CHEAP & EASY TOY WEEK
I'm so happy with how this toy turned out. It's made completely with corrugated cardboard and other junk we had on hand out in the garage! Not only cool, but totally free.
Materials Used: Cardboard box, scissors, metallic spray paint, electrical tape, acrylic paints, duct tape
Steps:
- Cut out shapes on cardboard. You can sketch in your shape with pencil first. I used the sides of a plain old cardboard shipping box. Keep the swords short and squat to minimize bending--no one wants a flacid sword.
- Lay out the pieces on a flattened cardboard box on the garage floor (door open for ventilation, please) and put on a good coat of metallic spray paint. Wait for it to dry. Flip over and repeat.
- Use black electrical tape to wrap the sword handles.
- Use more black electrical tape to edge the shield.
- Embellish with acrylic paint.
- If you have a clear spray on varnish or sealer, that would be a good idea as a final step. I didn't do it (but may still) and Huck definitely gets some silvery smudges on his hands when he plays with this toy.
I really had to noodle how to do the handle. This is what I came up with.
I put two sticky sides together for the loop part of the handle. It won't last forever, but we're going on a week of heavy play so far and the tape handle has held up remarkably well. And hell, when it breaks it will be easy to patch up with...more duct tape!
Think he likes it?
Clearly, I should have rigged up some kind of helmet, too. Or maybe not. I hate to deny him the creativity and imagination of turning a golf club into a horse or a cowboy hat into a helmet with a feather by providing him with every prop or costume piece he might use, you know? It's so fun to see what he comes up with. I made 2 swords but only one shield so when he wants me to play knights with him he gives me a pot lid for my shield. Scant protection for a belly this big, but I do appreciate the ingenuity.
Great cheap (possibly free) recycled toy, good for hours of imaginative play!
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If you like this...check out this post where I list some more cool ideas and links for fun stuff you can make with a simple cardboard box.
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