Long Family

To say a family is two-dimensional would normally be an insult. But to the Longs of Chico, California, it's a testament to their well-rounded sense of humor. This craft originated in a school project-- ten-year-old Dylan Long was assigned a poem called "My Dad," which he had to recite, with props, in front of his class. When his dad couldn't serve as a human prop, Dylan, with some help from his mom, Regan, created his body double from a refrigerator box. The prop was such a hit that they couldn't stop there. With a little slicing and dicing, three Longs were re-created as, well, the Flats. When their replicas were done and positioned on the family's front porch, says mom Regan, "You wouldn't believe how many passersby waved and thought they were real! It has been a long-term conversation piece!"

FIGURINE MATERIALS:

Refrigerator box
Pen or pencil
Utility knife or heavy-duty scissors
An outfit for each figure
Color photos of family members

1. Flatten a refrigerator box and trace around each member of your family on a different panel.

2. Cut out each figure using a utility knife (a parent's job) or heavy-duty scissors.

3. Have each family member choose an outfit and dress his or her alter ego, being sure to include accessories such as scarves and baseball caps to perfect the look.

4. Take color photos of each person's face, have them enlarged to life-size at a copy shop, and glue the faces onto the cardboard heads.

5. Position the figures on your front porch and occasionally change their stance and the props around them.

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• All Ages |
• Cardboard Crafts |
• Photo Crafts