DIY Cardboard Deer Head

I have always wanted a Cardboard Deer Head like the ones you see at trendy shops or at http://www.cardboardsafari.com/shop/product_cbs1002.php but couldn't justify spending money on something I know I can make myself.

In this Instructable I will show you how I made my Cardboard Deer Head. Its not perfect but I am happy with it. The total project took me about 10+ hours off and on. My best advice is too take breaks and don't get frustrated (cutting gets a little tedious).  If you had a laser cutter this would probably take you less than 30 minutes of actual work.

PLEASE NOTE
Cutting cardboard can be difficult. Please be careful to not cut yourself, always cut away from yourself!

Shall we get started?

Step 1: Supplies and Materials

The Best part about this Instructable? ITS FREE! That"s right free, that is of course if you have most of the supplies on hand.

Supplies
Scissors
Box Cutter
Hot glue gun
Tape (masking tape works well)

Optional (but recommended)
Exacto-knife

Materials
Cardboard (best if it is clean, not bent up, and doesn't have anything printed on it)
Template printed off (I attached a .zip file with the template scaled so you can print at any standard printer. Also a much larger .png file if you want to scale up or play with)
Pop top

Step 2: Cut out the template

Start by cutting out the template. (I provided a .zip file on the last step)

Once you cut out all the pieces tape together any pieces that weren't able to be printed on one page. ( The head with the antlers and the middle) Look at the closer images for reference. If you have any questions feel free to ask

After you have taped the pieces together that needed to be, loop your masking tape on the back of the template pieces.

Step 3: Start cutting out the cardboard

Once you have a piece taped down carefully start cutting out. I put sheet of cardboard down so i wouldn't cut my carpet up.
Go slow and take brakes. Use you scissors or exacto-knife for smaller more detailed cuts.

Don't worry about cutting the notches where the pieces go together just yet. I saved that for the next step to assembly line the processes.

Be sure to recycle any scrap cardboard and paper. No point in putting that in a land fill.

Step 4: Cut the Notches out

This part in my opinion is the hardest, but dont let that discourage you.

This is where having an exacto-knife set comes in handy. Due to the varying sizes of cardboard thickness, use the printed lines more as guides vs actual.  Luckily for me I had a square exacto-knife perfect for my cardboard.

Carefully cut out the notches if your cardboard is thicker than the template be sure to center your cuts. (be careful not to cut off or rip piece that shouldn't be, I did but its not a big deal)

Take the paper and tape off, and RECYCLE IT!!!

Step 5: FINISHED. Put it all together

Finishing
Following the guide I have provided, start at the bottom and go to the top putting the pieces in the notches. Its basically biggest to smallest. When I took these photos I switched around 8 and 9 no big deal. I have since fixed it but haven't taken new pictures.

Glue the Shields together
Glue the antlers on
Glue the pop top onto the back of the shield for something to hang it with.
Finally glue the head to the shield

And done, its like your a hunter. you can now brag to your friends that you hunted and mounted your own buck.

Optional
You will notice if you used a box cutter the edges will be jagged. I sanded down the edges to smooth it out.

Other ideas
If you are like me you want something a little different. I am eventually going to spray paint mine, but you could also cover each piece in old maps (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ku5dpjz1CS1qzn34eo1_400.jpg). You could also cover it in camouflage duck tape.

With election season coming up you could make this out of corrugated plastic political signs.

The possibilities are endless. Feel free to post other ideas on what to do.
Please post pictures of your deer head.

Final Thoughts
I had a lot of fun making this project, and would appreciate any positive feed back. Feel free to modify the template I have provided.
My hope is to make more projects like this one. Moose head, bull head, maybe even an elephant head? Who knows?

Comments

[mollldoll]

Thank you for the great plans! Spent the afternoon making this :)

[Imeanhoneybee]

Here's mine, not finished yet because I may have made it a tad too big for our house!

[kasaiyuri]

do you think this would work with plywood?
or do you think it would be too heavy?

[scarnz]

Does anyone have a template for other animals? Rhino, unicorn...

[Flybell]

mounted a horse head today based on similar principles. the clippers are there because I
I'm still waiting for the glue to dry!

[iditkosti]

Thanks a lot for the great instructions!

[brongier]

I did it on my own... after a long work... and a lot of cutter blades...
Thanks for the template... I am so proud of my deer!

[smattson1]

I put this one together this weekend, fun project, had some leftover paint in the garage so...

[borregotv]

Amazing going to try this, also a question how do you design the template? I love to do some other animals too
Thanks

[gfxdug]

Thanks for the template! I had a lot of fun making this. Used Black Foamcore & burlap.

[marywasadj]

I love this thing SO much! I just made one from USPS boxes! THANKS SO MUCH!!

[Marcus Gibson]

Great design, Soupraok. Thanks. Here's a jumbo version, from a jumbo box.

[Soupraok]

Did you blow up the original plans?

[deesseau]

Thank your for this very nice project. I did mine with scraps of foam sheets, just to try it ; i will do a much bigger one in black foam board soon.

[Soupraok]

I like the different colors!

[rlievens]

Pictures

[Soupraok]

That turned out great!

[rlievens]

Inspired by this tutorial I made my version of this deer head. http://www.cardboardsafari.com/shop/product_cbs1001.php

This is my prototype (plastic). I will maybe upload a tutorial on how to make this :)

[catchaba]

Here it is.

[Soupraok]

That looks amazing! I love the black!

[catchaba]

Thank you for the template. Here are my pictures - as you wished:)

[Jordan Dyck]

another question how did you re size the pics im not the best at computer stuff

[Soupraok]

Any photo editing program. Gimp is a good free one.

[PeterW1965]

I would love to do this on a larger scale, but i cant seem to find the PNG file...

[Soupraok]

Step 1 Last photo
or
http://www.instructables.com/file/F9EXUXBGYKQ5O6M/?size=ORIGINAL

[at00263]

JUST finished this project tonight and I love it! Perfect size and everything (I was worried it'd be too small) Thanks for uploading such awesome instructions~ :)

[Soupraok]

Good to hear man, I had the same concern when i was making it lol.

[bobthebuilder728]

I made one! Thanks alot for the idea, I was just about ready to give up, it took me 4 hours, but I finished, and its going above my mantle.

[Soupraok]

That looks great man! Good job!

[jdaley99702]

This gives me an idea, I might take your template and put it onto some 1/4 or 1/8 in wood and make it out of that. Nice job

[Soupraok]

That is what I wanted to do but don't have the proper tools. Let me know how that goes, maybe post a picture when you are done? Good luck!

[Jordan Dyck]

hey bud about how many square feet would you say you need to make this thing? i work at Canadian Tire and want to get it all in one go.

[Soupraok]

No idea. Really its as big or small as you want to make it. If you have the skills to print. I used halve of a microwave box. Any fairly decently big box will do.

[Lorddrake]

excellent job.

now take it to the next step .. using the cardboard as a skeletal support cover it in papier mache, or plaster bandages. Then add some faux fur and presto ... home made lifelike deer head to decorate your wall.

:)

[the vengeful aug]

Or he could take it even further. He could shoot a real one!

[Lorddrake]

if he had the tool, skills, and desire to ... I agree
Some people don't hunt, some people don't eat meat, and that is their choice.
Personally I think deer are quite tasty. But if you aren't going to eat it ... don't kill it.

*steps down off his soapbox*

:)

[the vengeful aug]

Yeah I was kidding. But we eat everything we shoot and it tastes pretty good.