DIY letters and numbers: how to do, master class

The content of the article

• What you can do volume figures with your own hands
• From corrugated paper
• Volume figures from napkins
• Cardboard decorations
• Crafts from threads
• 3D letters made of paper
• Fur letters and numbers
• Fabric crafts
• What to make a foundation of
• How to make volumetric numbers or letters
• What will be needed for manufacturing
• Frame for figure
• Edge trimming and trimming
• Decor of volumetric numbers and letters
• DIY birthday numbers

If you learn how to do volume letters and numbers with your own hands, you can decorate any celebration using yarn, plain cardboard, paper napkins or corrugated paper. They are suitable for various events: company anniversary, children’s birthday, wedding or its anniversary. It can be a romantic inscription “LOVE”, the first letters of the names of lovers or the age of the birthday person. Having studied the basics of making figures, you can perform any inscription that is symbolic for a particular holiday. You will find some interesting ideas in the workshops with the photo below..

What you can do volume figures with your own hands

You can use many ordinary materials to create voluminous letters and numbers with your own hands. The easiest option is paper or cardboard. The figures from them are very light. For this reason, you can easily hang a number or letter of the alphabet on the wall, and it will hold. This is a great option for decorating the holiday and photo shoot. The paper may also be corrugated. Instead, even ordinary napkins are suitable. To make 3D letters and numbers with your own hands, you can also use:

1. Fabrics such as satin, cotton, felt and fur. Do-it-yourself figures are soft. If you fill the blanks with cotton or synthetic winterizer, you will get pillows that will be an element of the decor of the holiday or any interior.
2. Styrofoam. Crafts from it are also very light, they can be decorated with a variety of materials – paints, flowers, ribbons, shells, rhinestones.
3. Threads. They will already be an element of decor. Threads need to be wrapped around a frame made of cardboard or polyfoam volumetric rectangle.

From corrugated paper

On the basis of such material, you can make very beautiful volume letters and numbers with your own hands. It only takes a lot of corrugated paper. The figure is not voluminous, but it looks no less original. First of all, you need to cut out the desired shape from cardboard. Further actions are as follows:

1. Cut paper into strips 50 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.
2. Next, at each blank, bend one edge, as shown in the photo. The result is a curl.
3. The next step is to form a rosette, gradually twisting the entire strip.
4. Fasten the lower edge of the flower with threads in tone.
5. Glue cardboard with corrugated paper of the same color.
6. Next, glue the resulting flowers over the figure.

Volume figures from napkins

A napkin shape is a budget option, but it will also turn out to be bright and original. In addition to them, you will also need cardboard, scissors, adhesive tape, glue and a stapler. The sequence of manufacturing volumetric numbers is as follows:

1. Draw a template on a sheet of cardboard, drawing on it the outline of a number of the required size. Cut two identical workpieces.
2. Using adhesive tape, glue the ends first to one half of the figure. Attach the remaining half of the figure in the same way..
3. Next, do paper flowers. To do this, cut each napkin in half, fold the halves in half again and cut again.
4. Put the resulting quarters together. In the middle, fasten them with a stapler, then cut them to make a circle.
5. Starting at the top, use your fingers to squeeze each layer of the cloth.
6. Spread the flower petals. Make large quantities of blanks.
7. It remains only to glue the flowers on a cardboard frame.

Cardboard decorations

A three-dimensional figure made of cardboard is two identical parts and a series of long strips necessary to create a sidewall of a number or letter. The finished product may be based on a flat sheet. In this case, you just need to draw on the cardboard the desired shape, cut it and draw. The 3d blank is done a little differently:

1. Using the stencil of the selected number or letter, transfer its image to cardboard, plain or corrugated.
2. Cut two identical parts.
3. Cut strips of sidewalls of letters or numbers that are 3-4 cm wider than the thickness of the product. Using the handle, push the fold lines on them, bend cardboard on them.
4. Next, glue the ribs received on the cardboard base, spreading the bent parts of the elements with glue.
5. So complete all the side parts of the figure, then put it under the press for a couple of hours, and then decorate.

Crafts from threads

The frame of thread crafts is often made of cardboard. Its strength is very important so that under the action of the threads the part does not break and does not bend. The resulting workpiece is simply wrapped with threads of one or different colors. This can be done very quickly. It turns out beautifully when mixing contrasting threads. For a holiday in eco-style, wrap the number with twine or twine..

3D letters made of paper

Paper figures are very light and gentle. This is a great option for decorating a wedding. They are also made very simply. First you need to make a stencil of the desired letter, then transfer it to a cardboard of colored shades and cut it out. Only one blank is required. Further actions are as follows:

1. Cut the paper of the desired color into squares of different sizes. Round off corners.
2. Next, cut each blank in a spiral, leaving a circle in the middle, drop a little glue on it.
3. Twist the part in a spiral in the shape of a flower, press firmly to the core to glue.
4. Make a lot of such blanks from paper of different colors.
5. Decorate flowers cardboard frame letters.

Watch the video and learn how to make 3D letters from cardboard.

Fur letters and numbers

Shapes can even be sewn from fur. They turn out soft and fluffy. The manufacturing principle is the same as when using fabric. First you need to make a stencil of the required figures. Then it is twice transferred to the wrong side of the fur, but only in mirror image, so that the details can then be sewn together. Additionally, you need to cut strips to decorate the ends of the figure. Then it remains only in order to sew all the elements and fill the workpiece with something soft.

Fabric crafts

Another common option, how to make volume letters and numbers with your own hands, involves the use of fabric and filler. If you are familiar with the sewing machine, then you can easily sew funny figures. These can be very small parts or large ones that can be put on the floor. The most popular size is approximately the same as for sofa cushions. Instructions on how to make a three-dimensional number or letter from textiles:

1. Choose the type and color of fabric suitable for the interior of the room.
2. Draw on the cardboard and cut the stencil of the desired shape.
3. Make a pattern by transferring the image to the fabric. Cut two details of specular reflection.
4. Next, cut a strip of fabric equal to the desired thickness of the pillows.
5. Sew parts by hand or with a sewing machine.

What to make a foundation of

The easiest option is cardboard. Both flat and three-dimensional figures are made of it. In the first case, just one cut out part is enough. For volumetric, you need two identical blanks and another strip to create the ends. Another option is polystyrene. This material is easy to cut, although it crumbles, so a variety of volumetric elements are made from it. In addition, it is very simple to decorate. Many craftsmen make a frame even of wood or wire.

How to make volumetric numbers or letters

Do-it-yourself volumetric letters and numbers have long been popular in holiday decor. There are many ways to create and design a workpiece. For this reason, you can easily choose the option suitable for your interior or holiday. The entire manufacturing process includes several basic steps:

• buy the necessary materials and tools;
• make a layout;
• create ends, strip edges;
• make a blank decor.

What will be needed for manufacturing

The main material required is cardboard. You can use not very dense corrugated. This is any old shoebox or household appliance box. Not too thick cardboard holds its shape well, easy to cut. Instead, you can take a thick or thin foam. Additionally, you will need:

• tubes for paper towels;
• pencil;
• White paper;
• ruler;
• PVA glue;
• scissors.

Frame for figure

After preparing the material, the required figure must be drawn on paper or printed on a printer. Next, you need to cut it out and transfer the resulting stencil to the foam using a felt-tip pen. Then blanks are cut with a sharp knife. If cardboard is used, then the stencil is transferred to it in duplicate. Further actions are as follows:

1. Cut two blanks from cardboard.
2. Next, cut a strip of paper 2 cm wide or more if you want a thicker figure.
3. Take a tube, attach a strip of paper to the edge, draw a contour with a pencil on it – you get a 2 cm wide ring. Cut it, make another 6-7 such blanks.
4. Spread the rings on one of the cardboard halves of the letter or number, glue them with hot glue.
5. Then spread the upper ends of the rings. Attach a half of cardboard to them.

Edge trimming and trimming

At the next stage of creating volume letters and numbers with your own hands, you need to complete the ends to prepare. This will require several sheets of white paper. The actions here are:

1. The paper must be cut into small strips, and then glue the ends of the product with it.
2. Paste larger pieces of paper on the remaining surfaces of the cardboard letters or numbers. Result – you get a figure covered with a dense paper layer.
3. Allow the workpiece to dry and harden, remove sticking pieces.
4. If foam is used, sand the edges of the figure with sandpaper.

Decor of volumetric numbers and letters

There are many design options for volumetric letters and numbers. It all depends on the theme of the holiday. To decide on a specific option, you should know the basic techniques used to create a beautiful decoration:

• gluing with pebbles, shells, pompons from yarn;
• lining with bright colored or plain fabric;
• decoration with flowers from napkins or sheets of corrugated paper;
• gluing with colored paper, cardboard of the same or different colors;
• wrapping with twine or yarn.

Wrap a three-dimensional figure or letter with yarn – this is the easiest option. To implement it, you need to carefully wind the thread to the thread. Shells or pebbles can be glued in any way: in a chaotic manner or in the form of any plain patterns. It is possible to place sparkles on the surface of the letter covered with glue. So the workpiece will be even brighter. Other design options:

1. With a cloth. To do this, cover the front surface of the letters with glue. Next, a piece of fabric cut to the shape of the workpiece is pasted onto it. Then the same is repeated with the back and side surfaces..
2. From corrugated paper. In this case, the elements are bright and fluffy. For production, small ribbons of such paper will be required. They can be twisted in the form of flowers, which are then pasted over the figure itself. Elements must be placed tightly together.
3. From napkins. They are also used for decoration with flowers. It will take a lot of blanks. If wipes are of different colors, then you can show imagination in their arrangement on the basis and alternation.
4. Acrylic paints. They have good moisture resistance and densely covers many surfaces. It’s very easy to cover the surface of numbers or letters with acrylic paint.
5. Family photos, details of postcards, small balloons. They draw the front surface of three-dimensional figures..

DIY birthday numbers

To create a festive celebration in an original way, you can create volume figures with your own hands that will reflect the age of the birthday person. An example is a one-year-old for a child, no matter whether it is a boy or a girl. It is very simple to make such a figure:

1. Prepare a stencil from paper.
2. Transfer it to cardboard, cut with an office knife.
3. Coat the blank with paint or paste over with colored paper.
4. Cut out several circles from white paper. Fold in half each 8 times, after which cut two petals on the edge of the product.
5. Spread the resulting daisy. Add a yellow corrugated paper core to it.
6. Stick on chamomiles, decorate a cardboard blank as you wish, for example, sequins, ribbons, bows, beads, etc..