Merry Creepmas, my dark hearted little babies!

Today’s the first day of December and we’re kicking off the Thirteen Days of Creepmas with an extra special Dark Arts and Crafts project!

Last January we created a Lucifur Papercraft kit as a way to say thank you to the people who were so instrumental in helping us out with Lucifur’s chemotherapy (full story here!).

Lucifur herself had the final word in approving the design and the tiny details (all the way down to the matching “L” for “Lucifur” on her chest and official “Army of Barkness” dog tag) and we had a lot of fun making her and sending her out.

Now, almost a year after that fateful time in our Lord of Barkness’ life, we’ve decided, in the spirit of  Creepmas and the holiday season to release the official Lucifur Papercraft to everyone…but with an extra special Creepmas Seasonal twist.

Behold, the Creepmas Lucifur Papercraft!

While it’s arguably the most adorable thing on this site…we’re about to double the adorable by sharing with you our inspiration…

Now that’s what we call the perfect family portrait!

When you download our papercraft kit, you’ll get not only the actual papercraft pattern, but a full step by step printed instruction booklet as well.

Download the file by clicking here: Directions master file Creepmas

Clicking on the above link should download the full .pdf file to your computer.  It’s 7 pages long.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nom tutorial if I didn’t do it along with you guys…so to try to help explain a few of the tricker parts, here is us putting together another Lucifur Creepmas Papercraft.

Cut out your pieces

First thing you’re going to want to do is print your papercraft out.  I usually just print pages 2 and 7 on cardstock and then pages 1,3-5 on regular printer paper.  Make sure when you’re printing it, that you’re following the directions in the tutorial so it’s properly sized for your paper.

Using your scissors, cut out all the pieces that make up Lucifur from page 2 by cutting along all the solid lines.  Don’t cut along dotted lines, those are fold lines.  You’ll end up with 9 individual pieces total.

 

Make sure as you’re cutting out the pattern, that you follow the directions closely for the highlighted red sections that indicate straight cuts through the paper for future slotting and connecting!

Lucifur’s Head

We’re going to start first with her head as that’s the hardest part and takes the most work.

Carefully fold your pattern along all the dotted lines from the front of your template to the back. Once those are folded, connect tab 1 on the long strip that makes up the top of Lucifur’s head with the corresponding side 1 and glue or tape in place.

Next connect tab 2 to the corresponding side. This will help create the sides and top of Lucifur’s head.

Moving onto tabs marked 3, slot them together, interlocking the top of her head to the front of her muzzle just above her nose.  Use some glue or tape to connect the two pieces together.  (Side note, the pieces are meant to interlock and slot together.  Depending on how closely you cut along your solid trim lines, additional small trims may be required to get the pieces to fit with/alongside each other.)

Give them a good taping/gluing down on the inside for added strength.

Continue interlocking the tabs that make up her muzzle to the top of her head by working through tabs 4-7.  They’re staggered and alternating which makes them easier to interlock as you work your way back and forth across the fold.  This allows the paper to gently curve and should help avoid any sharp folds.

Close the gaps between her head and muzzle by connecting tab 8 on her muzzle to the corresponding side on her head and then completing the circle form of her muzzle by connecting tab 9 on her muzzle to the corresponding side also on the muzzle piece.

Her head should now look like this – with open spots for her temples.

Moving onto the top of her head, start interlocking tabs 10 to the corresponding tabs on her left temple.  Repeat the process with the interlocking tabs labeled 11.

Make sure as you’re attaching her temples that the pre-cut ear slots (15) align properly.

As you connect the two pieces, you should start to see the head curving over into an arch shape.  Again, let the paper curve as you work…don’t force it or you’ll end up with unsightly sharp fold lines.

Repeat what you just did with her left temple with her right temple, again making sure that her ear slots line up properly.

At this point, you should be about 95% done with her head (yay!).  Flip it upside down and make sure to reinforce any internal taping you might want to secure at this point.  We’ll be sealing the whole thing up in a bit so now is the time to make sure your tabs are all solidly tape/glued down.

Now it’s time to attach the ears!  First, carefully fold each ear along the dotted line running down the center of the pieces and glue together.  This creates the front and back of each ear.  Slide the corresponding ear tabs into the correct pre-cut ear slots in both the right and left side of her temples (15 and 16).  Give her ears a gentle squeeze to curl it in towards itself lengthwise to help facilitate fitting into the slots and to give it a realistic ear shape.

On the inside of her head again make sure to reinforce the tabs for her ears. This will not only make sure they stay in place but help them stand upright and at attention.  Now she can hear you telling her how good she looks!

Once you’re done with her head and ears it’s time to close her lower jaw.  Attach tab 17 on her chin piece to the corresponding back side of her head.

Because you’re closing up her head, this part can get a bit tricky.  I suggest working your way forward on tabs 18 and 19, gently pulling the front of her chin down so you can still wiggle your finger inside her head and press down the tabs to tape/glue.  Be aware that there is going to be a small gap in the bottom of her head right where her chin really should be.  This space is just the right size for a chopstick or popsicle stick if you find you need to push down any 18 or 19 tabs from the inside out that just aren’t sticking how you’d like.

Once that’s done you’re officially done with her head and we can move onto the easy parts of the project, her body and Creepmas accessories!

Lucifur’s Body

To make Lucifur’s body, fold along the dotted lines and then attach tab 21 to the corresponding back side.  You’ll end up with a box-ish shape.  To create her chest, gently fold the top half of her body pieces inward, securing tabs 20-22 to their corresponding sides.

To create her tail nub, follow the same technique we used with her ears.  First carefully fold her tail in half along the dotted line running down the center of the piece and glue the two sides together, creating a double-sided tail.  Slide the narrow portion of her tail (23) into the pre-cut slot on the back of her body and tape down on the inside to secure.

 On the inside of her body, as close to the bottom edge as possible, tape your pennies, one for each of the four sides.   This will give her body more weight and make her more stable and less top heavy.

Now it’s time for the final assembly!  Carefully connect tabs 24 at the top of her neck to the corresponding pre-cut slots in her chin and set her head in place.

Congratulations!  You’ve made Lucifur!  Now let’s get her some fancy Creepmas duds to dress up in!

Creepmas Hat

Cut out the pieces of her Creepmas hat, bat toppers and fluff strips from page 7 of the papercraft kit by cutting along the solid lines.  You should end up with 5 individual pieces.

Create the hat by rolling it into a cone and securing the shape with the large tab by using glue or tape.

Fold the tabs of each of the fluff strips so they flip up along the backside of the strip.  Align the fluff strips to their corresponding sides on the hat (A to A, B to B) with the curvy edge up.

Fold the fluff strip tabs up and inside the edge of your hat (you’ll be able to see the letters upside down on the tabs on the inside of your hat).

As you secure the tabs of the fluff strips to the inside of your hat, curve the fluff strip paper and make sure it’s folded up and over the outside of the hat, creating the fluffy white trim.

Carefully cut out both bat toppers and glue or tape back to back at the top of your toothpick.

Slide the end of your toothpick into the top of your hat and you’re done making her Creepmas accessory!

Place the hat down on top of Lucifur’s head, with the ear slots over the edges of her ears and celebrate Creepmas in style!

Congratulations!  You’re officially done!

Feel free to print out as many Lucifur’s as you’d like and create your own tiny paper army of barkness!

Looking for more fun Dark Arts and Crafts?  Lucifur gives our Cozy Cauldron DIY two paws up!

And if you make this papercraft, please feel free to share it with us on our Facebook page or by tagging us in Instagram!

Merry Creepmas!