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Origamic Architecture Skull

Día de los Muertos pop up card
This pop up design takes its inspiration from papel picado--traditional paper cutting for Día de los Muertos. Great for Halloween, too.

I modified the gridded skull pattern from a crochet design by Gurman Fravor.

How to make an origamic architecture skull

Download cutting files

Files download for free; contribute what you wish.  Suggested amount for this design: $1.99.




Score red and green lines, cut blue lines.
Green lines are mountain folds, red lines are valley folds.
skull pop up card
Crease the jaw folds. Push the jaw up until it tucks under the head and crease firmly.
Crease the long pieces attaching the top of the head to the bottom of the jaw.
Crease the top of the head. Now pop up the folds along the right and left sides of the top of the head. I push the head toward the top with one hand (below the nose) and use the other hand to pinch the folds.
The lower jaw piece remains loose until you glue the cut piece to the base card.
calavera pop up card
Fold the entire piece flat by pushing it toward the top of the head.
origamic architecture skull
Flip piece to the (mostly) uncut side.
Apply glue as shown, including the tab on the bottom of the jaw.
calavera origamic architecture
Push the center creases of the cut piece into the center crease of your base card. The cut edge of the jaw will also align with the center crease of the base card.
Close the card and flip it over.
Open the card and glue the other side as shown.
Día de los Muertos origamic architecture
Close the card, weight it, and allow to dry.