Small Elephant From Cardboard and Concrete

Sometime ago I saw this great instructable from mcr2582: https://www.instructables.com/Carved-Plywood-Rocking-Elephant/

I thought wow this is cute, but unfortunately I have neither some kids for this age nor the space to build it.

After a while it comes to my mind to build a smaller version of this from cardboard and concrete.

It's much easier (and faster) to build.

So here is my first instructable how I have done this.

• Cement
• Sand
• Water
• Cardboard
• a printer to print the files
• A saw. I have used a jigsaw, but I think if you want to build it with your kids also a fretsaw will do great.
• Liquid glue
• A brush
• a Scissor
• 60 grain sandpaper

First thing to do is to download the PDF with the parts.

I have printed them first on A4 paper, but this was very very small.

Then I printed them with the Adobe Reader as poster with 35%. Every page Is then printed on 4 sheets. This size was OK for me.

Then cut out all the bigger pieces with a scissor. You don't have to cut out also the inside, only the outside, as shown in pic2.

Then transfer the outline to the cardboard.

To cut out the cardboard I have used my jigsaw on a stand. With this it was really easy to cut them out.

The dimension from the original with the width of the wood doesn't match the width from the cardboard, which results in a very fat elephant :-)

So I thought why not use only every second part and make two elephants from them.

So I glued every second piece together.

Last part were the ears. The original is made from a million pieces (so it seems to me). This was not possible with the cardboard. So what to do?

I have cut out two ears and taped them to the head and glued them from the back with liquid glue.

Their very fragile then, so be careful with them.

I have mixed then 50% cement and 50% quartz sand with water, so that it is more liquid and usable with a brush.

Then brush on the first thin layer.

Let it dry for 24 hours and paint a second layer.

I have used 4 thin layers of concrete.

When you don't see any cardboard anymore, let it dry for at least 48 hours. Then smooth it with 60 grain sand paper.

But don't use it too much. You don't want to destroy the structure of the concrete. For me, the uneven concrete reminded me of real elephant skin.

Wash them, let them dry.

Go your local hobby shop and by some eyes. I have bought them in our local toy store.

Glue them to the head and you are ready.

And so they are look like when ready