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How-Tuesday: Ahoy There! Pop-Up Pirate Card


Story by katiearms Published on April 28, 2009 in How-To	Photo by Sheri Giblin

Shiver me timbers! This card hails a pirate's "Hearty ahoy!" to a friend, captain, or best mate. With its pop-up frigate and jolly sailin' birdies, it's sure to evince a mirthful demeanor from the scurvy lad or merry lass who receives it. Download the complete project instructions here, or follow along below, courtesy of Handmade Hellos by Eunice Moyle and Sabrina Moyle.

You'll Need:
Glue stick
2 pieces of lined notebook or filler paper (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Card stock (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Ruler
Bone folder
Scissors
Two 8 1/2 x 11" sheets of tracing paper
Pencil, 2B or softer
Ballpoint pen
Brown card stock or construction paper (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Black pen
Two 4 x 4" scraps of red text-weight paper

Template:

How-To:

Line the card stock.
Using your glue stick, apply glue to the wrong side of your first sheet of lined notebook paper. Center your card stock on the lined paper, and smooth to adhere. Repeat with your second sheet of lined paper and the other side of your card stock. With a ruler and bone folder, score and fold the card in half, parallel to the short side of your card.

Make the waves.
Cut the wave shapes into a long side of one of the blue paper strips, either cutting freehand or using the template provided. If you'll be using the template, trace and transfer the wave to your blue paper and then trim it with scissors. Apply glue to the wrong side of the wave and adhere it to the front of your card, aligning the sides and bottom. Repeat with the second blue paper strip, pasting it to the back side of your card. Let it dry.

Make the boat.
Trace and transfer the boat template to your brown card stock. Cut out the boat, using a pair of scissors. With your black pen, draw a wood-grain effect all over the front of the boat. Draw an almond-shaped or circular center forming the knot, then draw contour lines 1/4" along the sides of the knot, echoing its shape and tapering to straight lines and either end, repeat the contour lines to form a striped wood grain pattern, adding additional knots as desired. Fold the boat in half, and then fold along the lines to create flaps, being sure both flaps fold away from you.

Draw a pirate sail.
Trace and transfer the Sail template (a pirate sail is also known as a Jolly Roger) to the upper half of your card. Color it in using black pen.

Paste the boat in place.
With the boat facing right side up, apply glue to its flaps. Fold back and paste these flaps in place (just below the sail), pressing down on them to adhere.

Add a couple of pirate-y birds.
Trace and transfer the Bird template to your red paper, twice. Cut out two bird shapes. Apply glue to the wrong side of each bird and paste them in place on the card. Using a black pen, add features such as an eye patch and a pirate's hat.

Add your greeting.
Fold your card, and write a pirate-y greeting on the front, such as Ahoy there!

Variations:
Avast, me hearties! Pirate lore and lingo are a fun starting point for a whole host of occasions. You may even consider giving this card to a friend on International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th)!
Best mate. Add the greeting You're my best mate! to let someone know you appreciate their friendship. Consider adding a cheery Aarrr! or Aye, me hearty! to the back of the card.
Pirate Party. Use this card as an invitation to a pirate-themed party, or make it for the host if you are invited to one.
Anchors away! Give a merry send-off to a friend or colleague who is embarking on a new adventure. Smooth sailin' an' fair winds t'ye!

Thanks to Kate Sutton, Eunice Moyle, Sabrina Moyle, and the folks at Chronicle Books for sharing this project with us.

More crafty project downloads can be found in our How-Tuesday series on the Etsy blog! And did you know that you can buy Supplies on Etsy?

More Pirate Paper Goods available on Etsy | Items for your Pirate Costume

Tags	beach, birthday card, boats, cards, children, Chronicle Books, DIY, Eunice Moyle, funny, greeting card, Handmade Hellos, HOW-TO, How-Tuesday, invitation, Kate Sutton, kids, ocean, paper, paper craft, paper cutouts, Paper Goods, PDF, pirate, pop, pop-up, projects, Sabrina Moyle, ships, Talk Like a Pirate Day, tutorials

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52 comments Login to add your own!

April 28, 2009 at 4:12 p.m.

VintageEye

Did I miss Pirate Day again?

April 28, 2009 at 4:16 p.m.

adoreneko

What a cute tutorial! I have a set of pirates in my shop. Thanks.

April 28, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.

Snowberrylime

that's so sweet, I love all things pirate ship!

April 28, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.

BabbidgePatch

great project! how fun ~

April 28, 2009 at 4:39 p.m.

odiliafu

Cute!! Thanks for the tutorial!

April 28, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.

BetaBoutique

yeah, pirates rocks!

April 28, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.

BetterThanCheesecake

Cute Project....I will make one with my Son.

April 28, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.

BPyarns

fun tutorial ~ love receiving pop-up cards :)

April 28, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.

catsongstitchery

This is great- my son will love it!

April 28, 2009 at 4:50 p.m.

novadesigns

very cute!

April 28, 2009 at 5:03 p.m.

LippincottSoapCo

What a great project to do with my little maties!

April 28, 2009 at 5:06 p.m.

missindie

I am totally making these my birthday invitations next year!! Argghhhhh! :D

April 28, 2009 at 5:22 p.m.

sseloske

Cute! But it's kind of a odd time to be celebrating pirates, don't ya think?

April 28, 2009 at 5:39 p.m.

DalkullanJewelry

Shiver me timbers!

April 28, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.

redyellowandblueink

totally cute...aarrrrgghhh.....Matey!

April 28, 2009 at 6:11 p.m.

EJPcreations

Soooooo cute!!!!

April 28, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.

PneumaticPentagram

love you

April 28, 2009 at 6:51 p.m.

StrungAlong

My son's bedroom is decorated with the pirate theme. Love anything pirate!!!

April 28, 2009 at 7:13 p.m.

beautifulbridget

I love pirates! Thanks for the "how-to"!

April 28, 2009 at 7:40 p.m.

whiletheyplay

my 5 year old LOVES Pirates. Thanks for the great Tutorial!
:)

April 28, 2009 at 7:47 p.m.

siennaorlando

This is wonderful news! I attempted at making a Burning Man pop-up once, but I ended up. . . well. . . burning it.

April 28, 2009 at 7:51 p.m.

CoraDesigns

Hi...I think that my Year 4 class could have a go at this...thank you...PS.If you like PIRATE TREASURE I have some nice GEMSTONE jewellery on my site...CORA

April 28, 2009 at 8 p.m.

LushPunk

omg - you had me at the word "pirate"!

yay!

April 28, 2009 at 8:03 p.m.

LushPunk

oooh - also: did you know that there is a language setting for "Pirate" on facebook?

It's so awesome! Just go into Settings, find the language bit, and it should be there. eg. "Add as a Friend" changes to "Be Mateys" - it rocks!!

April 28, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.

clubviv

so cute...

愛愛愛　　　　　　愛愛愛
　　愛愛愛愛愛　　　　愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　　愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　　　愛愛愛
　　　　　　　　愛

April 28, 2009 at 9:01 p.m.

worksandfinds

Cute.

April 28, 2009 at 9:03 p.m.

IceCreamCandy

this is so fun!!!

April 28, 2009 at 10:18 p.m.

ShySiren

Hm... are pirates "cute", especially in light of recent news? Pirates are real and they are dangerous... I'm sure that families of those who have been taken hostage (or remain hostage) would not not find pirates cute, cool or fun... I know, I know... maybe I'm just being too serious...just want to keep perspective.

April 28, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.

summerground

Hands-on projects are always so fun!!

April 28, 2009 at 10:57 p.m.

zeropumpkin

cool i love pop-up card.:)

April 28, 2009 at 11:26 p.m.

BellyDancePrincess

I see what you mean... I guess it's celebrating the romanticized idea of the pirate, like the pirate as a character and not a real person. Kind of like the Hamburglar in the McDonald's commercials (do they still have him by the way?)I mean there's certainly nothing endearing about a thief in real life.

April 29, 2009 at 1:31 a.m.

scentbythesea

I'm thinking this isn't so good to have running right now....didn't anyone at Etsy read or listen to the news lately? pirates suck. they kill people.

April 29, 2009 at 4:18 a.m.

CatiferThreads

So cute! I remember I loved, loved, loved making pop-ups cards when I was in elementary school. I'll have to start doing it again...thank you for the inspiration! (o:

April 29, 2009 at 7:49 a.m.

blossomnbird

such a cute card! Yay for pop up cards

April 29, 2009 at 8:19 a.m.

Navare

Charming! I have always loved pirates, even before they were so trendy.

April 29, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.

SimpleTraditions

Thank you so much! One of my closest friends loves pop up cards. I'm off to get my glue stick!

April 29, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.

mythunderstood

yo ho ho!!

April 29, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.

PaintSlinging

very clever

April 29, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.

EpicBones

pirates!!!! love the pop up card, i used to be obsessed with those when i was little

April 29, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.

RoyalPrincess

This reminds be on the news 2 weeks back, when they showed the captured pirate being brought to US, he was all smiling.. wonder what was he thinking.. anyways..a very nice tutorial !!

April 29, 2009 at 1:02 p.m.