The inauguration, pop-up style

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Commemorative inaugural stuff is everywhere, but let’s face it — much of it is pretty tacky. Yet we found something ultra-cool, creative, and the best part is you can make it yourself. Did we mention it’s free?

Book artist Carol Barton has designed a do-it-yourself pop-up inauguration commemorative card that’s downloadable, comes with instructions, and is easy to put together. It depicts Barack Obama taking the oath of office with Chief Justice John Roberts, as wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia look on, all standing in front of the Capitol. Everybody loves pop-ups, and those cool books we had as kids are making a huge comeback as talented artists design intricate, dazzling books, cards and art pieces for kids and adults. There are pop-up books on everything from Star Wars and Alice in Wonderland to phobias and architecture.

Barton is a Maryland-based book artist, curator and teacher who owns Popular Kinetics Press and has published two books on pop-ups, as well as limited-edition artist books. Her works are in a number of collections, including the Smithsonian, the Getty, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She also designed a pop-up card for the election featuring both John McCain and Obama — that’s still downloadable, for you nostalgic types.

-- Jeannine Stein