A paper pop is perfect for surprising or pranking your relatives and friends. By properly folding the sheet of paper, you can create air pockets that will make a loud noise if you press the paper downward using the correct technique. All you need is a piece of paper and some wrist strength, and you'll soon have your own homemade paper popper!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making a Regular Explosive
Step 1. Take a sheet of printing paper that is 30 centimeters long and 21 centimeters wide
If you don't have printed paper, you can tear a piece of paper from a large agenda book.
- A standard sheet of A4 printing paper, which is 297 millimeters long and 210 millimeters wide is best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you prefer. Just make sure you use rectangular paper.
- Large agenda paper is not as good as printed paper and will not make as loud a sound as printed paper, but is still usable.
- The paper used doesn't have to be exactly the same size as the one mentioned above, but it's a good size to start with because it folds easily.
- Place the paper on the table so that the long sides are at the top and bottom.
Step 2. Fold the bottom quarter of the paper up
Fold the paper upwards horizontally, then flatten the fold.
- Fold the paper away from you, up.
- Use your finger along the underside to define the crease and maintain the crease formed.
Step 3. Fold again the same size towards the top
You should still have about five inches of unfolded paper.
It's okay if it turns out that the part of the paper that has not been folded is less than five centimeters left. As long as there's at least three centimeters left, the paper popper can still be used
Step 4. Turn the paper over so that the crease lines are not visible
You'll need to turn the paper over so that the unfolded side is now on the bottom. Then fold the paper in half its length in a vertical crease.
- When creating this fold, the folded part called the crossbar from the previous steps should be visible again.
- Now you have a square of paper, with the folds on the outside.
Step 5. Hold the paper pop by the back end of the folded bar at the top of the paper
Grasp the folded side of the top bar (the part of the paper you folded earlier) and pinch it with one hand. Then hold the lower end with your other hand. Pull the bar up and out while pressing the unfolded part of the paper in and down in opposite directions.
You will now see that you have created two open pockets, from the folded crossbar. Pinch the bottom edge of the paper bag
Step 6. Make sure not to pinch the folded part of the paper
It's best not to pinch the paper too hard. Don't hold the unfolded part in the middle, or you won't be able to snap it. You can think of this as holding a paper airplane upside down.
- Look from the outside of the pop to the inside. You should have created two rectangular airbags.
- When you press the poppet open, you will release the unfolded portion of the paper. Make sure not to hold the bottom of the unfolded paper and also make sure it can move freely.
- For a louder sound, you can try widening and enlarging the portion of the air bag to accommodate as much air as possible.
Step 7. Push the paper pop up down
Elevate your hands and then lower them quickly, as if you were swinging a whip or bouncing a ball.
- The air bag will open, creating a loud sound. You can slam the paper pop into the table, or you can snap it straight into the air.
- When swinging your arms downwards, snap your wrists as well to provide additional thrust.
Method 2 of 3: Making Origami Popsicles
Step 1. Take a piece of printing paper that is 30 centimeters long and 21 centimeters wide
To make this paper pop you need rectangular paper. You can use any sheet of paper of that size.
- A standard A4 sheet of paper, which is 297 millimeters long and 210 millimeters wide is best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you prefer. Just make sure you use rectangular paper.
- You can also use a large size agenda paper. This kind of paper won't make a loud noise because it's not very thick, but it's still usable.
- Place the paper on the table so that the long sides are on top and bottom.
Step 2. Make a crease on the paper as a guide
Fold the paper in half with a horizontal crease, then unfold it again. Now fold the paper in half with a vertical crease, then unfold it again.
At this point, your paper should have four folds, horizontally and vertically. The fold will look like a cross
Step 3. Fold each end of the paper inward
The side of the fold should be parallel to the horizontal crease.
- When you have made these four folds, there should be two triangles on either side of the paper.
- Imagine folding each end of the paper as you would when folding a paper airplane.
- You'll have an unfolded piece of paper that opens vertically halfway between the folds.
Step 4. Fold the paper pop in half to create a trapezoid shape
Now you need to fold the paper in half with a horizontal crease.
Now the paper popper should look like a trapezoid or a triangle with cut ends
Step 5. Fold the left and right ends down
Position the paper so that the short, flat side of the trapezoid is facing down. Fold the two ends of the paper on the left and right, then fold down.
- Make sure that the sides are aligned with the vertical folds.
- This should create two triangular fins that meet in the middle and together form a rectangle.
Step 6. Complete creation
Turn the paper over and fold it in half at the vertical crease.
After doing this, the popper should have a triangular shape with two fins on the outside
Step 7. Pop the paper pop
Hold the lower end of the paper pop between your thumb and forefinger. Raise your hands above your head, then quickly snap them down to make a popping sound.
- You may have to pull the inner fold of the paper slightly outward to allow the paper to burst the first time if the paper is still stiff.
- Slide the fin back out to make the sound again.
Method 3 of 3: Making Alternative Explosives
Step 1. Take a sheet of printing paper that is 30 centimeters long and 21 centimeters wide
Lay the paper flat on the table and position it so that the longitudinal sections are on top and bottom.
- A standard sheet of A4 printing paper, which is 297 millimeters long and 210 millimeters wide is best, but you can use larger or smaller paper if you prefer. Just make sure you use rectangular paper.
- You can also use large-sized agenda paper, although it won't make a lot of noise because it's thinner than printed paper.
Step 2. Fold the paper in half with a horizontal crease
Grasp the bottom side of the paper and bring it up to meet the top side of the paper.
Use your finger along the folded underside to emphasize the crease
Step 3. Fold the paper in half again
But this time, fold the paper in half with a vertical crease.
- Hold the right side of the paper and bring it to meet the left side.
- Use your finger along the crease to define the crease.
Step 4. Pinch the two inner fins at the bottom of the paper with one hand
You will have four paper flippers on the bottom made from your previous fold. Pinch the two inner fins together.
At the top of the paper there will be two sides produced by the fold. At the bottom of the paper, you will see two outer fins and two inner fins
Step 5. Pinch the two outer fins with the other hand
Pull the inner fins up while holding the outer fins in place with the other hand.
- You will see two pouches, or cones, which are produced by pulling the inner fin upwards.
- Keep the inner fin in place by pinching the outer fin toward the center of the paper.
- Make sure you don't pinch the inner fin as the cone you've created will flap outward when you swing the pop and make a sound.
Step 6. Pop the paper pop
Raise your hand while holding the paper pop and swing it downwards as you would swing a whip or bounce a ball on the ground.
Flick your wrist as your hand moves down to help the inner fin out
Tips
- Try experimenting with different kinds of paper. Or try using paper with a different texture to see if you can produce a louder sound.
- Feel free to decorate the paper pop and make it unique.
- Be sure to snap your wrist down when swinging the paper pop for a louder sound.
Warning
- Paper pops can produce a loud and even gunshot sound. Don't use paper poppers in quiet places that might surprise people you don't know.
- Do not do this near dogs and cats.
- Don't do this in class to annoy the teachers. You might get into trouble.
