Pop Up Birthday Cake Card
This Pop Up Birthday Cake Card pops up to say Happy Birthday to someone special. If you want a bigger one, just enlarge the pattern on a copier. Remember to enlarge all of the pieces at the same percentage.
Supplies
Heavy paper or cardstock
Sharp Scissors
Glue.
Markers or crayons
Instructions
Click on Printables and print out the card and birthday cake pieces on heavy paper or cardstock. Check the photos on the printables page for complete illustrated directions
Using a ruler as a guide, take the rounded end of a paper clip (or a ballpoint pen that has run out of ink) and press along the dotted line on the center of the card. Go all the way from the top to the bottom of the card! Use the same technique for the pop-up pieces.
Carefully cut out the cake's card and the pop-up pieces following the solid, black lines.
Color in the candles (but DON'T color the cake yet!). Take hold of the candle piece and fold the two sides away from you along the center dotted line.
Lay the candles down flat and carefully fold the lower left tab up and crease. Return the tab to its original position.
Carefully fold the lower right tab up and crease. Return tab to its original position.
Pick up the candles and while holding the lower section still with your right hand, fold back the top section with your left.
The two candles in the center are pushed back away from you while the two candles on the ends are coming towards you.
Pick up the cake piece and turn it COMPLETELY OVER. You should not be able to see any of the black dotted lines.
Fold the two sides away from you along the center, creased line.
Turn the cake piece back over again so you can see the black, dotted lines. Lay the cake down flat and carefully fold the right tab up and crease. Leave the tab in this position.
Carefully fold the left tab up and crease. Leave the tab in this position.
Take hold of the "scalloped icing" tab at the top and carefully fold it down and crease. Leave the tab in this position.
Take hold of the "wavy icing" tab at the bottom and carefully fold it down and crease. Leave the tab in this position. Color in the cake and icing!
Take the card and fold in half along the center.
Apply white glue (don't put on too much!) to the left angled area closest to the center of the card...and to the right angled area closest to the center of the card.
Carefully line up the tabs on the candles with the wet glue areas on the card. Press the candle's tabs into the glue. Make sure the center dotted line on the candles matches the center dotted line on the card. Let the glue dry!
After the glue has dried, test the pop-up by slowly and carefully closing the card. You may need to help the candles fold down for this first time.
Apply glue to the remaining left glue area...and to the right.
Take the cake and carefully line it up with the glue areas on the card. Press the sides into the glue. Make sure the center crease line matches the center dotted line on the card. Let the glue dry!
Your Birthday Cake pop-up card is finished! Just don't let anyone eat it!
Patterns, Templates and Printables
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Contributor
Robert works in his studio in New York City that he shares with his partner, children's book creator Matthew Reinhart. When asked about his work, Robert says, "We love making books. It's hard work but the best part is not having to worry about making a mess. When being an artist is your job, you can make as many messes as you want to!"