Monthly Archives: October 2012

DIY Pop-Up: Anakin Skywalker

PDF Templates

DIY Anakin Skywalker

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 and a knitting needle, or a paper clip’s rounded edge, or a pen that has run out of ink, score all of the dotted lines.
4 Next carefully cut out all of the pieces along the solid black lines.
5 Take the card piece, and fold in half towards you. Unfold and set aside.

6 Take the big piece that has tabs A and B.  Fold Tab B towards you. Unfold.
7 Next fold Tab A towards you. Unfold.
8 Now fold the piece away from you, along the middle line. Unfold.

9 Next fold the “Glue E Here” tab towards you. Unfold and set aside.
10 Take the small piece that has Tab C. Fold the tab towards you. Unfold.
11 Take the “Glue D Here” tab and fold it away from you. Unfold and set aside.

12 Now take the card piece and put a small amount of glue on the “Glue A Here” area.
13 Pick up the big piece with tabs A and B. Line up Tab A with “Glue A Here” area.
14 Once lined up, press the tab firmly down and let dry.

15 Next lift up Tab B and put glue on the “Glue B Here” area.
16 Place Tab B on the “Glue B Here” area. Make sure that this piece lays flat on the card piece. Press firmly and let dry.
17 Put glue on “Glue C Here” area.

18 Take the small piece with Tab C. Line up Tab C with the “Glue C Here” area.
19 Press firmly and let dry.
20 The tab that says “Glue E Here” should be folded towards you, so the glue goes on the UNDERSIDE of the tab. Put a small amount of glue on this tab.

21 Put glue on “Glue D Here” tab.
22 Take Anakin’s podracer piece and line the back with the “Glue E Here” tab and the front with the “Glue D Here” tab. Press firmly and let dry.
23 Slowly close the card, making sure Anakin moves towards you as you close.

24 You’ve now finished your card and now you can finish Anakin’s race!

DIY Pop-Up: General Grievous

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 Use a ruler and the rounded end of a paper clip to “score” (press along) the dotted lines.
4 Carefully cut out the pop-up pieces and card along the solid black outlines.
5 Take the card piece and fold along the dotted black line towards you. Unfold and set aside.

6 Take the big piece with Tabs A and B. Take Tab A and fold it in half along the dotted black line away from you. Unfold.
7 Fold Tab A towards you. Unfold.
8 Fold Tab A away from you, but keep it folded.

9 Now fold the small black dotted line away from you. Unfold completely.
10 Fold Tab B towards you. Unfold.
11 Fold Tab B away from you, but keep it folded.

12 Now fold the small black dotted line away from you. Unfold completely.
13 Take Tab A and start to fold it towards you again. As you do this, push the “Glue D Here” parts towards you as well. This should fold inside Tab A. Unfold completely.
14 Take Tab B and start to fold it towards you again. As you do this, push the “Glue F Here” parts towards you as well. This should fold inside Tab A. Unfold completely. And set aside.

15 Take the arm piece that has Tab D and Tab E. Fold Tab D towards you along the black dotted line. Unfold.
16 Next fold Tab E and fold it towards you along the black dotted line. Unfold.
17 Now fold the piece along the middle black dotted line away from you. Unfold and set aside.

18 Repeat Steps 15, 16, and 17 on the arm piece with Tab F and Tab G.
19 Take the card piece and put glue in the “Glue A Here” area.
20 Take the big piece and line up Tab A with “Glue A Here” area.

21 Press firmly and let dry.
22 Lift up Tab B and put glue in the “Glue B Here” area.
23 Press Tab B on the “Glue B Here” area. Make sure that this piece lays flat. Press firmly and let dry.

24 Put glue on “Glue C Here” area.
25 Take Grievous’s head and line up with the “Glue C Here” area. Press firmly and let dry.
26 Put a small amount of glue on “Glue D Here” area.

27 Take the arm piece with Tab D and Tab E. Line up Tab D with “Glue D Here” area.
28 Press firmly and let dry.
29 Lift up Tab E, and put a small a mount of glue on “Glue E Here” area.

30 Press Tab E on the “Glue E Here” area. Make sure this piece lays flat. Press firmly and let dry.
31 Put a small amount of glue on “Glue F Here” area.
32 Take the arm piece with Tab F and Tab G. Line up Tab F with “Glue F Here” area.

33 Press firmly and let dry.
34 Lift up Tab G, and put a small a mount of glue on “Glue G Here” area.
35 Press Tab G on the “Glue G Here” area. Make sure this piece lays flat. Press firmly and let dry.

36 Slowly close the card shut. Press firmly.
37 Open your card and watch out! Grievous is ready for battle!

Looking for signed books?

For anyone interested in getting signed copies (with a little extra sketch inside, too) of my new book Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-Up Adventure, please stop in, give a call or send an email to Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California. The helpful folks there should be able to accommodate anyone with shipping to just about anywhere!

Telephone: (626) 449-5320 or
Email: email@vromansbookstore.com
Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101 USA

Hello Port Washington, NY!

I want to send out a HUGE thanks to all the young readers of Port Washington, New York who welcomed me during my visits to Guggenheim Elementary, Sousa Elementary, Daly Elementary and South Salem Elementary schools.  What a way to celebrate the release of my new Star Wars pop-up!  Also, I’d like thank the incredible folks from the Dolphin Bookshop for arranging all of the events last Wednesday – the day would not have been possible with you!

DIY Pop-Up: Frankenstein

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 OUTSIDE of the shapes ONLY.
5 Take your card, fold it in half and then open it. Set it aside.

6 Take the body piece and fold it in half and then open it.
7 Fold the bottom left edge of the coat up to the right arm and return it.
8 Now fold the bottom right edge of the coat up to the left arm and return it.

9 Hold the left arm in one hand and the left pocket in the other and bend towards you at the dotted line.
10 Hold the left shoulder in one hand and the chest in the other and bend towards you at the dotted line.
11 Hold the right arm in one hand and the right pocket in the other and bend towards you at the dotted line.

12 Hold the right shoulder in one hand and the chest in the other and bend towards you at the dotted line.
13 Press the left shoulder to the chest and hold while you fold the left edge of the coat up to the right arm and then return them to the original position.
14 Press the right shoulder to the chest and hold while you fold the right edge of the coat up to the left arm and then return them to the original position.

15 Set the body piece aside. Pick up the monster’s head and fold it in half and then open it.
16 Fold the left bolt towards the face along the dotted line.
17 Fold the right bolt towards the face along the dotted line.

18 Pick up the card with the legs on it. Place a small amount of glue on the grey areas marked “glue here.”
19 Align the pockets of the body piece over the matching grey areas. Make sure that the line down the middle matches the line in the card. Press firmly and be sure let the glue dry.
20 Place a small amount of glue on the grey areas marked “glue here” on the shoulders.

21 Align the bolts of the head over the matching grey areas. Make sure that the line down the middle of the head matches the line in the body. Press firmly and be sure let the glue dry.
22 Now carefully close your card and press firmly.
23 Open the card and watch Frankenstein’s monster rise up and give you a big Halloween hug!

DIY Pop-Up: Pumpkin

PDF Templates

DIY Pumpkin

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. Color all of your pieces with crayons or markers before scoring and cutting.

2 Use a ruler and the rounded end of a paper clip to “score” (press along) the dotted lines.
3 Carefully cut out the pop-up pieces and card along the solid black outlines. Don’t forget the two solid black lines near the “E” on the stem piece.  Tip: to cut out the pumpkin piece, fold it down the middle before cutting the mouth and eyes.
4 Fold the stem piece down the middle and add a few drops of glue to shaded area “C”.

5 Place the left eye of the pumpkin piece over the glue area and let dry.
6 Turn the pumpkin piece over and fold the stem piece down the middle to add a few drops of glue to shaded area “D”.
7 Fold the pumpkin piece over the glue area and let dry.

8 Bend glue tab “E” back and add a few drops of glue.
9 Fold the pumpkin piece over the glue tab and let dry.
10 Bend the tabs “A” and “B” along the dotted lines and return to the original position.

11 Pick up the card and add a few drops of glue to the glue “A” here shaded area.
12 Place the pumpkin piece over the glue area and make sure that the stem fits inside the page.  Let dry.
13 Add a few drops of glue to the glue “B” here shaded area and close the card.

14 Press down on the closed card for 10 seconds to allow the glue to dry.
15 Carefully open the card and add any glue as needed. Your Jack-o-lantern is complete!

Artist Watch: Street Art

Been very much into street art these days.
Here are a few snapshots from my excursions so far…

Artist Watch: Maira Kalman

Maira Kalman’s work is extensive.  She has written and illustrated children’s books, created The New Yorker Magazine covers, and many many more pieces.  Her paintings and sense of color are exquisite and seem to be alive!

Artist Watch: Dana Tanamachi

Without knowing it, you have probably seen some of Dana Tanamachi’s work out and about. She is originally from Texas, but now lives in Brooklyn and is a full time custom chalk letterer! Her work has been on magazines and catalogs (West Elm, Oprah, etc), and in stores! I just had to share her wonderful pieces of art with you all! To see more of Dana’s work click the link here.