Pop up cards are fun to make and receive! Smiles are guaranteed when you open this type of homemade card, as they’re such a surprise.
Sending a pop up card is more thoughtful than a standard greetings card as it shows the recipient how much you care about them, by putting more time and effort into your design – and it's a great craft project to make with children, too.
The themes for a DIY pop up card are endless; you could use a cake for a birthday pop up, send flowers inside a thank you card, a heart for a Valentine's card, draw a cup of tea or cocktail on a Mother’s Day card and make pop up Christmas cards featuring seasonal icons like a Christmas pudding, a Christmas tree or robin.
If you’re looking for beginner’s papercrafting ideas or want to get more creative with your card-making skills, why not give pop up cards a go?
It’s a technique that will elevate your designs and what's more, pop up cards are a a great craft for kids. They're a fantastic way to get family members crafting together, making a lovely family activity that everyone can get involved with. There are so many easy designs perfect for an afternoon of crafting with kids. Just remember to oversee children while crafting, and cut out the card pieces with scissors before you start your crafting session.
Once you’ve learnt how to make an easy pop up card you can use your imagination to make fun handmade cards for every occasion. Don’t forget you’ll also need a handmade envelope to send it in and we have just the thing! Check out our step-by-step guide on how to make a handmade envelope.
Pop up cards are quick and easy to make. Start by making a few simple cuts into a piece of card, then can create a tab (or multiple tabs) that you push forward and decorate.
Make it 3D by sticking a cut-out image on it – this could either be your own drawing, using collage (a great way to use up scrap pieces of paper), or you can colour in a printable template.
And that’s it! Knowing how to make a pop up card is satisfying and useful and your very first creation will have you grinning from ear to ear. Ready to give it a try? Follow our easy pop up card tutorial to make a simple step pop up greetings card.
Best Card for Crafting
Coloured Paper Card A4 - 100 Sheet Pack, 230 gsm
A4 Glitter Card -10 Colours, 160 gsm
How to make an easy pop up card with step-by-step photos
You will need:
- A good pair of scissors
- Two pieces of coloured cardstock
- A ruler to measure out your tabs equally
- A pencil
- A glue stick
- Art supplies to decorate (for example stickers and marker pens)
Greeting Card Blanks with Envelopes
Papermania 300 GSM Square Tri Fold Window Aperture Card Blanks and Envelopes
White A6 Blank Greeting Cards with Envelopes
Craft UK 281 C6 Card and Envelope pack of 50 - Mixed Bright
How to make a pop up card in five steps
Step 1
Fold two pieces of card in half. One piece will be the inside section of the pop up and the other piece is the outside of your card so choose colours that suit your design. If the paper is bigger than you’d like, cut the card to size and then fold. Use A4 pieces of card to make a standard-sized card. This step-by-step cardmaking tutorial shows a square card that measures 15cm.
Step 2
Take the inner piece of card. Make two parallel cuts that are around one inch (2.5cm) long through the folded side of the paper. The size of the cuts can differ depending on what scene you're creating. Measure with a ruler before cutting so that you identify where you would like your pop out to be placed on the card. You can stick to just one tab if you're a beginner, or use multiple tabs to create a scene along the width of your card.
Step 3
To create a pop out, open the card and fold the tabs inwards towards you. Crease your tab (or tabs) along the centre so it's popping inwards, then fold the card closed over it. Open the card again and the tab should be ready to decorate.
Step 4
Take your second piece of card – the outside. Apply the glue stick on the reverse of your first piece of card which has the flap popped out and attach it to the second piece. Make sure they match up and smooth them out so there are no wrinkles.
Step 5
It's now time to decorate your card, and this really is the fun bit where you can get creative! You can stick an image to the tab, or simply decorate the tab itself by adding glitter, ribbons, stars or words. Then write a lovely message to your recipient in the paper above or below the pop up.
And there you have the basics of how to make a pop up card. You can get really creative and thoughtful, and think about who the card is for. If it's for a green-fingered friend, make it plant or flower-related, or animal and pet-lovers might like a dog or a cat. Or you can stick to simple themes, like gift boxes for birthdays or hearts for Valentine's.
Inspiration for your pop up cards
Need some inspiration to get started? We've got you covered with these 8 ideas for DIY pop up cards from brilliant crafters.
How to make a birthday pop up card
How to make a Valentine's pop up card
Fun pop up cards ideas for kids
Cute Easter pop up card idea
Welcome to your new home pop up card
Pop up card idea for teenagers
How to make a Christmas tree pop up card
Have you made a pop up card? Share your creations with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!
