This pop-up heart card is a folded red heart that opens to show a paper spiral. Glue the spiral in the right two spots and it stretches into a stack of layered hearts every time the card opens. The idea comes from Rob of the Art for Kids Hub channel, who makes it alongside his son. All you need is construction paper, scissors, a marker and a glue stick, which makes it a good Valentine's Day card to make with a grandchild at the kitchen table.
How the pop-up heart card works
There are three parts. The card is a heart cut from folded red paper with the fold left whole, so it opens like a book. Two white hearts line the inside. The pop-up is two red hearts cut together and then cut in a spiral from the outside in. The two centre hearts are glued to each other, and the outer ring is glued to both inside halves of the card. Open the card and the spiral pulls apart into rings of hearts that stand up off the page.
Materials and swaps from home
- Paper. Rob uses red construction paper and plain printer paper for the white hearts. Red cardstock makes a sturdier card, but keep the spiral in thinner paper so it stretches.
- Template. Draw one heart on scrap card and cut it out. You trace it three times, so every heart matches.
- Glue. A glue stick is best. Liquid glue soaks the spiral and makes it stick shut.
Size and how long it takes
A 9 x 12 inch sheet folded in half gives a card about 4 to 5 inches across. Make the template heart about 3 1/2 inches wide so there is room to trace a larger heart around it. Plan on 30 to 40 minutes with a child, or about 20 on your own. The spiral cutting is the slow part.
Who it suits
Children around six and up can trace and glue. Younger ones do better if you cut the spiral and let them do the gluing and the writing. Make a stack for a class Valentine party, or one in deep red and white for your husband or wife. If you like folded paper hearts, an origami heart fits neatly inside the envelope too.
Valentine's Day card variations
- Colours. Pink card with a red spiral, or a spiral cut from patterned scrapbook paper.
- Messages. Write I on one side of the spiral and U on the other, so the heart in the middle says I love you.
- Other shapes. The spiral works with a circle, a square or a star, so you can reuse the idea for birthdays.
For the classic cut-and-push method, see how to make a pop-up card. For more layered ideas, try how to make a 3D card.
Troubleshooting
- The heart fell apart at the fold. The cut ran through the folded edge. Leave a bit of the fold uncut on the next one.
- The spiral will not open. Glue reached the inner rings. Open the card slowly the first time and ease them apart. Only glue the top two bumps of the outer ring.
- The spiral snapped. The rings were too thin. Keep each ring about as wide as a finger.
Keeping it for next year
Store the card flat in its envelope inside a book. Keep the heart template with your Valentine supplies and the next batch goes faster. Want a softer keepsake? Try crocheting a heart.
