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Check Out Our Hauntingly Easy Spooky Well Assembly Tutorial

The Cutting Room Team

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Materials Used

We used several products and supplies in the making of our spooky old wishing well decoration. Below is a list of what we used.

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This well is assembled in two sections so it’s really not too much to put together.  We started by building the base of the well, the section you see made to look like bricks and decorated.

Building The Base Of The Well

To start construction of the well base we used two large side panels. After embellishing them with an embossing folder and ink we attached them end to end. Place glue on the tabs but do not fold on the tab score lines. These lines are to help with placing the other panel. Folding will create an unwanted bend in your well.

Next we then folded in tabs one side of the circular shape and added glue to the inside.  Either end of the circle is fine for this as they are identical at this point. Using the solid circle, drop the bottom panel in and press down on the circle, where it meets the tabs.  Make sure you get a secure hold and press firmly to make sure the circle panel for the bottom is snug in the fold.

We then turned the shape over and added glue to the other solid circle and placed it on the bottom. This adds extra strength and covers the exposed tabs. 

Turn the shape over now and add glue to one or two of the tabs on the top.  Attach the ring panel to these glued tabs.  Once this is secure, go to the opposite side and glue one or two tabs in place.  Working your way around, going back and forth on opposite sides, secure the rest of the tabs in place.   Once you are done you will have no exposed tabs and a large hole in the center.

Decorating The Well Base

Next, we attached the decorative side panels to give the brick look.  We added some glue to the back of the panel, lined it up with the bottom and one seam on the well base. Then gently pressed it around the side of the well.  Once one was in place, we added the second decorative panel in the same way.

Adding Some Detail To The Base

The next part of assembling the well is to make the lip that goes on the top. This gives the top some extra detail and makes it slightly larger than the base.  To assemble this, we took the two long base panels and attached them end to end to create a large circle shape.

We then folded in the tabs along one side and added glue to the tabs so we could place one of the solid ring panels inside to create the rounded shape.

Our next step was to turn the shape over, add glue to the exposed tabs and glue the other solid ring panel in place.  This covers the tabs so they won’t be exposed on the final product.  Once this is in place, we added the decorative panels around the outside of the ring and to the top in much the same way we put the decorative panels on the side of the well base

Next, take the well base and add glue to the top (the side with the ring panel) then place the decorated top ring on top.  You can use your fingers to reach in and pinch the two together to create a strong connection. 

Assembling 3D Trees

We then started decorating the side of the well base.  To do this we assembled the three bushes that have a 3d element.  You’ll notice that there are three bushes with a slit cut out of them and two extra panels on either side.  Take these panels and fold the tabs back so they don’t get glued together. Then add glue to the branches and glue and attach the two panels back to back.  You’ll then add glue to the front of the tabs, slide them into the slit on the bush and press to secure the tabs.  This will give the buses a simple 3d effect.

Once we assembled all three of the bushes, we placed them at intervals on the well base. We tried to have them approximately equally distance from each other.

Adding Final Touches To The Well Base

We then added two of the other flat bushes, one each between the 3D bushes.  There are three in case you don’t want to use the “Keep Out!” sign.  If you do not want the sign, place one bush between each of the 3d bushes.  If you want the sign, leave one off and the sign will take its place.  Once the bushes are in place, you can add the grass to the base.  We chose to add some pop dots to the back of the grass on the flat 2D bushes.

Our next step was to assemble the sign and the boards to close off the top of the well.  We chose to attach the sign using some foam dots, this lets it pop out from the side of the well base a little and look like it’s free standing without it actually being separate.  (Suggestion:  When done, add narrow craft sticks to the back of the wood boards.  This will help prevent them from sagging over time.

Going Batty!

Our final step for assembly of the well base was to add the bats.  We cut floral wire to be about a foot long.  You can go shorter if desired, or wrap the wire in loops to shorten it up once in place.  How much movement you want from the bats is a matter of personal preference.  To attach the bats to the wire, we added a small touch of hot glue to one side of the bat then pressed the wire in.  Once that was secure, we added regular glue and attached it back to back to another bat.  We chose to preassemble the bats (adding the decorative body panel) before working with the wire.

Once we had all three bats attached to their wires, we stuck the wires into a foam block, also from the floral section at the craft store.  This block we dropped into the well then covered the hole with the boards.

You can set the well base aside for now.  We’ll need it again once the roof structure is complete.

Constructing Roof Supports

The roof is held up by two identical supports.  We’ll show the construction of one.  Once completed, repeat the same process for the second one.  To start the support, there are four panels with tabs that need to be connected end to end.  You’ll note that they have marks on the end tab. One, two, or three vertical lines, and one with a horizontal line. We’ve lined them up here in order so you can see how they go together, but just go in order, attaching 1 to 2.

Fold the side tabs in and add glue, then press the long tab to the long part of the side support panel as shown.

Then work your way around, one tab at a time to attach to the cross beam and the end.  You’re going to work your way around the T shaped panel, one or two tabs at a time until you have gone all the way around.  As you go, you’ll need to add panel 3, then the 4th (the one with the single has line going a different direction) so that you can complete the circuit.

Once you have the complete circuit done and closed at the end, you can fold in the other tabs.  Then add glue to the bottom one and attach the other T shaped panel, making sure it’s square with the tab.  Once the glue is set, add glue to the two tabs on the long part of the support and press the T panel in place.  Then add glue to the rest of the tabs and position the T to cover and close off your support shape. 

As noted before, repeat this process for the second support.

Cross Brace Assembly

There are four cross supports that you are going to assemble now.  Fold on all the fold lines then add glue to the long tab and fold around to create a square shape.  The ends are slanted.  To close them off, fold in the tabs, add glue, then press the rectangle panel in place to close the end.  Do this for all four.

Don’t attach these to the supports yet.  You need to add the decorative panels to the supports before these are placed.

We added the decorative panels to the cross supports.  Fold on the score lines, add glue, then place on the supports as shown.

Adding Decorative Panels and Braces

Our next step was to add the decorative panels to the supports.  There are two T shapes for each support, one for each side.  There are also two long and two short panels.  You’ll note that they have a little score line on them for where to bend so they can fit the sides of the T shape as well.  We’ve marked ours with a white pen so you can see them here. We suggest that if you you do this, draw your marks on the inside. This way the don’t show later and any ink or embellishments you add to the outside don’t cover your marks.  They can be hard to find later after all of that!

We folded on the lines, added glue to the back, then placed them on the T shaped support.  The bottom and the peak won’t have the decorative panel, this is because we’ll later add glue to them to attach the roof and to attach to the well base.

Now it is time to add the supports to the T.  Add glue to the ends (where there is no decorative panel) and press into place.

Once it’s all done, you should have two identical supports.  To mix things up, we did choose to occasionally cut a piece in a different shade of brown before embellishing the panel.  This is optional but gives some good color variation.

Adding The Well Roof

Next we started assembling the roof.  There is the base piece that we glued to the supports, then the decorative panels that go on top.  You can start by attaching the base piece to the two supports.  We added glue to two spots on one side of a support then pressed on the roof. Make sure the fold of the roof base fits nicely on the peak of the support. Then repeat with the other support so that two are attached to one side of the roof base as shown.  You want to make sure the edge of the T support is flush with the edge of the roof panel.  You don’t want them to be in from the edge of the roof panel because you will need room to put in  your bucket support beam later.

Once they are both secure, you can add glue to the other attachment points on the supports and fold up the roof base to secure in place.

Decorating The Well Roof

Next, we put together the decorative panels for the roof. Each side of the roof has a large base panel and four strips to layer on.  There are little notches on the sides to use as guides for placing your decorative strips.  We embellished the last inch or so of the base panel as it will be visible once complete.

Once you have all these panels in place, you can add glue to the back and attach to the roof of the well.  Place both sides, one on either side, then there is a long panel that folds in half, this is for the ridgeline and will cover the seam where the two large pieces connect.

Ack! Spiders!

Next we started working on other decorations on the top of the well.  We added some glue to the L part of the spider web and attached it to one of the supports.  We also attached the 2 pieces of the spider to a piece of fishing line in the same manner as the bats.  Once the spider was secure, we chose to run the fishing line through the web and hot glued it to the back of one roof support. 

Bucket Support Beam Construction

Next we assembled the support beam for the bucket.  This is done by taking the panel, folding on all the score lines, then adding glue to the long tab so that you can close off the shape and make a square, long, box.  The ends only have tabs, there is no closing the ends as you will put this between he two roof supports.

Once you have this box, you can add your decorative panel.  Fold on the score lines and glue it in place to cover all four sides.

Well Bucket Assembly

Next we started working on assembling the bucket.  We did this by curving the long panel around, and attaching using the tab.  This creates a circular shape that’s a little larger on the top than on the bottom. Then we folded in the tabs, added glue and placed one of the round circular panels in to close off the bottom.  After pressing firmly on the tabs to secure the hold, turn the pail over and glue the other circular panel in place to cover the tabs and provide a more finished appearance.

There is a long narrow panel you can use as the handle.  If you chose to do this, place a little glue at one end and attach to the outside of the pail toward the top.  Then glue the other end of the panel to the opposite side.  For our project we chose to use a small piece of wire, the same wire we used for the bats.  To attach the wire, we took a hole punch and made two holes, opposite each other on the bucket.  Then we ran the wire through once side and twisted to secure, ran the wire through the other side, and twisted to secure again.  Once we were happy with that we cut the little bit of extra wire we had.  You don’t want the handle to be too long as you don’t want the bucket to hang too low.

Installing The Bucket

With this done, we tied a piece of twine to the bucket then we cut the string at about 12 inches long.  We put a small dot of glue in the middle of the bucket support beam and secured the free end of the string.  Then we started wrapping the string around the beam.  We were able to get several wraps around.  If you want it to wrap more or less, you can adjust the length of the string accordingly.  We then held the bucket and support beam up to the roof structure we created and decided where we wanted to place the support beam.  We decided to set it so that the bottom of the bucket would land roughly equal to the bottom of the roof support structure.  You can adjust this up or down to fit your preference, keeping in mind that you will have the board on the top of the well closing it off (or maybe you want to not use them?  That’s okay too)  To attach the beam, add glue to both ends and push it in between the supports.  This will be a little snug.  Ours was very strong and handled the pressure of sliding the beam in well.  You don’t want there to be too large of a gap because if the beam doesn’t reach all the way across it won’t be able to be attached to both of the supports. 

Attaching The Roof To The Base

Now you can take the entire roof structure and attach it to the well base.  To do this, add glue to the bottom of the two supports and gently press down on the two squares of grey on opposite sides of each other on the top of the base.  Having the flat surface makes it easier for the roof to adhere and be level, rather than placing the supports on a cut out portion for a brick.

Making The Crank

Finally, you need to assemble the crank for the well support beam.  This is pretty simple after everything you’ve done so far!  There are two oval pieces, glue them back to back.  This is just to provide a little extra strength to the panel.

The next two pieces go together the same, one is just longer than the other.  Pick one of the panels, and encourage it to curve then add glue to the end tab and create a circle.  We chose to use tweezers to help us hold it in place while the glue set because it’s too small for our fingers to fit.

Fold in the tabs on one end and add glue to the inside.  Drop one of the circular panels in and press it down with a pencil.  This will close off the end and help the circle maintain its shape.  Once that is done, you can turn the shape over and attach the other circular panel to the other side, hiding the tabs. 

Repeat this process for the other panel set.

Now that you have the two round structures and the oval flat piece, you can assemble them.  The round structures each have an end with tabs that need to be folded in.  Do this with one of the structures, fold in the tabs, add glue and press it onto on end of the long oval panel.  Repeat this with the other round structure but when you attach it to the long oval panel, attach it to the opposite end/opposite side from the other piece.

Attaching The Crank

This is the crank assembly.  The longer cylinder (what we did in silver) is the handle, and the other assembly is the part you are going to glue onto the well.  Add some glue to the back of this piece and press it onto the roof support, opposite the support beam for the bucket.

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The Cutting Room Team