Fold Surprise Drawings: 16 Clever Paper Folds That Change the Whole Picture

Fold surprise drawings are the sweetest little art trend on the internet right now. You draw one picture, fold the paper, and a whole new scene appears. One short video of a mom holding her baby, which folds into the grown child hugging her back, passed about 41 million views and 318,000 likes in just three weeks. The same artist’s newer fold drawing reached 3.9 million views in a week. People love that it needs nothing but paper and pens, and that kids and grandparents can do it together. With the holidays coming, these also make wonderful homemade cards. Here are 16 clever folds to try at your kitchen table..

Fold Surprise Drawings Everyone Wants to Try

Here is the whole idea in one picture. You draw a scene on a sheet of paper, then fold part of it over, and the lines on the back line up to make a brand new picture. A snowman becomes a puddle. A seed becomes a sunflower. It feels like a magic trick, and all you need is paper and pens. Once you make one, you will want to make ten. Which picture will you fold first..

You will need: Thick white paper, a pencil, a ruler, black fine liner and markers or colored pencils.

How to make it: 1. Fold the paper into thirds and open it. 2. Draw your first picture across the whole sheet. 3. Fold the sides in and draw the new picture on the outside flaps.

Baby in Mom’s Arms That Folds Into a Grown Up Hug

This is the drawing that made millions of people cry this month. Open, it shows a mother holding her new baby. Fold it, and the baby is grown up, hugging mom back. The short video of it passed about 41 million views in only three weeks. Make one for your own mom or grandma and add a little note on the back. It costs nothing and means everything. Who would you give this one to?

You will need: White card stock, a pencil, a fine liner and colored pencils in soft skin and hair tones.

How to make it: 1. Draw mom holding a small baby across the open sheet. 2. Fold the flaps in and sketch a taller child on them so the arms line up. 3. Color both pictures softly.

Fold Surprise Drawings for Winter: A Melting Snowman

Kids laugh out loud at this one. The open picture is a happy snowman with a hat and scarf. Fold the middle up and suddenly he is a puddle with only his carrot nose and scarf left. It is a great one for a winter class party or a snowy afternoon at home. Draw the hat high and the puddle low so the fold hides the body. Can you guess what the kids will say?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and markers in orange, red and blue.

How to make it: 1. Draw a snowman in the middle of the open sheet. 2. Fold the bottom up over his body. 3. Draw a puddle, carrot and scarf on the folded part.

Fold Surprise Drawings for Christmas: Tree to Gifts

Holiday fold surprise drawings make the best homemade cards. Draw a green Christmas tree on the open sheet, then fold the sides in and the tree turns into a tall stack of wrapped gifts. Use bright reds, greens and gold so it pops. Slip it into an envelope and it becomes a card that people keep on the fridge all season. Who on your list would love a card like this?

You will need: Card stock, a pencil, markers in green, red and gold and an envelope.

How to make it: 1. Draw a tree that fills the center panel. 2. Fold the sides in and draw boxes that line up with the tree’s edges. 3. Color the gifts with stripes and bows.

A Plain House That Lights Up for the Holidays

Many fold surprise drawings start with a simple house: a roof, a door, two windows. Fold it, and the same house appears dressed in strings of colored holiday lights and a wreath. It is a fun way to show kids how a fold can change a scene without changing the shape. Keep the roof line in the same spot on both pictures so they match. Wouldn’t this be a cute way to invite neighbors to a holiday open house?

You will need: Paper, a ruler, a pencil, a black fine liner and bright markers.

How to make it: 1. Draw the house outline across the fold lines. 2. Fold and trace the roof and walls on the flaps. 3. Add lights, a wreath and snow on the folded picture.

A Sleeping Cat That Jumps Into Action

Pet lovers adore fold surprise drawings like this one. The open sheet shows an orange cat curled up asleep. Fold it and the cat is mid jump, chasing a tiny gray mouse. You can draw your own pet and use their real colors. Kids love adding stripes, whiskers and a little bell collar. It makes a sweet gift for anyone who has a lazy cat at home. Does your cat sleep all day too?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and orange, brown and gray colored pencils.

How to make it: 1. Draw a curled up sleeping cat in the middle. 2. Fold the flaps and draw a stretched out jumping cat. 3. Add a small mouse near the edge.

An Empty Plate That Fills Up for Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving coming in November, fold surprise drawings are perfect for place cards or a kids table activity. Draw an empty plate with a fork and knife. Fold it and the plate is piled with turkey, potatoes and green beans. Kids can make one for every guest and write each name on the back. It keeps little hands busy while dinner cooks. What would you draw on your plate?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and colored pencils in browns, greens and yellows.

How to make it: 1. Draw a large empty plate with a fork and knife. 2. Fold in the flaps over the plate. 3. Draw the food on the flaps so it sits inside the plate’s edge.

A Seed That Grows Into a Sunflower

This one is a tiny science lesson and an art project at once. Draw a seed in brown soil at the bottom of the page. Fold the top down and a tall sunflower appears, smiling at the sun. Teachers love fold surprise drawings like this for spring lessons, but they brighten any day. You can add a little caterpillar or a bee for fun. What else could you show growing?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and yellow, green and brown markers.

How to make it: 1. Draw soil and a seed at the bottom. 2. Fold the top down and draw a stem coming up from the seed. 3. Finish with a big yellow sunflower.

A Caterpillar That Turns Into a Butterfly

Every child knows the caterpillar story, and fold surprise drawings bring it to life. Draw a small green caterpillar in the middle. Fold the side flaps in and they become the big, colorful wings of a butterfly. The caterpillar’s body becomes the butterfly’s body. It is simple enough for young kids with a little help. Make the wings match on both sides for a neat finish. What colors will your wings be?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and bright markers.

How to make it: 1. Draw a caterpillar down the center. 2. Fold the flaps in and draw a wing on each. 3. Color the wings in matching patterns.

Fold Surprise Drawings of the Seasons

This fold shows time passing in one move. Draw a bare winter tree with a little snow on the ground. Fold it and the same tree is covered in pink spring blossoms. Keep the trunk in the same place so the change feels like magic. It makes a lovely card for someone going through a hard season, as a reminder that spring always comes. Who could use a little hope this winter?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a brown pen and pink, green and white colored pencils.

How to make it: 1. Draw the trunk and bare branches across the center. 2. Fold the flaps and draw the same trunk with leafy branches. 3. Add pink blossoms all over.

A Gift Box That Opens to a Puppy

Who can resist a puppy surprise? Draw a closed gift box with a big bow. Fold it, and the box is open with a happy puppy popping out of it. This makes a funny birthday card, or a sweet way to announce a new pet to the family. Add confetti and stars around the box for a party feel. Have you ever been surprised by a new pet?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, a black pen and markers.

How to make it: 1. Draw a closed box with a bow in the center. 2. Fold the top down and draw the open lid and a puppy face. 3. Add confetti around it.

A Sunny Beach That Turns Into a Starry Night

Some fold surprise drawings feel like a little vacation on paper. The open picture is a bright beach with a sun, an umbrella and palm trees. Fold it and the sky turns dark blue with a moon and stars. Use the same shoreline on both so they line up. It is a nice way to practice light and dark colors. Kids love deciding what happens at the beach after dark. Where is your favorite beach?

You will need: Paper, a pencil, blue and yellow colored pencils and a white gel pen for stars.

How to make it: 1. Draw the beach and sunny sky. 2. Fold the top down over the sky. 3. Color the flap dark blue and add a moon and stars.

A Birthday Cake That Grows Extra Layers

For birthdays, try a two fold or accordion card. When it is closed, it shows a small slice of cake. Open it once and the cake has two layers. Open it all the way and it is a towering cake with sprinkles. The surprise builds with every fold. It is a perfect homemade card for a grandparent’s big birthday. How many layers would you add?

You will need: A long strip of card stock, a pencil, a ruler and bright markers.

How to make it: 1. Fold the strip into an accordion with three panels. 2. Draw a small cake on the front panel. 3. Open each fold and draw a bigger cake each time.

Easy Fold Surprise Drawings for Little Kids

Little kids can join in too, with stickers and simple shapes instead of detailed drawing. Fold the paper in thirds, then let them stick a sun on one panel and a moon on the flap, or a cat on one side and a fish on the other. The surprise still works and they feel so proud showing it off. For more easy art time, see our easy canvas paintings. What stickers do your kids love most?

You will need: Paper, stickers, crayons and washi tape.

How to make it: 1. Fold the paper into thirds and open it. 2. Let kids add stickers and shapes to the inside. 3. Fold it closed and add new stickers on the outside.

Plan the Fold Lines With a Pencil Grid

The secret to clean fold surprise drawings is planning. Before you draw, use a ruler to divide the sheet into equal parts and draw light pencil lines. Mark where the folds go and where the two pictures need to meet. Then sketch both pictures lightly before you ink anything. Fold, check, adjust and fold again. Erase the grid at the end. A little planning makes the surprise look perfect. Ready to try your own design?

You will need: Paper, a ruler, a pencil and a soft eraser.

How to make it: 1. Rule the sheet into equal sections. 2. Mark the fold lines with dashes. 3. Sketch lightly, fold to check, then ink and erase the grid.

The Cartoonist Who Made the Fold Famous

These drawings have a famous grandpa. Cartoonist Al Jaffee created the fold in for a well known humor magazine in 1964, and he kept drawing them for decades. He was a regular contributor there for 65 years, longer than anyone else. Read more about the history on the Fold-In page on Wikipedia. Today’s viral fold surprise drawings are a sweet, family style version of his clever idea. Did you ever try one as a kid?

You will need: Thick paper, a fine liner, a ruler and a little patience.

How to make it: 1. Look up a few classic fold ins for ideas. 2. Plan your two pictures. 3. Draw, fold and share it with someone who remembers the old ones.