Make a Bird House Pop up Card (Robert Sabuda Method)

This is a great greeting card to give to bird watchers, and it can also make for simple decorations or kids' projects to mark the end of winter and the presence of spring. Make as many pop up bird houses as you like, each in different colors and designs. To turn it into an educational project, borrow or buy a book about birds to learn about the different colors, plumage, their history and where they are located. Using your newfound knowledge, color the birds in the pop up cards accordingly and use designs to indicate the plumage. Use the inside of the card to write notes about the particular bird you have colored. Once you have completed several of these, they can be framed or hung in your room.

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:Bird_house_base_821.gif|right|200px]]Click here to get the images for the card. Print them out on heavy paper. Paper such as card stock or construction paper is suitable.
 * 2)  [[Image:Bird_house_pieces_361.gif|right|200px]]Print out the image on the right in a similar manner with heavy paper.
 * 3) [[Image:Pop_make_bird1_76.jpg|right|200px]]Use 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 lines of the bird house pieces.
 * 4) [[Image:Pop_make_bird2_235.jpg|right|200px]] Do the same thing along the dotted line of the birdhouse card.
 * 5) [[Image:Pop_make_bird3_63.jpg|right|200px]]  Use the pointed end of a pair of scissors (ask an adult for help for with this) and poke a hole through the large circle in the center of the bird house.
 * 6) [[Image:Pop_make_bird4_994.jpg|right|200px]] Cut the large circle out from the center of the birdhouse.
 * 7) [[Image:Pop_make_bird5_646.jpg|right|200px]] Cut the birdhouse out.
 * 8) [[Image:Pop_make_bird6_931.jpg|right|200px]]Cut the bird out. Be careful when cutting around the wings, and take your time!
 * 9) Color and decorate the bird and birdhouse as desired. It'll be much easier to do it now than later, when the pop-up is assembled.
 * 10) [[Image:Pop_make_bird7_295.jpg|right|200px]]Take the bird piece and...
 * 11) [[Image:Pop_make_bird8_294.jpg|right|200px]]..flip it completely over so you can't see the dotted lines anymore. We're doing this so the dotted lines won't be so visible in the finished pop-up.
 * 12) [[Image:Pop_make_bird9_190.jpg|right|200px]]Grip the bird piece with both hands and fold it back along the center score, right under the bird's tail.
 * 13) [[Image:Pop_make_bird10_288.jpg|right|200px]]Take hold of the small tab at the far right and fold it towards you.
 * 14) [[Image:Pop_make_bird11_531.jpg|right|200px]]Take hold of the small tab at the far left and fold it towards you.
 * 15) [[Image:Pop_make_bird12_290.jpg|right|200px]]Go back to the center fold (right under the bird's tail) and begin pushing the bird back away from you.
 * 16) *[[Image:Pop_make_bird13_954.jpg|right|200px]]The bird piece should now look like this. The tabs are both coming towards you and the bird is pushed back away from you.
 * 17) [[Image:Pop_make_bird14_734.jpg|right|200px]] Cut out the card print.
 * 18) [[Image:Pop_make_bird15_208.jpg|right|200px]]	Fold it in half along its dotted line, then open it back up again
 * 19) [[Image:Pop_make_bird16_929.jpg|right|200px]] Apply glue to the areas marked “A” and “B” on the card. Be careful, you don’t need a lot of glue!
 * 20) [[Image:Pop_make_bird17_705.jpg|thumb|]]  Take the bird piece and line up the tabs at both ends with the “A” and “B” on the card.
 * 21) [[Image:Pop_make_bird18a_681.jpg|right|200px]] Carefully press the bird piece down onto the glue areas “A” and “B.” Let dry!
 * 22) [[Image:Pop_make_bird19_291.jpg|right|200px]] After the glue has dried begin to slowly close the card. Notice that the bird begins to curve back into the card. If the bird needs a little help curving back into the card use your finger to assist it.
 * 23) [[Image:Pop_make_bird20_496.jpg|right|200px]]  Open the card again. Apply glue to the flat area to the left of the bird, making sure you don’t get any glue on the bird or its tail!
 * 24) [[Image:Pop_make_bird21a_211.jpg|right|200px]] Take the birdhouse piece '''and carefully line it up with the bottom of the piece you just applied glue to (as shown by the red arrow). Let the glue dry.
 * 25) [[Image:Pop_make_bird22_992.jpg|right|200px]] Carefully begin to close the card. The bird will go back into its house. When you open the card you can even see the bird’s head through the “hole door” before it comes out of the house!

Tips

 * Open each card when finished, and place them on a shelf in your room as a display of the varied birds.
 * Use the cards as note paper to send to friends, or use as thank you notes.
 * Dress up the bird houses as far as your imagination allows. Buy a small jar of sparkle paint in any hobby store, and paint part of the house with that. Make designs on the house itself, and use various and different colors or a blend of colors in different areas.
 * Make them all of one type and color of a specific bird, box them and sell them to friends as a box of note paper. Add a small pen inside the box and charge a little bit more.

Warnings

 * When using multiple colors or paints, allow them to dry first before working on the next area and another color.
 * Do not use scissors if you are too young. You can get hurt so it's best to have an adult cut out the parts for you.

Things You'll Need

 * Construction paper or heavy or cardstock paper
 * Ruler
 * Paper clip
 * Ballpoint pen without ink in it
 * Scissors
 * Art supplies of choice to decorate the bird house. Glitter, sparkle or colors of your choice.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make an Angel Pop up Card
 * How to Make a Poinsettia Pop up Card
 * How to Make a Reindeer Pop up Card
 * How to Make a Christmas Tree Pop up Card
 * How to Make a Wizard of Oz Pop up Card
 * How to Make a Valentine Candy Box Pop up Card

Sources and Citations

 * robertsabuda.com.Make Popups Source of information. Used with permission.