The Happy Camper (Made With 100% Recycled Materials)

Recycling converts waste into reusable materials. Upcycling, on the other hand, transforms waste into a product of higher value, greater quality, and a finer product. The Happy Camper shows just how marvelous upcylcing can be, for both the artist and viewer alike. Upcycling doesn't just reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but conserves materials and reduces waste. The Happy Camper was made entirely from upcycled materials, which made it extremely inexpensive to make. It's a fairly simple craft to make, so, feel free to create your own camper, and help us breathe new life into old objects.

1. One medium to large cardboard box
2. Two to three old magazines (I used HGTV magazines, because they have plenty of colors)
3. One pair of scissors
4. Packaging tape (and/or liquid glue)
5. Pencil
6. Colored paper (old or new paper works)
7. Ruler or straightedge

Sources for this project/images:

https://www.ecowatch.com/upcycling-facts-ecowatch.html#:~:text=Quick%20Key%20Facts&text=Upcycling%20reduces%20waste%20in%20landfills,need%20for%20new%20plastic%20products.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Tx9qW8l7L._UX250_.jpg

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/95A5xCSGKyguZpTKSZkh8D.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EkYAAOSwfp1jPz3b/s-l1600.jpg

*Be sure to use the photos for reference. The shape of the camper can be a bit tricky to make.

1. Draw and cut out two rounded trapezoids. They should be about 8 inches long, and 4 inches wide. Don't worry about making them symmetrical, but make sure to give them the same dimensions. This will be the front side of the camper.
2. Draw and cut out one rectangle that is the same length as the "camper's roof", which is CIRCLED for you in one of the images. It should be about 4-5 inches, depending on how large your camper is.
3. Cut out two more rectangles, each should have the same width as Step 2's rectangle. They should have the same length as the "camper's sides", which are BOXED for you in a model image.
4. Use the ruler/straightedge to put creases in the rectangles. To do this, simply press the skinny side of the ruler upon the rectangles. Make as many creases a possible, and make sure they are all parallel to one another. This will allow you to curve the rectangles.
5. Cut out the door and window, using any dimensions you'd like. My window was about 1.5 by 3 inches, and my door was about 1 by 3 inches.

Do not attach anything yet.

1. Trace all your parts on colored or blank paper, and cut the paper out. If you made windows or doors, be sure to cut accordingly, and cut them out as well.
2. Attach your paper cutouts to their designated part. I recommend using Scotch Tape or packing tape for the majority of the project/attachments, but feel free to use glue or glue sticks.
3. Bend the rectangular parts using the creases, and attach them to the sides of the camper that are either boxed or circled in the image above. Remember, not all campers are symmetrical, so make sure you're attaching your cardboard to its designated side. Also, don't forget that the "roof piece" has a different measurement than the other two rectangular pieces.

1. Cut out the magazine images you wish to use. I recommend separating your cutouts into "groups", based on color. Remember, the cutouts don't have to be big, but they should be plentiful.
2. OPTIONAL, BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Tape the "groups" together, creating a square or rectangle that has similar dimensions to what you'll cut out. Think of it as shadow cutting, but in reverse.
3. Cut out your design, and tape it to your camper. I used stripes for my camper, but you could create hearts, polka dots, etc.
4. If you want to make a grass base, repeat the process, using only green cutouts. I arranged my cutouts from darkest to lightest, to give a light effect to my build. Only do this step if you have enough green cutouts to use. Trust me, you need a lot.

If you want to add some finishing touches to your camper, you've come to the right place. Again, none of these steps are necessities in this build, but I find the little decorations the most fun aspect of the camper. These aren't necessarily steps, but ideas. Feel free to use as many as you'd like.

1. Tires/wheels can be made by cutting out two or three circles. Then, rip off the thinest/surface layer of the cardboard, giving way to a ridged material. Place the two circles atop one another, and cut out the ridged cardboard, so that it matches the height/circumference of the attached circles. Attach the ridged cardboard to the wheels.
2. Make a fire by cutting out a large, red image, and a medium, orange image. Cut the red image into the shape of a flame, and cut the orange image into a smaller, less detailed shape of a flame. Attach the two, and add cardboard rectangles to add firewood.
3. To make curtains, cut out two right triangles, and add wrinkles/folds to them for detail. Attach to the inside of the window.
4. If you want to make bumper stickers, write messages on little sheets of paper, cut them out, and place on the camper. I did not use this idea in the model, so apologies for not giving any reference photos.

Thank you for supporting my project. Whether you built your own camper, or just read the instructions, I hope you enjoyed upcycling with me. If you have any praise or constructive criticism to give, please let me know in the comments. This was my first Instuctables post, so I still have a lot to learn. Hope you enjoyed!