How to Make a Miniature Tent for a Centerpiece

Bring a tent indoors for this detailed table centerpiece.

Add a miniature tent to your centerpiece for a personalized touch. Design tents for table centerpieces for your child's next scout ceremony along with the scout troop's number on the tent or flag. Incorporate the tent design to your centerpiece for a camping theme birthday party. Include other miniature objects, such as campfires, pine trees or forest animals, along with the tent for a centerpiece that is a work of art.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Acrylic paint, markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Hot glue gun
• Toothpick
• Card stock
• Fine-point pen
• Pinking scissors
• Craft stick
• Twine

Instructions

Round Tent

1. Cut the curved edge of a paper plate so you have a flat paper circle. Paint both sides of the paper using acrylic paint, markers or crayons, if desired.

2. Find the center of the circle. Make a single straight cut along the radius of the circle from the edge of the plate to the radius.

3. Fold the circle so the cut edges overlap to create a cone shape. Place a strip of double-sided tape between the overlapping edges and press them together.

4. Trim along the circular end of the cone so it is level. Turn the cone so the taped edges are on the back side. Cut a 2-by-2-inch semicircle in the cone along the bottom edge to form the opening to the tent.

5. Coat one end of a toothpick with hot glue. Insert the glue end of the toothpick into the center of the tip of the cone so that half of the toothpick is sticking out of the top.

6. Cut a 1-inch equilateral triangle out of a piece of card stock. Write a name for the tent, such as the location or the name of the event, if desired, on the flag. Position the triangle with one side along the top of the toothpick. Attach the flag to the toothpick with hot glue.

7. Use pinking scissors to cut a rectangle of card stock that is 2 inches wider and longer than the base of the tent. Place the tent in the center of the card stock. Apply hot glue around the base to attach it to the card stock, which is the rug beneath the tent.

Folding Tent

1. Cut a sheet of card stock that is the width of a craft stick and 8 inches in length. Fold the paper along the center so there are 4 inches on each side of the fold. Write a message on the outside of the folded paper using a fine-point pen, if desired.

2. Use hot glue to attach the craft stick horizontally along the top side of the fold so it will be on the outside of the tent.

3. Cut a circle out of a sheet of card stock that is 2 inches wider than the base of the tent using pinking scissors. Place the tent in the center of the card stock. Use hot glue to attach the base of the tent to the card stock.

4. Cut four 5-inch pieces of twine. Attach two of the pieces of twine to one end of the craft stick. Pull one to the left and the other to the right of the tent and attach them to the card stock using hot glue. Repeat this with the other two pieces of twine on the other end of the craft stick.

References

• Artists Helping Children: Paper Folding Models and Diagrams... -- How to Make a Paper Tent Structure
• By Stephanie Lynn: Kid Sized Play Tents