Pop-Up Christmas Card Illustrations

Lesson Summary

This project will teach students how to create a 3D pop-up card. Students will design captivating Christmas themed cards with depth and emotion. They will make a pop-up illustration that has three distinct planes, a foreground, a middle-ground and a background. The class will construct their cards using mixed media, such as colored paper, markers and colored pencils. Students will learn how to plan and solve engineering problems to turn their ideas into a functioning pop-up design.

Objectives

• Design captivating cards that have depth and emotion

• Make a pop-up design that has three distinct planes, a foreground, a middle-ground and a background

• Solve problems in order to turn their ideas into a functioning pop-up design

Process

1. Concept Design. Sketch several card designs that includes three planes; a foreground, a middle ground and a background. Use a Christmas or winter theme such as Santa, snowmen, reindeers, snowflakes and etc.

2. Background and Cover. Select the background color paper for your illustration and fold it in half along with the cover for your card.

3. Illustrate the Planes. Illustrate each of the planes onto white or colored paper. You may color it with markers and crayons. *Make sure the planes fit within the dimensions of the background.

4. Popup Hinges. Cut some popup hinges on the background of your card. Adjust them accordingly to make it fit your design. Cut out and glue additional ‘square’ hinges if necessary.

5. Glue. Glue the planes onto the hinges. Make sure you spread an ample amount of glue to attach the pieces firmly in place.

6. Test. Test the popup function of your card.

7. Background. Glue the background on to the cover of your card. 

8. Slogan and Message. Once your popup illustration is complete, think of a slogan for your card and write a message to someone you care about.
   *Feel free to add your own ideas, twists and style into your cards. 

May you find true happiness and peace this Christmas and into the new year!

Terminology (Add / edit)

Cubism -  A painting style invented around 1907-1908 by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. It is a style of art which aims to show multiple viewpoints of a subject all at once. It got its name from the geometric shapes that are apparent in the paintings.