The plan is to share some of the toys and games we've made from trash. I'll try to add more on a regular basis, so check back often. If you know of similar sites or have any ideas you'd like to see shared here PLEASE email me. Another site you might like to visit is The Great Ideas Patch, Penny Pinching offers ideas similar to these.
A new Toy Snake for helping your children learn dressing skills can be made by using up fabric scraps and left over notions or notions taken from old clothes in the rag pile.
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MEMORY
MATCH CARD GAMES
Materials Needed:
Divide the cardboard that you have on hand into equal size squares or rectangles. Go through your old magazines,used gift wrap and cards to find matching images. Cut them out and glue to your "cards". Make the game as big or small as you want.
When I made this for my two year old. I used the computer printer to print out squares, rectangles, and circles in different color, matched sets, to reinforce color and shape recognition.
Home Made Puzzles
Materials Needed:
Divide your card board into two equal pieces. Cut out a square, a circle, triangle and rectangle from one piece. Place the cut out template over the other piece of cardboard and pencil trace the openings. To help litttle ones match the shapes and colors you can color the base spots to match the cut out pieces. Tape or glue the two pieces of cardboard together. Put in the pieces when dry.
Another type of puzzle can also be made for older kids by gluing a favorite picture to a piece of cardboard and cutting it apart into different shapes. Its easiest if you pencil in the cutting lines on the back of the cardboard first. I'll be adding graphics in the near future.
Home
Made Bean Bag Toss
Materials Needed:
Make bean bags by making pouches out of fabric
scraps and loosly filling them with dried beans or rice. After you have
filled the pouches, topstitch around the edges to reinforce them.Try to
make two or three of each kind of scraps you have. It cuts down on the
arguing if each child has their own bean bags. Make sure you make enough
for when friens come to visit or the bean bag is hiding under the couch.
I prefere using beans as they aren't quite as messy if the kid do manage
to rip them. If your using a cardboard box, cut circles, squares and triangle
out of one side of the box. Let the kids have fun painting or coloring
the box to decorate it.
If you have some plywood around have the kids
paint a clown face on it.Cut out the mouth, eyes and nose.Make some type
of prop on the back of the board using another scrap piece of wood.
Materials Needed
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mush it
all together.
If you want to learn more about Salt Dough,
Kerstin has more information.
BIRD
FEEDERS
Materials Needed:
This one isn't a toy but the kids love to make
them and what better example could you be setting for them... Teaching
them how to help the smaller species on our world.
Cover the paper roll or pine cone with peanut
butter. Roll in birdseed. Draw a sting through the center of the paper
tube or tie it around the pine cone. Tie it to a tree and watch the birds
have a picnic.
PLAY
GROCERIES
Materials Needed:
The next time you open a box of macaroni and cheese
or instant oatmeal do it very carefully so that you can reseal the package.
If your toddler just got a shopping cart or a kitchen set save all the
packaging you can. Empty yogurt containers, margarine tubs, etc. Don't
reuse plastic bags and cans that could be dangerous!
Home Made Tamborine
Materials Needed:
Place the pans top sides together and make holes
every 1 1/2 to 2' through both pans. Lace the string or ribbon through
the hole to sew the pans together, before you finish, drop in some pebbles
or dried beans. Be sure to knot the ends securely! Let the kids have fun
tying or gluing the streamers around the edges. If you've used the cardboard
type (made for the microwave) they can even color or paint their own designs
on it.
Oatmeal
Drum
I'm not going to go in to detail here but I didn't
want you to throw away any of those Oatmeal cylinders. With all the cold
winter mornings ahead in the northeast USA I know there will be plenty
out there. If you have no idea what to do with them email
me.
Picture
Frames
Materials Needed:
Cut the cardboard 1" wider then the all picture
all the way around. Draw a line for where the picture will be located.
Hand the kids the glue and macaroni. When the glue has dried you can paint
the macaroni gold. When everything is dry carefully paste the picture into
place.
A
Free Playhouse
Materials Needed:
Go to a near by appliance store and ask for a
refrigerator or washer box. Cut out doors and windows. Tape the cutains
up. If you have leftover paint let the kids get creative.
A long time ago, neighboring newlyweds got a whole
apartment full of new furniture, all in boxes. We joined all the boxes
together and had many rooms and hours of fun. Even the box from their headboard
didn't go to waste. It became a hallway from one room to another.
JAR
LID MAGNETS
Materials Needed:
This one isn't really a toy but the kids have
a blast making them for Christmas presents.
Cut the photo to fit inside the lid. Set it aside.
Around the outside and inside lip of the lid apply glue and sprinkle on
glitter. If you have scraps of trim apply it to the outside edge. When
dry, glue the photo inside and a magnet to the back.
ICE FORTS
Be sure to check out Penny Pichings use for those
cardboard Milk cartons. She put this tip in the garden. You will find her
in The Great Idea Patch.
Comin
Soon- Gingerbread house without the gingerbread!
I'm going to start a recipe page to go with this
one.... check back soon!
I apologize for my guest book problems and hope
to resolve the problem soon.
More Information and Links
The Self Sufficency and Self Reliance Home Page
T's
Place - Plastic Canvas Projects
Kerstin's Salt Dough
Aunt Annies Craft Page
Jana's Craft Connection
Angelfire - Easiest Free Home Pages
Back to
my first page
It'
Sew'K
Email: sewing@valstar.net
