DIY Vintage Style Rabbit - Late Night Coffee

Love vintage decor? This DIY vintage style rabbit craft is perfect for anyone who decorates with vintage items! And best of all- NO wood is needed! This craft is also great because you don’t need to be “perfect” with it. It allows for errors and imperfections because it is meant to look vintage and “pre-loved”.

Here are the supplies you will need:

Printable Rabbit graphics (You can find them in my Late Night Coffee Etsy store) These graphics have a “worn” look to them. They come in 3 sizes-(8 x 4.25 inches, 6 x 3.25 inches, and 4 x 2.25 inches). Each size has two side views for the front and back of piece. Please note: The instructions to make this DIY vintage style rabbit are only on this website. You can print them out directly from here if needed.
Chipboard (or food carton boxes to make your own) You will need pieces that are about 1/16″ or 1mm thick. The length and width you will need will depend on the size of the rabbit you are making (see below in my supply comments.)
Scissors (strong enough to cut through chipboard)
White glue
Glue stick
Paintbrushes (smaller size)
Acrylic Matte Paint (I prefer off-white)
FINE sandpaper
Ruler
Black or dark brown pencil to fill in any errors( if needed )

I will take a moment to comment on the supplies.

Here is the breakdown for the approximate size chipboard you will need for each size rabbit and base:

Large rabbit- (4 pieces that are at least 8.5″ x 5″ each for rabbit) (One piece that is at least 5.5″ x 7″ for base)
Medium rabbit (4 pieces that are at least 6.5″ x 4″ each for rabbit) (One piece that is at least 4.5″ x 5″ for base)
Small rabbit (4 pieces that are at least 4.5″ x 3″ each for rabbit) (One piece that is at least 3.5″ x 5″ for base)

I don’t endorse any one product, but I have found some products work well with this craft.

I like Aleene’s Tacky Glue because it is strong holding, however a good white glue will also work.

If you don’t have off-white paint you can add a little drop of yellow to white paint and make a nice off-white color.

And finally chipboard. I regularly have found stashes of chipboard at thrift stores, so that is where I usually get mine. I also upcycle things with it. You can find chipboard in lots of everyday products like the backs of some notebooks and certain product boxes. Chipboard is just a sturdy, thick cardboard and it is NOT corrugated (wavy on inside). You can also make your own chipboard by layering food product box cardboard together. Here is a video that shows how to make your own.

I will also state for the record that these following instructions are how I made this rabbit. Like any craft, you may find a way to make it easier….or better!

Instructions:

Print and cut out both views of rabbit graphics from paper. ( I leave a little white area around each rabbit because it makes cutting them out easier and less likely to cut too much off of the graphic later on.) GLUE STICK them onto the chipboard. Make sure you cover the whole back with the glue stick. Smooth graphic and let dry on chipboard for 10 minutes or so. Now cut out both rabbits around edge of the actual graphic (cutting off white area). I find if you cut small pieces off one at a time, it saves the graphic from possible wrinkling and your hands from hurting.

Cover the backs of both of these rabbits with WHITE GLUE and glue them onto ANOTHER piece of chipboard. You can put a heavy book on top of these pieces to really help the rabbits adhere. Let dry for at least 30 minutes.

While you are waiting for your glue to dry, cut out your chipboard pieces for your base. The size of base will depend on what size rabbit graphic you are working with:

Large rabbit (8″) – Make four 5″ x 1.5″ pieces
Medium rabbit (6″) – Make four 4″ x 1″ pieces.
Small rabbit (4″) – Make four 3″ x 1″ pieces

Cut out rectangles and glue each piece on top of each other until you have a “block”. You will now have a 4 layer base. Don’t worry about imperfection when cutting, it will add to the the “aged” look.

When rabbits have dried, cut out both rabbits around the actual graphic again. Cutting small pieces as you go is easier. Don’t worry if your cutting doesn’t look perfect or isn’t matching up. It’s supposed to look old AND the next steps will help make it look less obvious. Each rabbit piece is now two layers thick. Each should be about 1/8″ thick.

Cover the back of one of the rabbits with white glue (get all the edges!) and glue to back of other rabbit. Let dry and use heavy book to weigh down if you need. Let dry for 30 minutes. You now will have one rabbit piece that is 4 layers thick. (See how imperfect mine is!) This 4-layer thickness should be about 1/4″ thick.

Now, break out that FINE sandpaper . You are going to GENTLY sand the sides of your rabbit AND base so they are a little more flush and smooth like a piece of wood. Again, don’t worry about making the sides perfectly smooth. You need some imperfections to make the piece look older.

Now, it’s time to get out the paint. Dip a LITTLE amount of paint onto the small paintbrush. You will now dab/swipe small amounts here and there on sides of rabbit piece. Don’t cover all the layered chipboard. It’s supposed to look like some has worn/faded/chipped off. Paint around the rabbit sides (except bottom side). Now, paint the base. Use same dab/swipe technique with side edges. The top can be painted with bigger brush, but use a little so you can still see some chipboard through. You can choose to paint bottom or leave plain, depending on your preference and where it will be displayed.

Break out that FINE sandpaper again, and GENTLY sand the edges, top,and sides of base. You goal is to make it look aged, so use alight touch while anding.

Spread white glue on the bottom of rabbit piece and place in center of base. Hold down firmly for a minute or two to make sure it is adhered. Let dry. I don’t put a sealer on because it sometimes it smears the printer ink and I like the flat “old wood” look. But you, of course, are free to do what you would like with the rabbit and base to protect it.