Greetings to all…
It’s February and time for a new project…this one is my version of a vintage nativity stable that was on an internet auction site…
We’ve probably all seen this item before in different sizes, with various finishes and details…they were die-cut, woodgrain printed cardboard that folded flat for storage…
Not having the ability to print and die-cut cardboard wasn’t hard to overcome…I drew a pattern, faux painted the cardboard, transferred the pattern and carefully cutout with a craft knife, utility knife, steel straight edge, pinking shears and a hole punch…
CARDBOARD…Two layers of cereal box cardboard laminated together with white glue…suggest you scuff up the printed surfaces with medium grit sandpaper before applying the glue…
FAUX PAINTING…A couple of coats on both sides of the cardboard with “light mocha” craft paint…then dry brush streaks of “nutmeg brown” and “light ivy green”…let each color dry before applying the next…almost any wood color combinations will work…there are also faux painting tutorials on the internet to watch…
TRANSFERRING THE PATTERN…I’ve used the “push pin method” for as long as I can remember…tape the printed pattern on the cardboard…push the point through the pattern at the intersections of lines and corners…remove the pattern, and using it for reference, connect the holes with a sharp pencil and ruler…I put a piece of foam board backer under the cardboard while pushing the pin into the pattern…
NOTES…After folding into shape, I permanently glued the slots where the fence rails and corners meet, the two roof slits and the roof peak…a light coat of mica flakes was applied to the roof just like the original…a piece of gold foil was added behind the star cutout on the front wall…
Also…here is the link to the “flattie” I made specifically for this nativity…
https://www.cardboardchristmas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2277The PDF pattern is below the pictures…I'll post additional pictures shortly...stay tuned...
Howard…
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