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