EZ3DPopUps New Origami Shirt Fish Designs

EZ3DPopUps New Origami Shirt Fish Designs

Well here are the prototypes.  My son Marcus is a wonderful artist and an avid fisherman.  I used one of his early fish pictures to create the fish print for this shirt.  Just when I thought I was done, he suggested I add a fishing vest to the piece.  Well .... OK.  So I scoured the net to see what the things really looked like in order to create one. Then I thought I was done.  He said: " Now it needs some lures."  Sigh.  So I created the lures and then created a little pocket for snips.  Then I decided to add a zipper to the shirt.  Hours and hours of template tweaking followed because I want this to be a no-fail template.

Soooooooo ... then I thought I was done but the collar of the shirt bugged me.  No matter what template you use, when you fold over the collar, the top is always a little shorter, especially if you use normal 20 lb copy paper as this model requires.  This bugs me.
So I played with it and finally found a solution which will be explained in the practice model template that comes with the PDF package.

So with these models, we have an origami shirt that will fit into a folded piece of standard card stock or can serve as a card by itself.  The origami shirts are designed to snugly hold a plastic gift card, money or similar items.  

The templates should be up by noon on Sunday, June 24, 2012.  Come back and visit the blog for further instructions on how to obtain the free templates.  See you tomorrow!

EZ3DPopUps Father's Day Card, Gift Card Holder

EZ3DPopUps Father's Day Card, Gift Card Holder

This is a cute way to give a gift card to your father or hubby.  I found the instructions for folding the card at the Origami Resource Center website .  Go to the website for the tutorial.   Even my third graders were able to make the shirts - only a few needed extra help.  The shirt project was a success. We created the shirts out of colored copy paper and glued them into folded legal size card stock. I figured out a way to turn the shirts into gift card holders and attached a tie that when tugged on, opens the shirt to reveal a gift card hidden inside.

EZ3D PopUps Plaid Shirt Template

©2012, Jean Bullock

I decided to create a template for the shirt that would allow it to fit inside a folded 8.5 x11 sheet of card stock.  What a lot of work that turned out to be. (That's why this post is late.) Anyway, for your crafting pleasure, we now have a blue and black print shirt that can be used either by itself as a gift card holder or inserted into a card AND also hold a gift card.  Money fits too, lol. 

Click here to download the template.

The template has 3 pages. One for the tie and optional insert, a practice template with all the instructions  numbered and printed on the shirt, and a template for the final version.  Follow the instructions on the practice template.  If a text box appears upside down, don't be alarmed. You need to turn the paper for that particular move.  I am going to post this now so you can download the PDF and get started.  Ready?  Set?  Go!

More instructions. You will find references to a ridge (or mountain) fold.  That just means the folded part sticks up like a little mountain. If you flip the paper over it becomes a valley fold.

Follow the numbers in order on the practice sheet.  1.  Cut out the template by cutting on the black lines. 2. Ridge-fold on the middle line. 3. Ridge-fold on the #3 lines, then turn the paper over and fold the #3 panels to the middle. 4. Fold the red-line edge of the paper to the blue line. Do it on both sides.  5. Using the line, fold the top backwards. 6. Match the tip of the corners to the arrowhead tips. 7. Turn the paper over and do a soft valley fold on the line. 8. Slide the edge of the paper under the collar.

9. After you have completed the shirt, cut out the tie of your choice (there are even some blank ones you can decorate yourself) put adhesive on the back from the knot to the first D in Dad, and stick it on the shirt. Don't any glue on the edges and the tie should go under the collar not over it. Also, I like to use card stock for the tie template page, it's a little sturdier but plain copy paper works fine.

Optional:  If you would like to write a message on the inside, cut out the house shape that is on the tie template page, write your message and glue it on about 1 square from the bottom.

If you want to include a gift card or money, slide the card or money through the bottom end, and tuck the edge back under the collar.  Even if you turn it upside down, it won't fall out. Tell dad, to pull on the tie and the shirt will open.  You can also stick the card on a folded piece of card stock.  DO NOT GLUE DOWN THE SLEEVES if you want the card to open.

Here is an example of the shirt on a card:

The shirt can be glued inside a card. Don't put glue on the sleeves if you want the card to open.

Tug on the tie to open the shirt and reveal what is inside.

You can glue the house-like shape to the card and write a message  and a gift card or money can be slipped into the bottom edge.  Then refold and tuck the edge under the collar.

EZ3D PopUps 3 Sided Corner Card

EZ3D PopUps 3 Sided Corner Card

Materials needed: square paper, template, glue.

This tutorial is for those who would like to make a card similar to the Mother's Day 3 sided corner card posted earlier.  This diagram is basically the same except you can decorate it as you choose.  With this diagram, you use heavy paper and fold to make the creases rather than using a scoring tool.  If you glue  the card properly, it will create a pocket in which you can insert a gift card or similar sized object.

EZ3D 3 Sided Corner Card Diagram            EZ3D 3 Sided Corner Card Instructions

You can also just view the videos without printing the diagram, which is helpful if you want to use patterned paper squares.  I have separated the process into folding and gluing.  If you find this video helpful, I hope you will leave a comment and click on the Facebook button and/or the Twitter button.

How to fold the card.

How to glue the card.

EZ3D PopUps Mother's Day Gift Card Tutorial

EZ3D PopUps Mother's Day Card Tutorial

 (Improved Video)

I am not going to publish all the instructions for the card here.  Please download the instructions from the previous post and use these videos to help clarify them.  

Scoring Cards

Scoring is achieved by either indenting or lightly cutting the surface of the paper or cardstock.  In the previous OA lessons, we scored the paper by bending the flaps back and forth.  That caused an indentation that helped us make the folds crisper.  There are scoring tools available but if you don't have any of those you can make do with a dull butter knife (turn it upside down if it has serrated edges) or even a flathead screwdriver. We want the printed side of this template to have valley folds, so we score them from the front. For this project, I recommend scoring by indenting rather than cutting, pressing down firmly.  Make sure you have something under your card when you score.  If you don't have a cutting mat, try putting a piece of cardboard underneath the card.

After scoring and creasing the perpendicular lines, flip the paper over and use the creased lines to help you set up the diagonal lines for scoring.  We are scoring the diagonals from the back so it will help create the mountain (ridge) folds on the printed side of the template. This will make the creasing easier. However, if you find the process too challenging, you can score from the front.  You will just have to work a little harder to make the mountain folds.

Once you have scored the diagonals, flip the paper over and crease the diagonals. I ran out of my 65 lb cardstock and used 100 lb cardstock instead, so folding the crease was a little harder than usual.  You should have no problem with 65 lb cardstock.  Line everything up in the final fold position and smooth all creases.  If you are going to write a message directly on your card, you should do that before you glue.

Now it's time to apply the adhesive.  I used a Scotch advanced Tape Glider. If you choose to use a tape runner make sure the adhesive is clear and not colored.  I recommend using some kind of glue for the top panel.  You have a few seconds to line everything up better.

After you have glued the triangular flaps together, you will be able to see how the pocket is formed.  The gift card, money, picture or whatever you choose to insert there will be very secure and will not fall out.   Now it's time for the top of the card to be decorated. You will see your choices in the next video.



For the finishing touch, add a pretty bow and wrap the card up like a present.  See the previous post for an example.  You can also add embellishments  - anything you want.  BUT don't put anything on crease that bends inward.


I hope this was helpful to you.  If you appreciated this lesson, please go to https://www.facebook.com/Ez3dPopUps   and like my page.  I hope you will post pictures of the cards you made.  Happy Mother's Day!

EZ3D PopUps Mother's Day Gift Card

EZ3D PopUps Mother's Day Gift Card

This Mother's Day Card is a 3 sided corner card designed to stand up and display the interior of the card.  On the bottom panel is a built-in gift card pocket.  The card is customizable and you can add embellishments.  There is only one place where embellishments cannot be added.

The gift card pocket is formed with
mountain/ridge folds and glued down.
The graphic is a lady holding a
parasol. The card stands alone,
displaying the interior.

A delicate bow adds the finishing touch to
this simple but lovely card.

Decorate the top of the card yourself or choose a graphic, text or blank square.

Materials needed: Templates, 65 lb cardstock or similar printing paper, scissors, ruler, scoring tool -
a dull butter knife or flathead screwdriver 

can be used if you don't have a scoring tool. 

I have divided the template into 3 sections for faster downloads.  Click on the links below to download the pdf files.

 Cardbase here.          Decorative panels here.       Instructions here.

If you would like the jpg files of this pattern, a different color, a black and white version, or a plain diagram with no text or decoration,  please leave me a comment at the end of this post and follow me by e-mail so I can get them to you as soon as possible.  

These templates are free and if you appreciate them, would you please click on the Twitter, Google +, Facebook buttons and share them?  If you have a Facebook account, would you please visit and LIKE my page at  https://www.facebook.com/Ez3dPopUps  .  I would love to read your comments.