Hello again friends! I’m here today to share a fun little pop-up card featuring preschool art. This monster pop-up hug card is perfect for Valentine’s Day or just for sending to a loved one who lives far away.
Pop-Up Card
The pop-up folding part is more for older kids or an adult, but the art part is fun for toddlers on up. I will admit, I think I had even more fun than my kids did! We painted our monsters on a separate paper and then cut and glued them into the card, but you could save a step and just paint right on the card interior, too.
Kids’ Art Technique: Straw Painting
This straw painting technique is one I remember doing often as a kid, thanks to that magical blue Childcraft Make and Do book. It’s easy, only a little bit messy, and makes for some awesome monsters, amoebas, or whatever you’d like to call your shapes.
Just water down some paint so that it’s good and runny for blowing. I used regular acrylic craft paint, but poster paint would work, too. Dollar Store ice cube trays work great to hold the paint!
Then use a straw or an eyedropper to spread drops of paint around the page. These inexpensive pipettes from Amazon would be perfect so that the kids can easily do their own paint drops!
Since we were making monsters, I put 2-3 large drops in just one color right in the center of a 1/4 sheet of paper, but when we did them the next day, we used a full sheet of copy paper and lots of colors to talk about color blending. My kids had a blast getting the colors to mix with each other!
Set them aside and let them dry overnight. You can also press them in a stack of books to flatten them out, if you want.
Make the Monster Pop-Up Card (with free printable template!)
Now, for the card! I have a printable template at the end of the post so you can download and print a card with a Happy Valentine’s Day message, just the monster hug message, or completely blank to draw your own huggy creation.
Once you’ve printed the template on either regular paper or cardstock, cut out the shape and fold it like so:
- Fold it in half, crease, and then open it back up.
- Along the crease of the arms, gently fold it back the other way.
- Fold one edge of the arm down to match up with the edge of the paper, and crease the diagonal at the top, stopping at the middle crease.
- Then fold the arm back along the pre-made fold, and fold the top of the card down and press firmly — your corner will have a triangular part folded out.
- Repeat for the other arm.
- Now when you close the card, the arms should fold in, and then pop out when you open it!
As I said, we painted separate papers and cut and glued them in, but you could easily paint on the template before cutting and folding, too.
Then just glue or draw some eyes and a mouth, write or paste on your message, and pop it in the mail! (The font I used is called My Unprofessional Handwriting, downloaded free from Dafont here.)
Printables in this post are for personal use and available to subscribers of Housewife Eclectic only. To use this printable, please SUBSCRIBE NOW.
Monster Hug Pop-Up Hug
This monster hug card is perfect for Valentine's Day or just for sending to a loved one who lives far away.
Instructions
Kids’ Art Technique: Straw Painting
- This straw painting technique is one I remember doing often as a kid, thanks to that magical blue Childcraft Make and Do book. It’s easy, only a little bit messy, and makes for some awesome monsters, amoebas, or whatever you’d like to call your shapes.
- Just water down some paint so that it’s good and runny for blowing. I used regular acrylic craft paint, but poster paint would work, too. Dollar Store ice cube trays work great to hold the paint!
- Then use a straw or an eyedropper to spread drops of paint around the page. These inexpensive pipettes from Amazon would be perfect so that the kids can easily do their own paint drops!
- Since we were making monsters, I put 2-3 large drops in just one color right in the center of a 1/4 sheet of paper, but when we did them the next day, we used a full sheet of copy paper and lots of colors to talk about color blending. My kids had a blast getting the colors to mix with each other!
- Set them aside and let them dry overnight. You can also press them in a stack of books to flatten them out, if you want.
Make the Monster Pop-Up Card (with free printable template!)
- Now, for the card! I was so inspired by this adorable card on Etsy and I wanted to put my own spin on it for my kiddos. I have a printable template for you (like always!) so you can download and print a card with a Happy Valentine’s Day message, just the monster hug message, or completely blank to draw your own huggy creation. (Just click on each link to get the free download from Box.)
- Once you’ve printed the template on either regular paper or cardstock, cut out the shape and fold it like so:
- Fold it in half, crease, and then open it back up.
- Along the crease of the arms, gently fold it back the other way.
- Fold one edge of the arm down to match up with the edge of the paper, and crease the diagonal at the top, stopping at the middle crease.
- Then fold the arm back along the pre-made fold, and fold the top of the card down and press firmly — your corner will have a triangular part folded out.
- Repeat for the other arm.
- Now when you close the card, the arms should fold in, and then pop out when you open it!
- As I said, we painted separate papers and cut and glued them in, but you could easily paint on the template before cutting and folding, too.
- Then just glue or draw some eyes and a mouth, write or paste on your message, and pop it in the mail!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Lu (or Lorene if you prefer) is the mom of 3 kids and wife of a singing and dancing elementary teacher. She happily shows up here at Housewife Eclectic a few times a month, when the creative bug strikes in between projects at her awesome job as a virtual assistant. You can check out her other projects here on Housewife Eclectic, or her former blogger life and projects over at just Lu.
I think this is a cute idea. I bet my boys would love those.
There are just not times where it's ok to get a little messy! I love the spray art. The whole card turned out adorable.
Love the MONSTERS and love that they are friendly and give a big hug!! What a fun project for the kids.
That is such a cool idea. i love that it is a pop up too.
These are so super cute. I bet my daughter would have a blast making these.
Love the straw art. The shapes are great and ripe for interpretation.
I love this! Very creative idea! Our boys will love this one.
Oooo, I just love these splatter monsters. They are too, too cute!
LOL that is so funny and so cool! I bet they had a blast doing it!
After you put the drops of paint, did they blow on the straw to make the monster? I don't understand what you do
How do I get the printable template? Everything that I have clicked on does not seem to work.
After you subscribe to the newsletter. It will pop up in a new window. If you have pop up blockers on, that will prevent it.