Pop the Vote
There is a big event going on in the United States right now.
If you would like to make your own, you can download the Pop the Vote pop up card pattern for free.
Totoro Twisted-Crest OA/Kirigami Pop Up Card
Just open this twisted crest origamic architecture / kirigami card and … you’ll be meeting Totoro!
Continue readingSpiraling Pop Up Card Folding Video
Here is a short folding video for the Spiraling pop up card design.
Spiraling Pop Up Card
I sent this w-fold kirigami/origamic architecture pop up card out for the 2018-2019 holiday season. I was inspired by the interplay of layers popping in alternate directions in some of Ingrid Siliakus’ designs.
XOXO 2019 Origamic Architecture / Kirigami Pop Up Card
I designed this in honor of the 2019 XOXO Fest! Turning a simple sheet of paper into a pop up card is fun and, I encourage you to try it.
If you have a laser cutter or a CNC cutting machine (or “craft cutter”), you can load the SVG file below into your software and, use that to cut out the card. If you can adjust the power or depth and pressure of your cuts to only cut halfway through, you can also cut the mountain fold lines with your machine.
You can also do it entirely by hand! Download and print the pattern on a piece of card stock. If you want to keep the front of your card pretty, reverse the pattern and, you’ll be cutting from the back side. Just remember to score your fold lines on the correct side.
You can also tape a printed pattern to a piece of card stock and, use a straight pin to poke a small hole at each junction of lines. You can then remove the pattern and, use a ruler to score and cut your piece. You can also use this approach with the pin to help make your valley fold score lines on the reverse.
The paper will tend to fold away from a score line. By scoring mountain folds on the front and valley folds on the back, you will make the card easier to fold.
Here is a video walkthrough of cutting a card by hand:
Glowforge Settings
Score: speed 500 / power 9
Cut: speed 250 / power 36
Fast Cut (card outline): speed 500 / power 69
Pattern Files
These files are for personal, non-commercial use only. If you want to produce these to sell or for other business use, please contact me to arrange for licensing terms.
Right-click and “Save Link As”:
XOXO 2019 Pop Up Card Pattern SVG
XOXO 2019 Pop Up Card PDF (original zine page with pattern)
Check out the whole XOXO 2019 zine
Got the bug? Make a Flower Pop Up Card
Related: 2015 XOXO Pop Up Card
Lunar Lander Pop Up Card
50 years ago today, humans first set foot on the moon. I made this origamic architecture / kirigami style pop up card of their landing craft as a tribute to that great achievement.
Phoenix Pop Up Card Build Video
If you want to see how they were made, there is now a build video for the phoenix pop up cards!
Phoenix Pop Up Card
My latest OA-style pop up card project is this little phoenix. After several experiments, I decided that a black background really helped to make the bird pop. I came up with an interesting approach to make that happen. The color is printed on a polyester sticker that goes on the stock, is cut, then weeded. The result is pretty spectacular.
Another great discovery was that the pearlescent stock I used for the backing cards engraves to a metallic gold. It’s better in person than in the photos. My original plan had been to stamp and emboss but, the engraving is perfect and easy.
The finished cards are 3.5″ by 2.25″ and, fit perfectly in some metallic black mini envelopes I found.
I made a few dozen of them to share.
Pop Up Card Stands
The latest prototype pop up card stands! Made from maple, cherry and walnut ply, a magnet-reactive coating on the inner surface allows small neodymium magnets to hold a card in place.
Westward Ho Origamic Architecture Pop Up Card
There have been a lot of changes in downtown Phoenix in the last few years. A lot of history remains. I thought it would be fun to make a pop up design of a local building or two. So, I had a go at the Westward Ho.
The Westward Ho is a landmark of downtown Phoenix. The hotel with office space and restaurants was built in 1928 and, remained the tallest building in Arizona until 1960. The steel tower and antenna were added in 1949 to broadcast the first television station in Phoenix. The building was converted to housing for the elderly and mobility-impaired in 1980.
