Bat 3D Halloween Calendar Blocks

Change the date by removing and rotating 

two blocks to help kiddos count the days 'til Halloween. 

Half-scary dimensional bat body has tummy cubby 

to hold blocks pair, with 20.5" dimensional wingspan, 

poke-up ears, flat feet, and a whimsical face 

(fang tip shapes offer "candy corn" option). 

Feet base option includes building up 

6 or more layers to conceal 1.5" x 5/16" fender washers 

to give bat some added weight.

Measures approx. (body) 6.5" wide x 

3" deep x 7.5" tall (to ear tips). 

the completed assembly guide.)
ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main body front & bottom
B left body side    C right body side
D body back & top
E & F left & right ears with inner ears
G face overlay/cover with face
(eye, eye underlay, smile, fangs underlay,
teeth tips, cheek circle)
H cubby shape    I cubby vertical reinforcement
J inner reinforcement panel
K wing (2)     L left & right overlay

M feet base   N feet build up layers (4-6)
O number block shape (2)
P block inner reinforcement shape (2)
Q left block overlay (6) with numbers & blank
R right block overlay (6) with numbers

2. Prepare the back main body shape by

bending all panels back (mountain fold)

at perforations.

3. Prepare the left and right side panel shapes
by bending panels and tabs back at perforations
as shown.

4. Complete the lower side seam on the side panel
by bending to bring the straight edge to overlap
the adjacent tab to perforation lines, and glue in place
Complete the side seam for both side panels.

6. Attach each side panel to the appropriate

side edge of the main back shape by overlapping and

aligning the mid back side straight edge at the

corresponding mid side tab perforation line of

the side panel. Glue in place.

7. Bend the back panel to bring the lower straight

edge to overlap the corresponding lower back

tab to perforation line, and glue in place.

8. Bend the back upper straight edge to overlap
the corresponding upper tab to perforation line, 
and glue in place.

9. Bend the top side edge into position to bring
the top's straight side edge to overlap the angled
tab to perforation line, and join in place.

10. Bend the side panel's upper edge into position
to overlap the top end tab to perforation line,
and glue in position.
11. Attach the opposite side body shape in the same
manner, following steps 6-10, in mirror image.

12. Prepare the main front body shape by bending

at the perforations that separate the front an bottom

panels, in-line with the bottom of the rectangular

cubby opening.

(There may be a mid front perforation line

across the shape in the design download

you are working with; it does NOT need

to be bent.)

13. Bend the bottom tabs inward on both side

panels and back panel of the previously-completed

assembly, forming a "shelf".

14. Slide the bottom panel back and side edges

to line up with the bent-inward tab perforation lines.

adjust so that crease and bottom shape edges align

as closely as possible, then glue in place.

15. Prepare the cubby box by bending the top,

sides, and top side, and bottom slot tabs 

forward (valley fold),

and fold the top center tab and side tabs back.

16. Form the cubby shape into a three-sided box
by bending the back and sides into position
to wrap the top side tabs around the adjacent
straight (side top) edge, and glue in place.

17. Prepare the cubby reinforcement "beam"

by bending all tabs forward (valley fold) and

fold back at the center perforation.

Fold the shape in half (backsides together)

and glue the two surfaces together,

keeping the tabs free and unattached, bent

outward as shown.

18. Identify the center alignment marks

on the cubby shape backside, as well as on

"ceiling" and bottom tab, then . . .

. . . apply glue to the upper and center tab surfaces,
and insert the beam into the cubby so that it is
centered on the position marks, with top tabs
attaching to the cubby inside top surface,
center tabs attaching to the cubby inside back.
NOTE it is important to make sure beam is
centered correctly to allow the number blocks
to fit into each of the square spaces.

19. Position the cubby into the bottom of the

body assembly, inserting the side and center back

bottom tabs into the corresponding slots on the

bottom panel. On the outside (bottom) . . .

. . . bend the tabs inward and glue in position.

20. Bend the body front opening tab flanges inward,

then bend the front panel into position . . .

. . . taking card to assist the cubby front flanges

to insert through the cubby opening as shown . . .

. . . then align and attach the front panel edges

to corresponding tab perforation lines.

NOTE it may be helpful to attach the center top

edge first, then work down one side, then the other.

Use finger access openings in body construction

to apply pressure along tabs and edges.

21. Apply glue, then bend back the cubby flange tabs
and attach to the outside of the front panel.
Use finger access openings to apply pressure
to the tab seams.

22. Prepare the interior reinforcement panel

by bending the side and back tabs upward, then . . .

. . . apply adhesive between the guide marks
and within the depth that will line up with the
top of the cubby . . . 

. . . and to the tab backsides . . .

. . . then insert the panel through the finger access
openings as shown so that the panel will end up
with straight plain edge at front, glue-applied underside
attaching to cubby roof, etc.

Use finger access openings to apply pressure

and adhere the panel to cubby, side and back tabs

to corresponding inner panel surfaces.

23. Prepare the ear and inner ear shapes,

both left and right, by bending forward at

vertical perforation shaping lines, tabs forward.

24. Position and attach each inner ear over 

its corresponding left or right ear, lining up

the bottom straight edge at lower tab perforation line,

center perforation lines.

25. NOTE that the ear shape has slightly wider (outer)

and a slightly narrower halves.

The narrower half tab is marked with a semi-circle

notch. Place this side of each ear (left & right)

toward the middle of the bat body . . .

. . . as tabs are inserted into slots on the body
assembly top angled surfaces.
On the inside of the body, apply adhesive to the
face side of the tabs, then bend inward
and attach in place, using finger openings
to apply pressure.

26. Prepare each of the two wing shapes by

bending center tabs forward (valley fold) 

and center perforation lines back (mountain fold),

also folding wings forward at the mid lines.

27. Bend the wing "vein" overlays at perforations
near center top and bottom
(this will help overlays conform to wing shape).

Position wing overlays, one on left wing, one on right,

matching edges and perforation lines, and attach.

28. Apply adhesive to the backside of the wing front

(where overlay is attached) in the "tip" half,

plus, apply adhesive along the edge of the

adjacent curve to within 1/2" of the tip,

as shown.

Fold the wing in half to align outer half edges . . .

. . . then apply pressure to attach appropriate

surfaces and edges.

Before glue dries completely, bend wing unit forward

slightly into selected "final" form.

(Complete a left and a right wing.)

29. Insert the back wing tabs into the back wing slots
on side of body assembly, bend tabs toward body back,
then apply pressure to attach.

Insert the front tabs into remaining slots, bend
toward the front panel and glue in place.
NOTE it may be helpful to assist the wing "dimensional"
shape to insert a tool such as the handle of this
spatula, or a pencil shaft, etc., between wing layers
that will help direct front tabs toward the front
and to be inserted fully into the slots.

30. Prepare the built-up feet shape by

layering and attaching the multiple "inner" foot layers,

taking care to align cut edges as accurately as possible.

NOTES: 1) shapes shown here and in shapes identification

layout include the circle cutouts that will accept

1.5" fender washers to give the bat some added weight

(to assist to sit more securely).

If you choose NOT to use the weights, simply cut

extra "whole" feet shapes to layer and attach to body.

2) the quantity of "built-up" shapes that you will need

to match up with the thickness of the washers

will depend on the card stock you are using.

To determine how many layers you need,

cut 4 to 6 small pieces of scrap card stock

and stack next to the washer. Add or remove

the pieces until a finger pressed across washer

and stack edge can feel that they are level.

EXAMPLE: model bat feet were cut from 100 lb.

card stock (from Michael's Crafts), and 4 layers matched.

Other "textured card stock" may require 6 layers.

31. Layer the build-up shape on top of the bottom feet

layer, taking care to align edges, and glue in place.

32. If using fender washers for weight,
such as these used for the model . . .

. . . position one in each recepticle

and attach with thin layer of quick grab glue such as

Fabri-Tack or hot glue.

33. Position feet unit at bat body assembly bottom,

lining up back and back side edges,

and glue in place.

(NOTE washers should be hidden in final positioning.)

34. Assemble the facial features shapes:

eye pupil "show-thru" shape under eye whites,

fang/smile under smile, with candy corn tips as desired,

cheeks under smile assembly ends.

Position and attach to face overlay.

35. Apply glue to the body assembly front panel,

then position and attach face overlay,

taking care to match cubby openings exactly

(outer edges of face panel may be slightly offset

from body assembly edges).

36. Apply glue where surfaces will touch,

then position and attach opening covers:

back and sides.

37. Prepare the block cube shapes by bending

back on all perforation lines for panels and tab flanges.

38. Position (centered) and attach each numeral

to an accent "square".

NOTE there will be one "blank" accent square

to create the single digit dates 1-6, 9

(7 & 8 can be presented with "empty" left position

as will be further explained later).

Here are the left and right cube numbers positions
where they will be attached after cubes are built
(number can be placed in different squares
within left or right blocks)
but the left group and the right group must
be followed as shown or all dates may not work.

39. Prepare the cube by bending the sides up
to bring straight edge to overlap adjacent tab
perforation lines. Attach edge to tab.
(Prepare two cubes following these instructions.)

Complete each of the four "box" corners in 
similar manner.

NOTE it may be helpful to place the seam edge

face down on flat surface to apply pressure

along the tab from the inside as shown.

40. Prepare the cube interior reinforcement

by bending back on center fold,

bending all tab flanges forward.

Fold in half to join the square panels back to back,
leaving the flange tabs free, bend back 
in position shown.

41. Apply glue to one pair of side flanges
and to bottom pair, then insert the reinforcement
into the cube's interior, center it side to side,
and attach inward tabs to cube bottom,
back tabs to cube back.

42. Bend "lid" tabs inward, apply adhesive to
remaining reinforcement pair tabs and lid tabs,
then bend lid into position with tabs tucked inside
of cube box. Use finger opening to apply pressure
to tabs being attached.

43. Position and attach left or right number panels

to all six sides of corresponding blocks,

noting that one of the panels will cover up

the finger access opening.

44. Complete the bat calendar by inserting

the blocks into their left or right positions,

on each side of the center reinforcement.

Blocks will fit snugly, and lower side edges

will protrude slightly to allow finger access

for changing calendar.

Blocks can also be pushed out by inserting
finger tip through backside cutouts.

Here is the completed bat, shown here

with the arrangement for the "7"

with left position 'empty'.

NOTE that is this arrangement is not acceptable,

an alternative is to create a third block

with six blank accent panels for use

with the single digit dates.

With the numeral arrangement shown in
the second part of step 38,
the "6" numeral doubles as "9",
and has the "blank" left block available
to have two blocks in place.

Shown here with two blocks in place
(showing a special date in October).