Homemade Toys

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-1020 -- More Projects »
PHOTO

A tube covered with aluminum foil makes an easy-to-use giant bubble blower. Details at bottom.
Creativity expert Courtney Watkins shares clever ideas for recycling cardboard tubes into inexpensive toys that will delight the kids.

Creative Cuffs

Materials:

cardboard toilet-paper tube
scissors
acrylic paint in color(s) of choice
colored tissue paper, jewels or other decorative items

Steps:


  1. Cut a toilet-paper tube down to a cuff size that will fit around the child's wrist.

  2. Paint it and decorate with colored tissue paper, jewels, etc.

  3. Slit the tube down the back so it can be slid onto the child's wrist.

Party Horns

Materials:

cardboard toilet-paper tube
colored paper
glue stick
tape
felt or other fabric of choice
wax paper
rubber band

Steps:


  1. Wrap the tube with colored paper, adhering with a glue stick. Tape the edge of the paper to hold it in place while it dries.
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  • Make arms for the tube out of a pink rectangle piece of paper with mitten hands on each end. Glue them around the tube (see photo at right).

  • "Dress" the tube with felt or other fabric of choice.

  • Cover the end of the tube with wax paper held in place with a rubber band or glue. Place the horn to the lips to make noises, like a kazoo.

    Spy-Your-Future Kaleidoscope

    Decorate a paper-towel tube by wrapping it with colored paper and adding embellishments. Use it as a kaleidoscope.

    Bubble Blower

    Wrap a toilet-paper tube with aluminum foil. Dip the end of the tube in a mixture of liquid dish soap and water, and gently blow. You should get huge bubbles.

    • Resources
    Courtney's Creative Adventures
    by Courtney Watkins
    Little, Brown & Co., 2002
    Order this title from Amazon.com.

    Guests
    Courtney Watkins
    Creativity Expert
    E-mail: Courtney@CourtneyWatkins.com
    Website: www.courtneywatkins.com
    Also in this Episode
    Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-1020
    •Wrap Recipes
    •Homemade Toys
    •Bare Necessities
    •The Smart Solution of the Day