Do you “whaley” love your Dad? If so, this adorable Father’s Day pop up card is the perfect gift to make for him this year. The darling card features a whale that pops out of the center of the card when you open it up with the saying “You’re whaley great!” or “I whaley love you!”
Our template and customizable options for Dad, Grandpa, Pop and a plain option, make it a simple and easy card for kids to make for anyone they love this Father’s Day.
This post contains affiliate links to the products mentioned. Read our disclosure policy for more information.
Supplies needed for Pop Up Whale Card:
- Pop Up Card Template <—– Get the TEMPLATE here
- dark blue cardstock
- light blue cardstock
- white cardstock
- googly eyes
- black marker
- white chalk marker (You could also use a white crayon or white colored pencil)
- scissors
- glue stick
Instructions for making Father’s Day Card:
1. Print out card template and cut out it’s pieces
Begin by downloading and printing out the pop up card template. Print the whale template on light blue cardstock and the card message template on white cardstock. You could also print both on white cardstock and let children color the whale piece with crayons. Cut out each of the pieces of the template.
For your convenience, and to conserve paper waste, we have included several of one message option on each page of the template. This is especially helpful if you are making this whale card in a classroom setting with several children.
2. Create ocean waves piece
Cut scallop shapes along the top of a dark blue cardstock rectangle (6-inch x 1-inch) to create ocean waves.
3. Cut out three small rectangle strips and curl them
Then cut out three small rectangle strips from a light blue cardstock for the water being blown out of the whale hole. Scrape the end of each of the paper strips along the blade of your scissors to make them curl at the end. (Adult supervision required)
4. Glue ocean wave and water strips to the whale
Glue the ocean wave piece at the bottom of your whale. Then glue the three water strips on the back and top of the whale.
5. Add eye, draw a smile
Add a googly eye onto your whale. Then use a black marker to draw a smile on your whale.
6. Create card
Fold a piece of dark blue cardstock in half to make a folded card. Use scissors to cut two slits in the middle of the folded side of the card 1-2 inches apart from each other. Make each of the slits about 1 1/2-inches in length.
Fold down and crease the section in the middle of the card that was created by cutting the slits.
7. Make a pop out for whale
Carefully open up the blue cardstock again. Invert the section of paper you just folded down and close your card again along the crease. When you open up the card, the inverted section should stand upright in the crease of the card, making the pop out for your whale.
8. Draw ocean wave squiggles
Use a white chalk marker to draw ocean wave squiggles all over the top and bottom of your pop up card. You can also include a few on the waves your glued at the bottom of your whale. As an alternative, you could also use a white crayon or colored pencil.
9. Glue whale and message
Add glue on the pop out section on the inside of your card and attach your whale to it. Then glue your greeting card message onto the inside of the card.
Video Tutorial: How to Make a Pop Up Father’s Day Card
Watch the video below for a step by step guide on how to make this easy whale pop up card with our template before you get started.
Find more Father’s Day crafts and paper crafts by browsing the categories at the top menu bar of our website.