DIY Happy Mother’s Day Card with Pop Up Flower

Last year I shared a DIY Happy Mother’s Day card with pop up flower bouquet here. It did require some precision to line up all the pop-up flowers, and was challenging to some of you. So I decided to create a really easy, and equally beautiful pop up card for this year.

Here it is! This handmade Happy Mother’s Day card is FAIL- PROOF even for beginners at last minute. I tested it five times ( really ), some cards were cut by hand, some using my favorite crafting machine: the Cricut Maker. Every one of them popped up, easy peasy. It’s also a fun paper craft to make with kids!

DIY Happy Mother's Day card with beautiful big pop up flower

I will share with you all the free printable leaves and flowers templates, SVG files, and step by step tutorial with a video on how to make a beautiful DIY Mother’s Day card with a big pop up flower.

If you have a Cricut Maker or Explore, I have a special treat for you. Have you tried the amazing Cricut print then cut feature? You won’t believe how easy it is to cut these hand-drawn leaves I made for the card using this amazing feature. As a first timer, I am able to learn and use it in less than 5 minutes!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

* Some resources in article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here .

Video tutorial on how to make pop up flower Mother’s Day card. Written instructions below.

Materials and tools to make the DIY Mother’s Day card with pop up flower:

  • Card stock or construction paper: Cricut.com has really beautiful quality cardstock. I use a pack of mixed blue card stock for the blue flower card, and a pack of pink and ivory card stock for the pink flower card . You can use this white card stock to print the covers and the hand drawn leaves.
  • there are two ways to cut everything: you can use scissors or an Xacto knife to cut, but if you are a DIY and crafts addict like me,  a Cricut Maker ( or Cricut Explore ) is such a joy to use! The smart machine can cut so many materials in no time.
  • a printer to print the Mother’s Day card templates at the end, including the cover and the leaves , and craft glue or hot glue

The colorful floral card is quite universal, and you can give this pretty homemade card not only as an appreciation for mom, but for grandma, aunt, family members and friends! This would also be a lovely card to celebrate other special days such as birthday, anniversary, or even graduation!

For those who always wonder “What do you write in a handmade Mother’s Day card?” This one is easy. A pop-up flower is worth a thousand words, isn’t it? 🙂

You may also enjoy our 25 beautiful and easy DIY Mother’s Day gift ideas !

25 beautiful and easy DIY Mother’s Day gifts!

Step 1: Cut flowers and leaves

NOTE: If you want only black and white line drawings to print on color paper, you can use this free online tool to trace the png/jpeg files into outlines only, it works great! 🙂
https://online.rapidresizer.com/photograph-to-pattern.php

You can make a gorgeous flower using as few as 3 to 4 flower layers, or use all 5 layers.

If you are cutting everything by hand, tape the flower templates ( free download at the end) to the card stock using double sided tape, and cut using scissors or an Xacto knife.

The Cricut Maker is my favorite little helper on so many crafts and decor projects. I am sharing the SVG file at the end for you to use. Here’s a detailed tutorial on getting started with your first Cricut Maker project in 20 minutes!

To cut the flowers, just upload the SVG flower file in Cricut Design Space, double check and make sure the largest flower measures about 6″ to 6.5″,  and keep the group of flowers together when you resize.

Tip: after resizing, un-group, and select each flower shape with the cut lines on it, and click “attach”. The attach function helps to hold all your cuts in the same position within each flower shape. The Cricut Maker will group the same colors on a cutting mat, and prompt you to change mat when cutting the next sheet of color card stock.

Now the super fun part: print then cut! I couldn’t believe how easy it was. The key is to use a png or pdf file which has transparent background. I made this sheet of hand drawn leaves as a png file you can download.

When you upload it in Cricut Design space, it will ask you to choose whether it’s print then cut, or cut only. Selecting print then cut will tell the machine to print the entire image, and cut along the outlines of each leaf on the transparent background.

First the machine will send the png file to your printer, and it will print out like this: the black lines are registration marks, and each leaf has a little bleed around the edges, this ensures that each leaf is cut precisely to the right size without any white paper left on the edges. So smart!

Keep in mind that currently the maximum image size for Cricut  Print Then Cut is 9.25″ x 6.75″ and the default material to print is 8.5″ x 11″.

You may also love: DIY pop-up Father’s Day cards with funny quotes!

Step 2: Fold and glue flower layers

The key to this step is to carefully match the tabs on each layer, and use just a dot of glue on each tab. I will show detailed photos. You can also watch the video tutorial below to follow along.

Video tutorial on how to make pop up flower Mother’s Day card

Fold flower #1 in half, matching the two tabs, fold in between the petals along the cut lines, glue the two end petals together. Repeat with the other flower layers.

Place flower layer #2 inside layer #1, fold the tabs of each layer so the folding line matches. Glue the tabs of flower layer #1 to layer #1. Repeat with flower layers #3.

IMPORTANT: When it comes to the center layers #4A and #4B, instead of trying to match the folding lines, match the tip of each tab.

Once all the layers are glued together on these tabs, put a dot of glue between the back of the tabs on layer #1 and the back of layer #1 petals, and press together. This will help the flower open to full size.

You may also love: 53 best Mother’s Day gifts you can get for under $50 on Amazon!

53 best Mother’s Day gifts you can get for under $50 on Amazon!

Step 3: assemble Happy Mother’s Day card with pop up flower.

There are different ways to create the cover for our homemade Mother’s Day card with pop up flower. You can print it out on this white card stock ( like in the pink flower version), or use it with colored card stock to create a layered look (like in the pink flower version).

I love the blue flower on the deep blue background, so I trimmed Happy Mother’s Day card cover, and glued it to the deep blue card stock also trimmed to about 9″x11″, and folded in half.

Center the stack of flowers vertically inside the card, and line it up with the folded line. Put a dot of glue on the back of the tabs and press together the cover and the flower tab. Do this on the front and back cover. Check out the video above if you are unsure of this step.

Add some leaves as final touches. You can glue the leaves to the colorful card or to the back of the flower bouquet. Use your creativity! It is so much fun playing with these DIY Mother’s Day cards. Don’t you think they would make beautiful displays on a shelf or mantel?

To download all free templates for this handmade Mother’s Day card and lots of other goodies, join our 100% free community below!

Want more Cricut project? Here’s a set of DIY wood wall art with hand lettered quotes you can make in an hour!

white on wood DIY wood wall art with hand lettered quote

You may also love: A huge set of free printable cards with coloful floral designs!

A set of gorgeous floral printable greeting cards - free templates to download and make your own birthday cards, thank you cards and blank greeting cards! - A Piece of Rainbow

Another 3D paper craft to make:  DIY giant 3D paper snow flake pendant. 

Make giant lighted snowflake pendants from paper bags or white paper. Easy tutorial with free templates. Beautiful decor for holidays and year round! - A Piece of Rainbow

Happy creating! See you soon!

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115 Comments

  1. Wow these cards are breathtaking! It’s just incredible what you’ve made, and the video is impressive too. Those popups look so realistic! I’ll definitely be getting these for my mom for her birthday! It’s coming up soon and she would just LOVE this!!!

  2. What an incredible design idea on the bag! That’s impressive and definitely something I’m going to pin and look to get for my mom next year. She loves unique bags and designs!

  3. These pop up flower designs are breathtaking! The details are incredible and makes you think they are almost real flowers. Impressive work! I’m not the most crafty, but I just have to try these 🙂

  6. The lines in the flower are listed as “cut” and not “score”. Should they be scores so I can folder along the lines, instead of having cuts throughout my flowers?

  8. I’m looking forward to making these for Mother’s Day but when I upload the unzipped svg file it says that it can’t upload it because text isn’t supported. I don’t know if this is a change with the new version of Design Space but is there a way to fix that so the svg can be uploaded? I don’t really want to waste all the colored ink by doing the print and then cut images. Thank you!

    • hi! this hasn’t happened before. if you can’t tell the design space to ignore the text, you can just delete all the texts in the svg file, save, then use it in design space! but refer to the texts and instructions when making the cards! 🙂

  9. Signed up for the newsletter and downloads, but have received no response. Was really looking forward to trying out one of these flowers. How do I get the SVG.

  10. These cards are beautiful. Very excited to try making one. Signed up but have had no response, nothing in spam or promotions.

  12. Incredible cards! I mean wow! And the video really walks you through it perfectly. I’m not a skilled artist but this actually seems like something I could pull off. Thanks!

  14. This is interesting. I don´t think I have done a DIY project in some time but I will try to do something similar to this for my own mum. Thanks a ton!

  15. I downloaded the template to print out, but it’s already colored. Do you have a version that I can print on colored card stock? So I can pick my own colors for the flowers and leaves, or better yet, color them with my gel pens?

  19. Hi there,

    I’m just wondering if the print then cut leaves was on regular printer paper or if it was on white cardstock. Thanks!

  21. I’m having trouble figuring out where the video tutorial is for DIY Happy Mother’s Day Card with Pop Up Flower that is located on the instructions page.

    • hi debbie! we have a video tutorial at the beginning, and because some had trouble viewing it, we added on in Step 2, same video, just embed from YouTube so it’s easier to view. 🙂

  22. I added to subscribe, but haven’t gotten an email to download the card template. So we have to wait till the end of the week newsletter to download?

  23. I just joined this morning. I cant download anything. The mother’s day card is something I’d like to try with a group of teens that I work with. Problem is, I work with them tomorrow. Any idea if I will have access today? I know, last minute. I need to print the patterns. We will trace, cut and glue, no cricut.

    • hi ginger, did you get the welcome email maybe in promotions folder? a red button takes you to all downloads 🙂 if not , please email us at ananda at apieceofrainbow.com

  24. I had downloaded the project twice, but only get PNG files. Just wondering where to get the SVG for my Cricut. Thanks.

  25. I made the Mother’s Day card with my twin granddaughters for them to give to their mom. They absolutely loved this project. We had so much fun. And can you please tell me the music that is playing on the tutorial? It’s so beautiful.

  26. Hi, I have signed up for the newsletter but still have not received the link. I have added your email to the safelist and checked the spam folder.

  27. Hi, I have signed up for the newsletter a few weeks back but still have not received it. I signed up again last week and again this week. I’ve checked my junk/spam folder and it’s not there either. Is there any other way to access the downloads?

  28. Hi, I have signed up for the newsletter a few weeks back but still have not received it. I signed up again last week and again this week. I’ve checked my junk/spam folder and it’s not there either. Is there any other way to access the downloads?

  29. I’m trying to cut the layers onto different color mats on Cricut but I can’t detach the pages to make each shape separate. Help?

  30. I signed up, got an email and clicked the link, but it just took me to some other website and I still cannot find the download anywhere!

    • hi lexi, did you click the red button? we have hundreds of downloads everyday and have not heard such an issue. what other website is it?

  32. Hi, I just subscribed but if the emails with the links come out on thursdays/fridays, i will have to wait a week for the link! Is there any way to get a link sooner, so I can make my card in time for Mother’s Day? I’m so excited to make this card! Thanks 🙂

  36. I cut these out by hand and the card came out beautiful! The template, however, doesn’t have the very inner part (4B), but it still came out lovely.

  37. Hi, wanted to let you know that the embedded video shows up in the mobile site but no the desktop version, so that’s why people are having trouble finding the video.

  38. There is a mention but no link to the video tutorial. Can you please add the link? I checked the happy birthday version of this card and there is no link to video either. Please help!

  39. Hello!

    These are so beautiful! I’ve tried signing up for the newsletter a few weeks back and again today… but I still haven’t received the email where I can download this (I checked my spam too). Would you be able to forward it, hoping to start these tomorrow!

    Thank you!

  40. Hello,

    I just subscribed but haven’t received a link yet. I’d like to get the templates for the downloads as I showed my grade 5’s what we’ll be (trying to) make for Mother’s Day. They were super excited and I wanted to have the templates for them prior to Art class so they have time to print it out. I’ve checked my junk mail but nothing has appeared.

    Is there any other way to access the templates?

  43. Hello I subscribed but received no email. I checked my spam folder. Can you suggest what search term to use to look for your email in my email account? I’m totally bummed because it’s not working 🙁

  45. These are beautiful! I would love to make these with my kids and send them to their grandparents to brighten their day! I joined design bundles and got and email, but am having trouble finding the template for these. Any tips on searching?

    • hi trish! not sure what you meant by ‘design bundles’? do you mean our subscriber list? then you would get an email to all downloads! 🙂

  48. You’re right! These flowers are fail-proof, they were so easy to make!! I LOVE THEM!! Thank you so much for making the templates available.

  49. I’m adjusting the fold lines into score lines so I can have my machine create the folds. Thanks; this is a beautiful design!

  50. I think you could create a PDF that just had out lines and people without circuit machines could print the outlines onto construction paper from their regular home printer. That’s what I”m going to do!

  52. Hi Ananda, I have all my things lined up and this is only the third project with my Cricut. The leaves printed and cut beautifully. I was able to upload all the png files, but the svg file only has the yellow piece 4b showing – none of the other flower parts. Can I just resize all the png files to the same size and work with that?
    thank you! This is such a gorgeous project.

    • hi kate! so glad you are making this! 🙂 i checked the files and the svg should have all 5 flowers on it. maybe try zooming out? because the yellow one is at the center. if not, then yes you can size the png to cut the outer shape and just hand cut or score the few folding lines. have fun! 🙂

  53. Amanda, I’ve been signed up to receive the newsletter for a while. I hit free downloads in the newsletter, and still can’t do it! I went back & forth multiple times. Can you please help me?

  54. Oh, wow. It looks so sweet. These cards are so beautiful. We with my son will do it for my mom. Oh. Thank you for sharing with this diy. :)) Good luck with your blog!

  58. OMG! These are absolutely beautiful. These will be great to do with my grandchildren for them to have something special for their mom

  61. These cards are so cute! I love that they are doable without a Cricut, too, since I don’t have one. I have thought about it, it wouldn’t be so great for the current budget, but I know I would end up having so much fun making all the things, so maybe this year I will get one!

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