Meow-sical Cardboard in Motion : 41 Steps (with Pictures)

I’ve always been fascinated by the kinetic sculptures of Reuben Margolin. After watching his TED Talk, I began dreaming of creating a piece where a violin transforms into a tree, with its leaves shaped like musical notes floating away in the wind. This vision evolved into a kinetic artwork where the motion of the notes mimics the flowing curve of wind and the sound of a violin.

Supplies

Industrial cardboard (4mm thick)
Thin cardboard
White glue
Acrylic paints (greens, blues, browns, black, white)
Sponge (for dabbing paint)
Metal eyelets (the kind used for shoelaces)
Washer rings (small metal ones, to add weight to the notes)
Blue and white thread
Tweezers or pliers
Cutting knife (X-Acto)
Ruler
Markers (like a white permanent one for the wind lines)
AA battery holder (for 2 AA batteries)
On/off switch
Gear motor
Heat shrink tubing
Soldering iron or heat source (I used a candle)
Mototool with a small drill bit
3D printer (for the motion mechanism parts)
Acrylic sheet (for front protection)
Illustrator or similar design software
Access to a laser cutter

Step 1: 🖥️ Setting Up the Base Design

I used Illustrator to create the shapes and layers of the frame. I started by defining the outer dimensions, the motor’s center point, and holes for the threads.

Step 2: 🌀 Customizing Silhouettes

I downloaded some basic shapes from Freepik and edited them by converting them into silhouettes and warping them to achieve the desired effect — like blending a violin and tree into one.

Step 3: Layering and Planning Around the Motor

I gradually added elements to each layer. Illustrator’s layer feature made it easier to visualize their placement, especially in relation to the motor, ensuring it would be hidden by the design.

Step 4: 🛠️ Functional Cutouts

I designed the cutouts for the battery box, motor, wiring, and switch in the appropriate layers.

Step 5: 🌈Color-Coding Layers

I assigned different colors to each layer to study how they interact and ensure everything aligned correctly.

Step 6: 📁Preparing Files for Laser Cutting

I created two files: one for cutting 4mm thick industrial cardboard, and another for thinner cardboard. I added corner tabs and borders to increase depth between layers.

Step 7: 🔥Laser Cutting Time

I sent the files for laser cutting.

Step 8: 🧽 Cleaning Up

After cutting, I wiped the edges with a damp cloth to remove the soot left by the laser.

Step 9: Sealing the Edges

Even after cleaning, the edges still stained. I sealed them with white glue to prevent smudging.

Step 10: Adding Metal Eyelets

I inserted small metal eyelets (like the ones used for shoelaces) into the tiny holes surrounding the large central circle.

Step 11: 🌿Adding Green Shades

Using a sponge, I dabbed on green paint — a stronger tone for the foreground and bluer tones for the background.

Step 12: Coloring Browns

I used various brown tones for the violin, branches, cats, and their tails.

Step 13: Painting the Sky

I created a sky gradient from dark blue to white by dabbing and blending with a sponge.

Step 14: 🔩 Assembling Initial Layers

I started gluing the layers near the switch, applying white glue between pieces.

Step 15: 🎻 the Violin Layer

I added support tabs and the violin piece, ensuring everything aligned.

📝 Note: Any added lower supports/extra spaces, must be mirrored on top to keep even thickness.

Step 16: Preparing for the Switch

I marked and drilled holes for the switch using a small drill bit.

Step 17: 🔌Wiring the Switch

I cut the red wire from the battery box, stripped it, twisted it to the switch, and secured it with heat shrink tubing.

Step 18: ⚙️Installing Power

I glued the battery box into its space and attached the switch with tiny screws.

Step 19: Connecting the Motor

I placed the gear motor into its slot and connected the wires: black from the battery and red from the switch.

Step 20: 🖊️Drawing Wind Waves

I drew a curved line on cardboard as a guide for the wind lines, then traced it onto the sky layer using a white permanent marker.

Step 21: 🪡Thread Passages

I placed metal eyelets on the top sky layer to guide the threads that hold the musical notes.

Step 22: Gluing More Layers

I glued the missing layers like the sky, cats, and tails.

Step 23: Adding Depth With Back Layers

I glued two border layers to the back side of the sky piece to add depth, then attached the layer with the large circle and smaller surrounding holes.

(Note: In the photos, this piece appears painted blue like the sky, but that’s just because I initially painted the wrong side by mistake.)

Step 24: ⚙️ Designing and Printing the Motion Mechanism

I 3D modeled a custom piece to create the rotating motion. On one side, it connects to the motor shaft, and on the other side, it has a hole designed to fit a small bearing. I also 3D printed a second, smaller piece that fits snugly inside the bearing — this is the part I would later use to tie the strings.

Step 25: 🔩Assembling the Thread Holder

I inserted the small 3D-printed piece into the bearing. Then, using a piece of wire, I shaped a loop with two straight ends. I heated those ends with a candle and carefully embedded them into the small printed piece inside the bearing. This created a secure metal loop where I could later tie all the threads.

Step 26: Mounting the Motion System

I installed the 3D piece on the motor axle, added two more depth layers, and finally glued the back layer with holes for hanging the frame on a wall.

Step 27: 🎻Violin Details

I added a small piece to simulate the bridge and glued white threads as strings after dipping them in glue.

Step 28: 🎵 Painting the Musical Notes

I sponged black paint onto the musical notes.

Step 29: Adding Weight to Notes

I painted small iron washers blue to blend with the sky and used them to add weight for proper motion.

Step 30: 🧵Threading the Notes

I took pairs of washers and tied them together using a thread. Then, I passed each thread through one of the top holes on the sky layer (where I had installed the eyelets), and continued threading it through one of the smaller holes surrounding the large central circle on the next layer.

Step 31: Tying All Threads to the Ring

I pulled all the threads tight so that the washers sat snugly against the eyelets on the sky layer. With the threads grouped together, I found the central point where they all met naturally. To that distance, I added the space between the motor’s axis and the loop on the bearing. That gave me the exact spot where I needed to tie a knot, securing all the threads tightly to the metal loop I had embedded in the small 3D-printed piece inside the bearing.