How to Make a Pop-Up Card

The simplest pop-up card needs one sheet of card folded in half, two short parallel cuts across the fold, and a gentle push to turn that strip inside out. When the card opens, the strip stands up as a little step, and anything glued to its front face seems to leap off the page. Glue that inner sheet into a sturdier outer card to hide the cuts, and you have a handmade card that looks far more complicated than it is.

What you need

• Two sheets of card stock: a lighter one for the pop-up insert and a heavier one for the cover.
• A ruler and a pencil.
• Small sharp scissors or a craft knife with a cutting mat.
• A bone folder or the back of a butter knife for crisp creases.
• A glue stick or double-sided tape.
• Scraps of patterned paper, old magazines or printed pictures for the pop-up figures.
• Pens, pencils or paints for decorating.

Lighter card bends cleanly at the pop-up folds, while thicker card keeps the outside of the finished piece rigid. If you only have one weight, use it for both and accept a slightly stiffer action.

Method 1: the step pop-up

This is the classic box-shaped mechanism and the best place to start.

1. Fold the insert. Fold the lighter sheet in half and crease it firmly.
2. Mark the cuts. On the folded edge, draw two parallel lines going in from the fold, about two finger-widths apart and a few centimetres long. Their length sets how far the step will stand out.
3. Cut. Cut along both lines through both layers, starting at the fold.
4. Crease the flap. Fold the strip between the cuts forwards and back, creasing it along the line joining the tops of the cuts.
5. Push it through. Open the card halfway and push the strip through to the inside, so it forms a little box when the card is open at a right angle.
6. Close and press. Close the card with the step inside and press flat to set all the creases.

Add more steps by cutting additional pairs of lines along the fold. Different lengths of cut give steps that stand out by different amounts, which creates depth.

Method 2: the V-fold

A V-fold makes a piece stand up at an angle, a little like a tent. It suits flowers, trees, hearts and anything taller than it is wide.

1. Cut a small rectangle of card and fold it in half to make a tab.
2. Fold a narrow strip at the base of each side outwards, giving two glue flaps.
3. Open the main card and glue the flaps either side of the centre fold, angled so they make a V pointing towards the spine.
4. Glue your figure to the front of the tab, keeping it clear of the card edges.
5. Close the card gently. The figure should fold down flat without poking out; if it sticks out, trim it or move the tab closer to the fold.

Step pop-up vs V-fold

Putting the card together

1. Decorate the insert first. It is much easier to draw on the background and glue figures to the steps while the insert is separate.
2. Attach figures to the front faces. Glue each figure only to the front face of a step, never across a fold, or the card will not close.
3. Glue in the cover. Spread glue on the back of the insert, avoiding the pop-up strips, and press it into the folded cover card with the folds lined up.
4. Test before decorating the cover. Open and close the card a few times to check that nothing catches.
5. Finish the outside. Add a title, a small drawing or a window that hints at what is inside.

DIY birthday card ideas using pop-ups

• A birthday cake: three steps of different depths, each with a layer of cake glued on, and a paper candle on top.
• A city skyline: several steps with building shapes, plus a moon on the background.
• A bunch of flowers: V-fold stems with flowers cut from patterned paper.
• A gift box: one wide step decorated as a parcel, with a tiny ribbon bow glued on top. Our guide on how to tie a bow with ribbon covers a mini version.
• A photo stage: small photos of friends glued to a row of steps, like a cast taking a bow.

A handmade card also finishes off a bigger present nicely. Tuck one in among the contents when you make a gift basket.

Common problems

Why does my card not close flat?

A figure probably reaches beyond the card edge or across a fold. Trim the figure or move it down the step.

Why does the pop-up tear?

The card is too thick for the insert, or the cut ran past the crease line. Use lighter card for the insert and stop cuts exactly at the marked line.

Can children make pop-up cards?

Yes. Let an adult handle any craft knife, and give younger children pre-cut inserts to decorate. The step pop-up with scissors is suitable for most school-age children.

Pop-up pages can also be glued into albums for a three-dimensional surprise. The layout advice in our guide on how to make a scrapbook, one focal piece and plenty of breathing space, applies to them too.