3D Pop-Up Spring Flowers: GROW a Paper Flower Bouquet Card!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE 3D POP-UP FLOWER BOUQUET DESIGNS

Download my 3D Pop-Up Flower Bouquet designs from my free library – look for Design #608.
NOTE: Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.
TIP: If you’re not sure how to download, unzip, or upload design files, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how.

Unzip the downloaded folder.

There are four design files in the SVG folder. There are score versions of each of the large and small bouquets for use with a scoring tool, and no-score versions of each with dashed cut lines to create the foldable creases.
There is also a DXF folder with cut files, and a PDF folder with versions you can cut by hand.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to prepare and assemble the large ”no-score” pop-up bouquet SVG with a Cricut Maker 3. The steps for the small bouquet are the same. Remember, if you’re using a Joy or Joy Xtra, they do not have scoring capability.

If you want to use a score version, see my paper purse tutorial for steps to adjust score lines.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR 3D POP-UP BOUQUET DESIGN

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. Open Cricut Design Space and click “New Project.”
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse.”
4. Select the bouquet SVG file of your choice. I’m using the large version without score lines.
5. On the Prepare to Upload screen, it will say “Cut Image” with the design preview.
6. Click “Upload.”
7. Select the bouquet design in Recent Uploads and add it to the canvas.
8. Zoom out so you can see everything.
   NOTE: There are vase, foliage, and flower elements in the design. The foliage pieces include letters we’ll have the Cricut draw on to help with assembly.
   
9. Ungroup the design.
   NOTE: I don’t recommend resizing the design because it won’t fit as easily in a standard envelope.
10. In the Layers Panel, click the eight foliage layers with small arrows to expand them.
    NOTE: The flower heads are grouped, too, but you don’t need to expand them unless you want to adjust their colors.
    
11. In each expanded layer, click on the top layer of each group, which will be a letter. The color swatch at the top of the canvas will be black for those layers.
12. Change the “Operation” for those layers to “Pen.”
    
13. Click the Color Box next to the “Operation” menu and select the pen type and color you’d like to use. I recommend using a Fine Point pen, but the letters won’t be visible once the bouquet is assembled.
    
14. For each expanded group, select the entire grouped layer, then click “Attach.”
    NOTE: The newly Attached group will jump to the top of the Layers Panel.
    
    
15. Go down the Layers Panel, attaching the other seven foliage and writing Layers one at a time.
16. If you want to change any of the flower colors, select them on the Canvas and use the Color Box next to “Operation” to pick a new color option.
    
17. Your bouquet pieces are ready to cut!
    

CUTTING

1. Select the correct machine from the top right drop-down menu.
2. Click “Make.”
3. On the Prepare screen, you should have 13 mats for the large bouquet if you're using the same colors as me.
   
   TIP: If you see a white mat with just writing, one or more of your pen layers may not have attached correctly, so go back to the Canvas to check.
4. Change the Material Size for each mat to match your cardstock if needed.
5. Once you’ve checked everything, select the first mat again and click “Continue.”
6. On the “Make” screen, click “Browse All Materials.”
7. Search for and select the “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” setting.
8. Select “More” for the Pressure.
   
9. Since the rest of the mats are the same cardstock weight, click the “Remember material settings” box to save time between cuts.
10. Place the first sheet of cardstock face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat.
11. Roll a brayer across the cardstock to adhere the cardstock to the mat well.
    
12. Check that your Premium Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
13. Insert your Cricut Fine-Point pen into the correct clamp when prompted.
    TIP: Remove the pen’s cap (put it on the back so you don’t lose it) and test it on scrap cardstock to make sure it flows well first.
    
14. Press the flashing button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut.
15. Press the flashing “Go” button to begin cutting.
16. When the machine stops cutting, don’t unload the mat right away. Gently lift a corner of the cardstock to make sure the cuts went all the way through. If not, press the “Go” button again to make another cut pass in the same spots.
17. When the cuts are all the way through, unload the mat.
    TIP: If you have any issues with your cuts, go to jennifermaker.com/cleaner-cuts.
18. Flip the mat over onto your work surface and gently pull the mat away from the cardstock.
    
19. Repeat steps 10-18 for the rest of the mats.
    TIP: Design Space might not remember your tool choices between mats, so always check that they’re correct.
20. Here are all my cut pieces face up.
    
    
    
    
    

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR 3D POP-UP BOUQUET

ASSEMBLE THE VASE

1. There are three pieces for the vase and two pieces for the vase label.
   
2. Fold all the crease lines on each of the vase pieces in the same direction, finishing with the tabs.
   TIP: You can use a scraper tool or your fingernail to make each fold crisp.
   
3. Place the rectangular vase pieces face up with the long tabs facing the same direction and the short tabs at the bottom.
4. Add craft glue on the outside of one rectangle’s long side tab.
   
5. Press the smooth side edge of the other rectangle against the long tab with glue.
   
6. Add glue to the outside of the other long tab.
7. Bring the other rectangle’s smooth short edge to meet the second glued tab.
8. Make sure the edges are smooth and press it in place to make a cylinder vase shape.
   
9. Grab the vase’s oval label piece and fold back along the crease lines.
   
10. Flatten your vase so that the bottom short tabs are in the center of the back and front.
11. Add glue to the back of the vase label. Be sure to add glue to the center and both folds.
    NOTE: The back is the side with folded parts pointed toward you.
    
12. Center the label vertically on the vase, then line up the creases of the label and the creases of the vase. Press the label down onto the vase.
    NOTE: This will be the front of the vase.
    
13. Glue the heart to the center of the label.
    
14. Add glue to the outside of the front-facing bottom tab.
    
15. Hold the bottom octagonal vase piece so that the crease is horizontal, then press the top edge of the piece against the glued tab. Make sure the edge of the octagonal piece is aligned with the tab’s crease before the glue dries.
16. Turn your assembled vase over so that the label side is face down.
17. Add glue to the face of the last short tab.
    
18. Fold along the crease of the bottom octagonal piece so that it looks like a hard taco.
    
19. Press the lined-up edge of the bottom piece against the tab with glue.
    
20. Make sure all of the glued pieces are dry, then pop your vase oven. Your vase is finished!
    
    

ASSEMBLE THE TULIPS

1. Place Foliage Pieces C, D, E, F, G, and H and the tulip pieces face up.
   NOTE: Each tulip has two parts: the back piece that looks like a full tulip flower, and the single-petal front piece. The drawn letters are on the front side of the foliage pieces.
2. Look at each foliage piece to find the flower stems, which are straight across the tops and don’t look like the rest of the leaf pieces. This is where you’ll place tulip flowers with the larger section in back and the smaller petal in front.
   
   NOTE: You can refer to Design Space to see which tulip colors I placed on the different stems, or you can place them in a different order if you’d like your bouquet to look different than mine.
3. Pick a tulip and corresponding stem to start with. Add a line of glue from the center bottom to the center middle of the back tulip piece.
   
4. Slide the back tulip piece underneath the stem so that the stem is about halfway up the flower. Press down to adhere it to the glue.
   
5. Pick up the matching single-petal tulip piece and add a line of glue to the back.
   
6. Press the petal glue-side down on top of the stem. Make sure the petal is centered and its top sticks up a little above the back tulip piece.
   
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for all of the tulips and foliage stems.
   
   

VARIATION: ASSEMBLE THE 3D ROSES

1. Place Foliage Pieces C, D, E, F, G, and H and the rose pieces face up.
   NOTE: Each rose has three parts: the smallest piece for the front, the second smallest for the middle, and the largest piece for the back.
2. Look at each foliage piece to find the flower stems, which are straight across the tops and don’t look like the rest of the leaf pieces. This is where you’ll place the assembled roses.
3. Use your fingers or a thin cylindrical object, such as a pen, to curve the edges of all the rose petals upward to give them some definition.
4. To make a flower, grab one rose piece of each size.
5. Take the smallest rose piece and apply a small amount of glue to the underside edge of one of the petals.
6. Fold it up toward the center, then take the petal directly across from it, and curl them around each other. Leave a small amount of space between the curled petals, and hold them in place until the glue sets.
   
7. Now glue the other two petals up and around the first two, but don’t do it too tightly — leave a small amount of space between each petal as you glue it to make the rose bud look more realistic.
   
8. Lay the middle rose piece (the second smallest one) with the curved petals face up.
9. Add a dot of glue to the bottom of the rose bud, then place it onto the center of the middle rose piece.
   
10. Lay the back rose piece (the largest one) with the curved petals face up, and add a dot of glue to the center.
11. Choose a stem, and slide the back rose piece underneath it so that the stem’s top is in the center of the flower. Press down to adhere the pieces.
    
12. Pick up the assembled front rose piece and add a dot of glue to the back center.
13. Center the assembled rose piece over the stem and back piece, rotated slightly so all eight petals are visible, then press it down on top of the stem.
    
14. Repeat steps 4-13 for all of the roses and foliage stems.

ADD THE FLOWERS TO THE VASE

1. Fold along the crease lines on Foliage Pieces A and B.
   NOTE: There is a fold along the center and one next to each tab. Fold all three in the same direction.
   
2. Slot the left tab of Foliage Piece B into the right tab of Foliage Piece A so the tabs are on the inside.
   TIP: Make sure the slots go together completely so the bottom edges are flush.
   
3. Slot the two remaining tabs together to form a square grass-looking piece.
   
4. If you’d like to make these joints sturdier, lift up the cardstock above each tab, add glue to the tab, then press down.
   NOTE: Don’t add glue to any of the other joints because the bouquet won’t fold correctly.
   TIP: Some of the tabs are easier to access from the inside of the square.
   
5. Stack the lettered foliage pieces in alphabetical order, because that’s the order we’ll assemble them in.
6. Grab Foliage Piece C and lower it onto the foliage square so its two slits slide into the middle space between the leaves.
   NOTE: Make sure the bottom of piece C goes all the way to the bottom of the slots in the foliage square.
   
7. Turn the foliage square so the tulip on Foliage Piece C faces you.
8. Slot Foliage Piece D into the center of the foliage square so it’s perpendicular to Foliage Piece C and its three slits align with the three middle openings.
   
   NOTE: Look inside the bottom to make sure Piece D has completely slotted with Piece C.
   
9. With Piece C (the piece with only one tulip) still facing you, lower Foliage Piece E in front of C and align its three slits with the three openings on Pieces A, D, and B.
   
10. Slot Foliage Piece F behind Piece C the same way.
    
11. Turn the foliage square so the tulips of Foliage Piece D are facing you.
    TIP: If you lose track of which Foliage Piece is which, look at the bottom to check the letter.
12. Slot Foliage Piece G in front of Foliage Piece D. Be patient and take your time when doing this, because Piece G has five slits and there are a lot of pieces to align.
    TIP: I aligned an outer slit first, then worked my way across Piece G, aligning the other four slits with their corresponding openings one at a time.
    
13. Slot Foliage Piece H into the last five openings. Again, take your time so you don’t rip any cardstock as you align all five slits.
    TIP: For this piece, I aligned the outer slits one at a time, made sure the flowers were out of the way, then slid the middle slits into place.
    
14. Pick up your assembled flower and foliage pieces and look at them from the bottom. It should look like a grid with sixteen squares.
    NOTE: If there are any spots that aren’t squares, some of the slits might be misaligned and the bouquet won’t fold correctly. Undo the joints and try again.
15. Fold the whole bouquet from the corners so that it flattens.
    NOTE: Depending on how you fold the bouquet, you’ll see different views, so play around to see which you like best.
    
16. Flatten your vase so that the heart label is on the front.
17. Insert your flattened bouquet into the top of the vase and push it down until the bottom of the foliage touches the bottom edge of the side of the vase.
    
18. Push from the sides of the flat vase and watch your bouquet pop open!
    

STEP 4: FINISH YOUR 3D POP-UP BOUQUET

1. To fold your bouquet flat so it fits in an envelope, position the bouquet so that one corner is facing you.
2. You can choose to fold it one of two ways. Each way will show you a different view of the flowers. The first way to fold it is to press in at the corners to the left and right of you to flatten the bouquet.
3. The other way to fold the bouquet is to press in at the corners facing toward you and away from you to flatten the bouquet.
4. Flatten the vase so that the label is centered on the front and the bottom looks like a taco.
   NOTE: You can also remove the bouquet from the vase and flatten both separately.
   
5. Slide your flattened bouquet inside a standard flat-rate envelope and send it to a friend!
   
   If you made the Joy version, you can slide the flattened bouquet into a standard A7 sized envelope!
   
6. When your recipient gets the bouquet, they just have to push in on the flat vase’s sides to pop open the bouquet!
   
   
   

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF!

Display your finished 3D pop-up flower bouquet, or press from the front and back to flatten it so that you can put it into an envelope and send it to your favorite person!