Introduction: Creating a Sea Anemone From Only CARDBOARD

Recently, a school project was assigned; one had to create a costume for young children with a marine theme, to sponsor a "green" environment, out of cardboard and only cardboard. No staples, tape, glue, or any other type of attachment could be used, leading us to use slotted construction as an alternate. Divided into groups, my job was to create a costume of some type of invertebrate; I picked the sea anemone considering how easy it could be and also what an interesting invertebrate it is.
Specifications: Make a marine-themed costume out of cardboard.
Limitations: Do not use glue, tape, staples, or anything but the cardboard itself.

Step 1: MATERIALS

-Nine 24" by 24" pieces of cardboard
-One 24" by 8" piece of cardboard

Tools:
-Cutting mat
-Utility knife
-Ruler
-Pencil
-Circle template/Compass

Parts:
-Tentacles
-Helmet
-Chin Strap
-Body Piece

Step 2: Creating the Tentacles

1. Use the ruler to measure a 12” by 3” piece of cardboard.
2. Use the pencil to mark these measurements.
3. With the utility knife, cut the cardboard according to said measurements. Be sure to cut on the cutting mat.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 until eight pieces are produced.
5. Optional: When cutting the 12” sides of the cardboard, curve your cut rather then going straight, to more accurately mimic a waving tentacle.

Step 3: Creating the Helmet

1. Use the ruler to measure a 24” by 8” piece of cardboard.
2. Mark these measurements with the pencil.
3. Cut the cardboard according to your measurements with the utility knife on the cutting mat.
4. Using the ruler, measure and divide the cardboard piece into 8” long sections across the 24” side.
5. Use the pencil to mark these measurements.
6. Fold cardboard at each marked line into 8” by 8” factions.
7. In the middle faction, cut four 1” slots at each corner with the utility knife on the cutting mat.
8. On the side faction, use the utility knife to cut one 1” slot at the far end of the piece on the cutting mat.
9. Repeat step 8 on the opposite side faction.

Step 4: Creating the Chin-Strap

1. Use the ruler to measure a 4” by 1” cardboard piece.
2. Use the pencil to mark these measurements.
3. Cut the cardboard according to your measurements with the utility knife on the cutting mat.

Step 5: Creating the Body Piece

1. Use the ruler to measure a 96” (8’) by 24” (2’) piece of cardboard.
2. Use the pencil to mark the measurements made in step 1.
3. Cut the cardboard according to the measurements with the utility knife on the cutting mat.
4. Use the ruler to measure four 24” by 24” squares in this cardboard piece.
5. Fold at these measurements so that the piece is now divided into four 24” by 24” factions.
6. Measure one inch squares on the end of the piece with the ruler. The squares must be one inch away from each other.
7. Mark these measurements with the pencil.
8. Cut out the squares using the utility knife on the cutting mat.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 on the opposite side. Make sure the protruding squares align with the spaces made by the squares you cut out in steps 6-8.

Step 6: Putting It All Together

1. Fold the body piece so that each faction is perpendicular to the ones next to it.
2. Insert the protruding squares from one side of the body piece into the spaces on the opposite side. In doing this, the protruding squares on the opposite side will also be inserted into the spaces on your side.
3. Insert each end of the chin strap into the one-inch slits on the sides of the helmet.
4. Insert each tentacle into the one-inch slits on the top of the helmet.