Introduction: An Undersea Turtle Costume Made Simple

About: I am awesome.

This instructable was inspired by a school project in my technology class. We were given the task of creating costumes made completely from slotted construction and cardboard. No glue, no tape. We needed to learn the design process hands on so we were placed in groups to determine the main theme of our costumes. Our project which had seemed so simple had evolved into a day by day mindset. Cardboard, learning about cardboard, and slotting cardboard was all that was on our minds. My group of four peers settled on the theme of "Marine Life". This incorperated a clownfish(anemone-fish), a seahorse, a jellyfish, and a sea turtle.
I learned a lot about how hard a designer's job really is. There are many steps which all require deep thought. You may be surprised that the final step, creating the product, is one of the easiest! However, the work paid off and I know have this easy and simple costume to share with you. You can use this for a school play or even trick or treating on a tight budget. Either way, I know you'll look great in it.

 This is the basis of what we needed for the costume in case your curious

Specs-

1. Made from only cardboard
2. Made from slotted constructions
3. No adhesive
4. Must be flat-pack

Limits- 

1. must be able to fit through a 7' by 3' opening

Step 1: Materials, Tools, & Parts (Oh My!)

The materials needed for this costume are cheap, easy to find, and easy to decorate. In the steps I will give a name of a material or tool and if you aren't sure what that is it will have the name next to it.
ex. Use the poster board(S1)

Name - Amount - Materials - Size - Use

S1 -4 - two ply sheets of carboard - 1'4'' by 8'' - Turtle Foot
S2 -1 - sheet of poasterboard sheet - 2' 6'' by 3'6'' - Turtle shell

Name - Amount - Tool - Use

T1 - 1 - Ex-acto knife - to cut cardboard
T2 - 1 - Cutting mat - to save your tables and floors from gouging
T3 - 1 - Pencil - To mark measurements
T4 - 1- Ruler - To measure  

Name - Amount - Part

P1 - 4 - Turtle foot
P2 - 1 - Turtle Shell

Step 2: Step 1. Preparation

Find a clear space to work and lay out all of your tools and materials close by.
Read through the rules once before begining. You may find that you want things to be slightly different and once you cut there is no going back.

Step 3: Steps for the Creating Turtle Foot (P1)

1. Take out a sheet of cardboard(S1) and lay it over the cutting mat(T2).
2. Start at the top-left edge and measure(T4) down 4'' and mark(T3) as point "A"
3. Measure(T4) across to the right 6'' and mark(T3) as point "B"
4. Measure(T4) across to the right 3'' and up 4'' and mark(T3) as point "C"
5. Measure(T4) down 4'' and over to the right 3'' and mark(T3) as point "D"
6. Measure(T4) from "D" to the right and at the edge mark(T3) point "E"
7. Measure(T4) down 2'' from "A" and mark(T3) as point "F"
8. Measure(T4) down 2'' from "B" and mark(T3) as point "G"
9. Measure(T4) down 2'' from"D" and mark(T3) as point "J"
10.Measure(T4) down 2'' from "E" and mark(T3) as point "K"
11.Measure(T4) from "G" down 2'' and over to the right 2'' and mark(T3) as point "H"
12.Measure(T4) across to the right 2'' and mark(T3) as point "I"
13.Draw(T3) a line from "A" to "B", from "B" to "C", from "C" to "D", and from "D" to E"
14.Draw(T3) a line from "F" to "G",  from "H" to "I",  and from "J" to K"
15. Draw(T3) a rounded outward line from "G" to "H" and from "I" to "J",
16. Use the knife(T1) to cut along the lines.
17. Measure(T4) 1/2'' to the right from point "A" and score(T3) and down 1'' and score(T3).
18. Cut(T1) between the score marks.
19. Measure(T4) 1/2'' to the left from point "K" and score(T3) and down 1'' and score(T3).
20. Cut(T1) between the score marks.

Step 4: Steps for Assembling the Turtle Foot (P1)

1. Wrap cardboard around leg or arm.
2. Connect the cut near point "K" to the cut near "A"
3. Slot together

Step 5: Steps for Creating the Turtle Shell (P2)

1. Place the cutting mat(T2) under the posterboard(S2). Measure(T4) 4'' to the right of the top left corner and mark(T3) as "A"
2. Measure(T4) 2'' to the right of "A" and mark(T3) as "B"
3. Measure(T4) 6'' to the right of "B"and mark(T3) as "C"
4. Measure(T4) 2'' to the right "C" and mark(T3) as "A"
5. Measure(T4) down 9'' from "A","B","C",and "D" and mark(T3) as "E", "F", "G",and "H"
6. Measure(T4) 4'' to the left and 4'' down of "E" and mark(T3) as "I"
7. Measure(T4) 6'' down from "I" and mark(T3) as "K"
8. Measure(T4) 1'6'' to the right of "I" and "K" and mark(T3) as "J" and "L".
9. Measure(T4) 6'' to the right of "K" and down 1' and mark(T3) as "M"
10. Measure(T4) across 6'' and mark(T3) as "N"
11. Draw(T3) a rounded outward line from "K" to "M" and from "L" to "M"
12.Draw(T3) a line from "I" to "E", "E" to "A", "B" to F", "G" to "C", "D" to "H", and "H" to "J"
13. Go over 1'6'' from the top-left edge and perform steps 1.- but don't mark "A","B","C", and "D". Also, add a "2" to every letter. 
14. Draw(T3) a rounded inward line from "F" to "G".
15. Draw(T3) a line from "E2" to "H2"
16. Cut a 1'' slot near "A", "C", "E2", and "H2"

Step 6: Steps for Assembling the Turtle Shell (P2)

1. Wrap around body.
2. Slot the scored mark areas to the back of the costume