Colossal Cardboard Camera-Flat Pack Construction

The freshmen students at my school created a line of marine themed costumes from recycled cardboard using slotted construction for assembly. The costumes were made to fit middle school children on Halloween and had to be flat pack/slotted construction design. The costume I made is an underwater camera.

Design Brief:
There were five people in my group and each person had to create a different costume. We decided on the theme "Marine Accessories", which include a surfboard, a life preserver, a flipper, a pair of goggles, and of course, an underwater camera. The costumes all must be made using only one material, cardboard, and must be assembled through slotted and flat pack construction.

Specifications:
-Marine theme
-Five costumes
-Designed for Middle School children
-Easily assembled through flat pack construction
-Safe to wear

Limits:
-Only allowed to use cardboard
-NO adhesives such as glue or tape
-MUST be Marine Themed
-Flat pack construction ONLY

                      Supply List
ITEM           MATERIAL         QTY
S1              Cardboard      4.4 x 2 feet (2)
                                           2.8 x 2.8 feet (2)
                                            5.5 x .5 feet (2)
                                              1 x .7 feet (1)
                                         
            Tools and Equipment List
ITEM         TOOL                USE
T1         Cutting Mat          Protect tables/mats from being damaged by the utility knife
T2         Utility Knife          Cut the cardboard
T3              Ruler               To make measurements and draw straight lines
T4              Pencil              To draw the drawings and mark where the cardboard would be cut

                       Supply List
ITEM             QTY               PART NAME
P1                    1                   Front Body
P2                    1                   Back Body
P3                    1                    Left Side
P4                    1                   Right Side
P5                    1             Left Shoulder Strap
P6                    1            Right Shoulder Strap
P7                    1                 Shutter Button

Step 1: The Front of the Camera

-Use a ruler (T3) to measure 4.4 by 2 feet on a sheet of cardboard (S1)and mark it with a pencil (T4).

-Lay down a cutting mat (T1) so as not to damage the surface of the area you are working on and use a utility knife (T2) to cut along the measurements you made with the ruler (T3) and pencil (T4).

-Cut two slots with the utility knife (T2) on each side at the top of the piece of cardboard (S1), each about 4 inches long. Then, make a slot on each side, each starting two inches from the top and two inches from the bottom.

Step 2: The Back of the Camera

-Repeat step 1.

Step 3: The Left Side of the Camera

-Use a ruler (T3) to measure 2.8 by 2.8 feet on a sheet of cardboard (S1) and mark it with a pencil (T4).

-Lay down a cutting mat (T1) so not to damage the surface of the area you are working on and use a utility knife (T2) to cut along the measurements you made with the ruler (T3) and pencil (T4).

-Use the utility knife (T2) to cut two slots, one on each side of the piece of cardboard (S1). Make each slot about 20 inches long.

Step 4: The Right Side of the Camera

-Repeat Step 3.

Step 5: The Left Shoulder Strap

-Use a ruler (T3) to measure 5.4 by .5 feet of cardboard (S1) and mark it with a pencil (T4).

-Use a utility knife (T2) to cut out the measurements you made and use a utility mat (T1) so you don't damage the area you are working on.

-Use a utility knife (T2) to cut a 3 inch slot on the .5 feet end of the piece of cardboard.

Step 6: The Right Shoulder Strap

-Repeat step 5.

Step 7: The Shutter Button

-Use a ruler (T3) to measure 1 by .7 feet on a sheet of cardboard (S1) and mark it with a pencil (T4).

-Use a utility knife (T2) to cut out the 1 by .7 feet sheet of cardboard and lay down a cutting mat (T1)so you don't damage the area you are working on.

-Use a utility knife (T2) to cut a 2 inch slot on each .7 foot end of the cardboard.

Step 8: Assembling the Underwater Camera

-Insert (P3) and (P4) into the slots on (P1).

-Insert the other ends of (P3) and (P4) into the slots on (P2).

-Insert (P1) and (P2) into the slots on (P5) and (P6), crossing (P5) and (P6) over eachother for extra support.

-Fold (P7) into three parts, making the middle section the largest and the sections on each end about 4 inches wide. Insert (P7) onto the right side of (P1).

Click here to see my plan of procedures.