Sunday, October 20, 2019

Mummy 3D on A Spring


This classic Halloween character’s raggy look 
comes from loose weave fabric strips 
draped over oval dimensional head, 
with moss tucked into tie at the neck. 
Hexagon “button” nose (from paper) and beady eyes 
from beneath the wraps (shown using 1/4” wood 
furniture buttons; other options possible). 
Spiral spring seems to support the mummy’s head, 
though the center hex post wrapped around 
a 5/16” diam. wood dowel length really does, 
anchored in a twelve-sided shallow platform base. 
Add one of the “Halloween Tags Pair”, 
and the bats disc accent or spider disc (the latter 
available as separate Halloween Coaster discs design). 
Mummy project measures approx. 8.125” tall x 4.75” wide 
x 4.75” deep (base measurements). 

ASSEMBLY: A. Obtain gauzy white fabric
and cut into six or so approx. 1" wide strips
from selvage to selvage (approx. 44" long);
cut strips in half lengthwise to yield 12 half lengths.
If fabric is too white, consider tea or Rit taupe dye
to adjust color as shown here (very weak dye bath used).
Original fabric is shown right, with dyed and dried strips left.
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A head front   B head back   C back opening cove
D nose shape  E head interior support
F shoulder ovals (8-9 for build up)
G head top post anchor (6 for build up)
H post strip  I post collar (spacer)
J platform LID with walls attached
K  platform BASE  with walls attached
L platform support strip
M base hexagon anchor (6 for build up)
N platform scalloped disc accent
O bat accent disc  P spring spiral
Q spring accent spiral
R tag components: base, ring reinforcement,
'OH' and 'mummy!' word shapes
2. Prepare the layered shapes to let them dry
completely before assembly:
a. layer shoulders ovals and glue together,
taking care that all cut edges line up as exactly
as possible.
Use a flat weight such as this fabric-wrapped
re-purposed free weight placed on top of the stacked
shape to help keep it flat while liquid glue dries,
and to help minimize warping and curling.
b. Layer the head anchor shapes and attach together,
matching all cut edges carefully. 
Use weight to press flat while the anchor dries.
c. Layer and attach together hexagon post (bottom)
anchors, taking care that all cut edges line up
(especially the hexagon interior edges). Use
flat weight to press while the anchor dries.
3. Identify the guide mark cuts on the accent scallop
shape: on the left is the tail location guide mark dashes,
and at center is the 'bend' location guide mark dash.
Also locate the tiny wedge 'arrow' indicator that
is part of the hexagon center cut out edge,
which indicates the front of the platform.
4. Position and attach the accent disc, selecting
the front of the disc. Press under a flat weight until dry.
5. Position the accent spiral on top of the spring shape,
centering it down the center, with the inner rounded end
aligned at the dash marks near spiral base's center,
and the tail end a little bit short of the spiral base's end . . .
. . . and glue in place. Use a flat weight if desired
to keep flat while it dries.
6. Prepare the head front shape by bending back
on all perforation lines for sections, tabs and
wedge tabs, etc.
7. Bend two adjacent sections back on the perforation
line of the face panel, overlapping the straight cut edge
over the adjacent tab to the perforation line, and 
glue the seam first segments, and then . . . 
. . . the second segment in the sequence,
and hold with pressure until joined.
8. Repeat for each two-part seam all around the head.
9. Prepare the nose shape by bending back on
all perforation lines for sections and tabs.
10. Bend the segments back, overlap edge to
perforation line of adjacent tab (in similar manner
to the head front two-part seam) and join seam.
Repeat for the remaining 5 seams all around.
11. Position the nose dome form so that it can
be inserted from behind the head shape . . . 
. . . then insert through the hexagon opening
and push into place until the edge tab perfs
align with the hexagon opening edges.
Glue the tabs to the backside of the face panel.
12. Identify the arrow symbol cut into the top tab
of the head back shape that will assist in
accurate orientation of head front and back.
13. Bend the adjacent segments back to join
the one-part seams all around, in similar manner
as with the head front.
14. Position the head front and head back 
so that they are back-to-back, with top edges
adjacent, then overlap the straight edge of front head
over the top tab (with symbol) to the perf line,
adjust for side-to-side alignment, then join.
15. Position the top post anchor stack inside
the head assembly top panel, and glue in place.
16. For eyes, select a pair of wood "furniture
buttons" such as these 1/4" buttons purchased
at Hobby Lobby, and paint black (sample is also
finished with a clear shiny coat). Or obtain
large black beads or equivalent (cut the appropriate
head front shape with smaller eye position guide holes).
Position and securely glue in place, inserting
the shanks into the openings.
17. Prepare the interior support panel as shown
(it has been modified slightly in the final design)
with all edge tabs bent back.
18. Identify the wide point at the side front head . . .
. . . then apply liquid adhesive to the front (divided)
edge flange tabs and the angle tab on each side of it,
and insert the reinforcement panel into the head front
so that the flanges can attach to the head walls
above OR below the angle.
19. Apply adhesive to the remaining reinforcement
flanges, and also to the remaining back head tabs
(bend these inward slightly first), then close the head front
and back together, tucking the tabs inside head front.
Working quickly, check and make small adjustments
so that the head front straight edges overlap
the tabs to the perf lines as precisely as possible.
Hold in place until dry.
20. Prepare the post strip shape by carefully bending
back on each of the long perforation lines.
21. Form the strip into a tube, using a 5/16" wooden
dowel length as a form inside, and overlap the straight
long edge over the opposite flange to the perf line,
and glue in place. 
Work fingertip pressure along the seam edge to
continue to force the edge into position and
to attach until the seam is secure.
22. Slide the tube to the end of the dowel . . . 
. . . then mark the opposite end of the tube with pencil.
Remove tube to hand saw the dowel length to size,
then replace the tube over dowel and glue in place.
23. Apply glue to the post top end.
Insert the post from bottom up through shoulders
build up shape center hexagon, then . . . 
. . . insert top end through the head bottom hexagon
opening, taking care to orient the tube so that
the shoulder oval aligns with head lengthwise 
(side to side).
Slide the post end through the interior reinforcement
center hexagon, and up to rest securely in
the hexagon depression of the top anchor build up
at head top center. Hold in place until secure.
24. Slide the shoulders oval up to touch the head 
and glue in place.
25. Prepare the post wrap space by bending back
on all vertical and horizontal perforation marks.
26. Position the shape with the end tabs downward,
with the top edge touching the bottom of the oval,
then wrap around the post and glue in place.
(NOTE bottom tabs remain unglued.)
27. Apply glue to the back panel margin,
and to the interior reinforcement flange tab,
then position and attach the cover in place.
28. Prepare the platform LID shape by bending
back on all attached wall panels, and other tab
perforations as shown. Bend the center hex opening
wedge tabs back, using a rounded pointed tool
such as this spatula handle tip into the hex to
open it completely. (Post end will insert here later.)
Also note the triangle symbol that shows the front
of the platform LID.
29. Position the accent scallop and bat disc
centered on the front of the LID, with center hex
openings aligned, and attach in place.
Use flat weight to press during drying, if desired.
30. Bend the wall extensions into place with wedge
tabs tucked under platform panel, end tabs tucked
under the adjacent short wall straight edge, and glue seams.
Repeat for the remaining six edges and seams.
31. Locate the tail position guide marks (left)
and bend guide mark (top), then . . . 
. . . bend the spring assembly at the base perf mark . . .
. . . and position the outer ring so that the tail
and bend align at the marks, with outer edge roughly
centered inside scalloped edge, and glue
the outer ring in place. (NOTE that
the rest of the spiral is NOT attached to the platform)
32. Identify the front arrow symbol on the platform BASE
shape, and also the hexagon post position guide marks.
With the inside face of platform BASE up, position
the anchor hexagon with the opening's edges
aligned at hex guide marks, and glue in place securely.
33. Align and join the attached wall segment seams
in same fashion as for the LID shape.
34. Prepare the platform support strip by bending
back on each of the segment perf lines,
and also bend back the top and bottom rounded
tabs, and the strip end tab.
35. Form the support into a ring to 
align and join seam.
36. Position and attach the ring inside to the underside
of the BASE shape, centered around the hexagon
anchor. 
37. Apply adhesive to the ring top tabs,
and to the BASE walls outer surface,
then 'close' the platform by inserting the BASE
inside the bottom of the LID. Apply pressure
all around to walls and to top/bottom until secure.
38. Apply glue to the end of post, then insert
into the BASE until it 'seats' into the anchor,
and hold in place until secure. (Check to make sure
the post is perpendicular to the platform as it dries)
39. Carefully slide the spring center up the post
until it can be attached to the collar tabs to hold in place.
Here is the completed mummy before strips.
40. Position approx. center of first strip across face area
below nose, and lightly glue in place.
Use a thin tool such as a plastic ruler or spatula
to tuck the strip part way between ovals and head bottom.
Continue to position strips artistically over head
to keep face exposed . . .
. . .tacking in place with quick dry
glue. When the face portion is complete.
continue to add a few more strips to cover head
completely. (NOTE that the sample project uses
10-12 half strips.)
41. Give mummy a little definition between head
and neck oval by tying a length of "matched" twine
and knotting; trim ends away.
42. Decide how long strip ends should be, then
trim each at random, slightly different lengths
and angled ends, all around.
Here is the mummy completed to this stage.
43. If desired, add spanish moss glued in place
around the neck indentation.
44. If desired, prepare the OH mummy! tag.
Assembly: position and attach the reinforcement
accent shape over punch hole.
Position and attach the 'OH' shape,
and overlap the 'mummy!' shape.
For better visual definition, consider carefully
coloring the exclamation point with felt tip marker.
Position and attach the tag near neck.
(NOTE that the sample project has the twine
tied into a bow prior to attaching.)
Here is the completed sample project.
BOO!

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