MINIATURE CHICKEN FARM AND BARN DIORAMA

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INSTRUCTIONS

Grass Base - Firm and Soft Felt (Template A)

Step 1 - Lay the felt sheets flat across a surface with either cardboard or plastic underneath to protect your work surface.

Step 2 - On the underside of the stiffened felt sheet, lightly mark out the shape of the green field base as per template A1.

Step 3 - Using a small Stanley knife over a cutting mat, carefully trim the shape of the green field base as marked out in previous step.

Step 4 - Repeat step 2 with the green glitter felt sheets, cutting the shapes shown in template A2.

Step 5 - Carefully cut the shape of the glitter green felt to match the firm green felt.

Step 6 - Fix the glitter green felt shapes to the firm green felt below, using craft glue.

Step 8 - Using a small Stanley knife, cut the gravel barn base from the gold card following shape of template A3.

Barn Structure - Foam Core (Template B)

Step 1 - Using a larger Stanley knife, cut templates B1, B2, B3 and B4 from the A3 foam core boards.

Optional - Keep the section cut from template B1 to create barn doors.

Step 2 - Connect the edges of the end walls to the side walls with a dab of glue, followed by the roof panels.

Step 3 - Use this open box as a template to mark and cut the coloured card for the exterior of the barn.

Step 4 - Use the roof panels as templates to mark and cut coloured card for the roof of barn (it can also be wrapped in single sheet of card).

Step 5 - Attach all the coloured card sections to their respective sides and roof panels.

Step 6 - Attach roof panels to appropriate angles on each end wall with glue, closing the box.

Barn Detail - balsa wood (Template C)

Step 1 - Place the barn structure onto the gold gravel base (glue to secure in place, optional).

Step 2 - Using a small Stanley knife, cut the balsa door, roof, and window trim details from template C.

Step 3 - Fix detail coloured card elements to barn- windows, trim, and barn doors.

Optional - Add fairy lights inside barn to illuminate the windows and open doors!

Fence Sections - Balsa Wood (Template D)

Step 1 - Using a large Stanley knife, cut the 6.5x6.5mm balsa to lengths shown in template D1.

Step 2 - Using a large Stanley knife, cut the 5x5mm balsa to lengths shown in template D2.

Step 3 - Fix vertical fence posts (6.5mm x 6.5mm balsa lengths) to horizontal fence lengths with dabs of PVA glue.

Step 4 - Fix fence length to one side of barn and green field base.

Adult Chickens x 2 (optional)

Step 1 - Take a pinch of white Sculpey clay and roll around in hands to warm up, wrap clay around 20mm foam ball to cover it completely.

Step 2 - Take an extra chunk of white clay, add to the top and bottom end of the foam ball wrapped in clay to create the head and tail of chicken.

Step 3 - Take a small pinch of the gold/brown clay, warm in hands and add to the 'neck' of chicken for the head/neck feathers.

Step 4 - Take very small pinch of yellow clay, roll in fingers, and create a triangle shape for the chickens' beak.

Step 5 - Push small wire leg segments up into the base of chicken body.

Step 6 - Take another very small pinch of yellow clay, roll into long thin segment, and form the chickens' feet around the wire.

Step 7 - Take a small pinch of red clay, roll in fingers and split into 2 parts, form the head and chin wattle.

Step 8 - Take a larger pinch of white clay and roll in fingers, split into 2 parts and roll into balls for eyes.

Step 9 - Take a very small pinch of black clay, roll between fingers into two tiny balls and place in centre of white eyes for pupils.

Step 10 - Take a small pinch of gold/brown clay and make 3 small 'fans' for the tail feathers of chicken, attach to back.

Step 11 - Bake at 120 degrees for 10 minutes on baking paper.

Baby Chickens x3 (optional)

Step 1 - Take small cube of yellow clay, roll in hands and make ball about 2cm wide.

Step 2 - Take half of the previous amount of yellow clay and repeat, adding to top of ball for small head and neck shape.

Step 3 - Roll small pinch of red clay, attach to head/neck section for beak of each chick.

Step 4 - Take a small pinch of yellow clay, roll between hands and make small 'fans' for tail feathers then attach to the back.

Step 5 - Bake at 120 degrees for 10 minutes on baking paper.

Arrange all items (barn, fence, chickens and chicks) onto the green base as you please.