¶ Tutorial: Pop-up flowers
This is a pop-up card, which is easily made in a short time. We have all materials and tools needed at xPress.
This tutorial is based on this youtube video.
¶ Cutting the flowers
You'll need 7 square pieces of paper. A good size is 99x99mm, because it fits in an A4 paper. It's also a good size for a card a bit smaller than A5.
¶ Folding the flowers
Fold each of the 7 pieces 3 times. First to create a triangle, second and third to half the size of the triangle.
¶ Cutting again
Give each of the 7 pieces a round outline at the open edge. Try to end up with a piece that is symmetrical on the horizontal axis, like an ice-cream cone with 1 scoop. Let's call it a petal.
Unfold the piece and cut out one petal. Doesn't matter which one.
¶ Decorating
If you like to draw flower details onto the petals, now is the time. Keep in mind that one petal will be glued over in the next step.
¶ Glueing each flower
Put glue on one entire petal on one edge and glue the petal on the other edge on top of it. This makes the flower somewhat 3D. It's too soon, so flatten it. Repeat that for all flowers.
¶ Glueing the flowers together
Now we need to glue all flowers together. It is important, that you only put glue on the marked points. This enables the flowers to pop open. Follow the steps closely:
₁
Start with one flower and put a spot of glue in the left and right middle point of the half circle of the petal. Put a flower on each side, so that only one petal is overlapping.
Glued flowers: 3/7
₂
Put glue spots on the same spots again, and a spot in the middle. Put a flower on top, so that all 3 glue spots are covered.
Glued flowers: 4/7
₃
Again, put on the two glue spots as earlier, but now add one petal on each side outwards. And again, put a flower on each side symmetrical, so that the petal-space at 6 o'clock remains empty.
Glued flowers: 6/7
₄
Repeat point 2: Three spots in the middle, one flower covering these spots.
Glued flowers: 7/7
₅
Arrange the flowers at the fold of your card. Put a glue spot on the middle petal. Again, make sure to only glue on a limited spot. Fold the card and let it dry for a moment. Then flip it and glue it from the other side.
₆
Let it dry thoroughly before you open it for the first time.
¶ Post-production
Size the card down to your liking with the paper guillotine. Put rounded corners on it, that enhances the look and feel quite a bit.
¶ Additional thoughts
The flower bouquet will hinder the card to open all the way. The limit is around 120°. You do have some control over it. If you shift all glue spots towards the rounded edges, the flowers can unfold further.
If you glueing two sheets together for the card, fold them and glue them in a folded state.