How To Make a Pop Up Card

Welcome stampers! In my nine years of stamping experience, I’ve found that many times a certain technique or card design looks harder than it actually is to create. I definitely feel this is true for pop up cards. I’ve rarely shared about how to make a pop up card, but I want to help you learn how to make them, because once you know how (and know how easy it is), you’ll be popping up things all over the place!

Let’s get started!

What Is A Pop Up Card?

A pop up card looks like a regular card on the outside, but when opened reveals one or more elements that ‘pop up’ to surprise and delight the recipient. These elements fold flat when the card is closed, but unfold and pop out when the card is opened.

What Supplies Are Needed?

Making one of these cards is so easy! To do so, you’ll need the following:

Card base of any size
Materials to decorate the outside of the card
1 or more paper strips, typically measuring 1/2″ to 1″ wide and 3-4″ long
Scoring board
Tape or glue
1 or more punches or die cuts to add to the pop up strip

Now that you know what materials are needed, in the next section we will talk about what to do with them.

How To Make Pop Up Cards

I suggest first creating your card and decorating the outside in the manner of your choosing.

To add the pop up element to the inside, you’ll need to do the following. I’m giving a standard size for the pop up strip, but in the next section I’ll talk about how to make adjustments depending on the size of your pop up element.

1. Cut a strip of paper measuring 3/4″ x 3″.

2. Score the strip at 1/2″, 1 1/2″, and 2 1/2″.

3. Fold on all the score lines.

4. Lay the strip flat and add strong adhesive to the flaps on both ends.

5. Fold the flaps around to the back side, so the adhesive is on the back.

6. Open the card base and lay the strip in the center, with the visible score mark in line with the center crease of the card. Press down to adhere to the card.

Practice opening and closing the card.

7. Place adhesive on the bottom section of the strip, and attach your punch, die cut or shape of interest. Make sure when doing so that the element doesn’t extend down past the bottom of the strip to ensure proper opening and closing.

Do you need a larger or smaller paper strip? Or you’re wanting to make a pop up that opens from right to left (not bottom to top)? I’ll share details on these items below.

How To Size The Pop Up Strip

The size of strip I shared above works in many cases for pop up cards, but what if you need a larger or smaller strip? You can easily cut your strip narrower or wider to meet the needs of the punch of die cut you plan to attach. What if you need it taller or shorter? Here’s how to determine the length and measurements for scoring.

1. Measure the height of your pop up element.

2. Subtract a little bit from that measurement to determine the height of the pop up strip. Choose a round number like 1 1/4″ or 2″. We will use 2″ for this example.

3. The final strip will need to have two sections each the length of the measurement in step 2 (2″ for our example), so that total length is 4″. In addition, the strip needs a flap at each end to attach to the card. Let’s make those 3/4″ each, but yours can be longer or shorter.

4. The four sections of the strip will need to measure 3/4″, 2″, 2″, and 3/4″, totaling 5 1/2″.

5. Cut a strip measuring 1″ wide by 5 1/2″ long.

6. Score the strip so the sections measure those given in step 4. For our example, scoring needs to be at 3/4″, 2 3/4″, and 4 3/4″.

7. Attach to the card as described above.

How To Make A Horizontal Pop Up Card

The cards I’m showing open top to bottom, but if you want your card and pop up to open left to right, you only need to make one small change. Attach the strip to the card as described above. The change comes when you attach the punch or die cut to the strip. Orient the card the way it will open and put adhesive on the right half of the strip. Then when putting the die cut or punch in place, make sure it doesn’t extend past the right edge of where the strip meets the card. That’s it!

Would you like to see an adorable sample of a pop up card? Let’s look at another example besides the lovely butterfly.

Featured Bundle – Stampin Up Rhino Ready

This stamp and die bundle is part of an online-only release of products, not shown in our catalogs. Aren’t the rhinos cute?! The stamps are just adorable, and the die set has some really nice coordinating dies.