Garden Spade 3D Form

 

Miniaturized gardening tool replica is composed of 

double layer shaped blade, handle tube that connects blade 

with shaped grip structure with cutout overlay.

 Measures approx. 7” tall x 2” wide when assembled. 

Adorn a special gift or package for a gardening enthusiast.

 Include as a decorative element on 

the BLOOM 3D Letter Box Ensemble. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A blade front (face)     B blade back

C shaft   D handle  E grip   F accent band for shaft

2. Prepare the two blade shapes by bending along

perforations:

FRONT - bend upper section of center line as MOUNTAIN;

all remaining lines as VALLEY.

BACK - bend center line as MOUNTAIN

3. Form the upper center portion into a triangle "hollow"

that will accent the bottom end of the shaft.

Swing the side rims so that the tabs will under-lap the top

straight edges, and glue in place (tabs underneath)

4. Prepare to attach the back blade to the front by

applying glue to the side portions of the front blade's

backside (leave the triangle hollow areas free of glue)

and to the bottom tip areas. Then . . . 

. . . position the back blade's backside over the front

blade's backside, and . . . 

. . . align each upper side edge and top

edges, working to adjust and push front sides inward

to form the triangle hollow . . .

. . . then quickly work downward around bottom tip

to ensure that edges align as exactly as possible.

(If necessary, trim slightly any under blade 

margins that don't align.)

NOTE: that the tip sides include cut lines

on each side that should abut snugly to shape

the underside of the blade.

5. Prepare the shaft shape by bending back on all

perforation lines for triangular tube, and for extra-wide

flange.

6. Form the shaft shape into a triangle tube, tucking

the wide side flange under the "back" wall,

pushing inward until flange's perforation line

matches up to the back panel's straight edge,

and glue in place.

7. Prepare the handle shape by bending back on

all wall panel and tab perforation lines.

(NOTE that the selected paper for this shape

has been substituted in the final sample project.)

9. Form the front part of handle into a trapezoidal

tube, then bend and tuck the side tabs under

the upper front angled end wall, and join the seam.

Repeat for the opposite tab seam.

10. Bend the back wall into position to complete

the tube shaping, then tuck the long flange tab

under the corresponding straight side edge

and glue the seam.

 NOTE that it may be helpful to insert a "press-against"

tool such as this wooden skewer, placed behind

the seam, to help in applying pressure to secure seam.

11. Bend the bottom end tabs into position, then

bend the end panel up to align edges with tab

perforations, and glue in place.

12. Prepare the grip accent shape by bending back

on the intermittent perforation vertical lines.

Position the grip over the front and side panels,

perforation bends lined up, and centered from top to bottom 

leaving a narrow margin of handle showing, 

and glue in place.

13. Begin the final spade assembly by inserting

bottom tip of the shaft into top opening between

handle layers with punch hang holes, and down

through the triangular opening at bottom.

Fully insert the shaft until the top holes line up

as precisely as possible (shaft hole is slightly larger

to allow that layer to be completely hidden), then

apply glue to all layers that touch, and complete

the angled side edge seams and "flat" hang hole

panel in one operation.

14. Apply adhesive to the shaft tip end panels

below the cut guide marks, then insert the tip into

the triangle hollow of blade, taking care to orient 

the FRONT of the handle and the FRONT of blade.

Push into position until the dash guide marks

line up with the top of the blade, then apply

pressure to help shaft and blade surfaces to attach.

15. Prepare the shaft accent band by bending back

on all perforation lines.

16. Place the band directly under the handle,

and wrap around from front to back so that

the tab end tucks under the opposite segment

at the back of the shaft, and glue in place.

17. As desired, attach a decorative cord or leather strips

through the hang holes (the detail shown includes

a twine wrapping). Also position and attach stud "rivets"

over the holes at front blade "hollow".

Here is the completed miniature Garden Spade.

Shown attached to the B letter block, there are

multiple places it could be added to enhance

the "BLOOM" Letter Box Ensemble.