As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make Pop Up Cards - The Box - Lesson 1

This post has been updated.  Please click here to read the newer post.











How to Make Pop Up Cards, Tutorial Level of Difficulty: Easy


THE BOX (Also know as the Parallel Fold or the Step)

While simple to construct, the pop up card box is extremely versatile. It lends itself beautifully to cards with strong graphical elements. The pop up mechanism enhances the graphics without being distracting.

Today's Lesson: A pop up box symmetrically cut from the fold.

Fold your paper in half. I like to use a whole sheet of 8.5" x 11" when I'm learning a new technique.

On the outside of the folded card, draw one or more rectangles of any size, where one side of the rectangle is the fold. Here I have drawn three of various size.





simple box pop up card

Cut along the rectangle sides that are perpendicular to the fold. (Shown as solid lines on the sample.)

DO NOT CUT across the top.

Score across the top of the rectangle. (Shown as dotted line on the sample.) You now have a flap of paper with a fold across the bottom.

simple box pop up card

Set creases into the rectangle by folding the flap up, then unfolding.

Flip the card over and fold the flap up on the other side, then unfold.

Open the card. From the back, push the square to pop it forward. It should look like this.

simple box pop up card

Side View

simple box pop up card

Your graphics can be affixed to the front or top of the pop up steps.

Before gluing everything together be sure nothing will stick out from the edges of the card when it is folded.

You can create vastly different designs just by varying the size and placement of the pop up rectangles. Turning the card to open from the side instead of the front presents additional possibilities.

simple box pop up card






Examples of Simple Box Pop Up Cards