How to Make a Never-ending Emoji Card

Need a fun and budget-friendly craft that lives long after you make it? Try never-ending cards!! This never-ending emoji card is a cool origami-like project that kids and adults will love. When you flip the card and fold it, the emoji changes. It’s like magic! But really it’s just some creative paper engineering.

Make this fun never-ending emoji card for an entertaining paper craft activity that will get used long after you've made it. Makes a great gift, too!
Make this fun never-ending emoji card for an entertaining paper craft activity that will get used long after you've made it. Makes a great gift, too!

What is Origami?

This never-ending card seems like a magic trick, but it actually uses paper engineering to make it work. The oldest form of paper engineering is called origami, the ancient art of paper folding. Paper was invented around 100 B.C. in China and brought to Japan in the sixth century A.D. by Buddhist monks. Origami began soon afterward. The Japanese word origami comes from the word ori (to fold) and kami (paper). Origami is the ultimate STEAM project as it uses both art and mathematics to create unique shapes. Never-ending cards use a series of overlapping squares and rectangles with strategically placed folds to make the motion possible.

Emoji Never-ending Card Supplies Needed

I love this project because it only needs a few simple supplies!

  • Cardstock or paper
  • Scissors
  • Markers, crayons, or colored pencils (optional)
  • Glue stick
  • Never-ending Emoji Card free printable template (sign up below)

This project was created for HP’s Print & Learn Initiative in Summer 2020. You will be directed to HP’s website to get the template once you receive the email.

Never-ending Emoji Card 1360x900
Never-ending-Emoji-Card-1500x1500-1

FREE! NEVER-ENDING EMOJI
CARD PRINTABLE TEMPLATE

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never-ending emoji card supplies markers template scissors

Watch the How-To Video

This helpful video will make assembling your never-ending emoji card easy!

How to Make an Emoji Never-ending Card

  1. Cut out the never-ending emoji card template. If using the blank version, draw and color your own emoji designs inside the circles and color the background if desired.
  1. Pick up Emoji Design A (as noted in the corner) and fold the left and right edges to the center hash mark (not the line that runs across the entire square). Open and cut down the line that runs across the entire square. Repeat with Emoji Design D. Then repeat with Emoji Designs B and C, except fold the top and bottom edges to the center hash mark. Then open and cut down the line that runs across the entire square. Set B, C, and D aside.
never-ending emoji card step 1 cut squares with scissors and start folding
  1. Lay the two pieces of Emoji Design A down on the table. Flip them over so the blank side faces up. Place glue in corners as shown in the purple squares in the picture below.
  1. Place the RIGHT side of Emoji Design B on the LEFT side of both pieces of Emoji Design A. Place the LEFT side of Emoji Design B on the RIGHT side of both pieces of Emoji Design A. Press tightly to seal the glue.
  1. Flip open the card so that Emoji Design A is on the bottom. Apply glue on the sides as highlighted in purple in the picture. Attach the left side of Emoji Design C on the left and the right side of Emoji Design C on the right. Press tightly to seal the glue.
  1. Flip open the card so that Emoji Design C is on the bottom. Apply glue to the entire blank surface. Attach the top of Emoji Design D on the top and the bottom of Emoji Design D on the bottom. Press tightly to seal the glue.
  1. Let card dry completely (at least 30 minutes) before playing with the card.

More Paper Crafts

Love creative paper crafts? Try some of these other ideas!

Emoji Thaumatropes
Paper Bird Flyers
Watercolor Houses
Lightning Bug Paper Circuits

More STEAM activities you can do with just a pencil and a piece of paper. 

Looking for some fun activities with paper? This ebook is packed with 18 amazing activities perfect for home or school. The kids will love fun stuff like transforming paper stars, drawing impossible triangles, building and testing paper bridges, plus tons of drawing challenges and games. Designed for kids 5-12. 

Never-ending Emoji Card 1360x900
Never-ending-Emoji-Card-1500x1500-1

FREE! NEVER-ENDING EMOJI
CARD PRINTABLE TEMPLATE

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Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
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