AMAZING Realistic Cardboard Rhino Head

In this instructable we will learn how to make an extremely realistic rhinoceros head. This makes for fantastic home decor, and is a wonderful decoration to hang up above a bed or in the living room. This project is also easy to make. It is completely made of cardboard, and the other materials needed are somewhat household objects, and easy to procure if need be. Lets dive in!

Supplies:

- Lots of Cardboard

- Pencil

- Mat Knife

- Self Healing Cutting Mat

- Ruler to Make Measurements (optional)

- Hot Glue (optional)

To start lets cut out an outline of a rhino head. The rhino head can be any size, and you may want to figure out an ideal place to put it after it is finished before you start, so that you can size it appropriately. Do not include the horn or the ears. The only facial feature included should be an outline of the mouth. It is helpful to draw an outline of the head before you cut it, and remember to use knife safety when cutting out the outline with a mat knife.

When you are done, trace the outline and cut out a second one so that there are two identical outlines.

When making a cardboard model like this, it is important to add ribs to add depth, and give the piece more layers to attach more details. Here we will make the first rib. First, cut out a circle of cardboard with your desired width, that is the same height as the place it is going to go on the rhino head. It is also important to know how far apart your two basic head outlines will be, so that you can plan appropriately and estimate the width better. Next, measure the height of the head where the rib will go, and make a cut about half that length on the basic head cutout. Make another cut of the same length on the rib, and do the same the other side of the rib and the other head outline, so that it fits evenly. The rib and the head outline should mesh together, and it should start to take on a 3D shape. Make sure your cuts mesh together so that the rib is not above the basic head cutout. If they do not mesh nicely, it will add an odd feel to the piece and it will not turn out as nicely as it could have.

Next we will make the horn and nostrils. To make the nostrils, make two oval-shaped cardboard cutouts. They should be proportionate to the rest of the rhino. Then, cut out the nostrils, and make the cuts on the rib and the nose ovals so that they attach to the rest of the face.

For the horn, simply cut out a proportionate horn, and then make a small cut at the base, and another small cut in the middle of the rib so that horn attaches to the rib, and is visible, but also is secure and does not move around or wiggle. When you put your progress together, it should look like the nose and the horn.

First, let's start by creating another rib, this time a bit behind the spot where the neck. After properly fitted and meshed, cut out some little connectors, and then ears. Create a slit on both ends of the connector, the top of the rib, and the bottom of the ears. Connect them all, and you should have a rhinoceros with a horn and some ears

Now lets make another rib, slightly above where the eyes belong. Next let’s make some curved ovals (like the ones shown above). After you have the shape, cut a hole for the eyes, and then cut a strip on the oval and a strip on the rib to attach the eye. Try to make it nice and snug.

The mount is pretty easy to make, and has lots of opportunities for added creativity. The way that I did mine was by simply cutting a mount out, and then doing two big slits on top. I also did two slits on the bottom edge of the rhino, to slide it in. by this point, hopefully you have an idea of how this works, so you can feel free to get creative with it and you can experiment by doing it a different way.

Hope you had fun! This is the first instructable I have made, so leave feedback.

A lot more went into making this than you would imagine. I first made a sketch of my desired animal (the rhino), and then a small model called a Maquette to get an idea of the final project. I had to do precise measurements to make it, and it was a long process. However, the end result turned out fantastic, but a lot more went into this project than just constructing.