Miniature Tutorial: Cardboard Tube Shelving Unit

Do you like simple DIYs?

Do you like reusing materials?

Do you like miniatures and dollhouses?

Today I have a tutorial for you.

I recently made a little shelving unit out of cardboard tubing I got out of a box of incense. The incense I normally get comes in a box with a cardboard tube in them that is 1 in in diameter and 9 in long. It feels a little sturdier than your average toilet paper or paper towel tube. 

My source of the cardboard tube.

Now this is going to be a tutorial on how to use these tubes to make the trapezoid shaped shelf I made, but it will be just as easy to make other shapes. 

Diagram of the finished shelving unit.

Take your tube and check its measurements and consider the scale you want to work in. I will be working in 1:12 which means that 1 inch in the dollhouse is the equivalent of 1 foot in real life. If you are working in a different scale or if your tube is a different size you will have to play with the measurements. Otherwise let's get started. 

Photo by Jae Park on Unsplash

Tutorial

Tools & Materials

• Cardboard Tube 
• Measuring Tape or Ruler 
• Writing Tool for Marking
• Box Cutter or Other Cutting Tool 
• Sand Paper
• Gesso
• Paint
• Glue

Step 1
Mark and Cut the Tube

The method I used was to measure and mark a single inch of the tube at a time, cut that section off, and then mark the next section. 

(The reason for this is that sometimes when you cut materials either the cut is not completely straight or the cut is just wide enough to throw off your measurements. By marking and cutting one section at a time you can reduce this error.)

I measured and marked three to four spots per section around the tube. Giving myself a guide to cut along. 

Put as many marks as you need.

To cut off the section gently score along your guides and then gently cut along the scoring. 

(This will help reduce mistakes while cutting.)

Step 2
Cleaning the Edges

Even with a careful cut the edges of your sections will probably still be rough and may even have some unevenness. Use a piece of sandpaper to gently work this down to your liking. (I used 320 grit.)

Step 3
Test your design

Take a moment before you go any further to test the shape you want to make with your design. 

The design I am using is 4 sections on the bottom pressed right up against each other. Above that are 3 sections similarly pressed gently together and nestled into the dip created where each of the bottom sections meet. The top layer is the same situation, but only with two sections.

This is also a good time to be certain that the sections match each other in length. 

Step 4
Gesso

Take your time to paint the inside, outside and edges of each of the sections with a gesso of your choice. I used black gesso for this project, but if you want the finished product to be a light color you might prefer to use white gesso. 

Apply at least two coats and allow for plenty of time for them to dry. 

Photo by russn_fckr on Unsplash

Step 5
Paint

Once the gesso is fully dry you can paint the sections. You can do a solid color or create some kind of design depending on the style you want with your room. 

Again I suggest at least 2 layers of paint. 

I did a solid black color with a single purple dashed line as detailing near the front edge of the sections. 

(be certain to be mindful of what end of your section you want to be the front if you find that some of the edges are nicer than others. )

My finished piece in the roombox.

Step 6
Assemble & Glue

Once everything is dry, arrange your pieces so you know exactly what direction and order you want them in.  For gluing I suggest starting with the bottom sections to be certain they sit flat. Be careful not to accidentally bend or crush the sections while you glue them together. (I used wood glue because that's what I had on hand, however a tacky glue or a hot glue will probably do just as well. WARNING: If using hot glue be sure to do so safely.) 

You can place the sections together to see where to apply the glue before applying it in order to reduce excess glue that would be visible after the project is dry. If using wood glue or tacky glue you can also dab away the excess with a paper towel while it is still wet. 

Photo by Gary Chan on Unsplash

Closing

I hope this has been helpful and has given you some ideas on how to utilize things that might end up in the recycle bin for your creative projects. 

There is a video version of this tutorial on The Fairy Oasis YouTube Channel.

Miniature Tutorial || Shelving Unit || Reused Materials || Cardboard Tube