Sunday, September 29, 2024

Mummy Block Fig

 
Simple lid and base box components fit together
to form a shelf-sitting Halloween decoration
that appears to be one solid form.
Front "wrappings" overlays are built up with
glued-together layers with single-layer eyes wedge.
Form measures approx. 3" wide  6" tall x 1.5" deep
when fully assembled.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A hull LID front panel
B upper LID boxing strip
C lower LID boxing strip
D wrapping shape overlays (4-5 ea.) plus eyes wedge
E hull BASE back panel
F upper BASE boxing strip
G lower BASE boxing strip
H interior "neck" cross strip support
I interior mid lower hull cross strip support
2. Prepare the wrapping overlays by layering the duplicate
shapes and gluing together, taking care to align all
edges as precisely as possible. Then . . .
. . . press under a flat heavy weight such as a thick
book volume or a fabric-wrapped repurposed weight
machine bar such as the one shown here.
Leave weight in place until the stack is thoroughly dried,
for several hours or overnight. Pressing will help
stacks stay flat and minimize warping or curling.
Repeat for ALL of the 5 wrapping overlay shapes.
FRONT HULL ASSEMBLY
3. To build the front hull LID, three shapes are needed,
including upper and lower boxing strips and body shaped
front panel, as shown here.
The body front panel can be identified by locating
the diagonal dashed guide line (for one of the wrappings)
and the single pinhole guide mark at center top.
The BASE boxing strips can be identified by
the two tiny "bite mark" edge cuts on the end tabs
or center long flange; LID tabs have plain edges.
Prepare the upper boxing strip by adding back curl
to the full length of strip using a rod tool such as
this 1/2" (or equivalent) wooden dowel.
Also add curl to the end portions only of the bottom
boxing strip where the multiple small tabs are --
NOT to the solid longer flange tab.
4. Bend the end tabs of upper boxing forward and . . .
. . . bend the multiple curve edge tabs back to
perpendicular.
5. Also bend the bottom long flange tab back and . . .
. . . the side plain and multiple small tabs back
6. Locate the center top front panel single pinhole
guide mark, and with panel face side up . . .
. . . position it at the center tab of the upper boxing strip
where there is a matching pinhole guide mark.
Overlap body straight edge over tab to bend edge
and glue in place. Hold until secure, with no other
tabs attaching.
7. Form the first half of boxing to the hull "head" shape . . .
. . . with the end tab perforation bend exactly aligned
at the valley transition between body and head, 
pushing inward or outward to adjust boxing tabs
bend edges to align as precisely as possible. 
Once the best alignment has been achieved,
turn the assembly face side down on flat surface
and apply fingertip pressure all along the tabs seam
to secure it.
8. Repeat step 7 for the second half of boxing strip.
9. Position the bottom boxing strip at lower straight edge
of front hull shape, align at edge, then overlap and glue.
10. Form the first side half along panel edge, matching
straight portions of boxing and panel edge, then
shaping curving boxing edge to hull in similar manner
as was done previously with upper curve edge.
11. Re-bend the upper strip's end tab back so that
adhesive can be applied, then . . .
. . . bend back into position. Tuck straight end edge of
lower boxing strip into the angle at tab perf line,
adjust and apply pressure until fully secured.
12. Repeat for the second half of lower boxing strip,
to align, form and join end.
WRAPPING DECORATION
13. Begin to position and add the wrapping stack
components by positioning the middle shape exactly 
along the dashed guide line on front hull. Adjust so
that side shapes edges of wrap shape and hull align
as precisely as possible. 
Turn the LID face down to
apply fingertip pressure to secure in place.
14. Next, continue to position the next upper shape
above middle wrap so that abutting edges come together,
then glue in place. Also position and attach the eyes wedge.
15. Position and attach the lower two wrap shapes
in similar manner. Turn over and press from back.
NOTE If possible, find objects such as these multiple
thread spools of matched height to place inside
the glued-up hull that are taller than the 1.5" wall 
height upon which a heavy object such as 
a book can be placed to apply pressure to drying
overlays until they are fully secure. This will
help join shapes more fully and minimize warping
of hull front panel.
16. Repeat the hull assembly steps for the back BASE.
17. Prepare the interior support shapes by bending
back the side flanges and top, bottom attachment tabs.
Apply glue to side flanges and bottom tab.
Position the shorter neck cross brace at the narrowest
span, with flange bend aligned exactly at boxing corner.
Adjust so the brace is standing straight up, then apply
pressure to attach the side and bottom tabs in place.
18. Repeat the process for the mid lower cross brace,
placed at the transition point between straight
and curved portions where the solid flange ends.
19. Prepare to assemble the figure by first applying
glue to the upper tab of the interior cross braces.
Then fit the LID over the BASE, and . . .
. . . pushing the two together fully. NOTE that
this is a fairly close fit.
20. To help the LID conform more fully to the BASE,
add a bit of glue between the walls all around, then . . .
. . . apply fingertip pressure all around, and especially
at the "neck" angles, bottom and top.
Here is the completed mummy form.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Owl 3D Sugar Bowl

 

White owl figure takes the form of a large two-handled 
vessel with dimensional beak, thickened eyes 
(add dot of white acrylic paint as highlight) and brows, 
four-part wings overlaid onto handles. 
(NOTE layered features must bend to follow hull shape; 
under layers are split shapes.) 
Maple leaf accents add a splash of autumn color. 
Subtle “feather” details are cut into hull sections 
with “double cuts”. 
Fill the mug with loose candy as a gift container, 
with pot pourri as a seasonal decoration, etc. 
Bowl vessel measures approx. 4.375” wide x 
4.375” x 3” tall” with handles span 6.625” 
when fully assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
bowl hull shapes: A-G (numerals 1-8 cut in tabs)
I bottom octagon ring
J handle slot and strip layers testing shapes*
K & L left and right handle sets, including
front & back tabbed shapes, with 8-9* interior
shapes as prescribed by slot & strip test
M bowl rim reinforcement ring
Eye & Eyebrow arrays (cut left & right sets):
N eye base solid circle with diag. perf line
O outer rings    P outer half rings 2 sets for build up
Q eye pupil solid with 2 sets halves for build up
 R solid eyebrows with 2 sets halves for build up
S bottom octagon solid (cut 4 for build up)
T left & right wing base with overlays
U left and right maple leaf accents
V dimensional beak with overlay
W left & right feet
PREPARATION
2. To determine how many handle layers to cut
to properly fit into the bowl hull slots, prepare this
test: layer 8 or more cut strips, stack then . . .
. . . hold together and fit into the cut slot. The stack
should fit snugly. Typical textured card stock used in
projects like this one will require 8 layers; add or
subtract as your stock selection dictates.
Calculate the shapes your project will need by
designating from the determined quantity (1) layer
for the handle front, (1) layer for the handle front,
and the remainder for the interior layers (these DO NOT
include the end tabs that will fit through hull slots.
3. Layer the interior handle shapes into a stack
and glue together, taking care to align all cut edges
as precisely as possible. Use the punch hole as
an alignment guide, inserting a stylus or awl point
through hole to assist.
4. Bend the tabs on front and back shapes forward.
Layer and glue to the appropriate face of glued stack . . . 
. . . taking care to align cut edges as before,
with the tab perf bends aligned at interior cut end
edges precisely as well. Then immediately . . .
. . . press under a heavy flat object such as a thick book,
possibly with something else heavy placed on top.
Allow the glued up shape to dry completely, leaving
the unit under the press for several hours or over night.
Pressing like this helps minimize warping and curling of
built up stacks assembled with liquid adhesive.
Repeat for the second handle unit.
5. Prepare the base build up stack in a similar
manner, aligning and gluing the 4 octagon solids
together with precision, then pressing under heavy
flat weight until thoroughly dried.
6. Prepare the solid eye base and ring by bending
back on the perforation lines near angled centerlines.
7. Stack and glue the half ring shapes as with other
layered for thickness units. Then . . .
Position the half ring shapes behind the full ring shape
on the corresponding half, with the slightly wider
half ring, then . . .
. . . the narrower half ring, with curved edges aligned
as precisely as possible, so that . . .
. . . a slight gap is maintained along the perforation
line of the full ring. This will allow the eye to conform
to the bowl bends. Repeat for second eye ring.
Press and allow to dry.
8. Position the ring over the whole eye base, with
perforation lines precisely aligned so that the unit
will bend together as needed, then glue in place;
press under weight. Repeat for second eye.
9. Repeat the build up process for the left and right
eye brows, stacking and gluing halves, then attaching
to backside of whole eyebrow, maintaining 
the narrow bend gap. Complete 2; press and dry.
10. Repeat the process for the pupils with half eye
circle stacks positioned and attached behind eye whole
with gap maintained along whole's perf line.
11. Complete eye unit assembly by positioning
corresponding pupil stack within eye ring, taking care
that perforation lines are matched up. Press to dry.
13. Add eye highlight dot if desired by using a stylus
or equivalent tool and white/cream acrylic paint
to place neat paint dot within the highlight circle
cut into the whole pupil shapes. Allow to dry.
DIMENSIONAL BEAK
14. Prepare the 3D beak by bending back on all
perforation lines for front panel and side walls,
and narrow tabs at wall ends. Bend edge tabs back
now or wait til these are inserted into hull slots.
15. (Apologies that the black color of the beak for
this project will make it difficult to properly view
the positioning of the straight edges and perf marks
for the corners assembly.)
Beginning at top, bend the narrow tabs back at end
of angled side wall, then bend top and side walls back
to overlap edge across tab to perf line and join seam.
Repeat for the opposite side corner seam.
16. Repeat seam arrangement for the mid-side
corner, tab bend under straight edge which overlaps
to perf marks, then glued. Repeat for opposite side seam.
NOTE that the small scale of this assembly may make
it helpful to use a blade tool such as this spatula to
place behind the seam being joined to provide
a "press-against" surface, held until seam grabs.
17. Position and join the final seam at 
center bottom . . .
. . . using blade tool to assist with the joining.
BOWL HULL ASSEMBLY
18. Locate and identify the order numbers which are
cut into the upper side tab (or bottom tab for #8).
Prepare each segment by bending the top wall forward . . .
. . . and all other wall sections and tabs back.
NOTE that care is needed as the sections are bent
so that double-cut feather detailing is not damaged.
19. Begin with segment #1, to position bottom tab
on the underside of the octagon ring "side" edge
(select one edge as starting point; it becomes side),
adjust so that the perforation seam line is precisely
aligned with ring's cut edge, and glue in place.
20. Repeat the bottom tab joining for segment #2,
taking care that segment's straight left side edge
is overlapping the tab from #1.
Allow these seams to dry.
21. Apply glue to the first (and possibly second) of
the side tabs of #1, bending #2 forward to expose
tabs as necessary.
Then carefully bend the two segments back into place
to allow the straight edge of #2 to overlap bottom
tab of #1 to align with perforation line. 
Adjust to be as precisely aligned as possible, then
apply pressure until the seam is secure.
22. Repeat the edge alignment step for the next
edge and tab as the seam is slowly joined from
bottom toward top. Hold each seam segment
and apply pressure until secure before proceeding.
23. Continue the aligning and segment joining process
until the final seam at top is completed, which will
involve a slightly forward bend to align and join.
24. Repeat the hull seam process with #3, which
is the front panel, and then with #4.
25. At this stage, the beak can be placed by
inserting the tabs into the corresponding slots
cut into the hull. Push tabs fully in, then . . .
. . . bend tabs outward/back on the inside and glue
to inside of wall. Hold tabs until fully secured.
26. Position and attach the front beak overlay.
27. Continue positioning, attaching and joining the hull
wall segments 5 & 6 in order, then position and join
#7 to the first segment (#1) that was joining to
the bottom octagon. NOTE that #7 has side edge tabs
on both side edges.
28. Segment #8 attachment is slightly different,
although bottom tab joining to ring is similar.
Tabs from both adjacent segments should be positioned
behind #8 as it is joined in place.
29. In similar manner to previously-joined segments,
begin by joining bottom-most sections, likely
completing these most easily in sets on both sides
before moving upward. Reach fingers in through
ring opening to manipulate and adjust seams.
Allow to dry.
30. Insert the upper and lower pairs of tabs into
respective slots on the side of hull, then . . .
. . . bend tabs outward on the inside of the bowl
and glue firmly in position. Repeat for second handle.
31. Position the wing unit on the corresponding
handle so that the straight inward edge aligns
flush with the hull wall, and glue in place.
NOTE that since the wing does not completely cover
the handle face, it will be necessary to assess where
the glue needs to be to join wing in place but not
be added below wing bottom edge where it would
show, then add ONLY above that area.
32. The sample owl bowl includes decorative studs
on wings over the spot where alignment punch holes
exist in the other areas of wing and handle. If you
wish to add a brad instead, or want a guide mark,
push a sharp point through the front wing overlay
prior to attaching.
33. Apply glue to backside (omit at very bottom where
the eye unit does not attach) then position over
the crest of the front segment so that . . .
. . . the straight lower inside angle edge abuts next
to the 3D beak while ridge and bend remain aligned.
Attach in place. Repeat for opposite eye unit.
34. Apply glue to backside of eyebrow pair, then
position where the center front short edges abut
between eyes, and lower curved edges hug
eye units. NOTE that the bends of eyebrows
should align with hull corner angles and extend
only slightly up into the top section near rim edge.
35. Position and attach the base build up shape.
It is recommended to use quick-grab adhesive
such as Fabri-Tack or hot melt. It may also be
helpful if there is any warping in the base ring
that might prevent even, full attachment, that
an object such as a spray paint rattle can bottom
be placed down into the bowl to apply pressure
around the ring area. Balance something else heavy
on top such as a book to help press and attach.
36. Bend the edge flanges forward around
the reinforcement ring collar. Apply glue to
the underside of flanges, then . . .
. . . carefully fit into the bowl's upper opening at rim . . .
. . . and slide down fully into place so that flange
top edges are even with bowl upper edges.
Work around the edges to adjust and reposition
until the collar begins to set in place.
37. Bend the left and right foot shapes back slightly
on perforation line. Apply adhesive to the backside
of each where it will touch the hull, then position with
the perf bend aligned over the bend angle in the hull.
Repeat for the second foot.
38. Bend each leaf accent along horizontal perf lines,
then position and attach in each hull side section
with perforation lines aligning with hull bends.
Here is the completed Owl Sugar Bowl.
It easily holds a full package of Hershey's Nuggets.