Nutcracker Mouse King Pull Toy Tutorial

More merry than menacing, this Nutcracker Prince foe 

measures 6" nose tip to rump, 2.5" tall and 2" wide. 

His body hides a golf ball that is exposed 

through a body bottom opening to allow him 

to be pulled across table or floor with attached cord. 

Decorations include dimensional ears and wavy tail, 

nose cone and whiskers, paws/body bottom panel overlay, 

ermine coat and tiny 2D crown. 

Pair with Nutcracker 3d Figure for a fun seasonal display.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main mouse body panel (upper, front, back)
B body bottom panel
C & D side panels
E inner box ball container
F bottom body accent panel (with feet)
G tail accents left & right
H ear and inner ear, left & right
I mouse dimensional nose, eyes, whiskers
J crown accent assembly
K robe and ermine hem trim accents

2. Prepare main and bottom panels

by bending back on cross and tab

perforations. 

Attach body main and bottom sections at 

back tab.

3. Prepare side panels by bending back on all

cross and side tab perforations.

4. Position bottom tab/flange at corresponding

bottom side straight edge of joined panels from

step 2, and join.

5. Bend the side panel and under nose section
of body panel assembly so that the straight edge
aligns over the corresponding tab perf line,
and join in place.

6. Continue the process of bending the shapes

to fit the straight edge of center assembly to match

and align with the side tabs, and glue each in place

in sequence until all tabs are joined.

7. Repeat for the opposite side to attach ONLY center

tab (remaining tabs will be attached later).

8. Prepare the accent shapes:

a.) bend dimensional nose shape back on all

perforations, then

glue whisker shapes behind

triangle panels on each side of the

center triangle panel

b.) glue inner ears onto fronts of outer ears

c.) glue tail backside edges together,

but keep tabs at inner end free

d.) bend robe and ermine hem trim

back on perforations, then glue

hem trim onto robe

9. Insert tail tab end through back slot,
then bend tab outward on the inside of body
and glue in place to secure tail.

10. Layer back crown, contrast inner crown,

and front crown . . . 

. . . then place accent bar shape
onto front above tab as shown here.

11. Insert crown tab into top head slot
and glue in place.

12. Insert ear tabs into side head slots

and glue in place.

13. Bend ball container box as shown

to bring straight edges and tab edges up.

Overlay straight edges along tab perf lines,

and glue in place.

14. Insert golf ball "roller" into container box . . .

. . . then insert into body cavity . . . 

. . . and insert four tabs into body-bottom slots.

Bend tabs back and glue in place.

15. Bend remaining side edges into position

to attach to center tabs to complete

body assembly.

16. Position and attach body bottom accent shape
with smaller front feet toward the nose end.

17. Thread the pull string through the body opening
and out through the nose tip, using a large-eyed
darning needle.
(Note that our string has been tied to a small wooden
button "stop" to keep it from pulling
all the way through.)

Pull string all the way through.
Optional: glue string button in place inside nose.

18. Fit the dimensional nose around the

pull string in place on the body . . .

. . . to bring the straight edges to meet on the

body underside, and glue nose in place.

19. Attach eyes accents.
Position and attach robe, covering
the body finger access upper opening.

Here is the completed mouse pull toy.

Swaddled Baby in Manger

Bring a special spirit to holiday decor

with this dimensional representation of

Baby Jesus in the manger.

Manger structure is a one-cut shape,

with 'X' form ends and contrast overlays

and side slats with nail hole cutouts.

Baby form has hex-based "head" with tube body,

reinforcement body tube insert

(or use a short cut of wooden 5/8" dowel)

that is fabric wrapped and glued,

with points rosette halo.

A focal point by itself, it is also

scaled to pair with "Believe 3d Letter Blocks" 

and "Star on Stick" for a nativity ensemble as seen below.

Manger measures approx. 3.75" tall x 3" long x 2.5" deep. 

(This tutorial is under construction.

Return after 11-10-15 to view completed tutorial.)

ASSEMBLY:

1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main manger trough shape

B side "slat" overlay accents

C 'X' end supports

D contrast underlay for nail show-thru

E end contrast accents

F straw strips

G baby head bulb

H body tube

I body tube insert for reinforcement

J halo rosette strips (2)

K halo gluing circles

Not shown: swaddling wrap template

2. Prepare the main trough shape by bending center "rectangle" perf lines forward/upward, all remaining perforation lines back.

Position and attach the side slat accent shapes on the panels as shown.

3. Prepare the 'X' side support legs by bending back on the perforations. NOTE: the perforation bend edge is the bottom edge of the legs that touches the table top when the manger is completed and displayed. 

Layer and attach the middle nail hole contrast layer and top contrast layers.

NOTE: separate contrast hex bolt shapes are included in file, for even more decorative options.

4. Assemble the main trough with legs on each end, inserting the backside of plain end of 'X' leg shape behind the outer side trough end panel. (Legs shape will fold in half with the decorated front legs panel final position being in front of the same side panel. See Step 6.)

5. Fold the trough shape into a "tray", with slat-decorated front and back panels folded outward and down to bring tabs into position at edges of inner side panel. Attach tabs to inner side panel.

6. Apply glue to exposed face of tabs and inner side panel to which they are attached  . . .

. . . then bend the X legs into final position and attach to the end/side panels.

7. Bend each of the "hay" strips in crinkle fashion. OPTIONAL: Fill trough and glue as layers. This is how the finished manger should look.

8. Prepare the baby head shape by bending bottom tabs forward, all other perforation lines and tabs back.

9. Form the head by bending each of the upper segment straight edges to overlap the adjacent tab perforation line, and glue in place. NOTE: these are tiny segments and even smaller tabs, but be as accurate as possible during assembly.

10. Fold the top octagon panel down into shape on top of the head and glue in place, matching the edges to the tiny pointed tab perf marks as closely as possible (though this might not seem very precise).

NOTE that the head shape is not a completed bulb form; back remains open for ease in finger access during assembly.

11. Bend and attach each of the lower segments to the adjacent wedge tabs in similar fashion.

12. Form the body tube, by first bending back on all perforation lines, then bringing the side straight edge to overlap the opposite long tab perf line. Adjust ends to align, then glue the edge to the tab.

13. Apply glue to the top "curved tab" end of the body tube, then insert into the bottom opening of the head shape . . . 

. . . and insert until the end edges touch the head side walls (not quite to the top segment perf lines as shown by pointing finger).

14. Prepare the body inner tube, by bending back on long perf lines, end cap and cap tab marks. Form into a tube and glue the side seam.

15. Bend the cap tabs perpendicular, then apply glue and insert them into the end of the tube. Hold until securely attached.

16. Appy glue, insert the reinforcing tube into the bottom of the head/body assembly, and push in until tube ends align. Or, if preferred . . . 

substitute a cut-to-size section of 5/8" wooden dowel in place of the reinforcing tube.

17. Prepare the swaddle wrap by using template shape to cut wrap from fabric. For this sample, printed burlap is used. Other, less bulky fabrics will also work, but the shape may require trimming slightly smaller, determined during wrapping and assembly.

18. Protect the fabric edges from excessive fraying by applying FrayCheck to raw edges.

19. Fold fabric shape as indicated by template perf line. Place babe body at center, in a position where the fabric fold when bent into place will reach the front top of head.

20. Wrap fold edges down to the sides of the body tube and glue dab in place. (Recommended quick grab glue such as Fabri-Tack or hot glue.)

21. Fold bottom corner up, trim point if necessary, and glue dab in place.

22. Wrap one side over body . . . 

. . . trim excess "point" away, and glue in place.

23. Wrap second side across and glue in place.

24. If desired, tiny glue dab top fold in place to top of head.

25. Prepare the halo rosette strips by accordion folding. Join strips by overlapping straight end of one strip to perf line of tab on second strip.

26. Form the strips into a ring, overlap and attach end and tab.

27. Condense the folds and force the straight (non-pointed) edge into the center and flatten ring into a rosette. Without allowing to spring free . . . 

. . . attach a center circle using quick grab glue such as hot glue. Press folds toward center before the glue hardens, to make sure folds are even all around.

28. Position and attach halo at top of head (recommended slightly back and angled).

Place (and attach) Babe into manger.