How a pop-up works
A pop-up uses the card's own center fold. When you cut into the fold and push a section through to the inside, that section has to stand up whenever the card opens, and fold flat whenever it closes. Everything you glue onto the moving part comes along for the ride.
Use paper a little thicker than printer paper for the inside card. Card stock holds its shape, but very thick card is hard for children to cut through two layers at once. Many crafters make the pop-up from one sheet and then glue it inside a second, plain card. The cover hides the holes.
- Valley fold folds toward you, like a V
- Mountain fold folds away from you, like a peak
- Cut an adult or older child cuts here
- Crease fold both ways, then open again
- Fold the card in half. From the folded edge, cut two parallel slits about one third of the way in.
- Fold the tab between the slits forward and back hard to crease it.
- Open the card, push the tab through to the inside, and close it gently so the step folds the other way.
- Fold the card in half and cut one slit straight in from the middle of the fold.
- Fold each cut corner back into a triangle, crease firmly, then fold it back.
- Open the card, push both triangles through to the inside, and close it to set the beak.
The box step
The box step makes a little shelf that lifts out of the card. It is the best first pop-up, because the cuts are straight and the result is easy to check: if the tab stands up and the card closes flat, it worked.
- Longer slits make a taller step that sticks out further.
- Wider gaps between the slits make a wider step.
- Several steps of different sizes along the fold make a crowd of pop-ups, like a row of houses or a group of animals.
Glue the picture to the front face of the step, the part that faces the reader. Keep the bottom of the picture above the inside fold, or it will poke out when the card closes.
The talking beak
The beak pop-up opens and closes like a mouth as the card moves. Draw eyes above it and it becomes a bird, a frog, a fish or a monster. Children usually find this one funnier than the box, and it uses only a single cut.
The angle of the triangles changes the mouth. Small triangles make a small, neat beak. Bigger triangles make a wide mouth that opens further.
Who does which part
| Job | Younger kids, about 4 to 6 | Older kids, about 7 and up |
|---|---|---|
| Fold the card | Child, with corners lined up by an adult | Child |
| Mark the cuts | Adult draws the lines | Child, with a ruler |
| Cut the slits | Adult, or child with help on thin card | Child, with safety scissors |
| Push through | Child, with an adult showing how | Child |
| Decorate | Child | Child |
When a pop-up will not close
- Something glued on is crossing the center fold. Trim it so it sits inside the edges of the step.
- The slits are different lengths. Even them up with the scissors.
- The creases are too soft. Fold each crease hard both ways, then push through again.
- The paper is too thick. Try lighter card for the inside piece and glue it into a thicker cover.
For the right cutting tools and how to pass and hold scissors, see the safety page.