FAMILY ALBUM POP-UP BOOK MAKING @QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY 7/12/2021

 

QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY - CREATIVE AGING PROGRAM

FAMILY ALBUM POP-UP BOOK MAKING

7/12/2021

Spica and I were excited to start a new program, hosted by Madlyn Schneider, Older Adult/Homebound Program Coordinator with Queens Public Library and thank her for giving us this opportunity to reach out to more seniors who are looking for creative ways to engage. It's also our first time teaching virtually using the WEBEX platform, but Madlyn guided us through it. We also want to thank her Program Assistant, Cathy, who supported us throughout the session. 

The purpose of this project is to use the visual art form of the pop-up book to share your life stories with others and pass down your memories. Family photos can be a great inspiration for each page. By the end of the 8 sessions each student will have a memory book as a tangible keepsake, a remembrance, and a motivator to continue telling stories.

We were pleased to see so many people join us for a fun afternoon of pop-up page making. We warmed up our bodies and imagination by using the idea of pop-up to open our eyes, face, fingers, and arms as wide as possible. Pop-up books originated over 800 years ago originally as moveable books in the medical field to describe anatomy. Since then, they have become popular as children’s books, but still hold delight for young and old. We shared some examples of professionally manufactured pop-up books, demonstrating the different techniques employed, some of which we will be teaching in this program.  

After checking on students’ materials they made their base page from colored cardstock. Next, they took a piece of white cardstock, marked 1” along the long side, and used the tip of scissors to score along this line. Next they folded the paper in half hamburger style and cut a ½” triangle out at the centerfold below the scored line. This technique is called a V fold. This white page was placed inside the base page at 3” marked on the centerfold from the bottom of the base page. Closing the base page, we marked out the area which extruded and cut it off. Now the students have an area in which they can draw their home. 

A guided imagination exercise followed during which they envisaged a home they lived in either now or in the past, picturing its shape, and major features, such as windows, the door, a chimney, fire escape or pediment. Reference images of houses and apartment buildings were shared. Students were encouraged to draw their home as large as possible on the white page, ensuring part of the drawing was at least 1” across the center line. This is important for the pop-up to be effective. Next to the house they added objects such as trees, another building, post box, or fire hydrant. 

Once the drawing is finished it’s time to collage it. We suggested they could cut simple geometric shapes from colored paper to highlight its features such as windows and doors or use magazines or newsprint to add texture. As further inspiration, we shared collaged houses senior students had created in other classes. Music helped us focus as we worked on our home. 

Once completed, they cut out the entire image, making sure that it is in one piece. With the V Fold placed exactly at the 3” mark on the centerfold, glue was applied to one side, the base page folded over, and glue applied to the other side. Now when the base page is opened the house and the objects on either side pop-up. It’s magical!! 

Next week we will learn a new technique to create a pop-up and a moving object within the page.