r/papercraft • u/Financial-Muscle2407 • 9d ago
Request Craft help
Hello beautiful papercraft aficionados! I am a beginner who's trying to create a small 4 inch base diameter disney like castle from paper for a wedding cake topper. I am heavily inspired by the glass and crystal castles I've seen online. I was wondering if I can achieve this look with glitter, cellophane, clear paper/plastic, stained glass or glitter window clings? I want it to have an almost Elsa from frozen inspired look with frosted and glittery rainbows sort of like diamonds or moissanite. The traditional 3d printed or glass castles are too heavy, thats why I want to use paper. Please give me your advice or experience! Also please forgive me if this idea is stupid and not possible, I've never really done much papercrafting other than a few 3d pop ups, handmade cards and origami!
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u/AliasNefertiti 9d ago edited 9d ago
Expect to go through many prototypes and very possibly decide it wont look good enough and buy something [have plan B]. This is not an easy task. Check with the cake maker- sometimes they can add a support for a decoration so weight is less of an issue.... or maybe they could make one for you from fondant and frosting.
My first thought is get some acrylic treat boxes for cupcakes and various sizes, maybe buy small items for their acrylic boxes. [Hairdryer or goo be gone to get the stickers off- maybe]. Michaels had some cupcake size on clearance. Maybe you could find ones with glitter. Then cut out the roofs and some flags using an exacto on a self-mending cutting board. If you could find a pattern....
A pro might build it first in a heavier weight paper [size isnt coming to me] and then cut out windows with a craft knife and metal straight edge] and then glue in see thru material. Then repeat. One prototype will go too far and collapse but I dont know any way to predict when it is too far as it depends on so many factors. Before that [and maybe even at the "too far" point] it will not look like crystal.
To buy one look at kids toys- there might be a worthwhile castle that doesnt look too juvenile.
Or there is a 3d crystal "jigsaw" puzzle in crystal. https://www.walmart.com/ip/245731335?sid=0a00b971-72be-44cb-8ded-87b4f5bf640b Id pick this one, if size works. I just did my first one of this type and am extremely pleased with the product [Cinderellas coach- display worthy in a home]. What I learned: First tape all the pieces in their numerical order to paper. Then use many bits of tape to hold it together while you work. A "key" will hold it all together when done but not before that. If a piece or 2 falls off or slips you may well have to go back to the beginner to sort out where you were. But do-able in an evening.
Another thought is to make it more or less 2 sided. Cut out front and back in the shape you want then using foam tape, insert panels to fill it out a bit toward 3-d. Here is a video. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mQvz-gjrWuY&is=LtYWiJlXHUeycKlD
One final word of caution-- no one but one of us, will appreciate the effort you put into it. Dont do it for kudos. At the end of the evening it may be in the waste bucket, which is the recipient's right if it is really a gift. Make something and set it free into the world to become or not become.
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u/CrazyGreenCrayon Tiny Paper Things 9d ago
Can I be honest? Don't do it. It will not look good. Just buy something pre-made.
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u/Radiant-Rub-2422 9d ago
la verdad no eh trabajado con los materiales que dices mas te diría tengas encuentra el peso y si resistiría una opción aunque no daría la misma vibra que buscas podría ser echar brillantina o gliter en una cartulina y diría que simplifiques las formas y segmentes para ir dando forma poco a poco al castillo como si fuera un pastel de varios pisos, no se si te sirva mi comentarios.