STRAWBERRY-BOXES
Seed-Markers (No tools needed but the fingers)
Remove the rim of wood which binds the box into shape, that the little tacks may not injure the child. Then let him tear the sides and bottom into little slats which can be used as seed-markers. Older children can write upon them the names of seeds, and when planted put one of these slats into the ground to indicate where the seeds may be expected to come up.
The little child enjoys the sense of power that he feels simply in being able to tear these boxes apart, but let there be a thought back of the action if it seem to degenerate into pure destructiveness.
Toy-Fences (Employing fingers only)
Split the boxes with the fingers into pieces wide or narrow, as desired, and the slats thus made can be turned into fences for the play farm in the sand-box, or for borders for small flower beds. (1) Stick them into the sand or earth side by side, to suggest a plain board fence; or (2) Put very narrow ones at short intervals apart to suggest a picket fence.
Toy-Fences (Scissors, tacks)
If old enough to use scissors, let the child cut the boxes apart with long scissors and use for fences as before. (1) Side by side for board fence. (2) Cut into very narrow strips for picket fence. Use the rim of the basket for the rail to unite the pickets, fastening them with the tiny tacks which are already in it. Pickets might be one inch apart. Cutting the tops of the pickets into points will complete the resemblance to a real fence. Put the rails about one-half inch from top.
Boxes for tacks, seeds, etc. (Scissors, paste, paste-sticks, ribbon, 8½ inches long, 1½ inches wide, wall-paper, pan with water)
Take two pieces of a box, each measuring 2 × 5 inches. Soak in water till soft. Place one directly across the middle of the other, and bend the four projecting ends up perpendicularly into box form. (1) Hold the sides in place by winding the ribbon around the four sides, till they meet, and paste the one overlapping end over the other. (2) Cut a piece of wall-paper (obtainable often from a wall-hanger's shop) into a strip 1½ × 8½ inches and wind around, pasting one end over the other. If the child is inexperienced the paper may be cut of exactly the height of box. If skillful in so doing, let him cut the strip ½ inch wider and turn down over the top to give a little finish. This gives practice in neatness and skill.
Let the child observe how a Swedish matchbox is made—the wood held together by strips of thin but tough paper—and then carry his thought to the far-distant land which sends us the magic wands that give us light with safety. And all carried in a tiny box made of wood and paper. Decalcomanias might be used for decoration of the plain wooden box.
Let the child experiment in making boxes of different shapes and sizes for his collections of seeds, stones, etc. This cultivates his ingenuity and practical imagination.
Picture Frames (Scissors, thumb-tacks, gold paint, water-colors, glue)
Cut three slats, each 1 × 8 inches, to make triangular frame. Unite with thumb-tacks, one at each of the three corners. To place them exactly the right way may take a little experimenting, which helps develop the child's sense of proportion and arrangement. When joined, cut off the projecting parts at the top to give pointed effect. Good for pictures of Indians, as wigwam is suggested. Decorate by gilding or painting. Can be painted with Ivory paints or water-colors.
Chicken-Coops (Scissors, glue)
Remove the rim, bottom (in one piece) and two adjoining sides of a berry box. This leaves two sides remaining which are already bent into correct form for coop. Cut the bottom of the box in half from corner to corner. This gives the triangular back of the coop which must be glued on. The slats must now be made and put into place. Cut three slats each ⅜ inches wide. (1) In each of the two front edges of the coop cut three horizontal slits ⅜ inches deep; slip the slats into these and cut off the projecting ends. The slats at the top will necessarily be shorter than those at the bottom. (2) Or an older child can cut in each of the two edges 3 notches ⅜ inches deep and ⅜ inches high and glue the slats into these, thus:
Chicken-Coop.
Paste-Sticks (Boxes, scissors)
Cut sides of boxes into slender pieces which can be put aside and used for paste-sticks when pasting is the order of the day. They will prove to be better than brushes.
Wagon (Thumb-tacks, button-molds, skewers, glue, small, slender nails)
Take two boxes. Remove rims. Bend down one side of each of the boxes so that it is horizontal. Lap one of these exactly over the other and join with thumb-tacks. This makes the body of coal wagon. For wheels use (1) large wooden button-molds or (2) the cardboard circles round which ribbons come. Make axles of skewers. Glue axle to bottom of wagon, slip on the wheels and insert small, slender nail to keep wheel from coming off. If skewers are not at hand whittle a slender piece from a stick of kindling wood, whittling the ends until slender enough for the wheels to slip on. Paint spokes on the wheels and paint the wagon, using any paint at hand.
| Candy-Boxes | } | (Fancy paper, crinkled-paper or silk, glue, paint) |
| Button-Boxes |
Take a berry-box and dye with Diamond dyes. Line it with crinkled paper or dainty flowered wallpaper or silk. To do this, fold the paper or silk one inch over on itself from the top, for hem. Gather or pleat the silk near the top with silk of same color and glue to the inner side of the basket near the top, leaving a little projecting edge for ruffle. Leave the lower ends free. The silk should be two inches wider than the depth of the basket and one and one-third times as long as the four sides of the basket. Now take a square of cardboard the size of the bottom of the basket and cover it smoothly with a square of silk, folding the silk neatly over the sides and catching it across so as to be smooth on the right side. Put this silk square down in the bottom of the basket and it will hold the sides of the lining firm. A basket may be lined with paper in the same way, using glue to hold it in place. As paper can not very well be gathered, the top may be glued down smoothly or the paper may be pleated.
Hanging-Basket (Lead from tea-box, ribbon or wire, earth, seeds)
Line a berry box with the lead, fill with good earth and plant vines or flower-seeds. Suspend by ribbon or wire.
Dolls' Furniture (Spools, scissors, glue)
1. Table.—Make a table by cutting a slat from a basket into an oblong 2 × 3 inches and glue to spool for dining-table.
2. Bed.—Soak a few moments and when flexible cut an oblong 2 × 6 inches and bend one end up 1½ inches to form head of bed. Bend the other end up ½ inch to form the foot. Glue two spools to the bottom of this for legs, one at each end.
3. Chair.—Make chairs for the same set by cutting a piece of the box to measure 1 × 2 inches. Bend across the middle so that a right angle is formed and glue one side to a spool. The other half forms the back of the chair. Such furniture may be colored with dyes or Ivory paints.