Halloween Countdown

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 26" x 20" x 16" Cardboard Box
• 18" x 12" x 12" Cardboard Box
• X-Acto® Knife, #11 Blades
• Utility Knife
• Cutting Board
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Clothespins
• Brushes, Assorted Artists
• Panacea Paper Twist Coating Naturally Wired Floral Wire, Black
• 9" x 12" Felt Sheet, Black (4)
• 9" x 12" Stiffened Sheet, Black
• 9" x 12" Stiffened Sheet, Orange
• Acrylic Paint, Black
• Acrylic Paint, Purple
• Paint Palette
• Hot Glue Gun/Glue Gun Sticks
• Quick Grip Glue
• Fabric Fusion (For Sequins)
• Spray Tacky Glue
• Tacky Glue
• POP!™ Possibilities Assorted Alphabet Foam Stickers
• POP!™ Possibilities Chenille Stems, Black
• POP!™ Possibilities Chenille Stems, Purple
• POP!™ Possibilities Chenille Stems, Orange
• POP!™ Possibilities Craft Cut Glitter, Neon Orange Iris
• POP!™ Possibilities 20mm Pom Poms, Purple (12)
• POP!™ Possibilities 25mm Pom Poms, Orange (4)
• POP!™ Possibilities Pony Beads, Black
• POP!™ Possibilities Pony Beads, Purple
• POP!™ Possibilities Pony Beads, Orange
• POP!™ Possibilities 1mm Stretch Cord
• Upholstery Needle
• POP!™ Possibilities Sequins, Black
• POP!™ Possibilities Cup Sequins, Orange
• POP!™ Possibilities Cup Sequins, Blue
• POP!™ Possibilities 9" x 12" Foam Sheet, Black (2)
• POP!™ Possibilities 9" x 12" Foam Sheet, Orange (2)
• POP!™ Possibilities 12" x 18" Foam Sheet, Black
• Spray Area
• Optional: Bandsaw for Cutting Cardboard
• Optional: Acrylic Paint, Burnt Orange
• Optional: Acrylic Paint, Gray

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print templates. Tape the top four front panels together and tape the bottom two panels together. Tape six back panels together. Tape other templates together where indicated.
2. Transfer the outline of the front and back onto cardboard. If there is a crease or fold in the cardboard locate it behind the area for the door roof (the break between the center and bottom front template sheets). Use a utility knife or bandsaw to cut. Transfer and cut the door box panel and floor inside front door. Transfer and cut roof and steps. Cut two posts for roof panel (no template) vertical corrugations: 1 at 2 1/2" x 7", 1 at 2 1/2" x 8". Score every 1/2" lengthwise and 1/2" up from short ends. Cut 1/2" up from ends (tabs to attach) to flare.
3. Score the back panel (along the dotted line). Paint black. Cut the front template at the inside edges of the vertical trim on either side of building section "B". Cut along the breaks of the roof trim sections. Lay building "B" onto the cardboard front cutout. Trace along the trim lines.
4. Paint black: Front panel - "B" to just past the vertical trim lines and bottom left and right, back of door box, floor inside front door, roof: top and underside, posts and steps.
5. Paint purple: "A" & "C" up to black paint at vertical trim line & outside front door box. Let dry.
6. Cut windows, door and upper curve trims out of template. Label each to register location. Use an x-Acto knife to cut each window frame out of black foam. Be sure to cut out 5/8" D finger tab. Use spray Tacky glue to attach each window frame onto a sheet of orange foam. Cut around the perimeter of each frame. Brush a random amount of Tacky glue onto the orange foam visible between the mullions of the windows. Immediately sprinkle with glitter. Let dry. Paint all orange foam that is visible around the edges of the windows with black paint. Let dry. Cut upper curve trims from foam.
7. Use the template to locate the windows on the front cardboard and door on the door box. Use spray Tacky glue to attach the windows and doors to the cardboard. Use an x-Acto knife to cut around the windows and doors, score along the hinge sides of each. Open each. Paint around the cut edges to match the foam and previous painted surfaces. Paint the cardboard 5/8" D finger tab black to match the window and door frames. Spray glue curve trim and secure above the windows. Use the template to transfer the vertical trim to black foam and to the front panel. Spray glue foam trim and press in place. Cut 3/8" wide lengths of black foam for the horizontal trim. Transfer the locations from the template to the front panel. Dry fit and angle cut the ends of foam to fit between the vertical trim. Spray glue foam trim and press in place.
8. Cut the roof sections from the template. Keep the two sections, (upper stripe & roof trim" for "B" in one piece. Cut "A" & "C" out of black foam. Cut "B" out of orange foam. Cut upper stripe section from "B" on template. Cut upper stripe out of black foam. Spray glue upper stripe to orange trim. Spray glue roof trim to corresponding roof peak on cardboard front.
9. Make the boxes for the backs of the window openings. Each window will have a box with sides made from one strip of cardboard and a separate piece of cardboard attached to the back of the box. Cut 3 1/2" wide strips of cardboard, with the corrugations running from side to side, for the sides of the boxes. Score 1/2" from one long edge as a tab to attach the box to the back of the front panel. Each strip will wrap around the perimeter of each opening and will be glued to secure into a rectangle by a 1/2" tab. Flip the front panel wrong side up. Set the long edge of one strip (edge with the 1/2" tab) along one side of a window starting one short end at a corner of the window opening. Mark on the strip at the adjacent corner. Score the strip from side to side and cut through the 1/2" tab then bend the strip at the corner. Repeat for each corner. Cut the strip 1/2" past the fourth corner. Cut out 1/2" x 1/2" at bottom 1/2" tab. Label each box to correspond to window opening. Paint the inside side of the boxes black. Let dry. Hot glue the tab to create the rectangles. Hot glue the 1/2" tabs around the window openings to secure the boxes to the cardboard front one window at a time. Create the pattern for each window box back before moving on to the next box.
10. Rough cut cardboard for the back of each box, at least 1" wider than the box back opening. Lay the cardboard on the box. Trace around the outside edge of the box, score at these lines. Mark and cut 1/2" outside of the scored lines and cut the corners at 45-degree angles. This will create the tabs to attach the backs to the boxes. Repeat. Paint the inside side of the box backs black. Let dry. Hot glue the 1/2" tabs around the outer sides of the boxes.
11. Fold and use hot glue to build: roof end folds (folds to create angles from center section will be done when attached to door box), door box (match floor with bottom edge of door opening, glue other tabs to insides sides and back of box, overlap vertical tab over the back of the box to secure box into a rectangle), steps (glue the sides of the back to the tabs of the top step first) and posts (lay a bead of hot glue down the length of one 1/2" fold. Roll to overlap the opposite side 1/2" fold onto the glue).
12. Hot glue the door box onto the front panel matching the bottom edges. Center the door box between the bottom tabs of the front panel. Hot glue the roof centered onto the door panel top tabs. Hot glue the backs of the sides of the roof and press in place matching the top edge of roof with the bottom edges of the vertical trim lines. Overlap and glue the cardboard facia on the roof. Hot glue the steps centered under the front door box matching the bottom edges.
13. Cut and attach sides of buildings by 1/2" tabs hot glued to the back of the front panel. Cut 4 1/2" wide strips of cardboard, with the corrugations running from side to side, for the sides and roof sides of the front panel. Roof "A": 1 at 12" long, 1 at 5" long, Roof "B": 1 at 6 3/4" long, 1 at 7 3/4" long, Roof "C": 1 at 3 5/8" long, 1 at 10 1/2" long. Mark and score 1/2" from one long side for tabs. Cut notches every 1" along the tabs. Bend the cardboard along the corrugations to the curves of the sides of the roof. Start 1/2" below roof trim on "A". Cut notches to fold tabs around to the back of the roof trim profile and finish 1/2" past the point at the top of "A". This will provide the tab to attach the second roof panel. Overlap the second panel onto the 1/2" tab of the first panel. The final 1/2" will be the tab to secure the first panel for "B". Repeat through the first panel on "C"; this panel will not have a tab for the final panel. Attach the final panel on "C" the reverse of the first panel on "A", with a 1/2" tab starting 1/2" below the roof trim profile. Cut 4 1/2" wide panels to fit along the sides of the buildings, same as the roof panels. These panels will attach to the 1/2" tabs, on the roof sides, below the roof trim profile and will need to have a 1/2" tab at the bottom edge to attach to the base cardboard. Hot glue the side panels in place.
14. Attach the back panel. Flip the building back side up. Place the back panel between the sides of the side panels. Line up the outer edges of the tabs with the back edge of the side panels. The scored line at the bottom edge of the back panel should line up with the scored line on the side panels. Use clothespins to hold the tabs in place. Hot glue the tabs to the side panels.
15. Add 3/8" wide strips of black foam as trim to the sides. Spray glue one strip from under the roof trim to the bottom tab on the front and back edges of each side. Repeat. Add a horizontal line between the vertical trims. Match the height of the trim with the second trim down on the front of the buildings.
16. Cut a 12" x 18" panel of cardboard for a base. Fold out the 1/2" tabs at the base of the building components and set the building on the base. Center the building side to side on the 18" long and the steps on the front about 2" in from the 12" wide. Hot glue the tabs to secure. Cut outer edges of the base at random curves leaving enough area for decorative items like trees, ghosts and pumpkins.
17. Set the posts at angles towards the ends of the front door roof. Make sure that the posts are set so as not to interfere with the bottom front window openings. Hot glue in place.
18. Optional: To highlight the texture of the shingles and accentuate the layers of trim on building "B" add paint. Dry brush vertical lines of grey paint brushing up from the bottom edge of black shingles. Repeat with a burnt orange paint on the orange shingles. Note that the paint will soak into the foam and will appear more muted once dried. Additional dry brush layers of grey paint may be added over the trim and window frames & mullions on building "B". Continue the grey onto the front door and tops of the front steps. Note that the paint will be much brighter on the cardboard parts compared to the foam parts. Test on scraps first.
19. Add grasses to the sides and front of the base of the building components as desired. Layer black and orange stiffened felt sheets. Cut out a rectangle 3" H x 12" L. Cut random widths and heights of grasses by snipping from one long edge to no more than 1/4" from the opposite long edge. Place the felt, orange layer first, against the building base. Slightly shift the black layer of felt to offset from the orange felt. Keep the straight bottom edge of felt along the bottom edge of the building. Hot glue in place.
20. Cover the base with black felt. Use hot glue to attach. Cut felt to lay over all cardboard of base and run up over the bottom straight edge of grasses. Cut outer edges of felt about 1/2" past the cardboard edge. Notch the edges of the felt, every 3/4" - 1", up to the edge of the cardboard. Set the building on a side. Hot glue the notched edge of felt to the underside of the base.
21. Make bead lines and pom pom spires for rooves. The spires will be closer to the front of the buildings. Pom poms: "A" & "C" spires: purple, "B" spire: orange. Cut wire, 3 at 9 1/2" long. Bend wire 1/2" from end to attach to the roof. Add three pony beads to the wire past the bend. Hot glue into the centers of the beads to keep in place on the wire. Bend the wire up 2" and back down 2". Press the 2" together with pliers. This will be the spire. Slide one bead down the 2" section. Hot glue a pom pom on either side of the wire right above the bead, 1/4" down from the fold of wire. Add another bead to the folded wire. At the tail end of the wire straighten the wire to lay in line with the original three beads. Add 12 beads. Bend the wire down at the end of the beads. Hot glue into the center of the first and last bead to keep from slipping. Cut the wire to 1/2" from the last bead. The length between the 1/2" bends should be 4". Use an x-Acto knife blade to press holes into the center top, front and back of each of the A & C rooves. Place hot glue in the holes and insert the 1/2" ends of wire to secure the beaded wire in place. Quick Grip glue may be added under the beads to further secure.
22. Front door roof spires same as top roof spires, although a final length of 3" and two spires each. Cut wire, 2 at 12 1/2" long. Bend end 1/2". Add two pony beads, bend wire up and down 2" for first spire. Add 5 beads then bend wire up and down 2" for second spire. Add two more beads then bend down the last 1/2" of wire. Add beads and purple pom poms to spires same as top roof spires. Repeat. Attach beads front to back on either side of horizontal center section of lower roof.
23. Make spiderwebs with stretch cord. Use an upholstery needle to weave the cord through the cardboard building. Start by crossing lengths of the cord and knotting at a center point. Take a separate length of cord and starting at the center point knot at each intersection of the original lengths. Continue the spiral out toward the ends of the first lengths. Tie the tail end in a place that can buried under felt, tucked around the back of the building or under the front roof.
24. Cut desired number of spiders from black foam. Position around the spiderweb area. Attach with Quick Grip glue.
25. Bend paper wrapped wire to build a spooky tree. Fold over 2" - 3" of the end of the wire and twist together for the beginning of a base root. Repeat for at least three roots. Twist the intersection of the roots for the base of the trunk. Extend the length of wire to the desired final height of tree branches. Continue spirals of wire from the tip of branches down through the trunk. Use Quick Grip glue to attach the root wires to the base cardboard. If the tree is large stabilize the body of tree by adding a glued connection to the building. Use the template to cut and black foam bats. Add the bats to the branches of trees and to the building with Quick Grip glue.
26. Add shingles to the top rooves. Each section 4" long. The scallop pattern will alternate between strips with four full scallops and four scallops that have 1/2 a scallop on either end and three in the center. The top shingle run should be orange foam with four full scallops. Cut: Orange foam, 6 with four full scallops, black foam 23 with four full scallops, 25 with half scallops on either end of the 4" section. Dry fit the shingles. Attach with Quick Grip glue starting with the lowest row of shingles on a roof side.
27. Add chenille sticks to gaps between the shingles and the front of the building. Apply with hot glue or Quick Grip.
28. Add trim to the facia of the front door roof. Use cutoff from orange roof shingles as a reverse pattern at the top of the facia trim. Add black sequins centered below each scallop on the black foam. Pick up a sequin with tweezers, apply a small bead of Fabric Tac to the back of the sequin and press in place. Add chenille sticks to gap between the cardboard and the top of the facia foam. Apply with hot glue or Quick Grip.
29. Add a row of cup sequins below the black strip trim, on the orange roof trim on building "B". Add blue cup sequins centered at the lower corners and top of the black trim on buildings "A" & "C".
30. Add ghosts. Cut out ghosts from white foam. Two sequins may be applied as eyes. To make freestanding ghosts layer two pieces of foam and cut out a ghost. Apply Tacky glue to the back of one layer to 1/4" from the bottom edge. Press layers together. Let dry. Open the two layers of foam at the bottom of the ghost. Place Quick Grip on either inside side of ghost and press onto building base.
31. Make pumpkins. For 1 1/4" wide pumpkin: Cut a 1" circle from orange foam. Cut a 2" L of black chenille stem. Fold stem in half. Hot glue cut the ends to the center of the foam circle. Spiral an orange chenille stem around a pencil. Remove from pencil. Add hot glue around black chenille stem onto the foam. Immediately set orange spiral around the black stem matching the cut ends of orange stem. For 1 3/4" wide pumpkin: Adjust to 3" L of black chenille stem and spiral two orange chenille stems around an average size glue stick. Quick Grip glue the pumpkin foam base to the building base.
32. Cut out foam numbers and add to each door or window.

JOANN HACKS:

• Score the cardboard from the side that the tabs will be bent toward. This will create crisp and strong folds.