Groundhog Day rolls around every February 2nd, and let’s be honest—it’s a little ridiculous. A groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil pops out of a hole to tell us if winter will last six more weeks. But that’s exactly why kids go nuts for it.
You want to turn that big reveal into a hands-on celebration, right? These 27 pop-up groundhog crafts will have your little ones giggling as they make their own furry forecasters spring into action. No fancy supplies needed, just paper, glue, and a sense of humor.
I’ve tested some of these with my own chaos crew, and yes, glue got everywhere. Worth it.
1. Cupcake Liner Groundhog Pop-Up
Grab a brown cupcake liner and flatten it slightly—that’s your groundhog’s fluffy face. Glue on googly eyes and a tiny pink pom-pom nose, then attach it to a folded paper spring inside a paper cup.
When you push the cup’s bottom, the groundhog pops up to check for his shadow. Your kid can decorate the cup with grass and clouds for extra flair.
2. Paper Bag Surprise Groundhog
Take a brown paper lunch bag and fold the bottom flap up to make a little ledge. That flap will become the groundhog’s hiding spot.
Cut a groundhog shape from brown construction paper—circle for head, small ears, and a flat body. Glue it onto a popsicle stick.
Slide the popsicle stick into the bag’s folded flap so the groundhog hides inside when the stick is down. Decorate the bag’s front like a snowy burrow with cotton balls and blue paper.
Pull the stick up to make the groundhog pop out and see his shadow. Or don’t pull it up if you want six more weeks of craft time.
This one got my kid asking to “do the reveal” about forty times in a row. I’m not complaining—it kept them busy.
3. Accordion Fold Pop-Up Card
Fold a piece of cardstock in half to make a card. On the inside, cut two parallel slits about an inch apart and push the tab forward.
That tab is your pop-up mechanism. Glue a small groundhog drawing onto the tab.
Now decorate the background inside the card with a hole covered by brown paper—that’s the burrow entrance. When you close and open the card, the groundhog jumps up.
Add a speech bubble that says “Six more weeks!” or “Spring is coming!” depending on your mood.
My daughter added a tiny paper shadow behind her groundhog. She felt very proud of that detail.
You can make a whole family of groundhogs by repeating the slits. Just don’t blame me if your kid demands to send these to everyone they know.
4. Popsicle Stick Lever Groundhog
Poke a small hole in the side of a paper cup near the bottom. Thread a popsicle stick through the hole so it acts like a lever inside the cup.
Glue a paper groundhog to the end of the stick that’s inside the cup. Push the other end of the stick down, and the groundhog pops up through a slit you cut in the cup’s bottom.
This is basically a see-saw for groundhogs. My son spent an hour figuring out how fast he could make it pop.
5. Paper Plate Pop-Up Burrow
Cut a paper plate in half and staple the straight edges together to make a pocket. Glue a groundhog cutout to a folded strip of paper, tape the strip inside the pocket, and let your kid squeeze the plate to make the groundhog jump out like a jack-in-the-box.
6. Toilet Roll Groundhog Puppet
Take an empty toilet paper roll and cover it with brown paper. Cut a small slit near the top on one side.
Slide a popsicle stick with a groundhog head glued on top through the slit. The stick moves up and down from the bottom.
When you push the stick up, the groundhog peeks out from the top of the roll. Decorate the roll like a snowy hill with white paint and tiny trees.
This puppet works great for acting out the big reveal. Just don’t let your toddler chew on the roll—ask me how I know :/
7. Coffee Filter Pop-Up Groundhog
Flatten a brown coffee filter and scrunch it slightly to look like furry groundhog fur. Glue it onto a paper spring made from two strips of cardstock folded like an accordion.
Attach the spring to the bottom of a small box. When you lift the lid, the groundhog pops up to greet the world—or hide from his shadow.
8. Envelope Pop-Up Card
Take a standard envelope and cut a flap on the front so it opens like a little door. Glue a folded paper strip inside the envelope behind the flap.
On the strip, tape a groundhog cutout. When you open the flap, the groundhog springs forward.
Seal the envelope and write “Do Not Open Until Feb 2” on it. Your kid will love the suspense.
Hand it to a sibling or friend and watch them jump when the groundhog pops out. I may have scared my husband with this one.
He didn’t think it was funny. I thought it was hilarious.
9. Foam Cup Groundhog Popper
Cut a small X in the bottom of a foam cup. Thread a rubber band through the X and tie a knot so it stays.
Glue a lightweight groundhog made of felt or foam to the rubber band inside the cup. Pull the rubber band from outside and let go.
The groundhog shoots up like a pop-up toy. This one is for older kids who won’t aim at the ceiling fan.
My oldest figured out how to launch it across the room. We had to set some ground rules.
Literally.
But when used safely, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate the big reveal with a bang.
10. Spinning Wheel Groundhog Predictor
Cut a circle from cardboard and draw a groundhog peeking from a hole in the center. Attach a smaller spinning circle behind it with a brad fastener.
On the spinning circle, draw two options: a shadow for six more weeks of winter, or no shadow for early spring. Turn the wheel to change the prediction.
This isn’t a pop-up exactly, but it’s still a reveal. And honestly, it saves you from arguing with a toddler about whether Phil saw his shadow.
11. Origami Jumping Groundhog
Fold a simple origami jumping frog but color it brown and add a tiny face and ears. When you press the back, it hops out of a paper burrow—instant pop-up groundhog action with no glue required.
12. Straw Pop-Up Groundhog
Cut a short piece of a bendy straw and tape one end to the back of a paper groundhog. Tape the other end inside a small box or cup.
Push the straw down so the groundhog hides. Blow gently into the straw’s other end (the one sticking out) to make the groundhog pop up.
FYI, this works best if you seal the straw’s bend with tape so air doesn’t escape. My first attempt just whistled at me.
The kids will love controlling the reveal with their own breath. Just remind them not to suck in—nobody wants a groundhog in their mouth.
13. Paper Chain Pop-Up Groundhog
Make a paper chain with alternating brown and green links. Glue a groundhog face to the last link of the brown chain.
When you pull the chain apart, the groundhog “pops” out from between the links. Bonus: you can make the chain as long as the remaining winter weeks.
14. Tissue Box Groundhog Den
Save an empty square tissue box and remove the plastic liner. Cut a groundhog shape from cardboard and tape it to a craft stick.
Poke the stick through the tissue slot so the groundhog hides inside the box. Decorate the box like a snowy mound with cotton balls and brown paint.
Pull the stick up from the bottom to make the groundhog appear. This is basically the classic groundhog day setup but with a tissue box.
You can also glue a paper shadow behind the groundhog that flips up when he emerges. My kids argued for ten minutes about whether the shadow meant more winter.
Either way, it’s a great way to use up that box of tissues from cold season.
15. Clothespin Groundhog Snap
Paint a wooden clothespin brown and draw a groundhog face on the wide end. Clip it onto the edge of a paper cup.
When you squeeze the clothespin, the groundhog snaps forward like it’s popping out of the cup. This one is super simple for little hands.
Glue a small paper circle inside the cup to look like the burrow entrance. Position the clothespin so the groundhog hides behind the cup’s rim.
Then let your kid pinch and release over and over. They won’t get tired of it.
I know because mine didn’t. For two hours.
Send help. Or more clothespins.
16. Paper Cup Pop-Up with Spring
Cut a coiled paper spring from two strips of construction paper. Glue one end to the bottom of a paper cup and the other end to a groundhog cutout.
Place a second cup upside down over the first one, trapping the spring inside. When you lift the top cup, the groundhog springs up with a surprise.
This is like a pop-up present. Wrap a rubber band around the cups to keep them closed until the big reveal.
17. Handprint Groundhog Pop-Up
Trace your child’s hand on brown paper, cut it out, and fold the fingers down to make curled paws. Glue the palm onto a pop-up spring inside a card, then add googly eyes to the thumb as the head—now their own handprint pops up to predict the weather.
18. Pop-Up Groundhog Mask
Cut two eye holes in a paper plate and paint it brown. Attach a groundhog nose and whiskers to the front.
Glue a folded paper spring to the top of the plate. On the spring, attach a paper sun or cloud that pops up when you nod your head.
Wear the mask and pop your head up from behind a couch to mimic the groundhog’s reveal. It’s silly, but kids eat it up.
My neighbor’s kid wore this for three days straight. I respect the commitment.
19. Egg Carton Groundhog Burrow
Cut a single cup from an egg carton and turn it upside down. Poke a hole in the top and thread a pipe cleaner through, bending the end into a groundhog face.
When you push the pipe cleaner down, the groundhog hides inside the cup. Pull it up to celebrate the big reveal—plus the egg carton texture looks like dirt.
20. Sliding Pull-Tab Groundhog
Cut a slot in a piece of cardboard and slide a groundhog on a paper tab through it. The tab sticks out the bottom.
Pull the tab down to hide the groundhog behind the cardboard. Push it up to make him appear.
Decorate the cardboard with a snowy scene and a circle for the burrow opening. This is like those old-school slider toys.
My kid called it “the groundhog elevator.” I’m not correcting them.
You can add a second tab for a shadow that slides out too. Double the pop-up fun.
21. Paper Fan Pop-Up Groundhog
Fold a piece of brown paper into an accordion fan. Glue the ends together to make a circle.
Attach a groundhog face to one side of the fan. When you squeeze the fan flat, the groundhog disappears.
Let go, and it pops open into a full circle with the groundhog front and center. This one doubles as a decoration.
You can hang it from the ceiling for the week leading up to Groundhog Day. Then on the big day, have your kid “pop” it by pulling a string tied to the fan.
I did this and forgot to tell my partner. He walked into the kitchen and got a face full of groundhog.
Worth it.
22. Plastic Lid Groundhog Popper
Take a plastic lid from a yogurt container and cut a slit in the center. Fold a paper groundhog in half and push the folded edge through the slit.
When you press down on the lid’s edges, the groundhog pops up like a jumping jack. This is ridiculously easy and uses recycling bin stuff.
My kids fought over who got to use the blue lid. Groundhog drama is real, people.
23. Pop-Up Groundhog Coloring Page
Print or draw a groundhog peeking from a hole, then cut a slit where the groundhog’s body would be. Slide a separate colored groundhog on a paper strip through the slit so your kid can pull it up and down—it’s a pop-up they color themselves.
24. Rubber Band Groundhog Launcher
Glue a groundhog to the end of a popsicle stick. Hook a rubber band around the other end and anchor it to a cardboard box.
Pull the stick back and let it go. The groundhog launches upward out of a hole cut in the box.
This one requires supervision because it can fly pretty far. We lost one under the fridge.
But boy, does it make the big reveal exciting. Just call it “experimental groundhog science.”
25. Cardstock Pop-Up Shadow Play
Cut a groundhog shape and a separate shadow shape from black cardstock. Attach both to a pop-up mechanism inside a card so the shadow appears next to the groundhog when you open it.
This teaches kids about the whole shadow prediction thing without the meteorological confusion. Plus it looks super cool.
26. Milk Carton Groundhog House
Rinse out an empty milk carton and cut a door near the bottom. Fold a paper spring and glue a groundhog to it inside the carton.
When you open the door, the groundhog pops out. Decorate the carton like a tiny log cabin or a snowy hill.
You can even add a flap on the roof that lifts to show a sun or cloud. My son insisted on adding a chimney.
The best part? You can hide small treats inside for after the reveal.
Because groundhogs love chocolate, right? (Don’t actually feed chocolate to groundhogs.)
27. Pop-Up Groundhog Puppet Theater
Turn a cardboard box into a tiny theater by cutting a window in the front. Tape a paper spring to the bottom inside the box.
Attach a groundhog puppet to the spring. Cut a slit in the box’s side and thread a craft stick attached to the groundhog through it.
Now your kid can slide the stick to make the groundhog pop up on stage. Add a curtain made of fabric scraps for drama.
Perform the entire Groundhog Day prediction live. My kids put on a show where the groundhog refused to come out because he “forgot his hat.”
That’s not how it works, but I’m not arguing with a five-year-old director.
You can also make shadow puppets for the audience. Just don’t expect Broadway-level performances.
Time to Pop Up and Celebrate
You’ve got 27 ways to make February 2nd unforgettable. Pick a few, grab the glue sticks, and let your kids turn that silly groundhog tradition into a hands-on win.
Which craft will you try first? I’m partial to the rubber band launcher, but my kids vote for anything with googly eyes. Go make some pop-up magic—and may your shadow stay far away.