Summary of how to make picture-changing cards. Let’s create mysterious and fun cards!
Cards whose illustrations change when you flip through them or pull on them are used as message cards for loved ones and in childcare settings.
This article gathers ideas for enjoying cards with a variety of drawings—like popular anime characters and portraits—that transform in fun ways.
We’ll also introduce trick cards that work like magic, where the illustration disappears or the colors vanish.
Try making your own original card where you can freely draw any illustration you like.
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Summary of how to make picture-changing cards. Let’s create mysterious and fun cards! (1–10)
Changing picture card
This is a simple flip-flop changing picture you can make with a milk carton.
First, open up a milk carton and prepare two pieces by cutting off the bottom and top parts.
Next, fold each piece in half and make three slits along the folded edge.
Cut another milk carton in half, and fold each half in two; insert these folded pieces into the slits of the first piece.
Insert them vertically so they cross, and your transforming picture card is complete.
Enjoy watching two patterns swap back and forth—like a frog turning into a tadpole, or a crying face becoming a smiling face!
Secret Card
How about making a secret card that only people who know how to open it can see? If you fold it vertically and open it from the middle, a hidden message appears.
It’s handy when you want to include a message you don’t want others to see, and it can also be used as a children’s toy.
All you need is one and a half sheets of origami paper in different colors, glue, scissors, and a pen to write your message.
Just fold strips cut lengthwise from the smaller piece of origami into the larger sheet, and it’s done.
It’s easy, so give it a try!
A card whose picture changes when you rotate it
Let’s make a fun card that shows different pictures when you spin it! Prepare your favorite photos or drawings and cut them into circles.
Paste them onto a circular piece of construction paper that will serve as a backing, and make one slit in it.
Next, prepare another circular piece of paper of the same size, paste it onto a sheet of construction paper with a slightly larger circle drawn on it, and make a slit in that as well.
Finally, assemble these pieces together and add handles to the front and back to make it easy to spin—and you’re done! It’s a great craft activity for kids, too.
Summary of how to make picture-changing cards. Let’s create mysterious and fun cards! (11–20)
Hexagonal Turn
Here’s how to make a hexagonal flip toy where the illustrations change as you rotate it.
First, cut a piece of drawing paper to 30 cm by 5 cm.
Fold both ends toward the center to make crease marks.
Fold the ends into triangles toward the creases.
Turn it over and make alternating folds so that, when opened, you end up with 10 triangles.
Next, cut off both ends of the sections that are not part of the 10 triangles.
Finally, fold again along the creases, then fold back the last triangle and glue it to the first triangle to finish.
After the glue dries, try opening the paper.
Because it cycles through three faces, you can enjoy it like a mini picture book by drawing three scenes to create a little story.
Give it a try!
Cards that change pictures underwater
How about making a surprise picture that loses its color when put in water? You’ll need a small piece of drawing paper, a food storage bag, a black permanent marker, and colored pens.
First, draw anything you like on the paper and color it in.
Then put the paper inside the food storage bag and trace only the outlines with the black permanent marker on the bag.
When you dip it in water, the colors seem to disappear and only the lines stand out.
If you draw a different image for the outlines, it can even look like the picture has changed.
Why not try this little science-inspired activity that uses the refraction of water?
Karakuri Card
Let’s make a flip-flop picture-changing trick card out of colored construction paper.
As you fold the pictures, different images appear one after another—it’s a lot of fun.
Using two sheets of construction paper in different colors, you basically weave the paper together in an alternating pattern, like making a simple woven piece.
If you’re good at drawing, you can draw your own pictures; if not, using large stickers or cut-out copied illustrations is an easy and great option.
This card is perfect not only as an add-on to a gift but also as a toy for children.
A card whose illustration changes depending on the viewing angle
Here’s how to make an accordion-fold card.
It’s a picture-book-like card that changes the illustration depending on the viewing angle.
The materials are two milk cartons and construction paper.
First, cut off the spout and bottom of the cartons, then tape the two cartons together.
Next, draw a chicken and an egg on black construction paper.
Mount the drawings on construction paper in your favorite colors, then cut each into four pieces.
Attach the cut pieces to the cartons and fold them in an accordion to finish.
You can also turn it into a quiz by asking what the picture looks like!
