Hello! I really hope that these steps aren’t too confusing.
I made a giant 19 ft wide cut-out name for a graduation party. So, I thought I’d explain how I made the stands for my cutouts.
First, I gathered my cardboard.
Next, I cut-out all of my letters.
Then, I needed to make the stands. You want to make the stand a few inches less than the height of your cut-out. (The solid line means cut through the cardboard completely and the dash lines mean not to cut it all the way through.)
My letter “i” was about 33”, so I made my stand 30”. I added 6” for the base, making the total length 36”.
For the width of the stand, you want half the width of you cut-out. My cut-out letter “i” was 6”, so I made the stand 3”. I added 6” for the connecting tab making the total width 9”.
I cut 3” off the base (opposite of the 3” on the stand).
Mark 6” down from the top of the connecting tab, connect it to the top of the 3” mark, and cut the angle created.
Mark the center of the line where the stand and connecting tab meet (I marked mine at 15”), and mark 2” down from the base.
Make a 2” x 3” rectangle on each of your 2 marks.
Measure 2” from the bottom of the line that joins the stand and connecting tab. Mark 2” up to create a slit. Also, make a 1/2” slit on the midpoint rectangle.
I used a pencil to widen the slit.
Turn it so the back is facing up.
Bring the connecting tab up, and pull the midpoint rectangle down. The slit should hold it in place.
Next, bring the rectangle on the base up and secure it to the slit of the connecting tab.
Glue the stand to the back of your cut-out.
Then, I painted the letters.
I added tape to the back of part I thought might bend and placed rocks to weigh my cut-out letters down.
I marked where the letters would connect.
Then, I taped the letters together at the party and taped the letters to the stage. I also added rocks to the base.
I hope that this was somewhat helpful and you got ideas on how to incorporate cardboard in your decorations.
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