Halloween Pop Up Card: 3D Pumpkin Tutorial

02 Nov Halloween Pop Up Card: 3D Pumpkin Tutorial

Here is the tutorial and template for the 3D pumpkin Halloween popup card. I couldn't decide what Halloween card to make this year so I asked my readers and pumpkin came up as the top pick over bats or ghosts. I'll have to do a bat or ghost pop-up card next year. I did a search to see what kind of pop up pumpkin cards were already made. I couldn't find a really nice 3D pumpkin. I considered doing a slice form card, but I surely wouldn't finish in time. Plus, I've already started to design this in my head. I also wanted to design something that could be customized by any of you. Maybe I'll have a pumpkin carving contest, where everyone would design the face of their pop up pumpkin. There could be hundreds of different ways to “carve” or design your pumpkin. Here is another image of the popup pumpkin card:

Here is a video of tutorial on how to make the pumpkin pop up card:

If you don't want to watch the video, here are step by step instructions for making the card:

1. Purchase the template for this design here: 3D pumpkin Halloween Pop Up Card template.
2. The template has 3 pages; the pumpkin and clip art, inside card and outside cover.
3. Using the template, cut the card parts out of card stock. You can use these instructions on using templates or you can use a cutting machine.
4. Score all the locations where the card parts will be folded. Make sure the folds on the pumpkin are very soft so that each panel moves very freely. It is critical that the panels move freely, otherwise the top part of the pumpkin will not open fully. You may want to cut all the way through the paper at the center portion of each fold. The fold will remain connected at the ends, but this will help soften the fold. Exercise the folds back and forth so that each fold moves freely.
5. Before assembling the pumpkin or card, use a needle to poke a hole where there are 2 small circles on the template. You will make 2 holes on the back panel of the pumpkin and 2 holes in the inside card.
6. Assemble the pumpkin by folding the pumpkin piece in half so that the front and back of the pumpkin are aligned.
7. Then glue the tabs together on the backside of the pumpkin.
8. Attach the backside of the pumpkin to the inside card by inserting the bottom tab into the rear slot on the inside card. Be careful not to rip the tab off.
9. Use a thread and needle to pass a thread through the inside card, up through the back side panel of the pumpkin, and back down through the inside card again. The holes that you already made with a needle earlier.
10. Pull the thread taught on the back of the inside card. Temporarily tape the threads to the back of the inside card. You will adjust these later.
11. Assemble the font tab of the pumpkin into the front slot in the inside card. The pumpkin should open and close with the inside cover.
12. If the tops of the pumpkin do not fold all the way down, pull the strings tighter. You may also want to make sure the folds are well scored.
13. Once you have adjusted the string so that it has enough tension to pull down the tops of the pumpkin, secure with tape. Using a strong glue like Elmer's glue, glue a small piece of paper or card stock over the holes where the string comes out of the inside cover. Let this dry, fold the strings over the small piece of card stock and glue another piece on top to anchor the string. Cut the excess string off. Make sure that your string or small card stock pieces are not exposed through any cut outs in the outside cover.
14. Glue the stem pieces and any clip art onto the card.
15. Assemble the inside card into the outside card by sliding the corners of the inside card behind the bats.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.