Craft Your Own Pop Up Christmas Cards to Give as Meaningful Gifts

Pop up Christmas cards are special surprise gifts for recipients, who will definitely find them meaningful during the holidays. This guide details the materials and instructions for making two types of pop up Christmas cards.

Pop Up Nativity Scene Christmas Card with External Stand

Description: A DIY Christmas card with a rectangular, v-folded card stand attached to the interior to prop up a nativity scene cutout image. When the card is opened, the nativity scene image pops up.

Materials: cardstock paper, scissors, protractor, nativity scene image card cutout (2 ½ inches x 3 ½ inches), glue, tape, label-maker (optional), printer

Instructions:

1. Fold your cardstock paper in half width-wise.

2. Make an external stand by cutting out a cardstock rectangle that is at least 2 inches x 5 inches and folding in half width-wise. Then make two tabs on the left and right sides by folding ½ inch inward and cutting the corners.

3. Open the backing card flat and position it so that the crease divides the left and the right of the card. Use your protractor to measure a 45 degree angle on each side of the card's crease, and draw a 90 degree angle in the center of the card.

4. Align the folded tabs of the rectangular stand with the angle measurements drawn on your card and glue the tabs to the backing card. (Tip: Add tape over the folded in tabs for extra security.) The stand should resemble a pyramid.

5. Preferably, download a nativity scene image from the internet and format the size to around 2 ½ inches x 3 ½ inches.

6. Print and cut out your nativity image on cardstock paper.

7. Add glue to the back of your image and attach to the side of the stand facing you.

8. Add a personal message above the image that you write in or type using a label maker.

9. Personalize the cover of the card with greetings and images.

Pop Up Star Christmas Card

Description: This DIY pop up Christmas card is designed by making partial angle cuts to a backing card and folding in to create internal pop up stars - my self-designed images.

Materials: cardstock paper (2 sheets), scissors, markers, glue

Instructions:

1. On the front of the folded backing card, draw the top half of a large star four times along the top of the card's crease.

2. Cut along the lines of the star, stopping slightly before you reach the uppermost tip of the star that you will leave attached.

3. Tuck the partially cut star image inward and open the card.

4. You will encounter four pop up stars.

5. Color the stars with markers and add a personalized message within the card.

*Tip: To disguise the cuts made to the outside of the card edge, open the card face up and glue another cardstock sheet over it. Then, personalize the cover of the card with greetings and images.

The family and friends who receive your homemade pop up Christmas cards will love you for your creativity and thoughtfulness. More importantly, you are giving meaningful gifts that highlight the true themes of Christmas.

Sources

Ryan, V. "Pop Up Cards - V Fold Mechanisms." Technology Student website.