Kinetic Cards: 15 Free Projects To Try

1. Spinner Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

With some choice z-folding and die cutting, you too can create this elegant card. The spinner element is suspended with subtle, complementary thread. The secret? You’ll need to twist the hexagon several times, lay it flat and insert into an envelope, so it spins when the recipient opens it. Neat!

2. Slider Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

There are plenty of products on the market to help you make a slider card, from discs to dies. Or you can craft one from scratch, like this dinosaur greeting here. Cover 5p coins with card and adhere together with foam tape, before slotting into a cut-out strip and embellishing with a motif. This panel will need to be adhered to a blank with more foam tape, so the element can move freely.

3. Shaker Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Who doesn’t love a card you can shake? We feature them a lot in PaperCrafter magazine and love to experiment with different varieties. This vibrant design features a front panel that’s actually enclosed inside a see-through storage pocket from Avery Elle. It’s something a little different and we’re all for it.

4. Waterfall Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Pull the tab on this waterfall greeting and watch as the rectangles slowly turn over and reveal even more loveliness on the reverse. The ribbon directs the recipient, but you could also add a little message saying ‘pull here’ for extra clarity.

5. Rocker Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

A card that gently sways from side to side? Oh go on then. Plus, it’s one of the most straightforward kinetic cards to make. Simply die cut a circle, then score and fold in half. Voilà!

6. Landscape Pop-Up Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Pop-up greetings involve a folded strip of card that pops up (funny that!) when the card is opened. This landscape design keeps the strip visible, featuring suspended toppers thanks to some coordinating baker’s twine. It’s perfect for a new baby card because it imitates a mobile – cute!

7. Portrait Pop-Up Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

This alternative pop-up card offers up a large motif so you can’t even see the mechanism – just like magic. It works especially well with a portrait orientation. Take your pick!

8. Wobbler Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Purchase some wobble springs (like the Hampton Art ones at Buddly Crafts) and you’ll be making motifs wobble left, right and centre. Make sure you craft your focal from decent cardstock – not flimsy paper – so it can withstand multiple wobbles.

9. Maze Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

A maze card is essentially a ramped-up slider card, but we had to share one because they’re just so fun. This Halloween number has been created with the Slide On Over Maze die from Lawn Fawn and we love the trick-or-treat story it tells. What narrative will you create?

10. Flip Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Another way to tell a story is with a flip card. Like the spinner, it requires precise scoring, folding and die cutting, but the focal isn’t suspended. The fun part is choosing what to feature on each side of the oval, so we went for a very outraged ice cream.

11. Spinning Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Turn your greetings into games. The arrow on this card spins around, which is achieved with a brad. This design is really clever – by using a pink brad, Santa’s got his nose! Genius.

12. Swish ‘n’ Pop Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

Use the Lawn Fawn Swish 'n Pop Pull Tab die to create this seriously summery card. Pull the helpfully arrowed-up tab and the bird moves across to the left – how clever. By using barely-there acetate as the anchor for the bird, it’s truly an unknown for the recipient on what’s going to happen.

13. Flying Plane Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

The plane flies back and forth on this travel-themed greeting thanks to a decorative brad. Utilise a paper collection in your stash – often they come with lots of toppers, stickers and ephemera, so why not see what you can make move?

14. Moving Cat Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

This cat moves from side to side too, this time with a loop of string. Applying tactile elements to your cards adds to the experience for the recipient.

15. Spinning Snowball Card

Credit: PaperCrafter

The oh-so-useful brad comes into play again! These snowballs spin around using acetate and a hidden brad. This style of design would work brilliant for a juggling clown too!