DIY: Photo pop-up cards

November 18, 2010

You’re never too old to appreciate pop-up cards right?  A fun, personalized photo pop-up card is even better.

I saw this tutorial from PhotoJojo and just had to try it.  This could be a fun and simple holiday present or quirky decor for your home as well.  This is also a great excuse to play around with photos and design a great unexpected photo combination.

Materials
– (2) 8″ x 10″ photos (main photo to be cut out should be fairly tall) 
glue stick
– scissors (I found my sharp fabric scissors worked well)

Directions
1.  Use a photo printer or order (2) 8″ x 10″ images (lots of low cost photo printing options including Artscow which gives you 1200 free photo credits in the first year).  One photo should be a subject in its entirety (whole vertical length) and the other should be a more plain piece of scenery to use as the background.
If you want your subject to be tall, you may want to resize it to be 9″ tall for dramatic effect.

2. Lay your background photo image-side up.  Fold it 2″ in from the bottom. The bottom of the image will fold inwards towards the top with your image on the inside.
Unfold the photo. It will now have a 90 degree angle and will be able to stand upright.
Note: If your photo paper is light, you may need to glue heavier cardstock on the bottom for additional support.
The horizontal plane will be the floor for your subject to stand on, and the vertical plane will be the background image of your diorama.

3. Cut out the subject photo trimming closely along the subject shape until is completely separated from the rest of the photo.

4. Cut a strip of photo paper about 1/2″ wide and 8″ long. This will be what props up your subject. Fold the strip into three sections. The first section should be 3″ long, the second section 2″ long, and the third section 3″ long. When unfolded, the strip will be U-shaped with two 90 degree angles.

 5. Glue one 3″ section of the strip to the subject. Allow the glue to dry. Glue the other 3″ section of the strip to the background. The 2″ inch section will run between your subject and the background. Adjust your subject so that it appears to be standing.


 6. Make any other glueing and folding adjustments and you’re done!  Remember that if your photo paper is light or bent, it may not stand readily on its own and will need to be supported in the back.



Here is my photo pop-up card (residing on the bookcase and propped up by a small wedding album!)
It is a combination of a photo from our wedding day in NY and the view from the Seine river from the spot that he proposed.  Err, I know that it may be kinda funny that we’re standing in the river but it is a quirky, sentimental combination for us.

Have fun if you do this project!  What pop-up card would you create?

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  • Krystal November 18, 2010 at 10:23

    oh my goodness….those are so cool!

  • Stacey November 18, 2010 at 12:12

    Love this-very cool indeed!

  • Couture Carrie November 18, 2010 at 14:09

    So fun!
    Thanks for the how-to!

    xoxox,
    CC

  • tanvii.com November 18, 2010 at 14:20

    I have to try IT!!! You guys look cute, btw!!

  • Jaime @ La vie...J'aime November 18, 2010 at 14:44

    what a cool idea!!! i would def do a fun holiday card.

  • very married November 18, 2010 at 14:50

    wow! this is so cool!

  • anna and the ring November 18, 2010 at 14:50

    Ooo I would love to do this for our thank you cards!

  • PartyPlannerGal November 18, 2010 at 14:53

    So fun! What a great idea. That dress looks amazing on you 🙂

  • Connie @ SogniESorrisi November 18, 2010 at 15:10

    So cute! Love your dress.

  • Jude November 18, 2010 at 15:14

    Oh my word, this is soo fun and creative! I love the photo of you guys (haha, love the standing-in-water), utterly adorable 🙂

  • Krysten @ After 'I Do' November 18, 2010 at 15:35

    Those are so fun!

  • Gina November 18, 2010 at 16:07

    So cute! I want to try this with one of my wedding pics.

  • Pop Champagne November 18, 2010 at 16:08

    that is a clever idea! I used to love pop up books when I was younger

  • ruthy ann November 18, 2010 at 16:18

    this is so fantastic! what a cute idea!

  • Savvy Gal November 18, 2010 at 16:34

    How adorable.

  • Kristin Hjellegjerde November 18, 2010 at 16:37

    Never to old and I just wish I had a way with doing these fun things!!! Time is just running by me!!!

  • Audrey Allure November 18, 2010 at 16:56

    A pop card is such a great idea! I think I’m going to make some for the upcoming holidays!

  • honey my heart November 18, 2010 at 17:27

    love how yours turned out!! great diy.

  • Dancing Branflake November 18, 2010 at 18:05

    I adore the balloon one! Such a cute idea!

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE November 18, 2010 at 18:47

    How cute are these??? I love them. You always score the best finds 🙂

  • Isabel November 18, 2010 at 19:21

    ooh i want to try this!

  • Ghenet November 18, 2010 at 19:25

    Cool idea! I love the one you created 🙂

  • this free bird November 18, 2010 at 20:04

    I love this idea!! That one you did with the balloons really caught my eye with the way they’re kind of outside the edge. Looks great!!

    The Parisian combo is pretty wonderful, too.

    xo,
    carrie

  • Chelsea Lane November 18, 2010 at 20:27

    wow, what a fun project! definitely want to try this, I wish I had a balloon picture like that to do it with! haha

    xoxo

  • Josie ♥ Savoir Weddings ♥ November 18, 2010 at 20:33

    This is so cool! It’d be great for STDs (ha!) or thank you cards 😉

  • Debby November 18, 2010 at 21:43

    Adorable and sure to put a smile on someone’s face! xo

  • Diana Mieczan November 18, 2010 at 22:03

    That is so very cool:) Kisses,sweetie

  • Styles 'n Cream November 19, 2010 at 00:32

    This is such a brilliant idea. I need to get crafty ASAP …

  • WhitWatWear November 19, 2010 at 01:29

    cute idea!

  • LyddieGal November 19, 2010 at 05:22

    those are so cool! I’d definitely love to try this… maybe with one of my italy photos…

    Chic on the Cheap

  • Mo November 19, 2010 at 05:53

    Totally adorable you crafty maven. 🙂

  • Fashion Meets Food November 19, 2010 at 18:27

    What a fun pop up card. I absolutely love these. I am thinking that I seriously need to try these out. Thanks so much for sharing!

    xo

  • Creature Gorgeous November 20, 2010 at 00:23

    LOVE IT! And really, really, really, really, REALLY LOVE YOUR DRESS!

  • MizzJ November 23, 2010 at 08:17

    What a cool idea!!

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