Igloo 3D "Box" Assembly Guide

Create this winter fun dimensional igloo box

as a companion piece for the 3d penguin,

(or fun even by itself)

both from SnapDragon Snippets,

and available for purchase and download as svg files

from SnapDragonSnippets.com, SVG Attic (soon), 

Silhouette America's online store.

Igloo measures 5.25" wide x 6" deep x 4.5" tall

with flagpole reaching to 6.75".

Find the penguin svg cut file to download also.
See it's assembly tutorial at 
http://www.3under3andmore.blogspot.com/2013/11/3d-penguin-assembly-tutorial.html

ASSEMBLY:

1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A center (doorway) wedge

B right-of-doorway wedge (circle punched)

C dome side wedges (2) (triangle punched)

D regular wedges (4)

E ice "brick" accents (1 set for 7 wedges)

F arch main shape

G right arch inner strip

H left arch inner strip

I arch decor shape and holly, berries

J box base shape

K optional pole receptacle tube

L base oct hole cover

M pole shape with top cap

N flag pre-assembled

2. Compare the four wedge types to make sure they are assembled in correct order.

Left to right here: center front arch wedge with slots; right-of-center-front wedge (circle punch in tab); side wedges with top tab (triangle punch in tab), regular wedge.

3. Prepare the wedges by folding the side tabs back, slightly folding back on horizontal perforations, folding bottom tab back.

The center wedge is shown here. The same prep is used for all wedge shapes.

4. Flatten the wedge folds, then add the "ice brick" decor shapes (see next image for the configuration). The center front "arch" wedge shown here at right will use the top two "rows" of shapes like all other wedges. The mid stratum that includes the arch top slots uses a modified shape, centered. The bottom area is left without a decor shape (doorway).

NOTE that with the pairs of shapes strata, the straight side edges line up at the straight edge or perf lines.

5. Select the center front "arch" wedge and the right-of-center-front wedge to begin assembly of dome. Line up the right lower section straight edge of center front wedge to overlap the corresponding tab perforation line of the right front wedge as shown. Make sure the top and bottom perf lines also line up, then add glue, overlap and join the seam.

6. Continue with that seam to fold the next sections inward slightly until their straight edge and tab perforation lines come together. Make sure to align the top-defining perf lines on each side of seam, than glue. Complete all sections of the seam.

7. Continue in the same fashion to join one of the side sections that includes the top opening tab (triangle punch in tab) to the right edge of the front assembly.

8. Join a regular wedge to the left side of the door arch center front wedge. This completes the front half of the dome. Set it aside.

9. Join the back half of the dome with the remaining wedges. As seen from the outside, the order will be, l to r: side wedge (triangle punch) + reg + reg + reg. Set the back half aside.

10. Prepare the arch main section by folding doorway arch and connected lower wall back, center upper connected wall back, vertical perforations back, center portion tabs back.

Add the decor shape while this section is still flat.

11. Prepare the left and right inner arch strips in a similar fashion, inward on cross perfs, tabs back.

12. Fold the lower wall and tab back and away from the arch shape as much as possible to expose the center inner wall section's side edges. Overlap side straight edge over strip's end tab to perf line, align properly and join.

Repeat for the other side.

13. Fold the inner strip into position so that the short tab near the connection seam completed in step 12 aligns with the doorway arch inner short edge. Adjust, align, then glue this tab and edge.

14. Position the remaining length of the strip so that tab and arch straight edges line up. Adjust, align, then glue this tab to the edge.

Repeat steps 13 & 14 for the opposite inner arch edges.

15. Swing the outer strip sections of main arch shape into position at the outer edges of the doorway arch. Line up the arch straight edges with corresponding tab perf lines. Adjust, align, then glue in place, one at a time. Complete both outer edge assemblies.

It may be helpful during the arch side section assembly process to use a narrow, rigid tool such as a new standard pencil shaft to apply pressure along the seams. NOTE that tabs will layer within the narrow arch space.

16. Position the arch assembly over the center front wedge. Insert the top pair of tabs into their slots, while at the same time inserting the side tab pairs into their respective slots. Work the arch  fully into place so that tabs extend out the behind.

17. On the inside of the front dome half, fold the tabs outward from the narrow space between the pairs and glue to the inside face of the dome.

18. Bring the front and back half dome assemblies together to align the straight edges and corresponding tab perf lines. Begin at the top to align and glue the top portions of the seam.

This is the most time consuming and tricky part of the assembly, so take time and use patience to work as accurately as possible.

Since it is difficult to reach these top seams, it may be helpful to insert a new pencil shaft through top opening to provide a push-against surface to apply pressure to secure seams.

19. Once the top seam sections are joined, work down each side to adjust, align and attach straight edge at perf line.

20. Fold dome rim tabs back and glue each in place.

21. Prepare flagpole by folding inward on all perforation lines.,

22. Form the shape into a tube to overlap straight edge over long tab perf line, align and adjust, then glue.

It will be helpful to insert that handy pencil into the tube to provide a rigid surface to press against to secure the seam.

23. Fold the top octagon "cap" into position, tucking the tiny tabs into the tube after applying a dot of glue to the face surface of each, and hold in place to secure.



24. (No images) Prepare the optional base pole receptacle tube in the same fashion, folding on perf lines, bringing tab and straight side edges together to form tube, overlaping and gluing. Fold end tabs outward. Set aside for step 27.

25.  Assemble base by folding attached walls back, tabs back.

Bring adjacent wall side straight edge and tab perf lines together, overlap and glue. Complete all 8 seams in this fashion.

26. Fold rim tabs back and glue each in place.

27. Insert the receptacle tube through base from the bottom inward, stopping when the tab perf lines meet the hole edge. 

28. Apply glue to the underside of the tabs, fold back and hold to glue against the base bottom surface.

29. Apply glue to the underside of the cover octagon at edges, then position over the receptacle hole and glue in place.

NOTE: Using the receptacle tube helps the flagpole stay straight. However, it requires that the flag's bottom end be blindly inserted into the receptacle when the lid is in place over the base.

If the box is to be a "toy", consider leaving the receptacle tube off, simply covering the hole. (See another "glued-shut" pole and receptacle option in step 30.

30. To help with positioning to attach the flagpole to the lid, insert the pole into the receptacle and push in fully.

NOTE: If you plan to glue your box shut as a decor piece, you may wish to glue the pole into the receptacle as this stage of assembly.

31. Slide the lid into position, inserting the top of the pole through the top opening . . 

















. . . while also working the base inside the lid's rim edges. It is a fairly snug fit, so take care and work around the perimeter until the base is fully in place.

32. Assemble the flag. Position and attach the left decor shape over the base flag shape with the left straight edges lined up, and the shape centered top to bottom.

Next, position the "back shadow" narrow shape over the right end of the first decor shape in place. Attach in place.

Finally, place and glue the pointed end shape with left straight edge aligned with narrow strip left edge. These shapes are intended to suggest a waving flag. See if your color selections and positioning achieve this effect.

33. Fold the left edge "tab" of flag back. Apply glue to backside of tab area, then overlap the flag over the top of the pole, down 1/4" or as desired, and glue in place.

34. To attach flag to lid, glue the tiny top-of-side-wedge tabs in place to the sides of the flagpole.


35. Layer the holly and berries on their base shape, then attach this optional decor to the top of the arch.

Here again is the finished 3d igloo.