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If you're looking to make a truly special Christmas card this Holiday season - look no further! A pop-up box Christmas card throws all other greeting cards into the shade. It displays like an open box but has the added advantage of folding almost flat for mailing in an envelope.

Learn how to make a stunning pop up box Christmas card. It's not hard to make once you know how and I'll take you through in easy steps to create a wonderful, festive design. Create a card with a real wow factor to stun your family and special friends.

This box style design will take pride of place among festive Holiday decorations. And everyone will wonder how you designed a card that folds flat but pops open into a box shape once pulled out from the envelope.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links for which I can be compensated.

How to Make a Wonderful, Festive Pop-Up Box Christmas Card in EASY Steps

It may be hard to believe but this open box Christmas card design actually folds down almost flat so you are able to mail it out or gift it in an envelope.

What a surprise your recipient will get on opening the envelope when the card springs back into a box shape ready to pop on display. This style of card has all the wow factor you need and more for a very special handmade Christmas card.

Tools and Materials to Make a Pop Up Box Christmas Card

A sheet of card, either Letter size or A4, for each box card.
Scoreboard and scoring tool USA. I use Hunkydory's scoreboard here in the UK.
Alternatively, mark the folding lines with a pencil and ruler and score them with an embossing tool.
Rounded corner punch if you want rounded off corners.
Patterned Christmas paper and festive Holiday embellishments.
Scissors and adhesives of choice.

Step 1: Making the Blank Pop-Up Greeting Card

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

Visit my Pop-Up Box Card Tutorial HERE and work through steps 1-8 to make the blank box card.

My tutorial will take you through step by step photos and text instructions on how to make a blank box card. I even supply complete measurements and instructions for using both US Letter Sized card and A4 card which are the two main sizes worldwide.

Alternatively, you can buy pop-up box card dies for a die cutting machine. Just be careful to check the sizing to see that you'll be happy with the final size. You can get a Spellbinders pop up box die from Amazon.com and also from Amazon.co.uk. 

Once you've made as many blank box cards as you want, come back to this page (why not bookmark it) so you can see exactly how to decorate it for Christmas.

Step 2: Adding Patterned Holiday Papers to the Bottom of the Box Card

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

When the main structure of the pop-up box card is complete, you can start to decorate it with your choice of design. All you need are some patterned Christmas Holiday papers, scrapbook papers are perfect, and some embellishments such as toppers.

Fold the box card down flat to make it easier for you to decorate it.

I start by adding patterned paper on the bottom sides of the card. I add the patterned paper around the front and two sides but not on the back because the back of the card is where I will write my seasonal greeting.

If you followed my CraftyMarie tutorial for making these pop-up cards, here's the dimensions of the paper sizes you need to fit around the bottom sides:

Paper Measurements for US Letter Sized Card 11 x 8.5 Inches USA

Cut 3 pieces of paper with a 2 inch width and a 4 inch height for the bottom outside panels.

Paper Measurements for A4 Sized Card

Cut 3 pieces of paper with a 6.5 cm width and a 10.5 cm height for the bottom outside panels.

After cutting out my Holiday papers, I like to ink around the edges of each one just to add some dimension to the look. Memento Dew Drops are quick drying on most papers and I just love the Cottage Ivy for green Christmas shades and Galaxy Gold.

Stick the paper panels in place with my double-sided tape mounting technique which will allow you to get the paper panels lined up professionally.

Step 3: Adding Patterned Paper to the Top Box Flaps

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

Chose a patterned paper for the top flaps on your pop-up box card that will work with your overall look. I added a Christmas green with swirls as a contrast against the red winter rose paper underneath.

A careful choice of paper will add more interest and dimension to your finished pop-up box Christmas card design.

Paper Measurements for US Letter Sized Card 11 x 8.5 Inches USA

Cut 3 pieces of paper with a 2 inch width and a 3.5 inch height to decorate the hanging down box flaps.

Paper Measurements for A4 Sized Card

Cut 3 pieces of paper with a 6.5 cm width and a 9.5 cm height to decorate the top flaps that hang down.

Adding Patterned Paper to the Christmas Box Card Flaps

I rounded off the bottom corners of this green swirl paper to fit in with the card and then inked around the edges of the paper with a slightly darker shade of green.

When the ink was dry on the edges of the paper, I stuck each piece down with double-sided tape using my precise mounting technique.

Step 4: Creating the Top Panel of the Christmas Box Card

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

Often, I will pick a patterned paper from the bottom of the box card to add to the top panel. Because this is a festive card, I wanted more of a special feel. So I choose to add some gold mirror card at the top which would look good with the Christmas tree topper in front.

Paper Measurements for US Letter Sized Card 11 x 8.5 Inches USA

Cut a piece of paper or card with a 2 inch width and a 3.5 inch height to decorate the very top of your box card.

Paper Measurements for A4 Sized Card

Cut a piece of paper with a 6.5 cm width and a 9.5 cm height to decorate the very top of your box card.

Adding Gold Mirror Card to the Top of the Pop-Up Box Card

I rounded off the top corners of the gold card and stuck it into place using my professional mounting technique to get it positioned perfectly.

I found a perfectly sized Christmas tree topper to fit at the top of the card and I stuck this on using 3D foam squares to add a little dimension.

Step 5: Decorating the Outside of the Pop-Up Box Christmas Card

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

Once your Christmas box card is fully decorated with your choice of patterned papers, you can start to add some seasonal Holiday toppers and embellishments to the outside. I find it much easier to decorate the outside while the box card is folded flat.

Hunkydory are a UK craft company that sell loads of pop out topper designs and sentiments that make it really easy and quick to add interest to any card blank. Some of their Christmas collections are just perfect for making your Holiday pop-up box cards.

If you love inking, you can stamp up your own designs, color them in and add them onto the card. Look for stamp themes featuring Santa Claus, Christmas trees, snowmen, snowflakes, stockings, mistletoe, ivy, gifts and more.

Perhaps you prefer die cutting, in which case simply cut out some seasonal designs and use those. Sizzix have lots of Christmas dies to choose from. 

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

Above is one of the outside panels of the box card which has been decorated with a Santa Claus topper made using a 3D decoupage or Papier Tole craft technique. To this I've added glitter glue and flat back rhinestones for added shimmer and sparkle.

There are loads of ways in which you can add interest to the outside of your Christmas pop-up box card. I like to use 3D adhesive foam pads under my Christmas toppers to add some depth and dimension to the finished card.

Just bear in mind that your card will have more bulk when folded if you add lots of dimension to it. I always make sure that mine will fold enough to fit inside an envelope when done.

Step 6: Adding Pop-Up Elements to the Inside of the Christmas Card

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

When you've finished decorating the outside of your pop-up card, it's time to work on the inside. Lots of smaller toppers and seasonal embellishments can work brilliantly here.

You can stick Christmas themed toppers and cut outs straight to the inside strips of your box card as I have done with the Christmas Time text panel at the front.

Alternatively, mount toppers onto thin strips of card or even better clear plastic sheets (you can just about see the clear plastic with the Ho, Ho, Ho topper) so you can have those lifted up higher.

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

I like to position toppers and embellishments on the inside using 3D foam pads because I can then easily remove items and reposition them if I don't like the effect.

It can take a lot of moving around and adding elements in at different heights and on different insert strips of the box card before you are really happy with the finished look. Always test that you can still fold the box down as well.

Step 7: The Finished Christmas Pop-Up Card Box Design

Image Credit: photo belongs to the author.

This shows the completed festive design from the front with the wreath panel with Christmas Wishes and the tree at the top. This is a really special looking handmade card to send to loved ones this Christmas Holiday time. 

Now you know how to make these, you should realize they are really easy to put together. It just takes some time which passes quickly when you're having fun.

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Page Last Updated: March 08th, 2019