£2.50

Giraffe in a Box

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A pendulum powered Giraffe to print out and make! Move the box, however slightly, and the giraffe bobs up and down enthusiastically!

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Print out the first five parts sheets onto thin card. (230 gsm / 67lb) The last page should be printed onto standard photocopier/printer paper. (80gsm)

Cut out all the holes and score along the dotted and dashed lines before carefully cutting out the parts.

Fold up and glue down the peg supports.


Glue the peg supports to the grey areas on the side pieces. Use the ‘Up’ and ‘Front’ labels to ensure that you get them aligned correctly.


Glue the side pieces to the box pieces. The side pieces need to line up with the centre fold and the top fold of the box. The grey arrow points to the top centre of the box. One is marked Top Front (above) the other is marked Top Back.

Fold up the tabs top and bottom to make three right angled triangular section tubes.


Glue together the three support pegs as shown.


Assemble the bell crank and glue on the paper hinges in the positions shown.


Glue together the two parts of the pendulum back to back as shown above. Glue on the round paper hinge.


Assemble the top link and glue on the paper hinge.


Glue the two box halves together so that the front of the box is in the centre. Fold the box round and glue up the front lower flap to keep the box in shape.

Glue the three pegs to the grey areas on the peg support pieces. Make sure that the box stays square as the glue dries.

Glue the pendulum to the front peg by the paper hinge as shown.


Make up two coin packs with some off-cuts of card. Each pack has two coins, I have used 2 x 2p pieces (25mm diameter 7grams weight.


Glue the coin packs to the pendulum front and back as shown.


Glue a paper hinge to the lower linkage piece. Glue the hinge to the centre of the rear coin pack as shown. Fit the bell crank, upper linkage and vertical piece. the diagram in the next section will help with working out what fits where. Bear in mind that the bell crank threads through the hole in the centre of the pendulum.


Fit the bell crank, upper linkage and vertical piece.


Assemble the giraffe neck and head


Make up the horns and ears by folding over and gluing down the paper to make double thickness. Cut them out and glue them into place. Glue on the eyes.


Make up the lids by folding over the card to make double thickness card sandwiching the hinge in the middle.


Glue up the box side and glue down the remaining bottom flap.

Glue the neck to the vertical piece then glue on the lids.


Touch the box and the giraffe will bob enthusiastically!

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