Japanese Box Toy, Carp

 

The dark winter is at its worst at the beginning of the year and lockdown makes it even harder. So I have designed an easy kids activity which s to make a box toy that can be raced on a smooth floor surface.  I hope you have fun with them. Below is the plan for how to make one and the youtube link is at the bottom of this post.

Big pages and small pages

One of the 'How to's' that I made this week was a book where the pages get progressively smaller going into the center and then larger as you go out to the end, allowing you one constant throughout which in these illustrations was a lady walking a  . . . pet.

Hoop Jumper

I spent two days making these little toys, with joy and fun, thinking of different ones to make and then last night delighting at making a cat and mouse that endlessly chase each other. They are easy to make especially if you make them a little bigger than I have.

Dancing or fighting ?

How to make a fighting or dancing toy. Love these toys, they are easy, you just need card, 6 split pins a little stick, scissors, glue and some colouring materials. 

Inflatables

A further day of inflatables, and a video, but it is difficult, as these are not a prescribed activity, they involve thought, invention and adaptation, in this they are probably the best activity yet. 

Kinetics

I spent the whole of yesterday playing with kinetics, ending with these strange birds, far from my original intention, but satisfyingly funny. So today after work I will be working on a how-to video and trying to work out the kinetics of my original toy/ creation. Have a good day.

Dancing Card

How to make a dancing card 

Cheesy Peeps

Little mice with their holey cheese a simple project for kids using paper. glue and a needle and thread or split pin.

Easter Bunny Football

Oh, how I love making and playing with these! However I have never made rabbits before, but Easter football with mini eggs as balls is just perfect fun. 

If you are wondering what has happened to 'the art room', I am trying to make an instructional art/craft video every day of lockdown to make it more bearable and fun for adults and kids, sometimes I am making things up, sometimes adapting or inventing from scratch and weaving in my usual findings from illustrators and artists around the world. 

Happy Easter

A colour-changing drawing project for the spring holiday.

Fly

For over a week now, I have been trying to produce activity videos for children or adults, often they have involved me making things that I have been meaning to try for some time, but also they are tried and tested fun activities that I have undertaken with kids, young adults or adults.
I have to say that I have wanted to have a go at making these flyers for some time as I love making kinetic things. These are wonderfully easy, could be very simple or extremely complex.

Underwater book

A simple book to make from two pieces of paper that gives the illusion of water.  

Using recycled foiled card to make prints

 
My latest video with lots of 'erms' unfortunately. This is a lovely quick way to make prints using recycled take away packaging and a biro.

Mini Kites

I have spent some time making mini Kites as demonstrations and trying to film the process. The first film below is 12 mins, I made a shorter one for Instagram. These are easy, can be made from a variety of materials and can be used running around the house, in the garden or at the park, where ever you are able to go. For windy days they are perfect. 

Newt kite (above) made from youtube video kite, worm (below) from the Instagram video.

A Never Ending Story Book

My fourth how-to video took a day to make, with endless retakes, so I hope you enjoy it and have a go at making your own.

A rainbow for hope

My second instruction video, this one is for a rainbow heart, that can be an expanding insert for a card or a decoration in its own right. 

Youtube and beyond

So I was asked this week to put together some how-to videos for homeschooling and morale-boosting during these difficult times. I have made one video before as part of my MA, but it has been a couple of years. I have shared it via Instagram and my Facebook page and now I have popped it on Youtube. I will try to make one a day for the foreseeable future, and where I can use easily obtained materials.