Needles 'n' Knowledge: Spooky Ensemble 3D Projects

Dimensional projects plus 2d 'S' form snake

can be created from paper for Halloween decorating fun

as stand-alone designs. Or, they can be added

to the 'SPOOKY' letter box ensemble as shown below

for a display bound to delight.

All five projects shown will be described in this post

as separate tutorials (order: snake, ghost, hat, pumpkin, bat).

The letter box ensemble is demonstrated as a separate tutorial

in this blog, including how to prepare the foam core base.

Assembly of the projects will be provided in order
left to right as they appear on the ensemble.
Please NOTE that placement or attachment to the
letter blocks ensemble will be described in
the SPOOKY 3d Letter Box Ensemble tutorial.

SNAKE (2D)
1. Identify and cut the shapes.
NOTE the head layers include a base shape
that shows thru as the head back markings,
a middle layer that shows through as eye balls
(shown here with the eye white shapes in place),
and a top "body color" shape.

2. Layer the body with zigzag cutouts with the

show-thru layer.

3. Layer the head layers: a) bottom markings layer,

b) middle eye pupil layer, and c) top body layer.

4. Add the eye white over the middle layer

eye protrusions that remain exposed

even when the top layer is in place.

5. Position and attach the head build up

onto the body unit.

6. Position and attach the tongue with the

end attachment "bulb" under the nose area.

Here is the completed snake design.

7. Position and attach the snake 2D onto

the front of the S letter box as shown,

so that it mostly fits without passing the

box's edges.

GHOST 3D SLICE FORM
8. Identify and cut the shapes:
A back body cover (for letter box ensemble,
use the alternate back "cover" with bottom extension)
B back body C lower arc
D upper arc with eye panel E eyes
body slice shapes in order as assembled,
l to r (counterclockwise) 1 thru 8

9. Prepare the slice shapes 1-8 by bending forward
(valley fold) at the vertical center line.
10. Pair them together as shown, then place backsides
of adjoining halves together, and glue in place
for all four "pairs".

During the gluing process, it is very important to
align the backside creases as exactly as possible.
One way to do this is to treat the joining shapes as
stacks, and having them in folded positions as
they are placed together to attach.

11. Next, join the pairs together in the same fashion,
taking care that the backside creases are aligned
as accurately as possible. Place this folded assembly
onto a flat surface and apply pressure as the glue cures.

12. Fan out the slice assembly, then position the

left back (slice no. 1), position and attach on

the front of the back shape, lining up the notch slots

of the slice over the corresponding slots on back.

Apply pressure until securely attached.

13. Repeat the step 12 process for the opposite

right side (slice 8).

14. Gather the unattached slices at the center

as shown, then position and "slide" the

lower ring over them (thickness won't all fit)

matching center ring slot

with lower slice slots. Then . . .

. . . one by one, slide the slices outward
so that they match up with their corresponding
arc notch.

Once all slices are lined notch to notch,

gently work the arc fully into position.

15. Insert arc end tabs into the lower back body

slots . . .

. . . fold tabs down and glue in place on backside.

16. Attach eye contrast to the upper arc eye extension

(or wait until ring is in place to do this).

17. Position the arc over the slices at the notches,

and work to align each slice with corresponding

arc slot until the upper arc can be fully seated

and pushed in. Insert back tabs through slots

and attach to backside as in step 15.

18. Apply adhesive to the backside of the

back cover, position and attach.

NOTE that the covers have an offset along side

edges so they WILL NOT match up exactly.

For SPOOKY Ensemble, use the

back cover with the lower edge attachment

extension, shown here.

19. Bend the eye extension down and glue to the
two slices that it touches.

SKULL (2D) DANGLER
20. Identify and cut the shapes.
It is recommended to cut at least
2 back shapes (L lower)
and 4-5 front shapes for strength
and dimension.

21. Layer and join back shapes . . .

. . . and front shapes, taking care to align all edges
as precisely as possible. It may be helpful
to place flat weights onto these shapes
during the build-up gluing process to help
avoid warping.

22. Position and attach front to back.
The skull dangler is ready at this point to
attach to whatever you are embellishing.

Notes for attaching inside the small O of
the Spooky letter box ensemble are provided
in the tutorial for that project, in this blog.

WITCH MINI HAT
23. Identify and cut the shapes.

24. Prepare the crown shape by bending back

(mountain fold) on all wedge sections and side tab,

also bend bottom tabs outward.

25. Form the crown shape into a cone to bring
the straight side edge to overlap opposite side tab
to perforation line, and glue in place.

26. Apply glue to the face side of crown tabs,

then slide the brim shape, face side up over

the crown and down until it seats fully over the

tabs. Apply pressure to secure tabs connections.

27. Apply adhesive to the underside of the
brim shape (and attached tabs), then position
and attach the accent under-crown, taking care
to match up interior hexagon openings of each.

28. Prepare the band by bending back on

all perforations.

29. Slide the buckle onto the band,

and carefully slide along until it is centered

onto one of the sections that can be

identified as the front.

30. Form the band into a ring to overlap the

straight end over the opposite tab to perf line,

and attach.

31. Slide the band over the crown point, and
down into position.
Add glue to secure it in place, then . . .

. . . add moon and star cutouts as you wish

to complete the hat.

PUMPKIN 3D SLICE FORM
32. Cut the shapes: 12 oval slices, 1 leaf ring,
1 strip for tendril.
33. Prepare the shapes by bending forward
on all center perforations.

34. Position first two slices with backs of two

adjoining halves together, and glue in place,

taking care to align outer cut edges as precisely

as possible. Also take care to align the perforated

folds exactly.

Apply pressure along the stacked folds

to ensure crisp construction for better finished product.

35. Position and attach the next shape - slice 3, in similar

back-to-back fashion, and then continue to

join remainder one by one until all 12 shapes are

attached into one assembly.

36. Bring the final unattached backs of slice 1 and

slice 12 together, align and attach to each other

37. Prepare the leaf ring by adding slight curl

downward to each leaf extension.

Place decorative brad through center hole

(from face side toward back), then apply glue

to the center underside of leaf and to brad stem,

and insert into the center "tunnel"

and hold in place until secure.

38. Add tight curl to the tendril strip by wrapping
it around a small gauge knitting needle or
skewer.
Insert one end under the leaf and secure
with dab of glue. Artistically trim tendril
to desired length.

BAT ON A WIRE (or string)
39. Identify and cut the shapes.

40. Position and attach the accent, offset wing shapes

on the front side of the wing/body unit.

41. Prepare the body shape by bending back

on ALL perforations for body panels and tabs.

42. Bend the upper side angle panels and front
upper panel inward to bring the straight front edge
to overlap the angle tab to perforation, and glue in place.
Repeat this seam process for the other upper
(right) side seam, and the two lower side seams.