Get ready to make some noise — literally! If you’ve ever wondered how to make a paper popper, you’re in for a treat. These simple paper toys are quick to fold, super fun to use, and they pack a surprisingly loud POP! Perfect for recess, rainy days, or just a giggly afternoon at home, paper poppers are a guaranteed hit with kids (and even a few grown-ups!).
In this tutorial, we’ll show you two super easy ways to fold a paper popper — and you can test them both to see which is your favourite. Spoiler alert: one of them makes the loudest pop ever! So grab some paper, warm up those folding fingers, and get ready for a pop-tastic good time.
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How to Make a Paper Popper
Materials:
- Coloured printer paper (or white)
Instructions:
How to Make a Paper Popper (Version 1):
- All you need to make a paper popper is one 8-1/2 by 11 inch (letter size) piece of paper.
- Place the paper with the short edge facing you. Fold 1/3 of the paper over from the right to the left.
- Then fold the right side over to the left again, leaving about 1-1/2 inches from the folded edge to the left edge.
- Flip the paper over, vertically, and fold the paper in half, bringing the bottom edge up to the top.
- Flip the paper again, so that the fold is at the top.
- Hold the narrower bands of paper (the top and bottom layers) and bring the wider center ones over to the left.Pull them until there’s just a small triangle of paper showing at the right edge.
- This creates 2 curved air pockets in the paper. These parts should be at the top, facing away from you, when you “whip” your paper.
- Your paper popper is complete! Now bring your arm forward quickly.
- This action will force air into the pockets, opening up the paper, and creating the popping noise!
Fold an Easy Paper Popper (Version 2: The Winner!)
- You only need a letter sized piece of paper to make this second style of paper popper.This paper popper made the loudest pop out of the ones we tried!
- Place the paper with the short edge facing you. Fold the paper in half, bringing the left edge over to the right.
- Then fold in half again, this time bringing the top edge down to the bottom.
- There will be 4 corners of paper at the bottom right. Pull the 2 middle layers down and over to the left.
- Then hold on to the 2 outside corners.
- This creates 2 curved air pockets in the paper. Make sure they’re at the top when you “whip” your paper.
- Your paper popper is complete! Now whip your arm forward to bring air into the pockets.
- As the paper opens up, it creates a loud popping noise!
Helpful Tips:
- Test both folds to find your favourite: We found the second paper popper (the blue paper) made the loudest POP, but you might prefer the first fold. Try both and see which one is the champion in your pop-off!
- Decorate before you fold: Want to make your popper extra fun? Draw patterns or doodles on your paper before folding it. Just avoid thick paint or heavy stickers, which can stop the origami popper from working.
How do I use a paper popper?
Once your paper popper is folded, hold it so the two curved air pockets are at the top, facing away from you. Then, with a quick, snappy motion, bring your arm forward like you’re “whipping” the paper through the air.
This forces air into the pockets, opening up the folds and making that awesome popping noise! It might take a couple of tries to get the motion just right — but once you do, you’ll be popping like a pro.
What’s the best paper for making a paper popper?
We recommend using regular printer paper (around 20 lb) to make your paper popper. Thin paper is easier to fold, and it makes an awesome popping sound.
We tried making an origami popper with cardstock, but it’s a lot harder to fold and it didn’t make any noise for us.
How many times can I use a paper popper?
Paper poppers work best when the folds are crisp and the paper is still nice and stiff. With regular printer paper, you’ll usually get a few really loud pops before the folds get too soft or the edges start to fray — and that’s totally normal! Part of the fun is making a fresh one and seeing if you can get an even bigger POP the next time.
Why won’t my paper popper make a sound?
If your paper popper isn’t making that big POP, don’t worry — it’s usually an easy fix!
- First, make sure you’re using thin paper like regular printer paper. Thick paper or cardstock won’t snap the same way.
- Next, check your folds: they should be crisp and neat so the air can “pop” out when you flick it.
- And finally, make sure you’re giving the paper a quick, snappy motion when you pop it. You need to really “whip” the paper to get a loud crack.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be making noise in no time!
And that’s it — now you know how to make a paper popper two different ways! Whether you go for the super loud version or the slightly quieter pop, it’s such a quick and easy paper folding craft.
Best of all, you can make this origami popper anytime, anywhere. So grab another sheet of paper, challenge your friends to a pop-off, and see who can make the loudest bang!
Here’s even more origami craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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