on the top sheet, using appropriate holiday colors. Make sure the box is at least 4” wide, and that its top edge is 6” from the bottom of the card. Here is a Christmas example:
4. Now you’re ready to use your Exacto knife to make a slit for the “pop-up” part of this card. Parents, beware: you’ll want to stand by for this part, and do be sure that your child is using a sturdy backing. Cardboard or a cutting board will work great.
5. Carefully make a slit along the top, flat edge of the present.
6. Now you’re ready to prepare your child’s picture. If you have printed it onto heavy stock, you’re ready to go; just trim to exactly 3”x5” as needed. If your paper seems at all thin, however, use a glue stick to paste the photograph onto a layer of cardstock for durability. Again, trim to 3”x5”.  Then, beside your child’s photograph, trim a section from a blank stick-on label, and make a cartoon “bubble.”
7. Have your child write a special message. “Merry Christmas, Grandma,” or “Have a great holiday!”  Then clip a section of the remaining sticker, and double it over the top of the photograph to make a tab. You’ll use it to lift the photo up and down later, like this:

8. Have your child color the tab the same as the ribbon on top of the present box, so that it will “camouflage.”
9. Now comes the final stage…you want to be careful here! Place the back card flat on a table, and draw a clear line of glue around its perimeter, no more than ¾” wide, like this:
10. Stick the photograph behind the top cover, and gently pull the tab through the slit. If the corners of the photograph seem to catch on the slit, it’s fine to clip them a little, so that they are more rounded!
11. Glue the front of the card to the back, and let it dry completely. Practice pulling the photograph up and down---a homemade pop-up, with some very loving homegrown wishes.