Maybe many of you have been doing this for years? I found this easy method to straighten bent and dog eared roof eves. This technique also works on flat, warped cardboard parts like bases and cardboard trees. All you need is some: 1. alligator clips, different sizes help for different projects. 2. "Wonder Clips" is a new product I just discovered at our local Quilting Show! Love these things, they have plenty of strength yet are small enough to get into the small areas. 3. Various sizes and thicknesses of Balsa Wood (I lucked out, I bought out an old model plane making company and I have a garage full of Balsa Wood). 4. A long soft haired artist brush and/or a small and accurate spray bottle. 5. Distilled water. Proceed by damping (with the brush or spray bottle) the underside of the cardboard that you want to straighten. Do do over saturate, practice on the piece with a little water to make sure some coloring doesn't run. I haven't had a problem yet and I've fixed hundreds of houses. Then sandwich the cardboard that needs to be straightened (both on top and underneath) between the balsa wood. (See photos). Then gently attach clips to as many points as you can. Some alligator clips are weaker than others so you might want to start out with lighter pressure and then gradually replace them with stronger clips. In essence what you are doing is retraining the cardboard. Leave clips on for a couple of days. Sometimes you'll have an ornery piece of cardboard, just repeat the process until you get the desired results. This little trick can really make a difference in the quality and appearance of your putz house.
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