Friday, June 22, 2018

Unicorn 3D Mug Container


Rolly poly little unicorn in mug form can serve 
as a gift or treat container, or simply for theme decor. 
Join 8 position-specific wedges to create the vessel, 
then join to sturdy "feet" base. Design features 
dimensional ears, 1.25" tall hexagon cone horn, 
sliced rainbow arch on built-up handle, 
plus a few other accent details. 
Measures approx. 3.5" tall x 4.75" wide and 
deep (not including handle, horn). 
Coordinates with the "Dream Cloud Tag" 
and other tag designs. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A hull wedges shapes 1 thru 8 (position specific)
B dimensional ears with inner ear accent (l and r)
C dimensional horn    D hull inner cover
E hull interior reinforcement ring
F base support "foot"   G hoof accents for base
H  interior base support top octagon (slotted)
I interior base support strip (tabbed)
J handle top layers left & right
K handle interior layers for build up (7-8)
L handle rainbow stripe accents
2. (Start with handle layering for build up so
that it can be drying while other construction proceeds.)
Stack all interior handles and outer layers to "audition"
the TOTAL build up thickness, then adjust as needed
so that the finished measurement equals 1/8" thick.
3. NOTE the 'X' cut on the upper end of the build up shapes
and on the outer layer upper tabs. Layer and attach
the interior shapes, one on top of the previous, until
all are stacked, taking care to line up all outer cut edges
as precisely as possible
Use a flat weight such as this muslin-covered
re-purposed free weight, or other flat, heavy object
to place on top of glued-up stack until the adhesive
is completely dried and no longer cool to the touch.
(This may require hours; consider completing
step 4 & 5 before pressing under weight.)
4. Bend the end tabs of the top handle layers 
outward, then . . . 
. . . layer the these on the corresponding
sides of the handle stacks, and glue in place.
(Press under flat weight until completely dried.)
5. Arrange and attach the rainbow slice accents
onto the outer handle layers, leaving a tiny
margin at the straighter end edges before
tab perforations where an allowance has been
designs in for handle insertion into hull slots.
(Press under flat weight until dried.)
6. Prepare all hull shapes by bending back on
all side, upper or lower tabs, flanges or panels.
Also bend back on horizontal perforation lines.
7. Identify and arrange hull shapes in assembly
order, referring to the cut file number order.
As reference, the center front wedge includes
the bottom octagon "ring" with horn slots toward
upper edge, with the ear slotted wedges on each
side of center wedge, and the center back wedge
that includes the pairs of vertical slots for
the handle tabs at the right end of the series,
to be placed opposite the center front wedge
when hull is completed.
This is the center front wedge with series of
three slots for horn tabs insertion later.
These are the ear slotted wedges
to be placed on each side of center front.
This is the center back wedge with handle slots.
8. Select wedge #1 and wedge #1
(to be working left to right across the series of
wedges as shown in the image at beginning 
of step 7 above), and align the center segments
of each. Overlay the straight side edge of #2 over
the tab flange of #1 to perforation line,
adjust up/down so that horizontal perforation lines
are lined up as precisely as possible,
then glue edge to tab flange.
9. Bend wedges to adjust and align next lower segments'
straight edge over corresponding tab flange opposite,
and glue in place. Repeat for bottom segment, then . . . 
. . . move upward to complete the top two segments
until the entire seam is joined.
10. Continue in the same manner to position
center segment of wedge #3 and attach,
then continue until all segments are attached
into one assembly, joining wedges 1-8.
11. Gently working against the "spring" of 
the assembly to align and attach the final seam
to form the cup bowl shape, working in same
center, downward, then upward order as before.
12. Bend the bottom octagon ring base into position
to overlap bottom wedge flanges, then adjust
edges and flange perf lines to match up as precisely
as possible, and glue in place.
Reach fingertips inside bottom opening to apply
pressure and complete the joining.
NOTE: it may be helpful to adjust and attach
the back segment (opposite the pre-attached edge)
first, then work to adjust and attach the segments
in between on each side.
13. Prepare the "foot" base shape by bending back
slightly on all vertical end tab or segment-dividing 
perf lines, bottom edge tabs or octagon ring.
Bend top cut-divided flanges forward slightly.
14. Form the shape into a ring to bring end straight edge
to overlap the opposite tab, adjust up and down
for alignment, then glue in place.
15. Bend the bottom tabs inward,
bend octagon ring into position, adjust and glue
edges along perforation lines of segments.
16. Prepare the inner base support strip shape
by bending back slightly on all segment perf lines
and end tab. Form the shape into a ring to
align and complete side seam.
17. Insert upper tabs into slots on the face of
the interior support octagon "lid" shape, then . . . 
. . . bend tabs outward and glue in place on
octagon backside.
18. To hide the tab construction, position
and attach the matched-size (and hull colored)
octagon "cover" shape on top of interior support,
lining up outer edges exactly.
19. Fit base upper flanges into bottom opening 
of hull, and push inward until hull edge aligns
with top flange perf lines, then . . . 
. . . bend flanges outward to sides and glue in place
to the inner base surface, reaching fingers
into hull to apply pressure, with matching
press-against fingertips on the outside,
until all flanges are securely attached.
20. Insert the interior base support, strip inward,
into the hull opening . . . 
. . . and into bottom recess, until octagon cover
edges line up with hull bottom perf line (centered),
then glue in place.
21. Position and attach the outer bottom cover
to conceal the base recess.
22. Prepare the "hoof" accent strips by bending
back on vertical perf lines.
Position the angled edges at the center of
base face on center front facet, as shown,
wrapping around octagon shape with perf lines 
and bends lined up.
NOTE: if you would like the hoof accents
to extent all around the base, cut an extra set
of accents, then trim the back pair as needed
to cover the remaining sections of the base,
with angled ends lined up at center back panel.
23. Prepare the dimensional horn shape by
bending back on all wedge perforation lines.
Also bend tabs forward.
24. Form the horn into a tall narrow pyramid shape
to bring straight panel edge to overlap opposite
wedge flange perforation line, and glue seam.
NOTE it may be helpful to insert a narrow
tool inside the horn to provide a "press against"
surface while the seam is being joined.
25. Identify the top of the horn shape by
locating the blunt-cut tab.
(It is also the shortest portion of the horn.)
Insert the tabs into the horn slots on the center front
hull panel, then . . . 
. . . bend the tabs outward and glue in place
on the inside hull surface.
26. Prepare the ear shape by bending on perforation lines,
as valley or mountain folds, following the diagram:
(indicated as working from the face of the shape)

Also bend the bottom tabs back.
Here is the shape pre-folded.
27. Bend the top panel down into position,
and wrap the end tab over the opposite side wall,
and glue in place.
NOTE it may be helpful during the glueing
process to insert a blade tool behind the tab
being attached as a press-against surface,
 as well as wall seams in
following step.
28. Bend side panels back into position
and glue in place to inner panel walls.
29. Identify the matching inner ear accent shape
to the dimensional ear by comparing the slant angle
of the lower edges, then . . . 
. . . position inner ear edge along
3D ear lower edge, and glue in place.
(This image does NOT have edges
lined up properly.)
30. Identify the TOP position tab of each ear
by locating the blunt cut end, then . . . 
. . . insert the top tab into the top slot on hull panel . . .
as well as other tabs into corresponding slots,
then bend tabs outward on the inside and glue
to backside of hull panel.
Repeat for second ear.
31. Insert 'X' end tabs of handle shape
into top slots, bottom tabs into bottom slots,
then bend outward on hull inside and glue in place.
32. Bend top rim flanges to the inside
and glue in place.
33. Prepare the rim reinforcement shape by
bending edge flanges back, then . . . 
. . . flex slightly to insert into the top hull opening . . .
. . . and align perforation line just below rim tabs,
and attach flanges in place all around.
34. Position eye accents on center side panels
where cut marks indicate, with smile and cheek ovals
in corresponding positions as shown.
Here is the completed unicorn mug container.
If planning to attach the Dream Cloud Tag
(or other tag embellishments), either punch
or pierce a tiny hole into the rim in desired
position, then thread tag's twine and tie in place.




No comments:

Post a Comment