Give a card that really pops

By Tricia Courtney
THE JOPLIN GLOBE (JOPLIN, Mo.)

February 07, 2008 12:01 pm

— Tired of the same old cards featuring cartoon characters that line Valentine’s Day store aisles?
Parents and children can both enjoy making and handing out these hand-crafted cards that have a special “pop-up” surprise when opened. The Valentine’s pop-up card can be personalized to resemble the card giver or recipient, and is appropriate for both boys and girls. The card’s basic construction also leaves lots of room for children’s individual creativity and artistic expression.
All that’s needed for a unique Valentine’s card that won’t soon be forgotten are a few basic supplies, a lot of folding and curling, and some imagination.

Supplies
1 pair craft scissors
1 glue stick
Clear Scotch tape
1 pencil
3 sheets of 8 1/2x11 construction paper, Valentine’s colors
Markers, crayons, glitter, yarn, etc. (optional)

Instructions
Step 1: Fold one sheet of construction paper in half horizontally to form the card’s body. Decorate the outside of the card with Valentine’s Day messages or drawings.
Step 2: Fold another sheet of construction paper in half the same way. Cut a half heart shape, using the fold as the middle. Unfold to form a whole heart.
Step 3: Fold lobes of heart to the middle of the heart, with the peak side of the fold right side up.
Step 4: Draw a friendly face on the heart. You could make it look like the card’s giver or recipient for fun. Put stick glue around the edges of the heart and adhere to the inside of the card.
Step 5: From another sheet of construction paper, horizontally cut four 1-inch strips for arms and legs, and six to eight 1/4-inch strips for hair.
Step 6: Accordion fold the four 1-inch strips.
Step 7: Glue or tape the folded 1-inch strips to the side and bottom of the heart body to make arms and legs.
Step 8: Wrap the 1/4-inch strips around a pencil to make hair curls, longer girls for the girls and shorter curls for boys.
Step 9: Tape the curls to the top of the heart body.
Step 10: Decorate the inside of the card with Valentine’s Day messages and hearts. Fold the arms and legs up and close the card. When the card recipient opens it, the arms, legs and body will pop up.

Tricia Courtney writes for The Joplin (Mo.) Globe.