Cat Scratching Post

CAT Climber Specification:

Finished size: approx  6.3 cm x 3.8 cm x 13.5 cm

Bottom Plate Size: 6.3 cm x 3.8 cm x 1.1 cm

Post Diameter:. 0.7 cm

Top Plate Size: 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm

Cat Box Size: 2.9 cm x 2.9 cm x 2.1 cm)

Always remembering that cat scratchers come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colours. Use your imagination, visit a pet store, Google images to make yours individual

Equipment Needed:

• Balsa or other wood (mount board might work. Other card would probably not have the strength)
• 1 cm thick block (for the base) 
• 1.19 mm sheet (for the upper level and ladder level) 
• Fine string or twine (to wind around the posts for the cats to scratch 
• Felt in your chosen colour 
• Dremel (or similar tool) with small sander bit (not essential)

Cut out your 3 levels as per the pattern above. I’m not sure how accurate the pattern comes out on the net, so check your measurements.

Cut the holes in the base, upper level, and the ladder perch. Scrape out the hole and then using a small Dremel sander bit push through the hole to make it round. This is approximately the right size. You may need to make it a bit bigger to fit the dowelling.

I cut out the base level and then made sure the holes in the other levels matched.

Check your posts will slide through the holes and if not, then make them slightly bigger. They need to fit quite tight, but loose enough they will slide through.

Cover base with felt. 

Cut your felt about twice the size of the base. Don't worry about covering your holes. You will find them again later.

Put the glue on the base, not on the felt. 

Just use small amounts of glue, and be careful as felt shows any glue you get on it. 

Fold felt around the base and glue, joining at the middle of the underside. Felt can be stretched so if it’s a bit too small, stretch it to fit and join neatly

Repeat procedure with the other two layers, remembering that the bottoms of these will show so needs to be a relatively neat job. When covering the upper layers, check that the join in the felt is on the bottom of the layer rather than on the top ie. Match the holes to find out which is the topside. I forgot to do this and ended up with the bottom being the top.

Now fit it all together and make sure everything works. Once you are sure. Glue in your posts.

Adding toys.

A small hole drilled in the top of one of the posts, some fishing line or cotton and a bead.

Similar using a feather.

I will add the round cubby at the top at a later date. I also have a little cubby house you can make. Right now I've done for tonight.

Enjoy. Remember these are for personal use only, not for sale.

Cheers

Madeleine

Sunday 29 July 2012

Miniatures - Plant Pot

Not having blogged a pattern before, I'm not guaranteeing the sizes of the finished project

Equipment Needed

• Card – thinner than cardstock, but thicker than cereal packets.
• Paint (colour of your choice. I’ve done white )
• Very fine sand
• Glue
• Fine embossing tool

Instructions:

Place pattern on paper of your choice. Double sided tape will hold it
Cut out the pieces
To make it easier to cut out the bottom, score and fold the bottom of the plant pot under

Fold so that the dark cutting lines are on the inside













Fold each section separately to get a good sharp fold
Put glue on the side tab(2)
Let dry
Put glue on the bottom tab(1)
Fold under to form the base of the plant pot.
Let dry.

Finished pots

For the stone look

Paint glue onto 1 side of the plant pot

Dip the glue painted side into craft sand (colour depends on the effect you are looking for)

Let the side dry.
Repeat with other 3 sides.

Paint over the dried sand/glue (again the colour depends on the effect you are looking for). The paint needs to be quite thick to cover.

Use paint and/or sand to cover over any mistakes or pattern lines.

Finished stone look pots

Madeleine Hicks

4 October 2011

For personal use only