Snowman Tea Cup Form

Imitation eight-sided vessel resembling 

a slightly-oversized cup includes thickened handle, 

contour “foot” and lower hull overlays that suggest 

a muffler scarf pulled up high under chin, 

a crooked smile with tiny heart cheeks. 

Use it as a treats container, or pair with 

“Snowman Top Hat Icicles Dome” 

separate design for a fun and unique Christmas 

or wintertime decoration. 

Tea cup form measures approx. 3.75” (plus 1.625” handle) wide 

x 3.75” long x 3.5” tall when fully assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

(not shown: handle tabs interior cover)

A tea cup hull sections 1-8 (marked with numbers)

B tea cup rim reinforcement ring

C face: eye dots, heart cheeks,

crooked smile; also eye sockets backing

D handle thickness test slot and strips

E handle front, back layers; interior layers

for built-up thickness (6-7 per strips test)

F base/foot top layer (to match muffler scarf)

G base foot layer #2 (conceals tabs)

H base solid octagons 4-5 for thickness

I front lower hull "muffler" overlay

J back lower hull "muffler" overlay

K tea cup hull interior bottom reinforcement

plug (4-5 for thickness)

L base/foot contour halves (to match muffler)

2. Begin by cutting and testing the handle layers

to determine the quantity of middle handle build up

layers that will be needed to match the spacing

between the front and back slots on hull section #4.

Stack front & back patterned layers with 5-6

interior "no tab" paper selection layers . . .

. . . and insert through the test slot. Add or subtract

middle layers until the stack fits moderately

snugly, allowing the tiniest extra space for glue.

Apply the determine quantity to what you cut:

1 patterned front, 1 patterned back,

the remainder as middle build-up.

3. Layer the interior shapes (those with NO tabs)

one by one and glue together into a stack,

taking care to align ALL cut edges as precisely

as possible. 

Immediately press under a heavy flat weight

such as this repurposed, muslin-covered

free weight bar. Press until stacked unit is

completely dry, several hours or overnight.

This will help minimize warping or curling

that results when using liquid adhesive.

4. Prepare the front and back handle layers by

bending forward the connector tabs.

Position each over the respective front or

back of the stack and glue in place, taking care

to align ALL cut edges precisely.

Press under flat weight until completely dry.

5. Layer the interior reinforcement plug for

tea cup stem one by one and glue together

into a stack, taking care to align ALL cut edges

as precisely as possible. Press until dried.

6. Prepare the tea cup base top layers by layering

the top face octagon (with slots) over the top

of the second layer (with tab cut outs), with ALL

outer and inner octagon edges aligned precisely.

Take special care that the slots each have "space"

from the tab cut outs behind them so that tabs

can easily fit through as designed.

Press under a heavy flat weight until dried.

7. Prepare the whole base octagon stack by

layering the whole shapes one by one,

taking care that ALL outer cut edges are aligned

precisely.

8. Prepare each of the 8 tea cup hull sections

by bending back on all perforation lines for

horizontal bends of panel, and for side tabs,

except the bottom "stem" segment should

bend forward. 

9. Position and attach the eye cut outs backing

strip on the backside of section #4 . . .

. . . centering it so that both cut outs 

are covered. Then . . .

. . . position and attach each eye circle cut out 

into sockets.

10. Identify all of the hull sections by locating

the tiny numeral cut into the top side tab flange.

It may be helpful to put the sections in order

before proceeding.

11. Position section #1 next to section #2

so that the middle segments align side by side.

Overlap the straight edge of #2 across

the corresponding tab to the perforation line,

adjust top to bottom alignment, then glue in place.

12. Bend the upper two segments to align,

overlap straight edge across adjacent flange tab,

adjust if necessary and glue this portion of seam.

13. Repeat the process working toward bottom

to align the third from top segments in the same

manner, then . . .

. . . the next to bottom segment in same manner.

For the bottom "stem" segments, the hull sections

will bend forward slightly, but are aligned,

adjusted and glued together in the same manner.

14. Repeat the process for hull section #3 . . .

. . . to position and align second from top

section first, then upper sections seam, etc.

Continue in the same manner to attach each

hull section in marked order 4-8.

15. Finally, flex the assembly to be able to

repeat the seam joining in the same manner.

16. Prepare the "muffler" overlay sections by

bending back on all perforations, except for

the bottom "just-above-stem" portion which 

bends forward. Identify the front segment by locating 

the lowest wavy curve. Take care at the narrow joints 

between the attached sections.

17. Position the "front" segment at the hull

section that includes eyes, aligning the bends

to hug the bottom three perforation angles

of hull, including the per forward angle of "stem".

Adjust so overlay section is centered so that

bends between sections align at 

hull section seams. Glue in place.

18. Move sideways to position, adjust and

attach the adjacent section, and then the remaining

two sections. NOTE that the edges of sections

may need to be overlapped and/or trimmed

a tiny bit.

19. Continue the process with the back overlay,

positioning it in the same manner, adjusting,

and attaching each of the sections in turn.

20. Prepare the 2 base contours by bending

back on ALL perforation lines for segments,

sections, tabs and supports.

Pay particular attention to the very narrow

wedge tabs near the bottom at each section

connection. Carefully bend back on perforations.

21. Bend the first seam area so that in the short

bottom segment straight edge overlaps the wedge

tab next to it to the perf marks, and join the seam.

Apply fingertip pressure until the seam is secure.

22. Repeat the wedge tab seam for all 3 locations

across both arcs.

23. Join the two halves by overlapping straight

edges of the 2 segments across the tabs to

perforation lines, one by one and 

completing the seams to form a dome.

24. Bend the support tabs inward all around.

25. Position the dome ring over the top layers

assembly of the tea cup base/foot so that

tabs align with base slots. Insert tabs into slots . . .

. . . work tabs fully through to back side.

Bend tabs toward center and attach in place,

within the tab recess cut outs.

NOTE that it may be helpful to use the spatula

tool inserted beneath the tab being joined to

provide a press-against surface.

26. Apply quick grab glue to the bottom of

the contour dome assembly, underside surface

of the base octagon that is there. Then position,

align edges and glue in place to the base

built up stack.

Apply fingertip pressure on the inside as well

as around the edges.

NOTE that it may be helpful to clip along the edges

with folio clips to assist with the joining.

Remove clips once the glue is thoroughly set.

27. Apply glue to the bottom edge and lower

portion of the tea cup "stem", then insert the hull

assembly into the opening of contour/base.

Push completely down into place so that

the stem bottom slots down into the octagonal

opening/recess of the base's top layers.

Hold in place until dry, or place a moderately

heavy object such as a book on top to help

push it down fully as it dries.

28. Apply glue to the bottom of the interior

reinforcement "plug", then insert it into

the tea cup assembly, and push down fully.

29. Position handle assembly so that the straight

edge is at top, and tabs can insert into slots

on hull section #4. 

On the inside of hull, bend the tabs outward,

apply glue and attach in place.

30. Prepare the cup rim reinforcement ring

by bending edge flanges upward.

Apply glue to the outward face of tabs.

Insert ring into the top of tea cup and gently

ease down into place so that . . .

. . . top edges of flanges are even with

the top edges of hull all around. Apply pressure

to each until they are fully attached. 

31. Locate the tiny perf marks near ends of

smile, and bend them back slightly.

Inward bends pair will help align the smile

shape over the vertical side perforations of

hull section #2, and outward perf cuts

will help align the smile with horizontal angles.

32. Apply glue to smile backside, then position it,

centered, over front of teacup hull, with bends

aligning as noted in Step 31. Press to attach

and hold in place until secure.

33. Position and attach the heart cheeks as shown.

34. Apply glue to the backside of the handle tabs

cover, then insert it into the cup to be positioned

to hide the tabs, with top cut edge snug up

against the reinforcement ring.

Here is the completed tea cup project.

Complete the Snowman Tea Cup project by

assembling the Snowman Top Hat design.