A Hidden Message Card

A hidden message card is a fun way to send a greeting. You pull on a tab and the shutters move to reveal a message. This design is very versatile and it can be used to make a pop-up book.

 

Shutters are closed.

 



Shutters are open to reveal a message.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYY3NJTFg3aWl0OWs/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-1-V9xZQBUGhSzAQIvUu27Q

Here is the .Studio file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYU1FLTzdWRUtPalE/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-uVW3hsZ6T4yz1NAShzwMew

 Thread the largest tab through the back as shown above.

 Thread the next size tab.

 Thread the next smaller tab.

 Glue the tabs together as shown

 Fold over the edges and apply glue.

 Leave one tab out.

 Attach the other side of the card.

 Completed shutter card.

 Inside view.

Card is in the open position. You can add a message here by gluing the four small rectangles onto each of the individual sections. As shown below.

 



 



An assortment of sizes. 

This can be done by resizing the image using your Silhouette software.



What's More Exciting than a Paper Ferris Wheel?

Double Ferris Wheel

 

A double paper Ferris wheel!!! I got this idea from my Fifth grade students on the last day of school.  They created animated Ferris wheels using Sketchpad. It was a fun and enriching activity. Here is a video  of one of the Ferris wheels. I love how the student put a stick figure in the scene and added a moving balloon...how clever!   

 

Sketchpad Animated Ferris Wheel

My Version of the Double Ferris wheel

Here is the PDF.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYWERCTGlsWS1rbUk/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-EamH98IFnEpTsyoRszAVuA

Here is the .Studio file. I used cardstock and chipboard.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYU1JSdnA4bmx1NGM/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-8W56KEC8XaQbR7hhnUor-A

Make the center axle by adding the cardstock to both sides and the corresponding yellow pieces.



Insert the tab into the sandwiched layers so that it does not show.





Slide the Center Axle through the center hole as shown.

Apply glue and put pressure on each of the little tabs so that the tabs adhere to the paper.

Make the box bottom and top.





Make the crossbeams by sandwiching the pieces together.

A

Add glue to the crossbeam as shown on the right.

Insert the crossbeam into the top slit of the box.  Make sure the bottom is aligned correctly. Repeat for the other side.

Make the wheels by gluing its axle and aligning the holes on both sides of the wheel.

Make the seats as shown above.

Make the rod and glue together, slide on the seat and the spacers as shown onto the rod. Repeat for the rest of the seats. Glue each seat assembly to the wheel.  It should look like the wheel below when finished.

The small stars are glued on the outer wheel on each side.  Please notice how the outer red axle is being threaded through. (These directions will be repeated for the second wheel.)

 The red wheel is glued to the red axle as shown on both sides.

 I put some glue on the underside of the red wheel because I did not like the red wheel spinning around.  This is a matter of preference.  You do not have to do this step.

Glue on the blue circle to both sides.

Glue on the yellow circle on both sides.

And then glue the star on both sides. Repeat the above directions for the second wheel. 

Make the center axle by gluing one side to the red wheel.

Thread it through the crossbeams as shown.

Glue the axle to the red wheel as shown.

Glue on the blue and yellow circles to the center axle.  Add the star. Repeat for the other side. Add the embellishments to the box.

 

 Please see my other Ferris wheel post for more detailed instructions as the Ferris wheels are very similar in construction. http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-paper-ferris-wheel-that-really-spins.html

I love my double Ferris wheel because it is so well balanced.  It can stay in any position without moving.

Ferris Wheels are so much fun!
 

A Russian Paper Doll

Russian Doll Holding a Basket of Flowers

 



I used colorful origami paper for my Russian Paper Doll's kerchief. The rest of the doll was made with cardstock.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYbUdhdDZvSDVfN0U/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-EtBA5AnzWv5ZCXQ6oc5-Qg

Here is the .Studio file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYVG8xR1VBRXVZWTA/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-v34oc85ziaG0MxFyRU__Yg

It's a Small Paper World

When I was twelve years old, I went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My favorite pavilion was "It's a Small World".  I loved the music and all of the animated dolls. I want to recreate those memories by making paper dolls. My first attempt is Japan with a Geisha girl.  I also added a small origami ninja star and a small crane.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYYjlIVlIyZmd5a0E/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-eVYs6ndr1bEoz8MhONQY6Q

Here is the .Studio file.  I used origami paper, card stock and foil wrapping paper.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYUndYM1BZSEY0ZDQ/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-M8_wf9Y7Qzengee4Ek1KlA

Instructions for the Ninja Star.
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-ninja-star.html

Instructions for the Crane.
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-crane.html

A Paper Ferris Wheel That Really Spins



A Paper Ferris Wheel That Really Spins because there is an axle built inside the wheel.  This Ferris Wheel makes a perfect gift.  The base is a box so you can put a present inside.



The school year is over and summer is finally here. I can't believe I have been blogging for one year. It has been an unbelievable blogging year with 50,000 hits. I had no idea that my blog would generate so much response.  Thank you to all who have stopped by to read my blog.

What better way to start the summer, then to make a Ferris wheel.  It takes about 4 hours to make.  One hour of cutting and about three hours of gluing.  I would suggest doing this project over the course of a few days. Take it slow and let the glue dry.  It will make everything easier.

Here is the PDF.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYa1laWnFPUDVSeFE/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-vWmvparF_cqqO6pGXmQvwg

Here is the .Studio file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7oGIyVDbRGYakg3LTR2OXdXMlU/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-RYEO6bbzEx-O3aL8oYmzgQ

Here is the SVG.  Once downloaded, zoom out to see the entire file.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17G1uJRUEEAi_ELJJ-h7z6SIegHK6_hyQ/view?usp=sharing

I used cardstock and chipboard (for crossbeam support) for this project.  The directions are for the yellow, red and blue design.  Helpful tip...use a shoe box to store all of the pieces that are cut from this project. The stars from the chair are used on the round portion of the Ferris wheel. I lost them and I had to recut them.

Glue the boxes together at the corner.  The top box has the slits.



Sandwich two support pieces together with the chipboard in the middle using a glue stick so that the paper does not warp.  Repeat for the other side.

 Slide the support pieces into the top of the box as shown.  Glue on the side with a glue stick.  Repeat for the other side.

Attach the embellishments as shown to the side of the box.  There are guides on the strips for placement on the box.  Please see my carousel if you are confused about the embellishment placement. http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-carousel-box-that-really-spins.html



Make 8 Ferris Wheel chairs by gluing the sides together with a glue stick and attached the W shaped seat to the sides.  The slit on the red side piece is the guide for the seat portion of the chair.



Glue the yellow axle to the Ferris Wheel...first on one side.

And then to the other side. MAKE SURE the spokes are aligned as shown. 

 Make the eight small axles by gluing in a circle as shown above.  Thread the chair through the axle and attach the spacers on each side.  The spacers are needed so that the chair does not move around on the axle when the Ferris Wheel is turned.

Completed Assembly with Chairs.  Make sure all of the chairs are going in the same direction.

Glue the center red wheel and the little blue stars from the cutout of the chair to both sides of the wheel as shown.

Make the red axle and glue it to the blue circle as shown. Do NOT proceed until the glue has dried thoroughly! (The picture above does not show the spacers on the axles in this model because I learned from this model that when the Ferris wheel turned some of the chairs got stuck on the sides of the wheel.  The spacers took care of this problem.)

Thread the blue circle through the blue crossbeam on one side of the box, through the center of the Ferris Wheel and out through the other blue crossbeam on the other side of the box.  It needs to lie flat so that you can apply pressure to get everything aligned correctly to glue.

Glue the tabs down and WAIT for the glue to dry before moving it.

Side view.

Glue the center star to the center of the wheel.

Happy Summer!





Vacation Creations

For my Spring Break from school, we took our family on a Caribbean cruise. We had a lovely time visiting the islands of Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada and St. Thomas. When traveling, I love to bring a hanging cosmetic bag with craft supplies.  Here is a picture of what I bring.

I love Faber Castell Pencils, Pitt Pens and Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils.  I also love Stablio markers with their pouch to keep each marker organized.  The scissors have a rounded tip so that I can bring them in my carryon on the plane.

The first picture is in the style of Matisse and the second picture is in the style of Van Gogh. The colors are a little more vibrant in the first picture because I used gel medium to seal the watercolor pencils.  When I applied the gel medium, the colors ran a little.  I am afraid to seal the other picture.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

Woman with Violin

Starry Night