DIY Pop-Up: Chewbacca

For this DIY Pop-Up you will need:

  • Cardstock or heavy construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Paper clip, or ballpoint pen that has run out of ink, or a knitting needle
  • Crayons, colored pencils, markers

Instructions

1 Download the PDF templates and print out at 100% size (no scaling) on a heavy paper, such as cardstock.
2 Color all of your pieces with crayons or markers before scoring and cutting.

3 Using a ruler as a guide, take the rounded end of a paper clip (or a ballpoint pen that has run out of ink) and press along the dotted line on the center of the card.
4 Carefully cut out the pop-up pieces and card following the solid, black lines.
5 Carefully cut out the pop-up pieces and card following the solid, black lines.

6 Take the base page and fold it in half towards you along the black dotted line. Crease well and unfold.
7 Take the body piece of Chewbacca and fold away from you on the center dotted line. Crease well and unfold.
8 Take the right triangle tab and fold it towards you. Crease well and unfold.

9 Now fold the right triangle tab away from you. Crease well. Do not unfold.
10 Fold Chewbacca’s right arm away from you and then towards you. Unfold completely.
11 Take Chewbacca’s right arm and start to push it towards his chest as you are pushing the triangular tab up to close completely. Crease well. Unfold.

12 Take the left triangle tab and fold it towards you. Crease well and unfold.
13 Now fold the left triangle tab away from you. Crease well. Do not unfold.
14 Fold Chewbacca’s left arm away from you and then towards you. Unfold completely.

15 Take Chewbacca’s left arm and start to push it towards his chest as you are pushing the triangular tab up to close completely. Crease well, unfold, and set aside.
16 Now take the base page and put glue inside the grey area indicated with ‘Glue Here A’.
17 Take Chewbacca’s body piece and line up the left triangle tab with ‘Glue Here A’.

18 Press the tab firmly and let it dry.
19 Now lift up the right triangle tab out of the way; put glue inside the grey ‘Glue Here B’ shape.
20 Line up the right triangle tab with ‘Glue Here B’.

21 Press the tab firmly and let it dry.
22 Now put glue inside the grey ‘Glue Here C’ shape.
23 Take Chewbacca’s headpiece and line it up with the ‘Glue Here C’ shape. Press firmly and let dry.

24 Once the pop-up is completely dry, slowly close it shut.
25 Open the pop-up and it’s Chewbacca!

Artist Watch: Bovey Lee

When one mixes Chinese calligraphy, painting, and digital work you get the amazing artist Bovey Lee.  Lee uses all of these disciplines to create wonderfully intricate cut paper art that are full of life.  She has exhibited her work all over the world and has won awards as well.

Even though the pieces are usually massive, they’ll so delicate and painstakingly intricate.  Check out some of her work below and definitely dive into her website!

DIY Pop-Up: Millenium Falcon

For this DIY Pop-Up you will need:

  • Cardstock or heavy construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Paper clip, or ballpoint pen that has run out of ink, or a knitting needle
  • Crayons, colored pencils, markers

Instructions

1 Download the PDF templates and print out at 100% size (no scaling) on a heavy paper, such as cardstock.
2 Color all of your pieces with crayons or markers before scoring and cutting.

3 Using a ruler as a guide, take the rounded end of a paper clip (or ballpoint pen that has run out of ink) and press along the dotted lines of the pop-up pieces and card.
4 Carefully cut out the pop-up pieces and card following the solid, black lines around the shape.
5 Once the pop-up pieces are all cut out, take your main Millennium Falcon piece and fold it in half.

6 Carefully cut along the solid black line on the center of the piece as shown in the photo.
7 You should have 4 pieces including the card.
8 Take your card and fold it in half. Set it aside for now.

9 Take your pop-up piece with the stripes and fold it towards you in half.
10 Fold the top right tab towards you. Crease well and put it back to its original position.
11 Now do the same to the other side.

12 Take your bottom right side tab and fold it up. Crease well and put it back to its original position.
13 Do the same to the other side.
14 Now take your next pop-up piece with the tabs marked “A”, “B” on them. Fold it in half so the center line is folds towards you. Crease well and put it back its original position.

15 Now take the bottom tab marked “B” and fold it up. Crease well and put it back to its original position. Do the same to the other side marked “A”.
16 Take your card and apply a small amount of glue on “Glue here A”.
17 Line up your pop-up piece with the tab marked “A”.

18 Press down firmly and let the glue dry.
19 Do the same to the other side applying a small amount of glue to “Glue here B”.
20 Line it up and press firmly. Let the glue dry.

21 Now apply a small amount of glue to “Glue here C”.
22 Take your pop-up piece with the stripes and line it up over “Glue here C”. Press down firmly and let the glue dry.
23 Do the same to the other side applying a small amount of glue to “Glue here D”.

24 Press down firmly and let the glue dry.
25 Now take your main Millennium Falcon piece and fold it half. Crease the top wing piece towards the right as shown.
26 And now crease it towards the left. Put it back to its original position.

27 Push the center round part of the Millennium Falcon and wing forward towards you using both hands. Now set it aside for now.
28 Apply a small amount of glue to “Glue here E”.
29 Take your main Millennium Falcon piece again and fold it in half over “Glue here E. Press firmly and let the glue dry.

30 Now do the same to the other side by applying a small amount of glue to ”Glue here F”.
31 Press firmly with both hands and let the glue dry.
32 Now apply glue to both tabs on the pop-up piece with the tabs.

33 Now press firmly with both hands and wait for the glue to dry.
34 With one hand holding the card, use the other to “pop” the Millennium Falcon towards you as shown in the photo. Remember to push the circular center part of the Millennium Falcon towards you as well.
35 Carefully begin to close your card.

36 Close it completely and press firmly for 5 seconds.
37 Open your pop-up Millennium Falcon!

Pop-Up Showcase: The Castaway Pirates

I’m always on the lookout for a clever, fun pop-up book. The Castaway Pirates (Chronicle Books, 2008), written and engineered by Ray Marshall and illustrated by Wilson Swain, is among my favorites.

The book’s jaunty rhyme is very funny and ends with a lucky twist, and the pop-ups and art  have unique styles. On his website, Ray Marshall posted a great explanation of how his book was made, from the original idea to the final production. If you’re curious about the process of making a pop-up book, I recommend it!

DIY Pop-Up: Darth Vader

For this DIY Pop-Up you will need:

  • Cardstock or heavy construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Paper clip, or ballpoint pen that has run out of ink, or a knitting needle
  • Crayons, colored pencils, markers

Instructions

1 Download the PDF templates and print out at 100% size (no scaling) on a heavy paper, such as cardstock.
2 Color all of your pieces with crayons or markers before scoring and cutting.

3 Using a ruler as a guide, take the rounded end of a paper clip (or a ballpoint pen that has run out of ink) and press along all the dotted lines of the pieces.
4 Carefully cut out the card and pieces of Darth Vader following the solid, black lines.
5 Take the base page and fold it towards you along the black dotted line. Crease well and unfold.

6 Take the piece that is marked with “Glue Here E”/“Glue Here F”. Fold it along the center dotted line away from you. Crease well and unfold.
7 Now fold the lower left tab up towards you along the dotted line. Crease well and unfold.
8 Now fold the lower right tab up towards you along the dotted line. Crease well and unfold. Set the piece aside.

9 Now take the piece that is marked with “Glue Here G”/“Glue Here H”. Fold the piece away from you along the center dotted line. Crease well, do not unfold.
10 Fold along the top diagonal dotted line away from you. Crease well and unfold (but keep the piece folded down the center.)
11 Now fold along the middle diagonal dotted line away from you. Crease well and unfold.

12 Now fold along the bottom diagonal dotted line away from you. Crease well and unfold the whole piece completely.
13 Fold the upper tabs of the piece away from you along the dotted lines. Crease well and unfold.
14 Now fold the piece away from you down the centerline very slowly. As you do this, put your finger in the “V” section below the top tabs and push down. This will make the section go back as you fold the piece away from you. Crease well and unfold.

15 Now fold the lower left tab up towards you. Crease well and unfold.
16 Fold the lower right tab up towards you. Crease well and unfold. Set the piece aside.
17 Now pick up Vader’s mouthpiece. Fold it away from you down the center dotted line. Crease well and unfold.

18 Fold the left tab along the dotted line towards you. Crease well and unfold.
19 Now fold the right tab along the dotted line towards you. Crease well and unfold.
20 Fold the piece again down the center dotted line. Take the triangle area and fold it towards you along the dotted line.

21 Now fold the triangle area away from you. Unfold the piece completely.
22 Using your thumb, push the triangular area away from you as you fold the piece down the center dotted line away from you. Crease well and unfold. Set the piece aside.
23 Take the base page and put glue inside the grey shape marked “Glue Here A”.

24 Take the piece that is marked with “Glue Here E”/“Glue Here F” and line the lower left tab with “Glue Here A”. Press firmly and let dry.
25 Put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here B”.
26 Line up the lower right tab with “Glue Here B”. Press firmly and let dry.

27 Now put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here C”.
28 Pick up the piece marked “Glue Here G”/“Glue Here H” and line up the lower left tab with the grey shape marked “Glue Here C”. Press firmly and let dry.
29 Put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here D”.

30 Line up the lower right tab with the grey shape marked “Glue Here D”. Press firmly and let dry.
31 Fold the upper tabs of the piece marked “Glue Here G”/“Glue Here H” towards you to uncover the grey shapes marked “Glue Here E” and “Glue Here F”.
32 Put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here E”. Line up the upper left tab with the grey shape marked “Glue Here E”. Press firmly and let dry.

33 Put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here F”.
34 Line up the upper right tab with the grey shape marked “Glue Here F”. Press firmly and let dry.
35 Now put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here G”.

36 Pick up Vader’s mouthpiece and line up the left tab with “Glue Here G”. Press firmly and let dry.
37 Put glue in the grey shape marked “Glue Here H”
38 Line up the right tab with “Glue Here H”. Press firmly and let dry.

39 Close the pop-up (Let the pop-up completely dry before you close it).
40 Now open the pop-up and you have your very own Darth Vader!

Artist Watch: Atelier Pariri

I came across Atelier Pariri from two sources within a few days of one another.  One was through the Daily Heller, which is a blog and daily email from Steven Heller (a very experienced Art Director, and extremely respected in the design field).  The second was from a friend of mine who discovered Atelier Pariri from the New York Times. Jérôme Corgier, who is a part of Atelier Pariri, creates paper type illustrations.  And they are really beautiful.  I love the photography of the final product and the fact that the piece actually exists in reality.  Check out more of his work here!

New York Comic Con 2012

Matthew is honored to be speaking on a panel and signing at New York Comic Con this October 14, 2012.  Along Matthew’s panel information is as follows:

Sunday, October 14 – 10:45–11:45 AM – Room 1A08

Comics for young readers: Want to raise a comic book aficionado? Start here! The incredible Jarrett J. Krosoczka (author of the astoundingly stupendous ‘Lunch Lady’ series) moderates a group of authors who are masters at penning favorites for the youngest age group, with characters ranging from a neurotic rabbit to a crime-fighting lunch lady and formats from graphic novels to pop-ups.  Look forward to a discussion about presenting the comic book genre to the littlest readers in an accessible and often downright hilarious way guaranteed to have them reading AND creating works of their own.

Matthew and the other panel authors will then be available to sign books after the panel from 12:00PM – 1:00PM at Autographing Tables 2, 3 and 4.

Artist Watch: PostCarden

How amazing would it be to receive a post card that pops up AND can grow a mini garden?  The London based Another Studio for Design thought it would be pretty great, so they created PostCarden!

PostCarden are pop up greeting cards that contain seeds you can grow in the pop up environment. Check out more about PostCarden on their website.

Artist Watch: Markus Linnenbrink

After walking into the Ameringer McEnery Yohe Gallery this weekend (525 West 22nd Street, NY, NY 10011), I was stunned into silence (no easy feat, let me tell you) and completely blown away by the work of renowned German artist, Markus Linnenbrink.

The ultimate master of color, he pours varied hues of epoxy resin into old bottles, strange sculpture forms and over woodblock canvases to create a riotous layered rainbows of all shapes, sizes and moods.  I first encountered his technicolor vases a few years ago… his larger pieces are absolutely unbelievable.

Inspiring and truly amazing work!