Become a Member for free
access to this and other files on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
A pop up Elephant to make for your Valentine. Fold the elephant flat and slip it into a greeting card. When the card is opened the elephant pops out to the delight for your #truelove.
Members can download the pattern for free at the usual place, non members can download the parts for £2.50
The project comes in three colour schemes and a mono version. Print out the parts of the version you choose onto thin card. (230 micron / 67lb) Note that the last page of the colour projects is coloured on both sides. Print out one side, flip the card over, return it to the printer and print out the back.
Score all the dotted and dashed lines then cut out the holes. Exercise the creases to ensure they fold easily.
Glue the grey areas of the head and body together lining them up as accurately as possible.
Fold the head and body round, glue the hooked tabs face to face to make double thickness card.
Glue together the sides that are opposite the hooked tabs. This will hold the box in shape but still allow you to access the hooked tabs to fit the elastic band in the next step.
Select a long thin elastic band.
Hook one end over the smaller hooked tab, thread it through the hole in the box and hook it onto the other tab.
Close the other sides by gluing them together.
The tusks are double thickness card. Make them by folding the card in half and gluing it together then carefully cutting out the pieces.
Glue on the tusks as shown so that their edge lines up with the diagonal edge of the side piece.
Glue the ear tab in place so that it is vertical and central.
Glue the face to the front of the box.
Glue the legs to the side of the box. Make sure that the toe nails are to the front of the foot.
Finish off the model by gluing the heart to the trunk as shown.
That's it! Fold the model flat, slip it into a Valentine card and send it to your one true love.
Make yourself a herd!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
I thought that the popup elephant I made the other day would make a nice Valentine project - I hope that #truelove agrees!
Looking at the original I thought it might be better with a head not made from a cube but slightly shortened front to back. After a little experimentation I came up with this prototype.
Which then developed into this project.
And it still squashes down nicely ready to pop up!
Do you like the bokeh in the first picture? 35mm f/1.8 lens - looking good!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other members only projects on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
This pair of connected pop up boxes makes an interesting starting point for your own character designs. Members can download the parts for free at the link above. Print out the pages onto thin card and modify the finished project to make your own unique pop up character.
Score along the dotted lines, cut out the holes then carefully cut out the two parts.
Join the two pieces together by carefully gluing the two grey squares face to face. Make sure no glue extends beyond the grey areas. Complete the join by folding the small tab through the hold and gluing to the back of the adjoining piece.
Fold round each of the two boxes and join the ends by gluing the front faces of the two hooked tabs together.
On each of the two boxes, join the two sides furthest from the hooked tabs together.
Hook a long thin elastic band over the smaller of the two hooks, thread it through the small hole and hook the other end onto the larger of the two hooks. A straightened paper clip can be helpful with this.
Complete the project by gluing the remaining sides together.
Fold the two sides flat, release and watch it pop up!
Don't be restricted by keeping your model one way up, make and animal character with the boxes lined up horizontally.
Make a Character with a fat body...
...or a large head.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other files on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
A pop up robot to print out and make. Fold the model flat and it pops up when released. Slip it into a greeting card as a delightful robo-surprise! Members can download the parts for free, non-members for £2.50
Print out the parts onto three sheets of thin cardboard, score along the dotted lines, cut out the holes then carefully cut out the pieces.
Make up the body by gluing the two hook pieces face to face making a square shaped tube,
Repeat the process with the head.
Glue the head and body together by joining the two grey areas together with the two small holes aligned. Fold the small tab through the hole and glue it to the back of the adjoining piece.
In each of the four box sides, glue together the two sides that are opposite the hooked tabs.
Fit a long thin elastic band over the hook in the head. Thread the elastic band through the small hole then fit the other end over the hook piece in the body.
Glue up the remaining sides to complete the head and body.
All the remaining parts are made from double thickness card. Glue them and fold them in half. Once the glue is dry carefully cut the piece out. Repeat this process for the arms, legs and antennae
The arms glue to the small semi-circles on the side of the body.
Complete the robot by gluing on the antennae and legs.
Fold the model flat, slip it into a greeting card and it will pop out when the card is opened.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Here's what I learned today...
Symmetrical feet look like hooves.
Better?
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Pop up Robot prototype...
...and here it is squashed down and ready to pop!
The core of this project is the pop up mechanism from the previous post, inverted.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Have you downloaded and made your pop up Pumpkin yet?
Squash the pumpkin flat and slip it into a card or a book. Watch it pop out when released.
You can download the file for free here.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Reposted from last year just in time for the Halloween season I'm delighted to represent the pop up pumpkin project - now free for every one to download - happy Halloween!
Pop Up Pumpkin to download, print out and make. The Pop Up Pumpkin is a quick and easy model to download, print out and make. Powered by a single elastic band the model folds flat to fit inside a card or book. Open the card and the pumpkin pops out!
Download the file at the bottom of this post, print out the parts, either colour or mono, onto thick card. (I used 280 micron) Score along the dotted lines then cut out the parts. Exercise the crease lines so that they are flexible.
The completed Pop Up Pumpkin.
There are only four parts in this model and it is specially designed to be made without using a sharp knife so it can be made by people of all ages.
Start by gluing the two shaped tabs back to back. Pinch them together to make sure that the glue works well.
Fold over and glue both sides together, make sure no glue squeezes out from under the tabs and joins the parts together.
Fold up into this position and let the glue dry completely.
This bit is a little fiddly. Take an elastic band roughly 40-45mm long. Stretch it out to full length a couple of times just to ease off its initial stiffness.
Hook the elastic band over both of the shaped tabs as shown above. This is what will pop up the pumpkin.
Fold the pumpkin flat and glue down the remaining tabs. Make sure you don't glue the parts flat by accident.
Glue the two stalk parts back to back as shown above
Complete the pumpkin by gluing the stalk onto the grey circle. Let the glue dry completely before trying out the model.
Pop up Pumpkin! Squash the pumpkin flat and slip it into a card or a book. Watch it pop out when released. Spooky!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Pop Up Pumpkin to download, print out and make. The Pop Up Pumpkin is a quick and easy model to download, print out and make. Powered by a single elastic band the model folds flat to fit inside a card or book. Open the card and the pumpkin pops out!
Download the file at the bottom of this post, print out the parts, either colour or mono, onto thick card. (I used 280 micron) Score along the dotted lines then cut out the parts. Exercise the crease lines so that they are flexible.
The completed Pop Up Pumpkin.
There are only four parts in this model and it is specially designed to be made without using a sharp knife so it can be made by people of all ages.
Start by gluing the two shaped tabs back to back. Pinch them together to make sure that the glue works well.
Fold over and glue both sides together, make sure no glue squeezes out from under the tabs and joins the parts together.
Fold up into this position and let the glue dry completely.
This bit is a little fiddly. Take an elastic band roughly 40-45mm long. Stretch it out to full length a couple of times just to ease off its initial stiffness.
Hook the elastic band over both of the shaped tabs as shown above. This is what will pop up the pumpkin.
Fold the pumpkin flat and glue down the remaining tabs. Make sure you don't glue the parts flat by accident.
Glue the two stalk parts back to back as shown above
Complete the pumpkin by gluing the stalk onto the grey circle. Let the glue dry completely before trying out the model.
Pop up Pumpkin! Squash the pumpkin flat and slip it into a card or a book. Watch it pop out when released. Spooky!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other files on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
Cubug, a pop up character to download and make. Fold him flat, flip the lock tab into place and he remains flat until you drop him on the floor when he springs open!
Cubug is based on a cubocahedron shape - hence the name. If you are a member you can download the parts file at the end of this email, non members can can download the file for a small fee.
The file comes complete with the ready coloured version shown here as well as a line only version so that you can create your own design.
Print out the parts onto stiff card. I used 280 micron card which as just right. Score along all the dotted lines and cut out the holes before cutting out the parts. Both of these jobs are easier on a full sheet.
Follow the instructions below and make your own Cubug model!
Before you start assembling the model, exercise all the crease lines to ensure that they are free to move easily. Glue the body base to the feet so that the key holes line up accurately.
Glue the two parts of the tab together as shown above.
Glue the completed tab into the corner of the body top. Use the picture above to make sure your alignment is correct, notice where the mouth is!
Use the picture above to guide you in preparing the two body parts for joining.
Carefully glue the two parts together one tab at a time working your way round the model. Make sure that you don't accidentally glue the two halves together.
Glue the two pairs of arms back to back so that they are double thickness.
Cut a long thin elastic band so that it is a single long piece. Thread the elastic band into place, pull it tight and tie it in a double knot. A pair of tweezers is useful for this job.
Complete the model by gluing on the eyes and the arms. Wait for the glue to dry completely before carrying on.
Once complete, set the cubug so that it is ready to jump. Fold the model flat then lift the tab so that it locks into the key hole. Flip the model and it's ready to go. Drop it onto a flat surface, the tab moves out from the key ring releasing the elastic band and the Cubug jumps!
Why not try creating your own designs on the mono version of the file.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
