Cardboard Play Dome

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Cardboard Play Dome

by supersoftdrink on July 14, 2011
Table of Contents
Cardboard Play Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intro: Cardboard Play Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 1: Measure and cut triangles and squares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 2: Fold the flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 3: Glue flaps together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 4: Glue on little reinforcing strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Step 5: Prime and base coat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Step 6: Add metallic corners and edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Step 7: Add detail with acrylic paint and a brush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Step 8: Paint on rivets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Step 9: Insert stuffed animals, pillows, and kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Play-Dome/
Author:supersoftdrink my seldom updated blog

I took over my husband's Instructables login last year to make a couple instructables for two contests. He was only using it to browse stuff, anyway. I have a
different and sillier name elsewhere on the web... some might call me GlindaBunny (after a former pet of ours).
He's a brilliant javascript ninja with never enough time to work on his personal projects that span from web and iphone apps to little robots to bubble blowing
solution to an upright electric bass from scavenged parts and laminated oak... maybe one day we'll have more time. I love you, Josh.
I stay at home with our (almost) four year old boy and two year old twin girls, one of whom was born with a severe congenital heart defect and has had
several open heart surgeries so far. All three of our children are on the autism spectrum.
Life is busy. We sometimes make things when we have a few spare minutes because a creative outlet keeps us sane. We both have ADD. I skip the H
because neither of us has ever been hyperactive, and the whole "disorder" is a huge misnomer, anyway. I love being creative, passionate, and... um...
hey look there's a cat in our yard!
crap I forgot to water the strawberries.
Intro: Cardboard Play Dome

I wanted to make a small play house for the kids, but I didn't want to spend money. Aside from a $3 pack of hot glue sticks, everything I used here is stuff I already had.
I searched online for geodesic domes so I wouldn't have to do all the math myself. I found a suitable one that people suggested homeless people use as emergency
shelter, then scaled it down and added squares on the bottom.
For this project, I used:
cardboard
box cutter
pen or pencil
ruler
hot glue
white school glue
clear spray primer and top coat
white spray paint
metallic spray paint (in two colors I happened to have)
black and white acrylic paint
metal powder mixed with white glue (use metallic paint if you have it; i didn't)
chopstick, napkin, and tape (use a round brush if you have one)
small paintbrush
large crappy paintbrush
Image Notes
1. view through a window from the top
Image Notes
1. Abigail in a chair inside the dome
Image Notes
1. he was shoving stuffed animals under my chin
Image Notes
1. peering through the window before dropping more stuffed animals through
Image Notes
1. this is my house!
Step 1: Measure and cut triangles and squares

If there were no doors or windows in this dome, it would consist of:
30 AAB triangles
10 BBB triangles
10 B squares
In this case, A measured 10 7/16 inches and B measured 12 inches.
I drew 1 inch flaps outside the edges of the triangles and squares (skipping the corners, as shown) so I could attach things together on the inside of the dome.
I left out three of the BBB triangles to make two windows and the top of the door for this project, and one of the B squares.
I suggest holding a ruler tightly while you slice along the outline of your shapes with a box cutter. Remember to cut outside the flaps, not inside them along the triangle or
square. It helps to cut one and use it as a guide to trace the others, then cut the rest along the pencil lines, rather than measuring every time.
Image Notes
1. add flaps to the edges, but leave them off the corners
Image Notes
1. I cut three strips of paper to make sure I got the angles of the AAB triangle right.
This triangle is 10 7/16 inches by 10 7/16 inches by 12 inches
Image Notes
1. Benjamin "helping"
Image Notes
1. AAB triangle template used to trace the other AAB triangles
Image Notes
1. Abigail "helping"
Image Notes
1. mark the corners of the triangles so you can fold the flaps
2. hold a ruler or straight edge tightly, then use a dull corner (not a blade) to indent
the cardboard along the fold line
Step 2: Fold the flaps

I made an indentation along the sides of the triangles or squares before folding.
Holding the ruler tight, I traced the edge I wanted to fold with a dull corner of the box cutter (the handle, not the blade). Then, I kept holding the ruler in place while folding
the flap up, using the ruler and the indentation as a guide.
You might want to be careful while making the indentation along the grain in the cardboard; it sometimes tears the top layer a little.
I tried to put the ugly side of the cardboard (like the taped or printed side) on the inside of the dome. If I was folding flaps up, the ugly side would also be face up.
Image Notes
1. folded flap
Image Notes
1. fold the flap along a ruler
Image Notes
1. mark the corners of the triangles so you can fold the flaps
2. hold a ruler or straight edge tightly, then use a dull corner (not a blade) to indent
the cardboard along the fold line
Image Notes
1. triangle with flaps folded down
Step 3: Glue flaps together

Start with the 30 AAB triangles. Taking 5 at a time, glue the short sides of them together to form a pentagon. You should end up with 6 of these pentagons. If you
measured and cut right, the pentagons won't be completely flat. Be sure to keep all the flaps on one side.
The exposed edges of the pentagons should all be the B measuring side, 12 inches in this case.
Now glue one of the BBB triangles to a side of a pentagon. Glue another pentagon to another side of that BBB triangle to end up with something like picture 6.
Let's say the exposed edge of that BBB triangle is the bottom of this piece. Glue another BBB triangle to one of the pentagons so that its exposed edge is also at the
bottom. Keep gluing pentagons alternating with BBB triangles so that one edge of each pentagon and one edge of each BBB triangle line up in a sort of gently curved
bottom (like in picture 7) until you have 5 pentagons and 5 BBB triangles.
In my case, I only used 4 BBB triangles here so I could leave the top of the door open.
You should have 1 pentagon left and 5 BBB triangles left. I had only 3 BBB triangles left because I wanted to leave two windows in the dome.
Stand the line of glued pentagons and triangles up so that the bottom is resting on the floor. Bring the ends together to form a circle like in picture 8. In my picture, the
open triangle is the top of the door. You might decide not to leave an open triangle. Notice that instead of seeing pentagons in this structure, you could see hexagons
with one top piece missing.
Glue the BBB triangles, point down, into these spaces.
Now there should be an open pentagon shape at the top, ready for you to glue in your last cardboard pentagon.
I'm really sorry for not having pictures of that part; it seems that Lilith got into my photos and deleted some when I thought she was simply playing Tozzle on my iphone.
Now glue a square along the edge of each exposed triangle edge at the bottom of the dome. This will raise it B unites above the ground, 12 inches in this case. Glue the
sides of the B squares to each other where they touch. Once again, make sure to keep all the flaps on the same side. Some people keep them on the outside, but I
wanted mine on the inside. Whichever you choose, be consistent.

If you want to reinforce your structure, cut extra triangles and squares to match up with the ones you have, but without flaps this time. Glue the shapes without flaps to
the shapes with flaps on the outside (if the flaps are kept on the inside). This will make a double layer of cardboard for the structure, but not a double layer for flaps. This
works best if you keep the grain of the cardboard perpendicular; have one piece with a vertical grain glued to one piece with a horizontal grain.
That's a lot of extra work, though, and probably not worth it. I reinforced the squares this way, but not the triangles. Note in the last picture, the square at the edge of the
door has one exposed cut edge along with a flap.
Image Notes
1. this will be the inside of the dome
Image Notes
1. pressing the flaps together while the glue sets
Image Notes
1. last step of gluing was a pain because I had to try to keep the middle point of
the pentagon pointing up while the flaps were still on the bottom. It kept wanting
to invert.
Image Notes
1. first pentagon finished
Image Notes
1. will need 6 total pentagons
Image Notes
1. these strips are for reinforcing the open window spaces
2. this was my AAB triangle template
Image Notes
1. BBB triangle between two pentagons
2. pentagons made from AAB triangles, the B measuring edges on the outside
Image Notes
1. final pentagon glued on top
2. strip of cardboard folded and glued at the point of an open triangle; will glue
two more strips at the other two points to hold flaps in and reinforce
3. why, yes, I did use cardboard that had folds in it. this was a box corner, but
once glued and reinforced, still plenty strong. I wasted less cardboard this way.
Image Notes
1. cut edge of cardboard; a square without flaps was glued on the outside
2. exposed flap of the original square; the rest of the square you see is the glued
on extra square to reinforce the row of squares
Step 4: Glue on little reinforcing strips

This seemed to add a lot of extra strength to the structure without being too time consuming or difficult. Part of this I did while gluing the main pieces together.
Note the strips of cardboard in picture 2 and 3. I folded these and glued them at the points of the open triangles where the windows and door were.
Next, I cut random strips of cardboard, folded them, and glued them over seams that seemed a little weak. This seemed easiest if I glued on one side of the strip to one
panel, held it until the glue set, then bent the strip back to apply glue to the other side and pressed it to the adjoining panel. It can be tricky to try to hold a bent strip to
two panels at an angle without one becoming unglued or something. See pictures 7 and 8 in this strip for what I mean about gluing one side at a time.
I also glued a bottom to the door side to stabilize the structure. I was too lazy to try to glue a bottom to the whole thing; I didn't have a huge single sheet of cardboard and
it seemed like more work than it was worth. You can see the bottom in picture 1 of this step. Note the triangular corners from the bottom piece that I folded up and glued
to the outside of the structure. One side was a bit small so I glued another strip of cardboard over it to reinforce that one.
Image Notes
1. smaller corner of the bottom with a strip of cardboard glued over it to make
sure it stays in place
2. larger corner of the bottom, big enough to hold its own without an extra strip
of cardboard
3. strip of cardboard reinforcing this open corner
4. triangle of cardboard glued to reinforcing strips to keep the angle open
without too much stress
5. reinforcing strips glued on to random looking edges; they really helped fix
the weak areas
6. you can barely see this window back here
Image Notes
1. these strips are for reinforcing the open window spaces
2. this was my AAB triangle template
Image Notes
1. final pentagon glued on top
2. strip of cardboard folded and glued at the point of an open triangle; will glue
two more strips at the other two points to hold flaps in and reinforce
3. why, yes, I did use cardboard that had folds in it. this was a box corner, but
once glued and reinforced, still plenty strong. I wasted less cardboard this way.
Image Notes
1. window with reinforcing strips of cardboard glued in place. you could cut them
long enough to line the entire triangle, but I was lazy and this works just fine
Image Notes
1. holding the reinforcing strip while the hot glue cools and sets
2. this play dome brought to you by medical supplies and diapers. :)
Image Notes
1. add hot glue to this side once the other side is set
2. this side was glued down first
Step 5: Prime and base coat

I was really glad that the dome fit through the doorway so I could do this outside. I hadn't thought about it before gluing it all together and was a bit nervous. Good thing
it did fit.
I had considered smoothing out all the corners and strips by coating this thing in paper mache, sanding it down, and making it a cute hobbit house or something with a
green grassy or thatched roof... but my friend said he liked the look of the strips and Josh said it would take way too long to make and to dry, and then I thought I could
make it look like a junk space ship thing and use the reinforcing strips as a design element.
As I said in the intro, I didn't want to have to buy anything for this project. I happened to find some clear primer and topcoat, white spray paint, pink spray paint (which I
didn't use), and two half full cans of metallic spray paint - one was a dark metallic gray, the other a bronzey gold color. I'd have liked more metallic spray paint, but we
work with what we've got.
Hey, Krylon - if you're reading this, feel free to send me some free spray paint and I'll make something cool! (just kidding... mostly)
I generously covered the outside of the dome with two coats of clear primer, letting it dry between each one. I could've sanded the cardboard to eliminate those tiny
fibers that stick out, but this was for the kids, who aren't critics (since they don't talk) and I was pressed for time.
After that, I painted the dome white. I think I'd have preferred black as a base coat, but I didn't have any.
Image Notes
1. clear primer
Image Notes
1. this is where I tested the colors of the other spray paint; the cans weren't full
so I couldn't use them as a base coat
2. Benjamin wearing his "different is not a flaw" puzzle piece t-shirt
3. the lovely park across our dead end street, one reason I don't bother with
having a nice grassy lawn for the kids to play on
Image Notes
1. this is the rope that attaches to Lilith's harness. If Benjamin and Lilith are
playing in the front yard, she has to be tied up or she darts across the street as
soon as I turn my head to check on Abigail (who stays in her little foam chair on
the lawn watching them)
2. white dome, dry and ready for decoration
Step 6: Add metallic corners and edges

If I'd had a lighter silver spray paint, I'd have lightly coated the dome with it first before continuing with this step.
I started with the darker metallic spray paint because I liked that color better. I kept the can moving so it wouldn't get too blotchy; I wanted it to fade from the darkened
corner out toward the white, instead of being a definite line.
I painted little circles over all the corners of the dome, then sprayed a line along the edges of the triangles and squares where the seams were. I ignored the little
cardboard reinforcing strips for this, knowing I'd paint over them with something different later on. Once I ran out of the darker gray metallic spray paint, I switched to the
bronze-ish metallic spray paint and continued. I wasn't worried about the two colors looking funny; I knew that after I added all the effects I planned, it'd look just fine.
Image Notes
1. darker metallic spray paint; don't worry about being super even, but make
sure to hold the can at a distance and keep it moving
Image Notes
1. oops some splatters - they tend to happen if part of your finger touches the
stream of paint as you're spraying
2. try to work in a circular or spiral pattern; keep the can moving and circle
outward and outward, pulling farther and farther back to make the paint fade from
heavy coating to very light
3. ignore the reinforcing strips for now
Step 7: Add detail with acrylic paint and a brush

I don't know how one would do this step using spray paint. I didn't have any black spray paint, anyway.
I mixed black and white acrylic paint to make a dark gray. I had a wide, messy bristle paintbrush that was perfect for this. I dabbed some paint on but brushed it on a
paper towel to get off the excess; I wanted the brush to be relatively dry for this. I first dragged it along the seams to darken them, then dragged it lightly over the face of
the cardboard, going across the grain so it would deposit paint at the ridges. I tried to make it lok rough.
Halfway through this, I decided to paint the cardboard reinforcing strips gray. Then I returned to the dark gray texturing with the large brush.
Because the base color of the dome was white, there was a bit too much contrast now. If I'd had a silvery spray paint to start with, I wouldn't have needed the metal
powder.
I had some metal powder in three colors: statuary bronze (really dark), bronze, and silver. I mixed a little silver and bronze with the statuary bronze to make a dark
silvery metallic color, then took a paper towel and rubbed the fine powder all over the dome. Don't breathe this stuff in, and wash your hands after using it; it clings to
EVERYTHING and has some metals in it that you probably don't want to keep in your body. Don't go too heavy with the powder or it'll cover up your lovely painting job.
After the dome looked metallic enough for my taste without covering up the paint, I sprayed it very thoroughly with a clear top coat to seal in the powder. I also used a
brush on clear coat to make sure the powder wouldn't rub off. Like I said in the previous step... this would've been easier if I'd had some silver spray paint to cover the
white before using the dark metallics along the corners and edges. I could've skipped the powder entirely, and I think it'd look almost exactly the same.
After this, I looked at the edges, especially around the cardboard reinforcing strips. The large paintbrush can't get into them very well. I took a small paintbrush this time,
and used watery dark gray paint. This allowed the paint to flow into the little cracks, etc. I painted around the edges and reinforcing strips, wiping off excess with a dry
paper towel. This left paint in crevices, making it look a little more shadowy and realistic (at least in my mind).
Image Notes
1. painting the reinforcing strips gray
Image Notes
1. see the bristles all separated and messy? this is important for this step. the
brush should have paint but be pretty dry; you want light brush strokes putting
paint on the high areas, not thick black lines on your dome
Image Notes
1. statuary bronze colored metal powder
2. silver colored metal powder (mostly aluminum, i think)
3. bronze colored metal powder
4. this stuff is really really fine and gets EVERYWHERE
5. this black and white contrast will be muted when rubbed with a thin layer of
metal powder
Image Notes
1. this part gets messy, and the paper towel falls apart from being rubbed on the
cardboard
Image Notes
1. paint along the edges with wet acrylic, then wipe off excess
Image Notes
1. see? looks much nicer now, huh?
Image Notes
1. fill in the corners and edges with dark paint
2. I liked how some of the bronze ish spray paint showed through in areas,
reminding me almost of a light rust or other metal discoloration
Image Notes
1. I skipped rubbing the reinforcing strips with the metal powder. this way, if
something gets torn and I have to glue on more strips, I can simply paint them
with acrylic to match the others.
Step 8: Paint on rivets

I didn't have any metal paint for this. Instead, I mixed some of the silver colored metal powder with white school glue.
I also didn't have a round sponge tip paintbrush, so I wrapped a napkin around the wide end of a chopstick, secured it with tape, and used that to paint the circles.
The circles might've been a bit big for rivets, but it's a kid's play structure. My friend said they look like polka dots, but I like them.
Dip the brush in the silver paint, wipe off excess, and press onto the cardboard near a seam. Rotate the brush a little to make sure any dents in the circle brush get filled
in. Spinning the brush a little will ensure a good circle. Repeat wherever you think a rivet should be.
After this, I decided the rivets should have some shadows. I had a lot of painted rivets, so I didn't want to do anything too complicated. Yes, I was sloppy and quick, and
I'm okay with that.
Mix some slightly watery black or dark gray acrylic paint. Using a small paintbrush, quickly paint a C shape along the edge of the rivets, overlapping the C onto the rivet a
bit. In my structure, I painted all the C shapes at the lower left side of the rivets.
While I had the paintbrush and watery dark paint, I also painted a line along the lower left edges of the reinforcing strips to make it more shadowy. That made the
shadows more consistent with those on the rivets.
If you look at the dome from the top, there's no real direction that the light should appear to come from, since I painted ALL the rivet shadows on the lower left side.
That's okay with me. People are likely to only look at one side of the dome at a time, anyway... and those who gaze down at the top and criticize the shadow placement
can make their own damn dome.
Image Notes
1. turn/spin the circle brush after pressing, making sure it doesn't slide; this will
make decent circles even with an imperfect brush
Image Notes
1. takes a lot more glue than metal powder
Image Notes
1. moar rivets!
Image Notes
1. adding shadows to the bottom and left sides of the reinforcing strips
2. black or dark gray C painted at the lower left side of the rivet, slightly
overlapping the silver circle
Image Notes
1. rivets with shadows painted
2. rivets without shadows
3. shadow painted around cardboard strip
Step 9: Insert stuffed animals, pillows, and kids

Once the rivets are dry, the dome is ready for play time.
We're having a lot of fun with ours.
Thanks for reading! Go make one and post pictures!
Image Notes
1. peering through the window before dropping more stuffed animals through
Image Notes
1. this is my house!
Image Notes
1. he was shoving stuffed animals under my chin
Image Notes
1. view through a window from the top
Image Notes
1. Abigail in a chair inside the dome
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment
coollionsing2 says:
view all 65 comments
Aug 3, 2011. 9:43 AM REPLY
Wow! Is that even possible to make!?
Mauigerbil says:
Aug 2, 2011. 2:52 PM REPLY
COOL!!!! Im followin u
whisperonthewind says:
I'm impressed. Very well done, both craft-wise and as a mom. You have discovered what heaven really is like.
Aug 2, 2011. 2:50 PM REPLY
Nelyan says:
Jul 24, 2011. 12:54 PM REPLY

After reading this 'ible, I felt a need to create a playdome myself, you're never too old for these kind of things! I wonder how many boxes do I need to make
one for two adults to fit in. :D (Oh, where would I even put it?)
And our new cat happens to love cardboard boxes, I could make one for her too so she would spend more time out from under the sofa.
One idea would be to try and make this out of fabric-covered parts with velcro to attach it together (and make it easily collapsible), but would it hold its
structure? Any ideas, anyone?
whisperonthewind says:
Aug 2, 2011. 2:28 PM REPLY

Mod Podge - several coats should do it. I think they have one that makes fabric really hard. I'm guessing on this, but I've seen plans to make fabric
boxes, and they use stuff like this. Google 'fabric boxes'.
Rahikainen says:
Jul 24, 2011. 4:20 PM REPLY
Maybe if u could make triangle frames out thin plywood or fiber board or something light and cover the surfaces with cloth.
I think the main point of constructing a big structure is to make it light to prevent collapsing and attach the parts firmly to each other.
fretted says:
Jul 24, 2011. 12:38 PM REPLY
http://www.byexample.com/library/calculators/geodesic_dome_calculator/
Geodesic dome calculations made easy all ya gotta do is the labor you can makem kiddy sized or full sized like a house or garage this calculator takes out
the heavy brain work !.
Nelyan says:
Jul 28, 2011. 7:37 AM REPLY

Maybe it's just me, but how should these numbers be read? In a 2V Dome it suggests I have "35 Struts 30.9 cm each" and "30 Struts 27.33 cm each".
These are the for the structure, right? So is the first number the A-lenght and B-length the second? Ugh, I'm having a hard time scaling this down.
boredcrafter says:
Jul 17, 2011. 9:31 PM REPLY
I don't have a hot glue gun. I wonder if duct tape on the outside and inside may work. Ideas?
AbstractDragon says:
Jul 25, 2011. 2:59 AM REPLY

It might. Or you could save your change for a month and spend $3 on a cheap glue gun + $2 on a package of sticks. Walmart has some tiny but quite
functional guns for around $3. I know, because I just picked up one after not being able to find my old one.
boredcrafter says:
Jul 25, 2011. 8:27 PM REPLY
I have none moneys, but i suppose i could go sofa diving. we shall see. this project is on my to do list. :)
johnny3h says:
Jul 21, 2011. 3:44 PM REPLY
Duct Tape should work fine. Just be sure to apply it very carefully to guarantee maximum contact [no wrinkles if possible].
You could probably get by with Duct Tape just on the outside, but for maximum strength and rigidity it would be better to use it on both the outside and
inside of each joint.
SimonRawr says:
Jul 25, 2011. 12:44 PM REPLY
I was wondering how tall this turned out to be with your dimensions.
Rahikainen says:
Jul 24, 2011. 4:16 PM REPLY

What a gorgeous pair u got there, and the idea of the dome is amazing, children always find interesting and stimulative tiny places, congrats!
luella says:
Jul 23, 2011. 5:50 PM REPLY

About 25 years ago, I saw directions for constructing a cardboard geodesic dome in Sunset Magazine. I decided it would be a good project for my 4th and
5th grade special education students. They had to measure and draw the triangles; I did the cutting. Like you, I added 1" flaps around the triangles. We didn't
use any squares. Then the students assembled the cardboard triangles with 1/2" #8 machine screws, washers, and nuts. Because this was a reward activity,
after they finished their assignments, it took a couple of months to complete. They eagerly did their English and math assignments so they could work on the
dome. The finished dome was approximately 4 feet high and 6 feet in diameter. We didn't paint ours, or put windows in it, but we left one triangle at the base
open for a door. All the children (all boys) could fit inside. They took flashlights inside and used it for a reading corner the rest of the year. At the end of the
year, the fire marshal ordered it taken down, but by then it has served its purpose.
jackg says:
consider scaling to a gingerbread house size,
Jul 22, 2011. 12:38 PM REPLY
JWPatt says:
Jul 21, 2011. 8:33 AM REPLY

Bucky, would be proud of this, its the kind of thing that he advocated.. This is what the octahedron is good for it divides evenly at the hemispheres..this is a
three frequency, about thirty years ago I built this exact configuration ( not out of cardboard ) and lived in it for around 4 years, my mother moved into it after I
moved out and still lives in it today.. Her highest utility bill has been under 80 dollars.. it was insulated on the outside of the shell with two inches of double foil
faced urethane foam.. I like living in it better than any structure I have lived in..It was small about 900 square feet with the balcony bedroom. I plan to build
one more to live in before I pass from the world.. It will be built much like this one only out of foot thick foam and shotcrete ...
Isn't wonderful how good ideas just live forever.. :) Thanks to Bucky fuller and you, your children will always see space as something different...
jackg says:
Jul 22, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY
forgot to ask,, where your 'R' values in the double digits??
jackg says:
Jul 22, 2011. 12:34 PM REPLY
JWPatt,
would you make a 'screen' to ''hold'' the shotcrete? sounds like your HOUSE had an even temp all year round,
do you have pic's of your house??
JWPatt says:
Jul 23, 2011. 5:22 PM REPLY

I would definitely use either multiple layers of poultry wire or metal lath which ever turned out to look the easiest to work with based against the cost
... The R factor of the dome was an R 16 but gained a great deal of radiant heat retained and reflected because of the double foil facing.. The one I
have planned will be in the range of an R 48 optimum and realistically more like an R 40 .. We have built several tube frame domes.. and have a
9/10s tube dome mounted outside my business on concrete piers.. Its a 16' diameter.. dome.
I have pictures of the one I lived in somewhere just have to find them or go take some more..
jackg says:
Jul 24, 2011. 7:31 AM REPLY
Thanks JW,
gezz, R48 is hugh, no wonder the HVAC was so low,
may I suggest you look at a product called ''hemp-crete' .com, amazing stuff
can't wait to see the pictures
kmckay4 says:
Jul 22, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY

This is GREAT i am making one as I speak....Only this one is for my dog...Thanks a MILLION for the time you spent making yours and for all the time you
took to write and share this recipe, that is so creative and detailed....Thank You....
jbarziza says:
Jul 22, 2011. 8:43 AM REPLY

I haven't seen any of your other ibles, but if they're as creative and complete as this one, put 'em together and WRITE A BOOK! Very creative and your kids
seem to be totally enchanted with it. Good job.
bigflash1 says:
Jul 22, 2011. 6:58 AM REPLY
This is AWESOME! Lucky kids for sure to have a mom that's so creative!!!!!
kevinhannan says:
Jul 22, 2011. 6:05 AM REPLY
bloomin' marvellous!
thanks for sharing and major kudos to you.
wilgubeast says:
Jul 15, 2011. 12:55 PM REPLY

This is awesome! I wish I'd had a sweet playhouse like this when I still fit inside of one. Also, my favorite line in the whole thing, "I found a suitable one that
people suggested homeless people use as emergency shelter." Brilliant.
Madrigorne says:
Jul 22, 2011. 3:56 AM REPLY

if you scale up your triangles, you can make it to fit you at any age. You deserve a play house, you have my permission to build one. Hugs to you.
supersoftdrink says:
Jul 15, 2011. 1:39 PM REPLY

Oh! That reminds me... here's the site that had the instructions which inspired this instructable. It was linked to by some other site (which was the one
that suggested its use for homeless)
http://www.fetchaphrase.com/dome/
CosmicBrambleclaw says:
Jul 22, 2011. 1:40 AM REPLY
Aww cute pictures :3
UseDaGreyMatter says:
Jul 21, 2011. 9:37 PM REPLY
looks great! A LABOR OF LOVE TO BE SURE!!!!!!
patron_zero says:
Jul 21, 2011. 6:26 PM REPLY
An 'unfolded' soccer ball, this pattern makes quick and simple domes by leaving off the 'bottom' third of each assembled item.
patron_zero says:
Jul 21, 2011. 5:55 PM REPLY

Really excellent quality cardboard can be found at upper-end fine furniture retailers, mind large screen plasma-LED TV boxes are great for such purposes
too but the harder to find honeycombed shipping boxes will offer your projects longer playlife and a much stronger construction.
clandestinecliche says:
Jul 21, 2011. 3:40 PM REPLY
How big is this thing? I would love to make one for myself as a reading area.
grebjack says:
Jul 21, 2011. 2:17 PM REPLY
I was planning to figure this out to build a planetarium with my astronomy club kids. Thanks for doing the hard work for me!
Homeofmyown says:
Jul 21, 2011. 9:39 AM REPLY
Good job. Do you have an art degree? Your use of materials at hand is so smart. Very entertaining ible to read.
shenderson1 says:
Jul 21, 2011. 9:21 AM REPLY
Really cool! Good instructions as well. Maybe if I get some extra time I will try...
generaljuan says:
Jul 19, 2011. 3:46 PM REPLY
I see a gryphon and have one thing to say FOR THE HORDE.
on a more serious note, i really like your design. i am thinking of scaling it up and using velcro so i can make something like this for an ultra portable
emergency-type shelter.
jackg says:
Jul 21, 2011. 8:56 AM REPLY
an EMT shelter- smart idea,,if I may be so bold as to add to your idea Sir,
one could use 2 inch silvered(one side) foam, fiber glass each section trapping in an industrial velcro 'A' as a flap. 'B' glued onto the corresponding piece,
the whole thing would weigh maybe 5 pounds, tape the outside with silver tape
would make a very sturdy quick shelter, for either hot or cold, rain, the base might be problematic, still a great idea,
good luck with this
spark master says:
Jul 21, 2011. 8:25 AM REPLY
fabulous where did you get the original design can you post a website? I wish I has seen this when my kids were little.
jackg says:
Jul 21, 2011. 8:23 AM REPLY
Very cool,
Icosahedron for the top, into a sq'ed base, love the dominoes,
also consider a dodecahedron for the top, still into a sq'ed base, again leave a panel out for a window
brilliant!!!
Kasm279 says:
When I saw the unpainted picture of this I immediately thought soccer ball o_o
Jul 21, 2011. 8:19 AM REPLY
steveastrouk says:
Jul 21, 2011. 7:57 AM REPLY
BRILLIANT 'ible ! Well done !

Steve
rhino says:
Jul 21, 2011. 7:47 AM REPLY
I bet if you fiberglassed over the exterior, it would be pretty strong and could be used outdoors as storage or pet shelter.
whiteoakart says:
Jul 21, 2011. 7:38 AM REPLY
Would you be my mom?
cairparavel says:
Jul 20, 2011. 1:03 PM REPLY
How long did it take you to make the whole thing?
cairparavel says:
Jul 20, 2011. 12:59 PM REPLY
Awesome!!!
flyingpuppy says:
Jul 20, 2011. 9:56 AM REPLY
Bet your kids LOVE this!
l8nite says:
Jul 18, 2011. 11:26 PM REPLY
this is just way cool
CatTrampoline says:
Jul 18, 2011. 9:33 AM REPLY
Buckminster Fuller lives!
sunshiine says:
Love it!
view all 65 comments
Jul 18, 2011. 1:25 AM REPLY

Cardboard Play Dome

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Cardboard Play Dome

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Cardboard Play Dome

Intro: Cardboard Play Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Measure and cut triangles and squares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Fold the flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Glue flaps together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Author:supersoftdrink my seldom updated blog

Intro: Cardboard Play Dome

Step 1: Measure and cut triangles and squares

Step 2: Fold the flaps

Step 3: Glue flaps together

wanted mine on the inside. Whichever you choose, be consistent.

Step 4: Glue on little reinforcing strips

Step 5: Prime and base coat

Step 6: Add metallic corners and edges

Step 7: Add detail with acrylic paint and a brush

Step 8: Paint on rivets

Step 9: Insert stuffed animals, pillows, and kids

Thanks for reading! Go make one and post pictures!

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Aug 3, 2011. 9:43 AM REPLY

Wow! Is that even possible to make!?

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Jul 22, 2011. 12:38 PM REPLY

Jul 21, 2011. 8:33 AM REPLY

Jul 22, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY

forgot to ask,, where your 'R' values in the double digits??

Jul 22, 2011. 12:34 PM REPLY

Jul 23, 2011. 5:22 PM REPLY

Jul 24, 2011. 7:31 AM REPLY

Jul 22, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY

Jul 22, 2011. 8:43 AM REPLY

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Jul 15, 2011. 12:55 PM REPLY

Jul 22, 2011. 3:56 AM REPLY

Jul 15, 2011. 1:39 PM REPLY

Jul 22, 2011. 1:40 AM REPLY

Aww cute pictures :3

Jul 21, 2011. 9:37 PM REPLY

looks great! A LABOR OF LOVE TO BE SURE!!!!!!

Jul 21, 2011. 6:26 PM REPLY

Jul 21, 2011. 5:55 PM REPLY

Jul 21, 2011. 3:40 PM REPLY

Jul 21, 2011. 2:17 PM REPLY

Jul 21, 2011. 9:39 AM REPLY

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Jul 21, 2011. 8:56 AM REPLY

spark master says:

Jul 21, 2011. 8:25 AM REPLY