Stairs are a series of
rectangular shapes. This shape
will become stairs. Remember this is a very basic shape for your stairs. You
can paint them, colour them, add wood or anything else you want to give them
the look you want for your scene.
Stairs:
“Riser heights should be uniform in the range between150 mm
and 180 mm (Standards Australia, 2008). However, for elderly people or people
with ambulatory problems, a rise of 95-105 mm is recommended (CSIRO, 2001).
A 125mm sphere should not pass through the gaps between treads.” http://www.arden.net.au/resources/Articles/Stair-Safety-Overview---Size-of-risers-and-treads.aspx
If you look at my sizes, they are probably not 100% to
scale, but they fit what I’m making. You can decide your own sizes with this
tutorial. I cannot also guarantee the size of the patterns when I put it in a
blog. So check your measurements.
This is what a properly constructed stair will look like:
Tools:
- 190 gsm paper (or medium thickness card, whatever will go in your printer. You might want to use the paper of a colour/texture of your stairs
- Fine Embossing tool
- Scissors
- Ruler
Copy and paste the number of treads and risers you need.
Remember whether you start with a tread or a riser. You always finish with a
riser.
Now how do you join them all together. Well the next bit is
the kewl bit. We add some rectangles to form the sides and some tabs so you can
stick them together.
Sides for the top
stair.
Make another rectangle which is the same height as your stair tread (1.8 cm), and the height
of all your risers together (1.2 x 2 = 2.4 cm). So for instance, I have 2 stair
risers, each is1.2 cm high, so the top side bit will be 2.4. I think my maths
are correct.
Sides for the
subsequent stairs
Repeat the process for each stair. In this instance, my
second side was 1.8 cm x 1.2 cm
Our next step is to put some tabs on so that you can join
them together. Another few little rectangles and you are done.
Now you have your finished stair printie. Print on 190 gsm
paper or thickish card, anything that will go in your printer. Remember this is
just the outline of your stairs. I’ve covered my treads with wood, the risers
with another printie that looks like stone.
Cut it out. Remember to clip the joining tabs as the arrow
show
Score along all the lines with a fine embossing tool
Fold all lines. The top rectangle is the depth from the top
of your verandah/whatever to the first step. It folds forward. The first step
folds away from you. Continue this until all is folded.
Suddenly, all these lines and paper start to look like some
stairs and you can start to see the purpose of the sides and the tabs.
Now glue the stairs
together with the tabs and voila, you have stairs.
They still need
decorating, but you have the basic shape of your stairs and can make them any
size or length you want. I’ve covered the stairs with wood, and attached them
to a small veranda quickly made from foam core. I’ve covered the side with
brick printie and put a bit of graffiti on the sides. Now all I have to do is
to attach the stairs to the back of the building. That’s still a work in
progress.
I will be writing a blog on how to use Microsoft Word’s
drawing capabilities to make these rectangles.
Cheers
Madeleine
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
