Tissue Box Feet

Really like these tissue box feet.

Really an extension of our paper mache giant blocks.
Also had some boxes on Ollie's arms and feet the other day which makes a really easy robot costume.

Giant Building Blocks

We came across some giant lego building blocks last year at Petrosains Discovery Centre in Kuala Lumpur (OK - so funded by oil & gas company Petronas - but totally awesome museum for little kids)*. 

I had a look online when we got home to discover that Lego no longer make these blocks and the ones that are floating around are insanely expensive.  Luckily we were watching TV one day and saw a segment of OURS which showed a playcentre using recycled boxes as blocks.  I thought - hey I can paper mache and paint them too with Phineas and then we've got our own recycled blocks to play with PLUS if they get squashed we can just recycle them.  Awesome!

Each step is kid capable stuff so this is something you can do together.  It is time consuming, but it's an activity, not a chore so you can make more boxes as you use up stuff from the pantry.

1.  Fill box with scrumpled paper from old magazines / newspapers.

2. Tape box closed with masking tape (not sellotape).  Otherwise don't worry about taping it at all as you can just seal with paper mache.  This is as far as the playcentre got for their blocks on the DVD which would work just fine, but I like my blocks to look less like abandoned marketing and more like rainbows!

3.  Papier mache using strips of newspaper and wallpaper paste.   Once dry, paint with leftover acrylic test pot paint.

Decoupage People Puzzle Blocks

I found this project in an old book about paper crafts I think.  I went with the pictures they had in the book.  It took a few goes to get the template right for it.  Quite a fiddly project, but very cute once it's finished.  I was going to give it as a gift, but it took so long I decided to keep it.  I would use more magazine colours if I was going to do it again.  (like cutting out shapes from pics of grass/trees etc for green) I used old wrapping paper too which has fun patterns.

The tower block sizes I used were: 10cm, 8cm, 6cm, 4cm.  Next time I would make them hollow (5 sided) so you could more easily store them away.  But they do take a bit of effort to make so you're going to want to display them anyway.

The blocks were from some very thick cardboard I taped together and then did a few layers of paper mache on.  I then wrapped them in dark wrapping paper I had.

The 4 characters are: Fireman, Princess, Gypsy, Clown.  Draw up your templates and trace around onto chosen papers.  Cut out and assemble before gluing onto blocks.  Once all glued on, paint at least 3 coats of varnish.  Sand lightly between coats.

Yes, there is a bird on her head.

Papier Mache & Paper Pulp Skittles

Today is Easter.  We have made chocolate eggs, but I'm leaving that for Briar to record.  I instead will reveal the secrets behind making skittles.  They are once again a recycling project, using plastic soda bottles, old newspapers, wallpaper paste and leftover acrylic test paint pots.

Firstly tear a lot of newspaper into strips,and put two thirds of it into a bucket and soak in hot water with a little wallpaper paste.

Dip the rest of the strips into paste and smooth over the plastic bottle until bottle is completely covered in at least one layer of paper.

Meanwhile the strips in the bucket should have soaked long enough by now.  Put small batches in a blender together with lots of water (enough water so the blades can still spin easily). Tip each batch into a new bucket or large bowl until all strips have been pulped.  Then strain excess water through a sieve.  Again do this in handful sized batches to keep it manageable.  Once you have drained most of the water add a little more wallpaper paste and you now have mouldable paper pulp. This paper pulp process is lots of fun for kids to help out with.  It's lovely and messy.  You can give them a bit at the end to mould for themselves. 

Mould pulp directly on the papier mache into whatever shapes or patterns you choose.  Mould some into a ball shape and press onto the top of the bottle.  Make sure the ball tucks completely around the lip of the bottle.  When it dries, it will contract and be completely stuck on.

Leave enough pulp at the end to roll into a ball.  The ball needs to be big enough that it can't be swallowed by babies, but small enough to fit in children's hands.  And leave it all to dry.  Drying is in terms of days not hours. 

My helter-skelter skittle

Once completely dry, paint with your leftover test pot paint.  This should mean paint is fairly durable.  Again, as you are painting the whole thing, you can easily include a pint sized assistant in the process.  Any embellishments you can do yourself, depending on what level of finish you're after.  Don't forget though that these are children's toys and small children at that.  The skittles are going to get the bash.  Put your painted masterpieces on the wall instead.

I think they look quite decadent with the gold.  I really like the lumpy sort of  texture that you get once paper pulp has dried.  However, if you don't it is easily sanded.  (I say easily, but I hate sanding).

I gave a set of three skittles to my gorgeous godson Elliot.  I hope he's enjoyed them.  I think Elias got some too.  I still haven't got around to making any for my boys.  My attention wanders too quickly onto new ideas.