Welcome summer with a fun DIY pop up card! This free printable craft is the perfect summer project, combining the joy of coloring pages and the creativity of pop up card making. Together we’ll make a cheerful pop up card, with kawaii cartoons of ice creams and summer fruit, and a banner that says: “enjoy summer!”
The printable template has all the parts ready for you to color, cut and glue, along with easy step-by-step instructions. The result is not only a fun summer craft for kids, but also a sweet gift for friends, classmates, or teachers as they head off for their summer vacation.
How to Make a Pop Up Card for Summer
Before we dive into our DIY pop-up card craft, take a look at the adorable cartoons in it! I illustrated them in kawaii style, with round eyes and cheerful expressions. For the paper strips that hold the characters, I played with their measurements to make some characters pop out further than others. The printable template includes marks for where to fold and glue, so even preschoolers can create a perfectly engineered DIY pop up card.
What You’ll Need:
- This printable summer pop up card template
- White cardstock for printers (or regular paper)
- Colorful cardstock sheet
- Glue
- Scissors
- Coloring tools
Let’s Make the Pop-Up Card!
1. Print out the free printable template and color the cartoons.
2. Cut out the cartoons, the strips and the card’s base.
3. Fold the card’s base in half along the dashed line. TIP: It’s easier to fold if you score first. To score, place a ruler along the dashed line and trace the line with the dull edge of a butter knife. This will create soft creases.
4. Fold the strips backward along the dashed lines.
5. Glue each strip to its designated spot on the card’s base. The glue tabs and their spots are marked with matching letters.
6. Spread glue where it says “glue banner here”, on both right and left strips. Attach the banner to these strips. Fold the card to assure it closes smoothly, then press the banner to secure it to place.
Note: avoid spreading glue over the dashed lines, as these lines need to fold freely.
7. Glue the sundae to its place on the longer strip, and the big ice cream to its place on the shorter strip.
8. Glue the remaining cartoons to the strips of the banner. Arrange them as you like.
9. Feel free to decorate your card further.
10. Add a cover to the card:
- Place the card on colorful cardstock. Use a pencil to trace the card’s edges and mark its center on the colorful cardstock.
- Cut the cardstock slightly bigger than the card, and fold it along the center. Erase the pencil marks with an eraser.
- Glue the cardstock to the back of the card, aligning the central folds of both parts. Open and close the card to ensure all elements move freely.
- Your pop up card is complete! ✨
Your DIY pop up card is ready for action! Who are you going to surprise with it?
More Printable Summer Crafts and Activities
Don’t stop at the pop-up card! Hop into more summer fun with these awesome free printables:
- 3D Boat in a Bottle: This paper craft comes with a free template to color and cut, letting you create an impressive 3D bottle with a clear window that reveals a boat inside.
- Paper Sunglasses Craft: An adorable craft with a free printable template to color. Customize these DIY sunglasses with the assorted summer-themed stickers.
- Summer Coloring Pages: Beautifully illustrated coloring pages to keep the kiddos entertained and relaxed in the air-conditioned indoors.
- Summer Memory Game: A printable memory game for family fun during the summer.
- Treat Bag Topper for a Great Summer: Make sweet summer gifts with my free printable treat bag topper.
- Summer Stationery Papers: A collection of printable stationery papers with fresh summer spirit.
- Summer Planner Stickers: Free printable stickers to bring summer vibes into your agenda.
- Summer Patterned Papers: Printable 12×12 inch papers for summer crafts, scrapbooking, card making, and more.
- Summer Fruit Sunglasses: Print and assemble strawberry, pineapple, and watermelon sunglasses for instant summer party props.
- Encouraging Summer Stickers: A set of stickers with summer-themed kawaii characters and supportive messages.
- Beach Party Printables: Everything you need for a colorful pool or beach party.
When Summer Crafts Get Magical ✨👇
If you are ready for a super magical paper craft, try this one in my Etsy shop: Make a 3D Mermaid World!
This printable craft kit has all you need for a complete underwater mermaid kingdom: a treasure chest that opens and closes, a seashell that reveals a hidden mermaid, a standing castle, 3D corals with sea creatures, and of course – mermaids and merman. If you want to take your summer paper crafts to the next level, definitely check it out:
I hope you and your kids enjoy making this DIY pop-up card and exploring all the other summer-themed printables available on my site. If you loved this project, please pin this page to Pinterest and share it with friends who love summer crafts. Have a fantastic summer, and happy crafting! 🌞
* All the free printables in my website are for personal, non-commercial use only. Kindly refrain from sending them directly to others. Instead, feel free to share the link to the relevant post. Thanks!
