How to make a cardboard rocket

I LOVE blog posts that give me step by step instructions for wonderful craft ideas that I can then fob off as my own.

I mostly steal ideas for delicious cakes, festive wreaths and fancy dress outfits.  I add a good dose of wine and a lot more sellotape than required and usually end up with something that looks and/or tastes a bit shit.

Here is my version of one of those lovely, informative blog posts.  We had an old packing box in the house and I thought it would look cute transformed into a rocket.  Next time, I will leave the box in one piece and let Z use his imagination.

Making a Cardboard Rocket

Things you will need:
- a sturdy cardboard box
- extra cardboard
- parcel tape
- masking tape
- double sided tape
- scissors
- a plate
- tin foil
- stickers
- more poster paint than you have in the house
- some wine

Instructions for Day One

1. Cut the cardboard box down one side and insert extra cardboard panel to create a 5 sided "tunnel" using parcel tape (this was unnecessary - stick with a 4 sided rocket for ease)

2. Cut off bottom flaps of box to create firm base

3. Cut corners off top flaps of box and tape together to create pointed, rocket shape roof.  (don't use parcel tape for this, use masking tape, you cannot paint over parcel tape)

4. Use plate to draw circle on one side of box and cut out "window"

5. Tell toddler to go back and watch telly - rocket is not ready yet and there are scissors lying around

6. Cut out two sides of a rectangle on one side of the box, starting at the bottom to create a "door"

7. Lay out token gesture newspaper on the floor

8. Get toddler to come and help paint the rocket.

9. Decide to have a blue rocket with a red roof and a yellow door.

10. Mix all paint together to create a purple/ brown colour and paint all over rocket and floor

11. Trample paint all over house

12. Explain to toddler that he can't play in the rocket until it is dry.  Get toddler to watch more telly to avoid tantrum

13. Hide rocket while it dries (cursing 5th side that means it will not fit through door) and cover a piece of cardboard in tin foil using double sided tape

14. Get toddler to make "control panel" using stickers on tin foil covered cardboard

15. Go out to avoid another tantrum over not yet dry rocket.  Curse the fact you used parcel tape which the toddler painted over and now won't dry

16. Eventually allow toddler to play in rocket and take photos.

17. Once toddler and babies have gone to bed, drink lots of wine and glare at rocket.  Bemoan involvement of toddler in rocket making activity.  Decide that actually all errors in crafting are your fault and you are a second rate mother/ crafter

18. Drink more wine and feel all better

Instructions for Day Two

1. Take toddler to nursery

2. Cut open cardboard rocket and turn it inside out so that the packing company advertising is on the inside (which you should have done in the first place)

2. Remove all parcel tape

3. Stick all sides together using masking tape (with some parcel tape inside for strength)

4. Go round raw edges of door, window, bottom of rocket etc with masking tape

5. Paint entire rocket in correct colours.  Nearly run out of paint.  Manage to get by.

6. Use spare cardboard to make wings.  Paint in correct colour.  Cut slits in side of rocket, score along side of wings, put wings through slits and secure inside with parcel tape

7. Recover cardboard with tin foil for control panel and cover in sticky back plastic so that tin foil cannot be ripped off and deposited around the house. 

8. Add lots of lovely details like a "framed" family photo on the wall inside and authentic writing on outside. 

9. Take photos that you can actually put on Instagram

 

10. Collect toddler from nursery and spend entire evening being a bit overprotective of cardboard rocket

 

11. Decide never to craft again