Barn Yard 3D Box Card

Get your "Yee-Haw" on with a miniature barn yard 

in this dimensional card. 

Classic barn framework creates back drop for three bridges. 

Back bridge holds barn front with 

whimsical cow peeking out window. 

Middle bridge holds perky pig with fold-down ears, 

and front bridge holds folk art hen. 

Arched picket fence accents box front 

with layered plaque and word cut out. 

Silo unit attaches behind back panel. 

Box card folds flat for sending, 

opens into box form for display. 

Measures approx. 7.125" tall x 3.5" wide 

x 2" deep when opened.

A companion envelope design is also available.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main card base

B outside back accent shape

C inside back accent shape

D silo with triangle roof

E picket fence with 2 rails

F front plaque 2 layers with "yee-haw!" word cut

G bridge #3 barn front accent with window frame

and roof beam accents

H barn spacer support strips (2)

I cow shapes to layer

J bridge #2   K pig shapes to layer

L bridge #3    M chicken shapes to layer

2. Prepare the base shape by bending back

on all the vertical perforations for panels

and end flange.

Note the small hash cuts near side panel top

and bottom edges that will serve to help

align and position the bridges during later assembly.

3. Position and attach the side attachment accents

and exterior back accent shape within the appropriate

panels with approx. 1.2" offset.

4. Form the card base into a tube to bring the side flange

perf line to align with corresponding outer edge

of tall back panel, adjust bottoms to match,

and glue side seam.

5. Prepare the inner back accent assembly

by attaching the triangle roof accent to

top of silo shape, then tucking silo

behind the barn shape, with bottom and

side edges even, and glue together where

the shapes overlap.

6. Tuck the interior back barn panel assembly

into the box base assembly to center and align with

back panel bottom edge, then attach in place.

7. Prepare the bridge #3 assembly by bending

the side flanges back, also positioning

and attaching the beam and window frame

accent shapes.

8. Insert the bridge #3 assembly into the box interior
and line up bottom edges of box sides and
bridge, also align side flange perf edge at
hash cut guide marks on box sides, then glue
flanges in place to inside of side walls.
(While no image is provided, it is a good idea
at this point, after the side flanges are attached,
but before the glue is absolutely set up, to
fold the card assembly into its flattened form
to apply pressure in the area of the flange attachments
to secure the flanges in place, and also allow them
to self-adjust slightly if necessary)

9. Get familiar with the cow assembly shapes.
Position the eye and nostril (black) show-thru shape
inside the matching recess in the body/head shape.

Position the body shape over the horns shape

(includes body silhouette) and match edges

that can align, then glue in place.

Position the hoof face over the hoof contrast base

and attach for both of the pair.

Position the face  shape over the body assembly

and attach in place.

Position the muzzle shape over the head shape

and attach in place.

NOTE: hooves remain separate until later.

10. Position body shape in through the front

of the window opening and behind the lower sill,

and move downward until ears and horns

are on top of the upper window frame timber,

center the shape, then glue in place.

11. Position the hooves on the front  the window

sill to match the shapes on the body assembly,

and glue in place.

12. Prepare the spacer strips by bending back

on tab perforations.

Position at beam level between the backside

 of the barn #3 bridge and the back interior barn shape,

inward approx. 1/2" from barn side edges,

and glue the tabs in place to each surface.

Repeat for the opposite side.

Here you can see both bridges in place.

from top view.

Before glue is completely dry on spacer strip

attachment tabs, fold the card flat and apply

pressure at the position of the spacer strips

(which are between layers). Apply pressure to

help the spacer strips adjust, and to help secure

the spacer strips in place.

13. Prepare the shapes for bridge #2 and #1 by bending

back the side flanges.

14. Insert bridge #2 into the box cavity and position

the front corner edge of each side at the corresponding

guide marks on the box hull side panels, with upper

front panel edge even with hull cut edge top and

bottom edges even too.

After bridge #3 is in place, fold the card flat

then apply finger tip pressure along the areas

where each side flange is being attached.

15. Repeat the process to insert bridge #1 in front

position using corresponding guide marks, and . . . 

. . . press flat to secure side flange attachment.

16. Assemble the pig figure as follows:

A) identify the shapes  and place eye contrast

rounded rectangle into head recess cutout; 

B) attach hoof accents on leg extensions,

C) bend ears forward on perf marks,

D) attach head oval over head base and

body oval over body base, E) attach nose over

contrast (nostrils) oval.

F) attach nose onto head circle,

G) attach eye white circles over eyes,

H) attach head unit over body.

17. Position pig over upper left edge of bridge #2 

with lower portion overlapping bridge, 

then attach in place.

18. Assemble the chicken unit by

A) Position and attach body over base (shows

thru as wattle and comb extensions;

B) position and attach eye in recess,

C) and beak in place on base;

D) attach heart wing accent.

19. Position chicken unit onto upper right edge

of bridge #1 as shown.

20. Prepare fence accent by attaching fence rails

onto fence base.

Attach plaque layers, then position and attach

"yee-haw" word cut.

(NOTE the coloration was changed on final model.)

If desired, ink the inside of the "nail" hole punches

on rails with a fine tip felt pen. Or attach small

studs over cutout positions.

21. Attach plaque to fence unit, then

attach the fence onto box card front.

Here is the box card in its finished

folded-flat position, ready to send.

(A coordinating envelope design

is available.)