Shoebox Cabin

• 1
  Diagram 1
  
  Remove the top of the shoebox and begin by painting the box brown, if desired. This step isn't really necessary, but will aid in disguising any gaps between the "logs." Mark a door and any windows and carefully cut them out (see diagram 1).
  
  
• 2). Lay a sheet of brown construction paper down on a flat surface with one short side at the bottom. Fold the sheet in half by bringing the top edge down to the bottom edge. Crease the fold. Now without unfolding the paper, bring the left side of the paper over to meet the right side and crease the fold. Now the paper is folded in quarters. Open the paper and cut along the folds. Each of these pieces will be a "log" for the short ends of the shoebox. To make "logs" for the long sides, fold paper in half lengthwise and unfold. Cut along the fold.
  
  
• 3
  Diagram 2
  
  Holding each quarter piece of paper lengthwise, wrap it around the marker or dowel to make a 5 1/4" "log" (see diagram 2). While holding the log in place around the marker or dowel, apply a thin line of glue to the seam and hold the paper in place until the glue dries. You can also use clothespins to hold the paper; with a hot glue gun, holding time is minimal - maybe 5 seconds. Remove the marker or dowel. Repeat the steps with the longer paper to make longer logs. Bear in mind logs may need to be trimmed to fit around door and windows.
  Let logs dry before trimming or gluing in place on box.
  
  
• 4
  Diagram 3
  
  Once the logs are dry, lay the box on one side and begin applying them to the box. Line them up closely and apply using glue. If using hot glue, the logs will not need to be held in place. Tacky glue may require holding the logs in place for a few moments. Make sure each side is dry before turning the box on another side to apply more logs. To make it appear more cabin-like, stagger the ends of the logs, as depicted in diagram 3.
  
  
• 5
  Diagram 4
  
  The next step is to use the cereal box or posterboard to make the roof. For the cereal box, carefully open the bottom flap and cut it off. Then cut off the top flaps. Cut off either the front or back panel. Now cut the cardboard into a 12"x12" square (note: many standard-sized cereal boxes will automatically be the right size without being cut down). For posterboard, cut out a 12"x12" square. The cereal box has the advantage of having two folds in place already. Fold the box in half lengthwise to make a third fold down the middle. This will be the peak of the roof. If cardstock is used, fold it in half lengthwise and then fold in half lengthwise once more. Unfold. The center fold is the peak (see diagram 4). Cover the roof with blue construction paper (or another color of your choice). Help the roof to keep its shape by gluing posterboard or cardboard triangles to each open peak.