How to Hand-make Cardboard Tommy Guns

I am not the necessarily the crafty type. At least not as much as I'd like to be.

But once in a while, my mom's craft-making skills shine through, and I get the urge.

With Halloween approaching, I was trying to decide what to be. In my closet, I re-discovered a fedora hat and an old-ish pair of pants with suspenders. The idea of being a 1930's mobster started looking pretty good. But I would need a tommy gun to complete the costume.

So I set to work, and I ended up with this.

All you need are:

• large cardboard box
• duct tape or glue
• pencil or pen
• box cutter

Here's how I went about making my own cardboard tommy guns.

1. Found a stencil online. I don't think I used this exact one,
but they're all pretty much the same.

2. Sketched the stencil on cardboard. Didn't worry about being too precise.
It's just cardboard, after all.

3. Cut out the stencil. Try not to waste too much extra cardboard above/below,
because that will allow for more cut-outs per box or sheet of cardboard.

4. Wrote on one so I'd know it was the original ("OG" = original gangster).
Stencil and re-do until you've got 10 copies.

5. Either glue or use duct tape to secure 5 of your stencils together.
6. Optional: spray paint this whole piece black or silver,
maybe using brown for the handles and stock. 

7. Find a large circle to stencil for the drum (round bullet clip).

8. Cut out ten of the circles.

9. Make a notch in the circles that fits snugly around the gun frame assembled in Step #5.

10. Tape or glue 5 circles together with the notches matching up.

Now you've got your gun frames and bullet drums, and the final step is...

11. Tape or glue the drums to the frame, and you're all done!

Voilá! A cardboard tommy gun, and the perfect accessory for that 1930's costume.

P.S. I'm kind of embarrassed to ask, but is this post worthy of Pinterest?