| INSTRUCTIONS: |
| 1. Cut the following from two foam sheets: two pieces 12" x 12"; four pieces 3 1/4" square; four pieces 12" x 1 1/4" x 2". |
| 2. The two 12" x 12" pieces will serve as the front and back walls of the castle. Cut out a drawbridge door, approximately 6" wide and 9" high, from the center of one of the 12" x 12" pieces. Slice the drawbridge door in half, so it's 1" thick. |
| 3. The two 2" x 12" x 18" pieces will be the side walls. Glue together the front, back and side walls using white craft glue; insert toothpicks between the seams for reinforcement. Glue the 12" x 1 1/4" x 2" strips into the four inside corners. Glue the 3 1/4" squares to the tops of each corner. |
| 4. Cut the 1 1/2" balls in half; glue balls evenly to top of castle walls. |
| 5. Cut the 1" balls in half; glue balls evenly around each tower base. |
| 6. Cut the disc in half, and then cut 1/3 off each half. Glue two larger wedges on to the front wall, 3/4" from either side of the door. |
| 7. Create the mechanics so that the drawbridge door can move up and down. Glue toothpicks or a short piece of a wooden skewer into the sides of the drawbridge door, about 1/8" from the bottom edge. Use a toothpick or the point of a skewer to dig out two narrow channels, 1" x 1/8" x 1/8", on either side of the doorway on the bottom of the castle wall. The skewers or toothpicks in the door should slip into this channel so the door can move freely. |
| 8. Paint the castle and the drawbridge gray; paint the cones (towers) red. Let dry. |
| 9. Cover the inside of the drawbridge door with gray felt. |
| 10. Cut two, 1" long x 1/8" wide pieces of gray felt. Attach two large jump rings to the front wall of the castle with loops of felt glued to the wall. |
| 11. Slip the skewers in the drawbridge door into the channels on either side of the door opening. Glue a strip of felt over the channels, being careful that the skewers can still move freely. Knot the ends of two 24" ribbons; push the knots into either side at the top of the door; glue. Run the ribbon through the loops on the castle wall. Insert pushpins into the door surround. Wrap the ribbon around the pushpin to secure. |
| 12. Glue on cone towers. |
| 13. Decorate the castle. (We used banners cut from red felt and decorated with pieces of gold doilies.) |
