Octagonal Twisted Easels

I have devised a new octagonal twisted easel.

Octagonal Twisted easel:

A very large Octagon, mine is large and uses a sheet of 12×12 as the base. Once you have a nice octagon, you then need to divide it into 8 pieces with a ruler, and create a template for the eight segments you will need for the next layer. Make another octagon in the centre, as you dont want them to overlap in the middle!

Next select your 8 toppers, these need to be as wide as the one of the sides of your octagon. My sides are 11cm, so the base picture was 10.5cm, and I prefer to use squares, but rectangles and circles work just as well.

As mine is quite large, intended as a table decoration, I used 4 A4 sheets of backing card for the design, and cut out the 8 segments from there, varying the angles, and positions, so no 2 base cards are showing identical images. I recommend a card base for strength.
Then score each segment in half, and apply DST to the left hand panel, which will end up sitting on the base of the card. I don’t recommend scoring the additional score line at this point, as you need to make sure that it is going to end up at the right angle for display.

Stick your first layer down, then I recommend working clockwise, to stick the rest down, until the base is covered, so you dont have to keep lifting the preceding flap.

Once the base is covered with the segments, and there is a central hole in the middle, you can begin folding the segments back. You need them to just catch the back of the one in front. If you mark the card at half way you will be slightly out, and the toppers will be nearly vertical, not the aim of the game here, they need to lie back slightly, so measuring from the outside to the inside it needs to be nearly 3/4 of the length, measuring from the outside inwards. So mine measure 10.5 cm, and I scored at 7.25cms

Then start applying the double sided tape, I recommend the red for strength, along the scoreline, and the outside edge of the segments.

Then start attaching your Toppers. Mine are backed onto some Holographic Mirri Board, for a bit of sparkle, and added strength

Work anti-clockwise, so you dont have to move everything out the way each time.

The final topper will not be tucked in so dont wory you haven’t done it wrong!

Lift it and the one underneath it, to the right, and slot it in behind , it will be tricky, but dont worry it will go behind it.

Now start standing them all up. Do NOT worry about getting them to slot in just yet, you need to get them all upright first!

Once they are all upright, you can let go, and ease them down into position so that the bottom corner edge, just catches on the flap of the one in front.

As you turn it round, the images will all be visible, following each other around the base.

When looking at it from the top, its a bit like the spokes of a bike wheel. There is room inside for a candle on mine, or if you used rectangular toppers, you could persuade a small bowl of sweets to hide in there. No Matter how you turn it, you will always be able to see the designs, nothing is hidden from view.

I do hope this has inspired you to have a go……………..and not frightened you off?
As always have a pop by my blog for detailed pic, l00pyscraftcreations.blogsopt.com