Needles 'n' Knowledge: Bunny Peg with Egg Menu or Place Card

Minimalist Easter icon mimics the look of a wood cut-out

to identify seating arrangement or buffet fare items.

Bunny body is made thick by gluing (and pressing)

together 9 layers, with bottom flange that fits snugly

into slot of built-up 12-layer base.

An ‘X’ form “post” holds hanging egg tag

for accent decoration, printed/penned place or

menu information card. Sturdy construction and removable,

variable egg tags allow storage and reuse

for many Easter feasts or other celebrations and displays.

Measures approx. 4.625” tall x 3.125” wide x 1.25” deep.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A bunny main shape front plus build-up (8-9*)
*see Step 2 to determine how many layers to fit
B bunny back (does NOT include the peg X cut out)
C peg slices (4)
D base with slot layers for build-up (12)
E egg tag

2. Snug fit is critical to make the bunny stand properly

and stay inserted into the stand's slot without glue

so that it can be disassembled and reused later.

Check to see how many layers of the bunny card stock

you have selected will fit snugly into the slot by test cutting

at least one stand shape, then stacking either the bunny shapes

as shown here, or waste strips to accomplish the same test.

For instance, the pale green model shown here used textured

dot stock for front and back, with pad card stock (thinner)

for the interior layers: 1 front + 8 interior + 1 back = 10

3. Prepare the X form peg by bending the 4 peg shapes

forward on the center perf lines. Then align right and left

halves of the first two strips and glue those . . .

. . . together in 'T' form.

4. Continue adding third strip in "right" half position
to assembly's "left" half position, until . . .

. . . all four strips are joined as shown below.

Take care as each is joined that all perforation folds
and cut edges are aligned as precisely as possible.
It may be helpful to keep the stack in its accordion
arrangement and apply pressure and assist with
or adjust the alignment.

5. Finally, add glue to one of the last faces of a strip . . .

. . . and join to the other remaining face to form

the 'X' peg final shape.

6. As a preview, check to see how the 'X' peg will fit

into the X cut out of the bunny body.

7. Begin to attach the bunny layers for build up by
joining the first two shapes. Shown here is the front
body with the first interior (gray) shape. Make sure to
align ALL the edges as precisely as possible
(here and throughout), and take special care that
the X cutouts of each layer exactly line up with those added.

One way to do this is to use a blade tool such as
the spatula tool shown, inserted into the cutout.

8. Continue adding the bunny shapes to the stack

taking care with edge and X cut alignment.

During the process of adding, and especially after

the stack is completed, it will be essential that the stack

is pressed IMMEDIATELY under a heavy flat object such as

this antique flat iron, or books, or wood planks or flat weights, etc.

Allow the stack to completely dry while being pressed, to avoid

any warping or curling. This will require several hours or overnight.

9. Follow the same process to layer, attach and stack
the stand layers, taking care that all cut edges,
especially the slot edges, are lined up precisely.

Press these under a heavy flat weight such as
the fabric covered re-purposed weight bar shown here,
and allow to thoroughly dry for several hours or overnight.