Over the years I have gotten many emails inquiring about rubber band pop ups. The best book I know on the subject, Up Pops by Mark Hiner, is out of print.
Here is a template, closely modeled on Hiner's design, for the rubber band powered pop up cube.
Download cutting file: PDF, SVG, Silhouette Studio
Print PDF on sturdy card stock and hand cut, or machine cut.
The printed lines on my sample are on the wrong side of the piece, but since we need to see them as we work, I will refer to the printed side as the "front" and the plain side (the right side) the "back." Just to keep you on your toes! Also, notice some numbers are "b" and some are "f". That means the glue goes on the back or the front of that flap.
If you are hand cutting, cut on black lines EXCEPT around the rubber band loops.
Score on green lines.
If hand cutting, fold the re-inforcing squares to the back side and glue. If machine cut, fold the second set of hooks to the back and glue to matching front hook. Let dry completely.
Once the glue is dry, if hand cutting, cut out around the hooks. It is crucial that these little hooks be strong. If they seem at all wiggly-woggly, add another square of reinforcement to them, let dry, cut out. Seriously, don't cut them until the glue is dry or the paper will be permanently weakened.
Glue the backs of the #2 flaps together, folding on the diagonal green line to make them meet. (Remember, that would be right sides together.)
Do the same for the #3 flaps.
Attach a rubber band or loop of elastic thread to one hook. For this template the elastic band need to be 3" in diameter. I have found the 1mm elastic thread by Darice works well. At my store it was with jewelry supplies.
Glue the back of flap 4b to the front of 4f. Repeat for 5b and 5f.
Glue the back of 6b to the front of 6f. It's easiest to do this if you flatten the piece completely with the #6 flaps in the center.
Now comes the fun part. With the cube almost completely closed, work the other end of the elastic onto the other cardboard hook. Try using long tweezers or needle-nosed pliers.
Video directions by Norm. He recommends attaching the rubber band before gluing the last side. Why didn't I think of that?