This project is rated as MODERATE.
Materials needed: Card stock, scissors (or craft knife); optionally: corrugated cardboard, sabre saw, paint
This project offers two options.
The first option is the easiest. In this option, you will print out (on card stock) a pattern to make a table which is suitable to use as doll furniture.
Here is a picture of a completed table.
Print the pattern for making a small table on card stock.
Cut out the pattern pieces along the solid lines. (Also cut out the 4 triangular pieces.)
The dashed lines indicate where the pieces are to be folded.
The legs each have two slots that you are to be cut. These slots must have a width that is approximately two thicknesses of the card stock.
The large piece is the table top and its supporting under structure. Lay that piece on a flat surface and fold upward along the dashed lines.
When properly folded, the short pieces will be vertical and touching. The parts with the triangles will be sloping and the bases of the triangles (in pairs) will be adjacent.
Next, prepare the legs. Fold along each fold line.
Then open the piece(s) and fold only along the center line.
On each piece, tape the open ends together.
Each leg then can be opened into a diamond shape.
Insert each leg into the triangles in the supporting structure of the bottom of the top. The slots in the leg pieces are to fit over the vertical pieces and hold them together.
Your table is complete. Turn it over and set it on its legs.
The second option is a little more difficult. The second option is provided so that you can make your table a different size (even a full size table that you can use as a desk, dining table, etc.)
Let's start out with a small table that is to fit in with other doll house furniture.
First, print a pattern for the table pieces that contain relative dimensions. In this pattern, the critical dimensions are given in terms of the length (L) of the cardboard you are going to use. In the case of doll house furniture, your main concern will be the size of the table top and the
height of the legs. You have complete control of these dimensions. The width of the table top will be what ever you want it to be. However, you will use the depth of the table to calculate the length (L) of the cardboard that you will need and you will use to determine other critical dimensions. Choose the depth (D) you want the table to be and divide it by .426 to get the total length (L). (L = D / .426).
Cut out a rectangular piece of cardboard that has a width, W, and a length, L. (Note: Cereal boxes are a good source for cardboard if you are making a table that is larger than the one in the first option. If you are making a smaller table, use card stock, or even paper.)
Then cut out two leg pieces that are rectangles that have the height dimension that you have chosen and the width of the pieces is to be .812L.
Using the printout with dimensions, lay out on the top piece and the leg pieces, the cut lines and the fold lines using the dimensions in terms of the length (L).
Cut and fold as in the first option to make a table.
The second option can also be used to make a full size usable table. However, you will need corrugated cardboard to have a sufficiently strong table. There are a few extra things you must do to make a full size table.
Your dimensions may be dictated by the size of the cardboard that you can obtain. You will need 3 (optionally 4) pieces of cardboard. You will need a large piece of width (W) and Length (L) for the top. Then 2 pieces that are rectangles with
height (H) and width .812L. Optionally, you may want to add a piece for bracing. This piece will have a width that is the distance between the points of the triangles plus 6 inches. Its height should be about one half the
height of the legs.
Use the printout containing dimensions to layout the cut lines and fold lines on the pieces.
If you are making a brace, draw a fold line in 3 inches from each edge of the brace piece.
Note that the slots in the legs must have a width equal to two thicknesses of your cardboard.
Tape the open ends of the legs as described earlier. Since this is a large table, initially, only tape the legs at the top and bottom.
Corrugated cardboard is more rigid in one direction than the other. Layout the top piece of your table with the corrugations in the length (L) direction. The legs should have the corrugations running in the same direction as the
height of the legs.
A note about cutting. Corrugated card board is harder to cut than thinner cardboards. I recommend using a
saber saw with a knife type blade. You can use a utility knife and you will find it easiest to use it in a sawing motion.
Fold and assemble the table in the same manner as used for a small table.
If you have made a brace (recommended,) fold it along the fold lines at right angles to the center part of the piece. This can then be inserted into the openings on each leg.
If you plan on disassembling the table for storage, tape the open edges of each leg, just below the brace. If you will not be disassembling the table, you can add tape to hold the brace in place and also add tape to hold the legs to the top.
Your cardboard may have some unwanted markings on it. You can cover these by painting the entire piece. If you are particular about the looks of the table, you might also bind the cut edges using tape before painting.
Here is a picture of a "stand up" desk made with corrugated cardboard. Displayed on the desktop is a small table made from a cereal box, and a table made from card stock using the printed pattern.
