Design and Structure

• 1). Design your building on a sheet of paper. Decide on a scale (such as 1 inch represents 10 feet), the height of the building and how you will cut your cardboard. Use real-life inspiration, or find pictures of skyscrapers and other buildings.
  
  
• 2). Measure and mark the building on cardboard. Use the yardstick to draw straight lines. For small buildings, mark the cardboard to be folded instead of cutting on lines for each panel. If two sides will be glued together, be sure to leave a tab on one edge.
  
  
• 3). Cut the building panels out of the cardboard with a utility knife. Use the yardstick to keep your cuts straight.
  
  
• 4). Score the cardboard by pushing the yardstick into the upper layers of cardboard that will be folded. This will make folding easier.
  
  
• 5). Assemble the building. Fold or staple the sides together, and glue the pieces together using tabs wherever you added them. Use a clothes pin or clamp to hold pieces together while the glue dries.
  For larger buildings, saw lengths of 1 by 1-inch wood to reinforce the corners and then staple the cardboard panels to the wood.
  
  
• 6). Allow the glue to dry overnight.
  
  

Decoration

• 1). Draw decorative panels for your building on construction paper or print out designs. Use your original diagram and the cardboard cut-outs as templates.
  
  
• 2). Cut the side decorations to fit the building.
  
  
• 3). Spread glue on the backs of the decorative panels, and stick them in place on one side of the building. Allow the decorative panels to overlap by about 1/8-inch. This will give the building a more complete look. Rest the building with the just-glued side face-up, and allow the glue to dry for about 10 minutes. Repeat for the other sides of the building.
  
  
• 4). Set the building upright.