Owl 3D Form Box

Modernist lines style this owl that is actually a box, 

with thickened platform base interior vessel that 

fits snugly inside bottom of hull to provide strength. 

Side fronts are also built-up with multiple layers 

that are glued together, creating the low relief 

eye impressions and texturing, 

with triangles array suggesting feathers. 

Create one for Halloween, or autumn decor, or

snowy owl to peek from Christmas or winter evergreens. 

Measures approx. 7.25” tall with 

base 4.75” wide x 3.375” deep.

ASSEMBLY :  1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A body front hull   B body back hull

C & D left and right head front dome shapes

E left & right body front build up layers, 7 total layers ea.:

bottom plain with eye ctr punch;

body eye radiating slots texturing;

body build up layers (4);

body front layer with feather cutouts

F eyes build up layers: bottom with alignment center hole (2);

build up circle whole layers (12)

G BASE (interior vessel) front walls section

H BASE (interior vessel back walls section

I BASE floor   J BASE upper opening collar

K BASE build up layers: top layer with guild marks (1);

build up layers (3)

L BASE "foot" build up layers (4)

2. Layer and glue up multiple cut shapes so that the stacks

can begin the drying process while other assembly proceeds:

A) layer the BASE build up stack with the top layer which

includes guide marks for the vessel 'footprint' on top . . .

. . . and 3 other whole shapes positioned and attached

below. NOTE: take care here and throughout the layering

and gluing process to align edges that are intended to match

as precisely as possible.

B) Position and attach the BASE 'foot' shapes.

C) Position and attach the whole shapes stack on top

of the 'foot' stack, aligning outer edges, and gluing

together the 'ring' surfaces that touch.

It is essential when stacking layers and gluing together

with liquid adhesive (suggested here) to press FLAT while

the adhesive is allowed to dry completely - usually

requiring hours - using a heavy flat object such as a large book

or this wood plank, to ensure a completely flat stack,

and avoid warping or curling.

3. Position and stack the whole eye circles into two

eye units of 6 circles each; press under weight until dry.

NOTE: the eye circle with center hole should remain

UNATTACHED at this point; it will be used to help

center and position the eye stacks later in assembly.

4. If selected card stock is a single color throughout as

is the case with the sample project, it may be worthwhile

to enhance the contrast at eye slot texturing and feathers

to highlight the areas that will be attached under those cutouts

prior to layering and attaching. Be sure to allow liquid

ink used to provide contrast to dry thoroughly prior to gluing up.

5. (The following right front stack does not show the highlighting

described in step 4).

Position and attach the eye slot textured body over the top

of the plain base shape (includes eye center hole only),

taking care to align all outer edges as precisely as possible.

Press under flat weight until dry.

6. Position and attach the middle layers in the same manner.

Press under flat weight until dry.

7. Position and attach the top 'feathers' layer onto

the middle layers stack (from step 6 above),

matching all outer edges. 

Press under flat weight until dry.

8. Position and attach the middle/top layers stack

onto front of the back layer/eye texture layers

and align all outer edges as precisely as possible.

Press under flat weight until dry.

9. Repeat Steps 4-8 for the left front stack layers.

10. Position the eye base shape that includes the center

hole over the corresponding hole in the eye texture/

base layer, and attach in place.

11. Position the eye stack over the bottom layer eye circle

and align outer edges precisely; glue in place.

Repeat for both front assemblies.

12. Prepare the back hull shape by bending back

on ALL perforations for vertical rectangle panels,

top wedge sections, side flanges and tabs and

wedge tabs. Take care to bend and pinch the wedge tabs

back to the very tip of the seam.

13. Begin to join the top wedge seams by bending

the first segments back slightly to align the straight edge

of one side of seam over the adjacent wedge tab to

perforation line and glue the seam.

14. Continue with the same seam, bending the top portions

of the adjacent wedges back to align the edge over

adjacent tab to perforation line.

15. Work in the same manner to complete the two parts

of each of the remaining two seams.

16. Prepare the left and right front head dome sections

by bending back on all the perforation lines for sections

and tabs, except bend the bottom center front tab forward.

17. Begin to join the center front head seam by overlapping

the straight edge across lower tab to perforation line,

adjust for alignment for tip of seam and inward end,

then join the seam. Next . . . 

. . . pivot the seam to complete the upper half,

encouraging the top head edges to align.

18. Position the front head dome straight edge along

the front edge tabs of the back hull, align centers . . . 

. . then overlap straight front edge across tab to

perforation line, and join first one half, then

repeat for the opposite half. Finally . . . 

.  . complete the outer portions of the seam on each half.

19. Prepare the front hull by bending back along  perforation lines.

Identify the small cutout symbols along

top long edge that correspond to symbols in tabs

along lower edge of front dome sections.

20. Bend along lines to align the angle panel 

straight edge along the triangle panel tab and join seam.

21. Fit the front body edges over the peak edges

as shown and glue the first portion of arch seam

in place on each side of center.

Continue along each arch to align and join middle

segment and side segment on each side.

Finally, position and join the long front-to-back seams,

aligning bottom straight hull edges.

It may be helpful to invert the long edges on a flat surface

and insert finger into hull interior to apply pressure

along the seam until fully joined.

22. Position one of the built-up panel assemblies

over the front hull panel, aligning . . . 

. . . the bottom, back and front straight edges,

then glue in place.  NOTE: it may be helpful to use

a strong, quick-grab glue such as Fabri-tack.

Apply pressure to help the panel attach thoroughly

in place all around. Repeat for the other side.

23. Prepare the front and back interior (BASE) vessel

by bending back on all vertical panel perforations,

side flange tabs and bottom tabs.

24. Prepare the vessel collar by bending the edge flanges

forward.

25. Position and join the first side seam, then . . . 

. . . then form the panel into a tube to align and join

the other side seam.

26. Bend the bottom tabs inward then apply glue to

the underside. 

From the top of the tube, orient and then . . .

. . .  insert the floor panel into the interior and . . .

. . . press down all around so that tabs attach

completely and securely.

27. Apply quick-grab adhesive to the bottom of the vessel

floor panel/tabs, then position on top of the base built-up

panel with corners aligned at guide marks on top layer.

Apply pressure - including from inside the vessl -

until firmly attached.

28. Apply glue to the outer surface of the collar's flanges,

then orient and  . . .

. . . slip into the top opening of the vessel . . .

. . . until straight top flange edges align at vessel

top edges, and apply fingertip pressure to attach all around.

The collar will provide strength to the middle portion

of the owl form once it is inserted inside upper hull.

NOTE: if you prefer to use the owl form as a gift box,

that requires more room to accept contents,

allow the glue to dry thoroughly and harden, then

carefully trim away the "bridges" leaving the narrow margin

in place all around.

29. To close the box, align and insert the BASE 

into the bottom of the hull . . . 

. . . then push gently up into position until hull bottom edges

rest against the buildup rim.

Here is the completed form.