A pile of gifts pop-up card

I made this card as a follow-up for the Box Fold tutorial. This card is probably the easiest box-fold pop up card ever! The boxes are not only the basic mechanism, but the popping element itself.

And now, for the how-to:

First thing’s first- choose the interior and exterior papers for the card. I made the interior slightly smaller than the exterior, so a nice “frame” is created when glued together. Score both of the cards and fold in half.

I marked the desired location and size of the gift boxes on the back of the interior paper (purple): the rectangles are 4X4 cm, 3X3 cm and 2X2 cm. I left a gap of 1/2 cm between each of the rectangles.

Then, I cut along the rectangles’ lines (those that are perpendicular to the card’s center fold, not the parallel ones!). I popped the rectangles into the card and flattened it all with a bone folder.

At this point you can already see the final shape of the card, and it’s easy to imagine and plan the next steps.

Cut stripes of pattered paper to cover the boxes. I used 4X8 cm, 3X6 cm and 2X4 cm. Fold the stripes in half, so they fit well into place as the wrapping paper of the presents. Glue the stripes on.

Glue the interior part of the card to the exterior. I find that the easiest way is gluing one side first, then applying glue to the other side of the interior paper, and simply closing the card. Make sure you don’t adhere the boxes in any way, or the card won’t open!

Now decorate with some ribbon, and you’re done!