Sunday, March 7, 2021

Box Treat Tote Bunny Head

Front and back walls of this seasonal treat box bend up 
from a rectangle base, with side narrow 
boxing walls also bending up to latch together 
by slot-and-tabs closure.
 Front and back panels resemble a chocolate candy kiss. 
Bunny head roughly follows those contours, 
with contrast .05” narrow offset margin all around,
nose and eyes cutouts on main head accent shape. 
Alternative base head has cutout “windows” to allow 
eye and nose contrast paper options. 
Ear ovals are placed within ear extensions to complete 
the simple bunny accent, which is attached to the tote front 
from about half way down to bottom, 
allowing tote wall to curve back into latched position. 
Tote measures approx. 4.5” tall x 3.875” wide x 1.375” 
deep when decorated and closed. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main box shape front/bottom/back
B side walls "boxing" (2)
C bunny head base (outline)
D bunny front accent
E inner ear contrast ovals (2)
F eyes and mouth inserts (show-thru)
2. Prepare the main box shape by bending back on
all perforation lines for bottom panel.

3. Position and attach each side panel bottom edge,
centered, along side tab, with bottom straight edge
aligned at perforation line.
This image shows side walls attached.
4. For the box to have the proper shaping, it is necessary
to add curl to walls.
Use a rod-shaped tool such as a pencil shaft or the dowel
shown, and "roll" the backside of the wall over the dowel 
while applying fingertip or thumb pressure. 
Add curl as follows: 
front and back wall - BACK CURL MIDDLE
front and back wall - FORWARD CURL AT TIP
side walls - BACK CURL AT BASE & MIDDLE
side walls - FORWARD CURL ACROSS NARROW NECK
5. To close the box, bring the side wall tips together
to align, then . . . 
. . . bring the front and back walls up to meet the side wall
tips, and insert the tip lobe layers through the slot.
Here is the closed box.
6.  Prepare the bunny head by layering and centering
the front accent shape on top of the base contrast shape
and attaching in place.
7. Turn the head assembly face side down and
insert and glue in place the nose and eye cutouts into
the corresponding depressions.
Here is the back view with the feature contrast
in place.
8. On the front side, position and attach the inner ear
ovals.
9. Prepare to attach the bunny head onto the front
of the box by positioning it to see where . . . 
. . . the front panel curves back and away from
the plane of the head.
This is the point on the head's backside where
adhesive will reach, but not above.

10. If desired, wrap a length of narrow ribbon around
one of the ears and tie with knot and bow.
NOTE it will be necessary and desirable to scissors-cut
the centerline between ears through head base layer ONLY,
to the edge of the "white" main head accent to allow
ribbon to be placed low enough on the ear.
11. Apply a quick-grab adhesive within the limits of
where the box and head shape will touch, and below,
then position and attach to box front.
Here is the side view of the completed box.
Here is the front view.
Open the box, insert treats, paper shreds, etc.,
then re-close for giving.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Leprechaun Large Hanging Wall Decoration

Hanging decoration for St. Patrick’s Day is composed 
of head/torso under which arms and legs can be attached 
(either permanently or with temp adhesive to facilitate 
disassembly and storage.) All components are assembled 
of multiple shapes that are glued together and pressed 
under flat weights for sturdy thickness then fit together. 
Accent shapes provide abundant details 
for features and clothing. 
Figure measures approx. 15.5” wide x 16.2” long 
when fully assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the foundation shapes:
A torso/head main shape (4)
B torso/head "bottom" layer with post triangle cutouts
C torso/head underneath layers (with arm & leg insert areas)
D post triangles: 4 sets of 5 each
E & F right & left arm shapes (4 each)
G & H right & left leg shapes (4 each)
NOTE: the sample was created with layered beige solid
papers from more than one paper pad, where dye lots
were obviously slightly different; when layered and
glued up, only the outside layers are visible.
TIP: Paper selection for accent front layer for all other
components should probably follow here, but since
the layering and glue up requires possible "overnight"
multiple hours to be assembled and pressed for complete
drying, it is suggested that assembly SKIP to Step 6.
to complete those steps.

2. Select and cut the shapes for the torso/head:
vest with collar, face base, beard, eyes and brows,
nose, mustache, mouth (inner) and lower lip
not shown: pants waist/crotch semi-circle
3. Select and cut the shapes for the hat and bowtie:
shamrock base and top shaped layer,
hat crown, band, brim and buckle,
bowtie base, bow loops and knot. 
4. Select and cut the shapes for the arms/hands:
hand base (show-thru for hand contrast),
hand overlay, cuff with button, sleeve.
5. Select and cut the shapes for the legs and feet:
pants with buttons, hose/leg, bootie top, band with buckle,
bootie bottom, heel stack and show-thru underlay.
6. Layer the multiple shapes for leg and arms
and glue together, taking care to line up as precisely
as possible all cut edges and post cutout windows.
Once multiple shapes are stacked and glued, press each
stack under a flat, heavy object such as this thick book volume
(or several), wood planks, fabric-covered re-purposed free weight
 bars, etc. Leave under the weight until liquid adhesive is
completely and thoroughly dried to avoid or minimize
curling or warping that will otherwise occur.
The drying process may require several hours or over night.
NOTE: this pressing process is recommended for ALL steps
where large shapes are layered and glued together
with liquid adhesive, including stacks and accent assemblies.
7. Repeat the stacking and gluing process for the head/torso
shapes: A) back built up layers with cutout shaping to
accept arm ends and tops of legs;
B) main torso/head layers and . . . 
. . . bottom layer with triangle post position cutouts.
8. When the above A and B stacks are completed,
pressed and dried, position the back stack onto
the backside of the main torso/head stack
(on the post cutouts layer), attach in place
and press to allow for final thorough drying.
9. Prepare the triangle post stacks by layering and
gluing 5 triangle cutouts into each of 4 stacks, 
carefully lining up cut edges; press stacks until dry.
10. Position each stack and securely glue in place
in each of the four triangle cutouts on the torso/head
assembly, shown here in closeup, and . . . 
. . . here with broader view; press with weights
to help secure in place.
11. Assemble and glue together the torso/head
accent clusters:
A) position and attach beard on top of face base;
B) position lower lip shape under mouth opening,
centered, with corresponding edges aligned;
C) position and attach nose onto mustache base
then position and attach above mouth cutout;
D) position and attach collar along top edge of vest
E) position and attach eyebrows above eye cutouts
NOTE: some shapes will be saved to attach in place
once the assemblies are attached to built-up base:
eye circles; inner mouth, vest buttons
12. Assemble and glue together the hat and bowtie units:
A) layer shamrock shaped layer onto base;
B) layer hat crown with band on top aligned at
lower edge, brim aligned at lower edge over band,
buckle fit into place near center with lower edges
abutting brim;
C) bowtie base with loops shapes on top, knot
roundish shape over center where edges align.
13. Assemble the torso/head accent shapes onto
the built-up base:
A) position and attach pants semi-circle at bottom,
centered, with offset margin along curve edge;
B) position and attach vest/collar unit overlapping pants shape,
centered, with side edges of vest offset in from stack side
edges where the shaping matches; add vest buttons;
C) position and attach hat unit at top of stack,
with hang hole matched, even offset margins
around sides and top;
D) position and attach head/face unit centered, with top edge
snugly abutted under hat brim edge, beard overlapped
onto collar/vest unit;
E) position and attach bowtie unit;
F) position and attach eyes into socket cutouts,
inner mouth into mouth socket cutout;
G) position and attach shamrock onto hat.
14. Pre-assemble arms and hands units:
A) layer hands overlay over contrast base layers
(NOTE: the model cardstock base contrast layer
was hybrid-ed to conserve the contrast selected paper
by cutting a different [non-showing] cardstock and
joining the contrast with abutted ends; normally one piece)
B) position and attach cuffs snugly against hand overlay
straight edge, and add button;
C) position and attach sleeve snugly against cuff straight edge.
15. Complete the arm/hand units by centering
the unit from step 13 onto the layered arm base,
with post hole edges aligned, and even offset margin
 all around, and gluing in place.
16. Pre-assemble the bootie units by layering
onto the base show-thru shape the bootie bottom,
band, bootie top shape, snugly abutting and aligning
edges at each addition; add buckles.
17. Complete leg assembly by positioning and attaching
onto the built-up stacks:
A) pant leg with adjacent straight edges aligned exactly
with corresponding straight edges of built up stack,
triangle post opening aligned, and even offset margin
at inner and outer leg edges as shown; add buttons;
B) hose shape abutted snugly along pant lower edge
with offset margins at sides;
C) bootie assembly under hose shape with
shaped edges abutted snugly, offset margins
around bootie edges;
D) heel stack snugly abutted under bootie edge.
18. Prepare to assemble the figure by positioning
arms (thumbs up) behind torso edge . . . 
. . . with rounded inward end oriented to fit triangle opening
over post of torso. Other members fit similarly,
with leg straight edges snugly abutting the torso shaped
cutout edges and each other at centerline.
Legs and arms will probably NOT stay in place without
adhesive assistance. If storage of the large format is NOT
an issue, glue or permanently join the member in place.
If disassembly is desirable, use a "temp" tape adhesive
(NOT SHOWN) to keep legs and arms in place during display.
Here is the figure fully assembled.
If desired, attach a ribbon or string loop
through top hang hole, or simply insert over a wall nail.
St. Patrick's Day Greetings and Happy Hijinks!