Free for everyone to download!
Another seasonal paper decoration based on one of the platonic solids, this time, the cube.
There are two version within the one download. One, a cube based Reindeer and the other a very badly packed present, you can choose which to make or make both!
Download the file at the link above. Print out the parts on to thin card. 230 gsm / 67lb. To make the reindeer, print out sheets one to three, for the parcel, pages two to four. Score all the dotted lines and cut out holes before carefully cutting out the pieces.
Fold in half and glue down the head, legs, tail and antlers to make double thickness card. Once the glue is dry carefully cut out the parts.
Making the Standard Reindeer
Fold up and glue together the box leaving the top open as shown. Glue the tail tab to the box tab as shown.
Close the box to complete the body.
Fold up the neck piece and glue it to the centre front of the body.
Glue the antlers to the back of the head.
Fit the head to the neck.
Glue the legs to the body lining up the grey areas on the back of the legs with the edge of the body.
Complete the reindeer with the other pair of legs.
Reindeer Parcel
Make sure that you have cut along the lines for the leg holes and the neck hole in the main body.
Curve up the triangular flaps to give the appearance something bursting out of the paper.
Glue up the box leaving the top open.
For each of the legs, add glue to the top of the leg on the opposite side to the grey area.
Thread the legs through the hole in the box from the inside. Again, line up the grey area with the bottom edge of the box and glue the leg into place.
One leg fitted as seen from the inside.
Repeat this process with the other legs.
All four legs fitted.
Fold up the neck, this time with the three tabs folded outwards.
Thread the neck through the hole in the body from the inside and glue it into place.
The neck fitted into place.
Glue the two ribbons into place around the box. The longer of the two ribbons runs around the width of the body.
Gently curve the three bow pieces and glue them together to make loops. Glue the loops to the top of the ribbon to make a bow.
Glue the antlers to the back of the head and complete the model by gluing the head to the neck.
Done! Festive felicitations one and all!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other members only projects on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
A paper pudding to download and make. I offer this project as a festive gift to all my subscribers. Thank you all, I couldn't run this site without you!
Print out the parts of the the dodecahedron pudding onto thin card. (230 micron 67lb)
Score along all the dashed lines and carefully cut out the pieces.
Fold up and glue together the top half of the pudding.
Glue the second part of the pudding to the corner as shown so that the wavy cream lines match.
Glue up the rest of the shape until only one flap remains. This allows you to get your fingers inside to to aid with the gluing process. Once done, glue closed the final flap.
Glue the hanger to the top of the pudding. (The top is marked with a small circle)
Curve the holly leaves to give them depth and realism then add them to the top of the pudding.
That's it! Hang the decoration proudly from your tree. Festive felicitations one and all!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Heisenberg. Poseable paper character from the TV series Breaking Bad
The head on the paper character moves up and down and side to side. The arms move with two degrees of freedom.
This project is free to download. Print out the parts on thin card. (230 microns, 67 lb) Notice that the fifth sheet is printed on both sides. Print out the front, flip the card and return it to your printer then print the back. Score all the dotted and dashed lines and cut out the holes before carefully cutting out the pieces.
Roll round and glue together the hat side.
Fit the side into the hat rim with the join at the side as shown.
Glue the second rim into place then glue on the hat top.
Glue the nose to the grey area.
Glue the beard to the grey area.
Let the glue on the nose dry completely then fold round and glue the head together. Glue in the darts at the top of the head to complete the head's shaping.
Glue the glasses to the bridge of the nose and then the ears.
Roll round and glue together the neck so that it lines up with the edge of the coloured area, arrowed.
Glue the lower ring strip into place.
Starting with the wider ring strip so that the end is lined up with the step in the neck tube, roll it around the neck and glue it to itself. The ring needs to be free to turn.
Glue the final ring into place trapping the rotating ring on the neck.
Cut out the two 'U' shaped holes.
Fit the head holder pieces to the tabs as shown so that they are free to rotate.
Fit the head over the neck. Glue the head to the head holders lining up the edge with the shot black lines on the head.
Glue the hat into place.
Fold over and glue down the arm ends to that the card is double thickness.
Once the glue is dry, cut out the hole and the outline of the shoulder ends.
Fold up and glue the arms. Fold the elbow joint and glue it together.
Roll round and glue together the shoulder tube.
Fix the three rings into place at each end of the arm in the same way as you constructed the neck joint.
Glue the tab pieces onto the rotating rings.
Glue together the body.
Line up the lapels with the edge of the back of the neck hole.
Glue the inside edge of the lapels to the body. Lift the edge of the lapel slightly with a pair of tweezers.
Thread the shoulders into the body then glue the shoulder strap to the shoulder tube.
Roll round and glue together the legs.
Glue together the top half of the legs.
Curve the shoes along each of the tapered lines. Glue together the shoes.
Glue the feet to the legs.
Glue the legs to the completed body so that the white line is just inside the body.
Fit the arms over the tabs on the shoulders
Secure the tabs with the washers so that the arms are still free to move.
Shape the hands by curving them gently.
Fit the arms into the sleeves.
Fit the arms into the sleeves.
That completes the model. Wait for the glue to dry completely before the trying out the posing.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other members only projects on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
Daughter #1 has returned to University in Worcester where she is studying Graphic Design. I wanted to post her some bits and pieces and thought it might be nice to fashion and tear-open envelope for the purpose.
After a quick search around the house I failed to find any unopened rip tabs so I had a look through my favourite packing book to see if there was anything there.
Sure enough, this layout showed up.
Without scale I had to guess the dimensions. My first attempt was seven millimeters wide.
It fell apart at the first pull.
I changed the dimensions, almost doubling the width and lengthening each individual unit.
It still ripped. This time, though, I suspected other problems than just the dimensions. Sure enough, when I pulled at the other end of the tab it unzipped perfectly! Not for the first time, the illustration in the book was incorrect.
I flipped the base units around and tried again.
Perfect!
Rather than just making a normal envelope I thought I'd try a diagonal rip tab. It works a treat! And so, without further ado, I present the rip tab envelope. If you are a member you can download it from the link at top of the page and make your own. Print out the parts onto thin card, score the dotted lines and carefully cut along the solid lines before carefully cutting out the pieces. Glue the top and bottom pieces to the centre piece as shown.
I printed two copies of the page glued together to make more room for writing.
Fold the envelope round the pages.
Apply an even layer of glue to the outer triangle as shown. Don't get glue on the rip tab. Fold round and press down.
This picture shows the front and back view of the envelope ready for an address and stamp.
Rip the tab to open the envelope!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
My second zine is done and ready to download for free at the link.
The instruction for construction are the same as for the Cam Zine. Blog post here and Video here.
While I am typing this I'm print out twenty copies as a special signed/numbered limited edition. If you would like to receive a copy simply make a donation of at least £2ukp / $3usd at the link above and let me know the address you'd like me to send it too. Hurry though, there are only 20 (All gone!) and the Cam Zines went fast!
This zine is on the subject of levers.
It is packed with all sorts of illustrations and facts belied by its compact size!
The finished zine should be like this where black lines are cut lines, dotted lines are valley folds and dashed lines are hill folds.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Become a Member for free
access to this and other members only projects on the site.See the Membership page for more details.
Already a Member? Log in Here
As a special thank you to all the members of robives.com I'm delighted to present this free festive download.
This collapsible tree sits nicely on your desk or mantlepiece and folds flat for easy transportation. I hope that you enjoy the model and the season. Thanks again to all the members, I literally couldn't run this site without you!
Print the parts of the project onto thin card. (230 micron / 230 gsm) Score along the dotted lines then cut out the holes before carefully cutting out the pieces.
Fold up and glue together the base and sides of the box.
Glue the box inners into place lining them up with the hole in the side of the box.
Fold the top down and glue it into place making sure to glue the top tabs on the box inners as well.
The trunk sections are fitted with tabs which are zig-zagged to make double thicknesses of card. Some fold inwards, some outwards, use the dotted and dashed lines and the grey gluing areas to show you which goes where.
These double thickness tabs are glued to the inside of the trunk
Assemble the four trunk pieces.
Curve round and assemble the three branch cones.
Glue the trunk section labeled 'Top' to the inside of the top cone. Make sure that is it straight.
Fit the trunk sections 2 and 3 to their appropriate branch cone at the end opposite to the double thickness tabs.
Fit the last trunk section over trunk section 3. Make sure that the inner and outer double thickness tabs are on matching faces. These will stop the tree expanding too far.
Fit the other two cone sections into place in the same way.
Complete the tree by gluing it into place over the hole in the base.
Once the glue is completely dry you will be able to collapse the tree by pushing it down then restore it to ful height by blowing into the hole in the side of the box.
Festive felicitations!
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
A picture is worth a thousand words. Moving pictures must be worth at least twice that. To that end, I'm creating a YouTube video explaining the best techniques for making paper toys from printing and aligning to scoring and cutting. The Agreeable Sheep seemed like the perfect subject for such a video but just needed a few small changes. And so, for your cutting and sticking pleasure, I present here, a slightly updated version for you to follow along with at home. YouTube video soon.
Print out the parts onto thin card (230 micron / 230 gsm is perfect)
Score along the dotted and dashed lines then cut out the holes before carefully cutting out the parts of the model then follow the instructions for construction below.
Not one to stand out of the crowd, our woolly friend agrees with everything you say...
"Is this a good colour scheme?"
"Yes!"
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
"Yes!"
"Are you having a good time?"
"Yes!"
"Does my bum look big in this?" ...probably best not to ask. With this agreeable model you need never get a second opinion again.
Baa baa baa!
Fold up the two triangular sections on the box sides to make right angled triangles.
Glue the two box halves together.
Glue on the lid. Note that the hole in the box top goes to the front of the model.
Fold the two flaps on the base down and glue them into place.
Fold in and glue the four vertical flaps to form triangular tubes one of which is arrowed above.
Fold up and glue together the body inner. Glue it to the inside of the body in the position shown.
Fold round and glue down the other side of the body.
Fold up and assemble the head.
Glue the tab on the neck to the inside of the head.
Fold the coin holder round a single 20mm diameter coin roughly 4 grams in weight (One UK Penny is perfect for the job)
Glue the penny to the inside of the cam follower then glue the cam follower closed.
Assemble the push rod tube. Glue the large tab on the end of the push rod to the inside of the cam follower so that the edge is lined up with the edge of the cam follower arrowed above.
Thread the push rod up through the hole in the top of the box then glue the tab on the back of the cam follower to the back of the box as shown above.
Fold of the cam to make double thickness card then carefully cut it out.
Assemble the axle and thread the cam onto it gluing it down onto the grey areas.
Thread the axle into the box lining up the green ends.
Assemble the handle in three steps. Fold up the two square sections. Glue one section into the other. Roll round and glue down the long tab.
Glue the washers to the axle then glue the handle into place.
Glue the push rod to the head so that the crease in the tab lines up with the end of the neck tab arrowed.
Glue the four feet to the box using the grey pads for alignment.
Complete the model by gluing the neck to the front of the body. Turn the handle to see the sheep nod.
Now that wasn't so bad was it?
What do you mean, "Yes"?
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
Daughter #1 told me she was going to read "The Wizard of Oz". I thought it might be nice to have a bookmark with a pair of witch's feet apparently stuck under her book.
With the aid of SketchBook-Pro and Illustrator, I made this bookmark, which I now present so that you can download it for free at the link. It's not animated nor is it any sort of paper engineering apart from the fact that you need to fold it in half to make it thick. Despite that, I hope that you like it.
It turns out that I mis-remembered what book Daughter #1 was reading, it was actually "Alice in Wonderland". She liked the bookmark though.
If she does read Oz again I'll make her a Mock Turtle bookmark.
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
S/stan reminded me about the Curious Cuckoo Whistle which I had originally posted on Flying Pig website some time ago. Flying Pig is now entirely dedicated to printed material so I thought that I'd dust off the file and add it to robives.com.
The curious cuckoo whistle is a real novelty in paper engineering. A simple box shaped whistle that produces two distinct notes. The pitch is changed simply by touching the sides of the box.
The file is available for everyone to download for free. Just click on the link. Print the single page out onto thin card (230 micron, 230 gsm) score along the dotted lines then carefully cut out the parts. Accuracy is important on this project, if the parts are mis-aligned or there are holes in the box it probably won't work.
Fold up and glue together the box...
...and glue the tab down
Glue the sides of the box over the top of the box making sure that the parts are aligned.
Glue the saddle into place lining it up with the edge and the base of the box
Let the glue dry completely.
To use the whistle hold it top and bottom between thumb and forefinger of one hand. Touch the burst pattern on the side with finger and thumb from the other hand to change the pitch.
I'm not sure how it works. Anyone got any ideas?
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
#1 Daughter has been making creations for an Egyptian themed art project. One of the items she created is this rather attractive gift bag. She has very kindly let me add it to the site for everyone to share.
Print out the two pages (either mono or colour) onto standard printer paper (80gsm). Score along all the dotted lines and pre-crease all the creases. Glue the two pieces together.
Fold round the parts and glue them together to make a rectangular tube.
Fold in the base like this.
Glue the base flaps together. It doesn't need much glue.
Fold the top flap in and fold it over to make a double thickness. Glue the flap down with a thin layer of glue.
The bag can now be folded flat using the pre-creased score lines.
Fold the handles in half and glue them together to make double thickness paper.
Glue the handle to the inside of the of the bag using the grey areas on the handle as a glue guide.
Complete the bag with the second handle.
The file comes in two version, mono and colour. It is free for anyone to download and fully editable with the appropriate software. (We used Adobe Illustrator)
The original hieroglyphic text said something along the lines of, "this is my design for my art project" but has got a little muddled in the editing.
You can still see #1 Daughter's name in the cartouche though. Can you translate what it says?
Keep up to date: Receive the latest blog post by email
Rate this post:
