Difference between revisions of "Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes"
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===Crafting a Model Castle=== | ===Crafting a Model Castle=== | ||
#Find suitable cardboard boxes. A sturdy, nicely shaped box would be best. A good example is a box used for printer paper. Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, or shoe boxes would work as well. Also collect four cardboard rolls, these can either be toilet paper or paper towel rolls depending on the size of your castle. | #Find suitable cardboard boxes. A sturdy, nicely shaped box would be best. A good example is a box used for printer paper. Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, or shoe boxes would work as well. Also collect four cardboard rolls, these can either be toilet paper or paper towel rolls depending on the size of your castle. | ||
| − | #Plan your castle design. Check photos or illustrations of real castles for inspiration and create a design on paper.<ref>http://www.castles.org/</ref> In the case of this article, it's going to be kept simple with just four walls with a traditional rampart design,<ref>http://www.visualdictionaryonline.com/arts-architecture/architecture/castle.php</ref> and four rolls to act as turrets. Then a moat will be added surrounding the castle. If you do design the castle with more complexity, consider: | + | #Plan your castle design. Check photos or illustrations of real castles for inspiration and create a design on paper.<ref name="rf1">http://www.castles.org/</ref> In the case of this article, it's going to be kept simple with just four walls with a traditional rampart design,<ref name="rf2">http://www.visualdictionaryonline.com/arts-architecture/architecture/castle.php</ref> and four rolls to act as turrets. Then a moat will be added surrounding the castle. If you do design the castle with more complexity, consider: |
#*Creating turrets which are cut out separately and can stand alone. | #*Creating turrets which are cut out separately and can stand alone. | ||
#*Making one central tall tower for the prince or princess to be stuck in, with a window for the unfortunate royal to stare through. | #*Making one central tall tower for the prince or princess to be stuck in, with a window for the unfortunate royal to stare through. | ||
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#*If you would like the turrets to be taller, you can switch to a longer roll, like a paper towel or wrapping paper roll. | #*If you would like the turrets to be taller, you can switch to a longer roll, like a paper towel or wrapping paper roll. | ||
#*To make the turrets shorter, simply cut the current rolls down to size. Be sure that you measure and cut all four rolls to the same height. | #*To make the turrets shorter, simply cut the current rolls down to size. Be sure that you measure and cut all four rolls to the same height. | ||
| − | #Cut the ramparts design into the top of the box. Ramparts are the surrounding walls of the castle and commonly have alternating squares and open square spaces.<ref>http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/parts-of-a-medieval-castle.htm</ref> Use a ruler to measure and trace evenly spaced squares on the top of your box. Using scissors, cut out every other square to create the rampart walls of the castle. | + | #Cut the ramparts design into the top of the box. Ramparts are the surrounding walls of the castle and commonly have alternating squares and open square spaces.<ref name="rf3">http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/parts-of-a-medieval-castle.htm</ref> Use a ruler to measure and trace evenly spaced squares on the top of your box. Using scissors, cut out every other square to create the rampart walls of the castle. |
#*Another option is cutting a square template from a piece of cardboard and tracing that square all the way around the box. | #*Another option is cutting a square template from a piece of cardboard and tracing that square all the way around the box. | ||
#*Attempt to measure the square to a size which will fit all the way around the box in even spacing. | #*Attempt to measure the square to a size which will fit all the way around the box in even spacing. | ||
| − | #Draw a stone design on a large sheet of tin foil. Measure out enough tin foil to cover a wall of the castle. Lay this sheet of foil on your working surface and draw an alternating stone pattern using a permanent black marker.<ref>http://mrmcgroovys.com/how-do-you-paint-that-cool-brick-pattern-on-the-castle/</ref> | + | #Draw a stone design on a large sheet of tin foil. Measure out enough tin foil to cover a wall of the castle. Lay this sheet of foil on your working surface and draw an alternating stone pattern using a permanent black marker.<ref name="rf4">http://mrmcgroovys.com/how-do-you-paint-that-cool-brick-pattern-on-the-castle/</ref> |
#*To do this, start at the bottom and draw rectangles of approximately the same size, one connected to the other, all the way across the bottom of the tin foil. | #*To do this, start at the bottom and draw rectangles of approximately the same size, one connected to the other, all the way across the bottom of the tin foil. | ||
#*To create the next row of stones above this one, start at the center point of the first rectangle on the bottom row and draw a rectangle which covers the left half of the top of the first brick and the right half of the top of the second brick. | #*To create the next row of stones above this one, start at the center point of the first rectangle on the bottom row and draw a rectangle which covers the left half of the top of the first brick and the right half of the top of the second brick. | ||
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#*Measure to be sure the bridge will be long enough to cross the moat. | #*Measure to be sure the bridge will be long enough to cross the moat. | ||
#*To create a drawbridge effect, glue a piece of string to each side of the top of the black doorway. Glue the other end of the strings to top of the bridge on each side. This will create the effect of the chains used to draw up the bridge. | #*To create a drawbridge effect, glue a piece of string to each side of the top of the black doorway. Glue the other end of the strings to top of the bridge on each side. This will create the effect of the chains used to draw up the bridge. | ||
| − | #Add anything else that you think completes the castle's overall appearance. In this case, the turrets have been finished with roofs and flags and some banners have been hung from the ramparts.<ref>http://donna.hrynkiw.net/sca/flags/gonfanon.html</ref> | + | #Add anything else that you think completes the castle's overall appearance. In this case, the turrets have been finished with roofs and flags and some banners have been hung from the ramparts.<ref name="rf5">http://donna.hrynkiw.net/sca/flags/gonfanon.html</ref> |
#*To make turret roofs, simply make cones from paper in the correct width and glue into place over the top of each turret tube. | #*To make turret roofs, simply make cones from paper in the correct width and glue into place over the top of each turret tube. | ||
#*Cut medieval flag and banner shapes from craft paper and glue them to toothpicks to create flags which you can glue into the tops of your turret roofs. You can also glue banners on the front, top end of your rampart wall over the doorway. | #*Cut medieval flag and banner shapes from craft paper and glue them to toothpicks to create flags which you can glue into the tops of your turret roofs. You can also glue banners on the front, top end of your rampart wall over the doorway. | ||
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#Reinforce the box with tape. Set up the box with the top flaps reaching upward. Tape the corners of the flaps together on the inside of the box using packaging tape. This creates more height with an opening on top of the box. | #Reinforce the box with tape. Set up the box with the top flaps reaching upward. Tape the corners of the flaps together on the inside of the box using packaging tape. This creates more height with an opening on top of the box. | ||
#*If you would like to add some fun color to your box, you can use a colored tape, like painters tape on the outside of the corners instead. Consider also using this tape to create the stone effect all around the outside. | #*If you would like to add some fun color to your box, you can use a colored tape, like painters tape on the outside of the corners instead. Consider also using this tape to create the stone effect all around the outside. | ||
| − | #Create a rampart wall effect along the top of the box. Measure the top of one side of the box from corner to corner. Divide that length by an even number such as 12 or 8. Using a ruler, and starting in the corner of one side of the top of the box, measure out and draw a square with sides the length of one section according to your calculations. Using a box-cutter, cut out this square. You will use this as a template.<ref>http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/884</ref> | + | #Create a rampart wall effect along the top of the box. Measure the top of one side of the box from corner to corner. Divide that length by an even number such as 12 or 8. Using a ruler, and starting in the corner of one side of the top of the box, measure out and draw a square with sides the length of one section according to your calculations. Using a box-cutter, cut out this square. You will use this as a template.<ref name="rf6">http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/884</ref> |
#*If your box is 24x24x24, and you divide by 12, your template would be a 2 inch square. | #*If your box is 24x24x24, and you divide by 12, your template would be a 2 inch square. | ||
#*Place the template next to the cut square hole in the top of the box. Line the edge of the square to one side of the cut. | #*Place the template next to the cut square hole in the top of the box. Line the edge of the square to one side of the cut. | ||
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#Make a doorway. On the bottom, left of the box, draw a rectangle with a rounded top. This should be larger than your window and wide enough for your child to crawl through. Cut this door out with your box cutting knife. Only cut the two sides and the top, leaving the bottom section attached to the box. | #Make a doorway. On the bottom, left of the box, draw a rectangle with a rounded top. This should be larger than your window and wide enough for your child to crawl through. Cut this door out with your box cutting knife. Only cut the two sides and the top, leaving the bottom section attached to the box. | ||
#*Be careful when cutting out the doorway that you do not damage the piece which is being cut to make the space. This will become your drawbridge. | #*Be careful when cutting out the doorway that you do not damage the piece which is being cut to make the space. This will become your drawbridge. | ||
| − | #Attach a drawbridge. Using a drill or screwdriver, puncture two holes in the box, one on each side of the top of the doorway. Thread a piece of nylon rope through these holes from front to back, then tie a knot on the inside of the box. Puncture two more holes one each side of the top of the drawbridge section you have cut out. Push the other end of each rope through these holes and tie knots on the section that is touching the ground to secure the rope in place.<ref>http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-castles/medieval-castle-parts/drawbridges-medieval-castles/</ref> | + | #Attach a drawbridge. Using a drill or screwdriver, puncture two holes in the box, one on each side of the top of the doorway. Thread a piece of nylon rope through these holes from front to back, then tie a knot on the inside of the box. Puncture two more holes one each side of the top of the drawbridge section you have cut out. Push the other end of each rope through these holes and tie knots on the section that is touching the ground to secure the rope in place.<ref name="rf7">http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-castles/medieval-castle-parts/drawbridges-medieval-castles/</ref> |
#*It is helpful to reinforce these holes by taping around the cut edges with packaging tape. This will make the area more durable. | #*It is helpful to reinforce these holes by taping around the cut edges with packaging tape. This will make the area more durable. | ||
#*Your child can raise and lower the drawbridge by pulling on the knots in the rope from the inside the box. | #*Your child can raise and lower the drawbridge by pulling on the knots in the rope from the inside the box. | ||
| − | #Draw details around your window and doorway. Using a large marker or paint, draw a keystone at the top of the arch of the doorway.<ref>http://www.britannica.com/technology/keystone</ref> This is a quadrilateral slightly larger than a square, with the two sides expanding at a slight angle. The top side will, consequently, be slightly larger than the bottom. You can make this top side slightly rounded. | + | #Draw details around your window and doorway. Using a large marker or paint, draw a keystone at the top of the arch of the doorway.<ref name="rf8">http://www.britannica.com/technology/keystone</ref> This is a quadrilateral slightly larger than a square, with the two sides expanding at a slight angle. The top side will, consequently, be slightly larger than the bottom. You can make this top side slightly rounded. |
#*Using the keystone as your starting point, draw similar quadrilaterals from the top of the arch, all the way to the bottom of the doorway. Repeat this on the other side. | #*Using the keystone as your starting point, draw similar quadrilaterals from the top of the arch, all the way to the bottom of the doorway. Repeat this on the other side. | ||
#*Use this same technique to create detail around the window. Also draw squares along the bottom of the window. These should be roughly the same size as your quadrilaterals. | #*Use this same technique to create detail around the window. Also draw squares along the bottom of the window. These should be roughly the same size as your quadrilaterals. | ||
| − | #Draw your castle walls. Using paint or a thick, permanent marker, draw a stone design onto your box. Start by drawing a horizontal rectangle along the bottom of your box and connecting equally-sized rectangles all the way around the bottom.<ref | + | #Draw your castle walls. Using paint or a thick, permanent marker, draw a stone design onto your box. Start by drawing a horizontal rectangle along the bottom of your box and connecting equally-sized rectangles all the way around the bottom.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#*To draw the second layer, Start at the center point of one of the rectangles and draw a line upward from there to create the side of the rectangle to begin your second layer of stones. The other side should rise up from the center of the next stone on the bottom layer. Connect these sides with a line on the top. | #*To draw the second layer, Start at the center point of one of the rectangles and draw a line upward from there to create the side of the rectangle to begin your second layer of stones. The other side should rise up from the center of the next stone on the bottom layer. Connect these sides with a line on the top. | ||
#*Repeat this system until you have covered the walls of your castle in stones. | #*Repeat this system until you have covered the walls of your castle in stones. | ||
