Tutorial: Amazing Pop-Up Card

In January 2011, I published my first tutorial on Youtube. The video has now been watched more than 4.6 million times. (Click here to see the original video from 2011).
Since I have received many comments from people who didn’t like the music, I decided to create a new version in September 2017 with different music:

The template can be downloaded here for free: pop-up-template (PDF, 313 KB)
For private use only! No commercial use!

You will find more free tutorials in my Youtube channel.

25 Comments

  • I like you sr your papper pop up cards are very nice very beautifull…I also want to study your pop up card how to make,. so sr.your are making pop up cards sr you make pop up cards video put in vidmate or youtube or chrome your are a best papper maker your papper crafts are very super,I inpresed,,,

    • Dear JIBIL, thank you very much for your kind message. I am very happy that you like my pop-up designs!
      In general, I think, that you will learn most, if you just try it out. I myself learned most through trial and error, by hours and hours of practical experience. When I started to create pop ups (more than 27 years ago), I had no teacher, but only some books which explained the basic techniques.
      But today, you don’t even need to buy a book – because there’s Youtube! So you will be able to get all these informations for free.
      Do you know the You Tube channel of Duncan Birmingham? It is called the pop-up-channel – and he explains all the basic techniques very well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx2M2bGHtXBszG6tuR_NIbQ From my point of view, this is all you need to know – everything else will be you personal style – you will have to find, what works (and what doesn’t work) by practical experience. Don’t give up if you fail – try again with slightly changes. Finally you will succeed.
      Do you have a Facebook account? 
      As you might know, I share a lot of free templates on my Facebook fanpage. Maybe that helps to get started. Please have a look at this list. It contains many links to templates, book-recommendations and video tutorials. (Not only from me, but from different paper artists.): https://www.facebook.com/Peter.Dahmen.Papierdesign/posts/162295743829482 Even if it is a Facebook-page, you should be able to see it – even without having an own Facebook account. (But I am not sure, if this works in every country in the world). Don’t forget to click on the „show previous comments – button“, because the list contains even more entries, than you can see at first sight.
      Furthermore, I share some personal tutorials on my website: https://peterdahmen.de/en/category/tutorials/
      Finally, the website „best pop-up books“ published a new webpage with many resources: http://www.bestpopupbooks.com/huge-diy-pop-ups-update/
      I hope, that I could help you with my answer. If you have more questions, please have a look at my „FAQ“ page (frequently asked questions) on my website: https://peterdahmen.de/en/faq/ I wish you every success and much fun with your own paper creations. With all best, Peter

  • Thank you Sr you are great man…I search in vid mate “how to make peter Dahmen pop up cards””I search this way but didn’t come anything flower pop up card only came ….I want study to make pop up card I have very interest to make pop up card sr you are a great man…..I net look some are not nice sr yours pop up card are very super… I wish you a very sucessfull time sr you make so much pop up cards…Thank you for your comment very thankyou I make make make and study pop up very I like you sr and your pop up card

    Jibil

      • Dear JIBIL, no, I won’t give you my cellphone number. I ask for your understanding, that I can’t give you any personal advice. As you might have noticed, I have more than 195’000 fans on Facebook and more than 100’000 subscribers on Youtube. It is impossible for me to have a personal conversation with so many people. Please understand, that I am not a teacher, but just a designer. I simply don’t have enough time to talk to everybody. I wish you every success with your own projects. All the best, Peter

  • Ok Sr i have no sad I say to give your wars app number to chat and pop up cards making videos to see and make that why’s only I said to give your what’s app number sr you put one link no this way s ‘www.peterdahmen pepper make.com”that ways sr you put in chrome the making vedeos of pop up cards please…sr I say to u all the best to u for make many cards I wish you all the best for u but i didnt want your whatsapp number but sr you put in vidmate or youtube this vedeos of making of pop up card and i am saying to u were are best friends

    Jibil

  • Thank you very much Peter! This is one of my favourite popup cards that you have designed. In fact, I tried to replicate it a couple of years ago, just by eye. It was a challenge to get the wide range of heights and a clean sine wave of peaks and have it look good, so I am so glad to have your original official version now. I look forward to making it (and comparing it with my guesswork).
    I don’t suppose you’ll be publishing your peacock any time soon? 🙂
    Many thanks and I wish you every success and boundless imagination.
    Derek

    • Dear Derek, many thanks for your kind message. I am very happy that you like my tutorials. Yes indeed, it was a lot of trial and error (and not so much calculation), to create a nice 3D object from all the paper strips 😉
      I ask for your understanding, that I don’t publish the plans for each and every paper sculpture that I have ever created. Please note, that SOME of my paper pop up sculptures are artworks. I create these pop up sculptures only personally and only on order. The total edition is limited to 20 pieces worldwide. Each piece is signed and numbered by myself. I sell these artworks to museums and to private collectors. The „peacock“ is such a piece of art in a limited edition.
      I ask for your understanding, that I don’t share the templates for this artwork.
      But please stay connected. I will definitely publish some new tutorialsfor pop-up cards in the future. Even though they won’t be copies of any existing pop-up sculptures that you can find today on my website, I hope that you will like them 🙂
      In the meantime – maybe you want to try some free tutorials from other paper artists? Recently, I published a list with many useful resources. Please have a look here.
      All the best, Peter

    • Dear Sudharsan, many thanks for your kind message. Yes, you can learn, how to create pop-up cards! I have created several tutorials. You can find them all, if you click on the link “Tutorials” on top of this page. (Or click here.) Furthermore, I have created a web page with several links which lead to helpful resources: Useful tips and links I hope that I could help you and I wish you every success and much fun with your own pop-up cards! All the best, Peter

  • I borrowed this idea, much simplified, for a Father’s Day card. Mine pops into a simple sine wave. I was very happy to have yours to look at to give me a starting point for the design.

  • Hi Peter, I am much inspired by your work. I have been searching and practicing Kirigami for couple of weeks. I visited many sites, watched many videos on YouTube, downloaded many templates for practice BUT I found your work above all. It is Awesome, Amazing and Artistic. Hats Off to your work. I cordially admire your work and wish you all the very best for your future work.

    • Dear Furqan Saeed, many thanks for your kind words! I am so happy that you like my designs. When I started to create pop-ups – about 30 years ago – I could not imagine, that others could be interested in my creations. Now I am receiving so nice comments like yours, which motivate me a lot! I will try my best to inspire you also in the future with my work. All the best, Peter

  • Sir this is rituparna paul from india….i saw your all of uploads at youtube….thats amezing…sir actually i want to learn pop up paper machanism like this https://youtu.be/xU7K3BqFRwY
    (Actually here has no opt. To upload a photo..so thats why i share the link).now the problem is… I cant find the exact method of that technique…infact no online tutorials….and no books here aslo…sir… Please….please can you help me about that?even atleast if you suggest me some books it will be very greatful to me…thank you

    • Dear Rituparna, thank you for your comment! The pop-up mechanism, that you are trying to learn, is called “sliceform” or “sliceform pop-up”. The basics are easy to learn – but the creation of complex designs is difficult. Most of the complex sliceform designs are created by the use of a computer. I recommend, that you should start with the creation of a sliceform “ball” (a sphere). To find tutorials, you should search the internet for the term “sliceform tutorial” – and you will find hundreds of free templates.
      Thank you for watching all my videos. Did you know, that I have also created a list with book recommendations and links that lead to free templates from other paper artists? You should definitely have a look here: https://peterdahmen.de/en/2018/04/03/useful-tips-and-links/https://peterdahmen.de/en/2018/04/03/useful-tips-and-links/
      I hope that I could help you and I wish you every success and much fun with the creation of your own pop up card designs. All the best, Peter

  • Peter,
    Impressive!
    Very unique of demonstrating your unexceptional talent and skill.
    Thank you so much for sharing . Very entertaining, artistic .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *