beautiful bubbles, which float and glide in the air with all the charm of clay-pipe bubbles. Mix strong soap-suds, dip one end of a large spool in the water, wet the spool, then blow. If the bubble refuses to appear, dip the spool in the water again, put your head down to the spool and blow a few bubbles while the spool is in the water, then quickly raise it and try again. Nine times out of ten you will succeed, and abubble will swell out from the spool as inFig. 81. These wooden bubble-blowers last a long time, with no danger of breaking when accidentally dropped on the floor, and you can always find enough to provide one for each of the players who meet for a trial of skill in bubble-blowing.
Fig. 81—You can blow bubbles with a spool.Fig.81—You can blow bubbles with a spool.
Now try
which fly from spools. Cut a butterfly (Fig. 82) from bright-colored tissue paper or thin writing paper, bend at the dotted line and paste on the large end of a very small cork. Fit the small end of the cork into the top of the hole of an empty spool (Fig. 83). Then blow through the spool and see the butterfly ascend rapidly to the ceiling and float down again.A number of different colored butterflies in the air at one time fill the room with charming bits of fluttering brightness that will delight the children.
Fig. 82—Pattern of butterfly.Fig.82—Pattern of butterfly.Fig. 83—It will fly from the spool.Fig.83—It will fly from the spool.
Fig. 82—Pattern of butterfly.Fig.82—Pattern of butterfly.
Fig. 83—It will fly from the spool.Fig.83—It will fly from the spool.
Take another empty spool and stick a common wire hairpin partially into the hole, bend the hairpin slightly down against the edges of the hole, do the same with three more hairpins, and you will have a spool with a funnel-like opening of hairpins at the top (Fig. 84). In the funnel place a small, light-weight ball made of a crushed bit of bright paper wound around with thread. Raise the spool to your lips and blow gently (Fig. 85). The ball will rise and fall in mid-air, in the same way that you have seen one of rubber dance at the top of a small fountain or jet of water.
Fig. 84—The ball is placed on top of the spool.Fig.84—The ball is placed on top of the spool.Fig. 85—The ball will rise and fall.Fig.85—The ball will rise and fall.
Fig. 84—The ball is placed on top of the spool.Fig.84—The ball is placed on top of the spool.
Fig. 85—The ball will rise and fall.Fig.85—The ball will rise and fall.
Don'tthrow away your old envelopes; see what amusing toys can be made of them simply by folding and cutting. No paste or glue is needed, and any one of the toys given here can be made in five minutes or less.
Fig. 86—The side view of the frog shows his beautiful open mouth.Fig.86—The side view of the frog shows his beautiful open mouth.Fig. 87—The frog is sprawled out on the table.Fig.87—The frog is sprawled out on the table.
Fig. 86—The side view of the frog shows his beautiful open mouth.Fig.86—The side view of the frog shows his beautiful open mouth.
Fig. 87—The frog is sprawled out on the table.Fig.87—The frog is sprawled out on the table.
The frog is one of the simplest and at the same time the funniest of the collection.Fig. 86gives a side view in which his beautiful open mouth can be seen to advantage.Fig. 87shows him sprawled out on the table.Fig. 88gives the pattern of the frog as it appears when drawn on the envelope. You will notice that the bottom fold of the envelope is used for the top of the animal. Draw the outlines as inFig. 88, then cut along the lines you have drawn. The under part of the body follows the edge of the lower lap of the envelope from front to hind leg. Now flatten out the fold at the top and bend the paper under at the corners,which forms the head and tail. Cut a slit along the folded edge of the head for the mouth, pull the lower part down and the mouth will open wide as a frog's mouth naturally does. By working the lower jaw the frog can be made to snap at imaginary flies. Draw the eyes as shown inFig. 87and bend down the lower part of the body along the dotted line, shown inFig. 88, spread out the hind legs, and Master Frog is finished.
Fig. 88—The pattern of the frog drawn on an envelope.Fig.88—The pattern of the frog drawn on an envelope.
Fig. 89—Use a long envelope for the little bed.Fig.89—Use a long envelope for the little bed.
For the little bed (Fig. 89) use a long envelope. If the top lap is open, cut it off. Flatten out the bottom fold as you didfor the frog's back, then bend the ends and sides as inFig. 90. Bend up the points at each end for head and footboards, and there is your bed.
Make the table (Fig. 91) of a smaller envelope in the same way, but leave the points extending out at the ends (Fig. 90) and cut short legs on the bottom edge (Fig. 91).
Fig. 90—Fold the envelope this way for the bed.Fig.90—Fold the envelope this way for the bed.
Fig. 91—Make the table of a smaller envelope.Fig.91—Make the table of a smaller envelope.
Plates and other dishes can be made very easily. For circular dishes use a cent or a ten-cent piece for a pattern. Very effective cups and goblets can be made from old pieces of tinfoil. The table, however, is strong enough to hold the little china or tin dishes usually found among a child's collection of toys.
Fig. 92—A comfortable little sofa.Fig.92—A comfortable little sofa.
The comfortable little high-backed sofa (Fig. 92) is made of a long envelope with the top left open. Fold the envelopeinto the box shape, as for the bed, with the points turned up. Then fold the tips of the points inward, as inFig. 93. Now reverse the box and slit down the two front edges which gives an opening in front. Bend down this front piece and cut it off on a line with the two ends.
Fig. 93—Fold the tips of the points inward.Fig.93—Fold the tips of the points inward.
A deep, low-seated arm-chair can be made of an oblong envelope of ordinary size by following the directions for the sofa and allowing the back to curve instead of making it flat, then slitting down the sides and bending them over to form the arms (Fig. 94).
Fig. 94—Make the arm-chair of an oblong envelope.Fig.94—Make the arm-chair of an oblong envelope.
Fig. 95—A little bath tub for imaginary water.Fig.95—A little bath tub for imaginary water.
A little bath tub, but one that will scarcely hold water, is shown inFig. 95. In this the upper lap is left open, thepoints are bent under, and the sides left to curve naturally. A baby carriage can also be made in this way, but for the carriage the points must extend down and have wheels drawn on them and the tips must be cut off squarely at the bottom so that the carriage will stand. The lap is the back and the handle in one (Fig. 96).
Fig. 96—A doll-baby can ride in this carriage.Fig.96—A doll-baby can ride in this carriage.
Fig. 97—The bungalow is made of a long envelope.Fig.97—The bungalow is made of a long envelope.
The little bungalow (Fig. 97) is something very different, yet it, too, is made of an envelope. Though it appears to have many parts it is all in one piece. The envelope is a long one, such as is used for legal papers.Fig. 98gives the pattern. The heavy lines show where to cut and the dotted lines where to bend. The lap forms the front porch, but the porch may be left off entirely if the envelope has been slit at the top in opening it. With a little care, however, many envelopes can be opened intact. Cut along the heavy lines of the door and windows, then open the door and the little shutters. Bend back the ends of the house and in the middle of each end take a little plait from top to bottom. This is to make the ends narrower and give room for the roof to slant. Bend the roof back from the eaves along the dotted line. The back of the bungalow is made like the front, except that it has no door, windows, or porch.
Children who have a knack at drawing can greatly improve the bungalow by drawing the slats to the blinds, drawing in the panelling on the front door, putting on the knob, putting shingles on the roof, etc., etc.
Fig. 98—Draw the bungalow on the envelope in this way.Fig.98—Draw the bungalow on the envelope in this way.
The little cart (Fig. 99), that will hold quite a heavy doll, and can be trundled about like one made of wood, is not cut at all.
Fig. 99—The cart can be trundled about like one made of wood.Fig.99—The cart can be trundled about like one made of wood.
Fold an oblong envelope into the box shape (Fig. 93), with points turned up, but let the points be deeper than for the bed or sofa. This is because the ends of the envelope are to form the sides of the cart and must be longer from front to back. Bend the tips of the points in and crease the folds sharply that they may lie flat against the sides. Sharpen one end of a small, round stick and push it through the middle of the folded point on one side, then slide a large, empty spool on the stick and thrust the point of the stick through the opposite side (Fig. 100). The stick should stand out beyond the cart about half an inch on each side, and will need no fastening.
Fig. 100—This is the way to put wheels on the cart.Fig.100—This is the way to put wheels on the cart.
Puncture a hole in one end of the cart, thread a cotton string through the hole, tie a large knot on the inside end and pull the string through until the knot presses close against the end of the cart. Let the string be long enough to reach easily from the floor to the little hand that will hold the other end.
Besides all these toys, a baby's cradle that has rockers and will rock, a cunning little dressing-table with its mirror, boxes of different shapes and sizes, and various kinds of baskets can be made of the old envelope. Probably there are other forms it may be made to assume—boats perhaps, that for a time at least will float on the water, and animals other than the frog.
Youcan make cunning, soft, downy hens and roosters simply of raw cotton and clothespins (Fig. 101). The little creatures may be pure white, dark colored, or part dark and part light, according to the cotton used.
Fig. 101—Soft, downy hens and roosters.Fig.101—Soft, downy hens and roosters.
All of
have the same kind of foundation. It is made by sliding the prongs of two clothespins into each other (Fig. 102). Be sure the clothespins, when together, stand firm on the prong ends, for these form the legs and feet of the chickens.
Fig. 102—Slide the prongs of two clothespins together.Fig.102—Slide the prongs oftwo clothespins together.Fig.103—Tie a piece of rawcotton over the head ofone clothespin.
With a string tie a piece of raw cotton over the head of one clothespin; have the string tight, but the cotton cover rather loose. Bring the cotton partly down the clothespin and tie it again (Fig. 103); then use your fingers to shape the top cotton into the form of a rooster's head; gently pull a little of it out to make the beak; tie a string around the beak where it joins the head, and, with thumb and finger slightly dampened, twist the end of the beak into a point (Fig. 104). Cotton which comes in sheets is best for the tail, but the other willdo. Lay the centre of a generous piece of cotton over the head of the second clothespin, plait the loose ends around the pin, and fasten with a string, making the edge of the tail in a line with the opening of the prongs of the pin. Cut the folded end rounded on top, and slit it up a short distance into wide fringe to form the long feathers of the rooster's tail (Fig. 104).
Fig. 104—Pull a little of the cotton out to make a beak.Fig.104—Pull a little of the cotton out to make a beak.Fig. 105—A fine little rooster that will move his little head.Fig.105—A fine little rooster that will move his little head.
Fig. 104—Pull a little of the cotton out to make a beak.Fig.104—Pull a little of the cotton out to make a beak.
Fig. 105—A fine little rooster that will move his little head.Fig.105—A fine little rooster that will move his little head.
With another piece of cotton cover the back and sides of the rooster, as you would put a saddle on a horse. Bring the edges of the cover together down the neck and body; when fitted lift the cover, put paste here and there on its under side near the edge, replace the cover and it will stick fast; then, with the top of a wire hairpin, push the edges of the cover, front and back, in between the open prongs of the clothespin. Ink round bits of paper and paste on the rooster for eyes; make his comb and wattles of red tissue paper (Fig. 105), and you will have a fine rooster which can actually
up and down, fast or slow, as you wish. To make him do so, hold the front leg steady with your left hand, while with your right hand you raise and lower the other leg. Try it, and see how naturally the little fellow appears to pick up corn in an eager, hungry manner.
Fig. 106—The little hen.Fig.106—The little hen.
Fashion the hen in the same way you made the rooster, only have the tail smaller and without long feathers (Fig. 106). The comb on the hen must also be smaller than that on the rooster. The general shape of the hen is the same as that of the rooster. Notice that the direction of outline along the lower edge of tail and body is one continuous slanting line; remember this when adjusting the tail that it may not stand out backward at right angles from the body.
Fig. 107—Making a downy little lamb out of a clothespin.Fig.107—Making a downy little lamb out of a clothespin.
are made in much the same way as the chickens. Slide two clothespins together for the foundation (Fig. 102); tie a wad of cotton over the head of one pin, then pull the head out a trifle on each side for ears, and tie with a string as you made the rooster's beak. Cover the second clothespin, making the upper part, which extends down, quite thick; then lift the upper part, and bring it across to the lamb's neck, for the little animal must have an almost level back (Fig. 107). Cuta piece of cotton large enough to cover the entire back and sides of the lamb, lay it over the lamb like a very large saddle, and fasten it in place with paste. Use small inked papers for eyes, and tie a gay ribbon around his neck (Fig. 108). Make a number of little lambs, for they are so attractive and pretty grouped together (Fig. 109).
Fig. 108—Tie a gay ribbon around the lamb's neck.Fig.108—Tie a gay ribbon around the lamb's neck.
Fig. 109—The group of sheep.Fig.109—The group of sheep.
(Fig. 110) has the same kind of foundation as the lamb, but stretched out more, bringing the heads of the pins lower and farther apart. He needs very long ears, so they must be of separate pieces of sheet cotton tied to the head. Make his head rather large, and in other respects manufacture him much the same as the lamb.
Fig. 110—Such a funny little long-eared rabbit.Fig.110—Such a funny little long-eared rabbit.Fig. 111—The doggie's head is large.Fig.111—The doggie's head is large.
Fig. 110—Such a funny little long-eared rabbit.Fig.110—Such a funny little long-eared rabbit.
Fig. 111—The doggie's head is large.Fig.111—The doggie's head is large.
are too large for pulling out and tying from the main piece of cotton, so cut them separate and tie on at the proper places. Make the doggie's head large, and the saddle-like cover thick, that the little fellow may be plump and fat; cut inked paper for eyes and end of nose; with these exceptions the work is the same as on the lamb (Fig. 107).
When tying beaks, ears, and tails of the various animals, cut the string ends close to the knot; then the string will sink into the cotton.
Fig. 112—Begin to dress the doll in this way.Fig.112—Begin to dress the doll in this way.Fig. 113—A strip of cotton for arms.Fig.113—A strip of cotton for arms.
Fig. 112—Begin to dress the doll in this way.Fig.112—Begin to dress the doll in this way.
Fig. 113—A strip of cotton for arms.Fig.113—A strip of cotton for arms.
To dress a
cut a strip of cotton extending from below the neck line of the clothespin to within a short distance of the ends of the prongs; tie the cotton in gathers around the lower edge of the neck, and again lower down at the belt line (Fig. 112). Make the arms of a strip of cotton about four and a quarter inches long and one inch wide; slash in the middle a short distance, and slip the strip over the head of the pin (Fig. 113); bend at the shoulders, fold remaining lengths once for arms, and, with dampened thumb and finger, lightly twist the ends into hands. The edges of the cotton forming arms and hands will cling together. Tie a bright ribbon sash around Miss Dolly's waist; then make her hair of a strip of dark raw cotton; fit and press it on the wooden head, twisting the ends to resemble long braids; pinch the cotton up on the top of the head to form a pompadour; when adjusted take the wig off; cover the wooden head with paste, and replace the wig, setting it well back from the front of the head. Fasten a ribbon bowback of the pompadour, and tie the braids together at the nape of the neck with another ribbon; then ink the features. Insert the ends of the prongs of the clothespin forming dolly's feet into a small piece of double-faced corrugated straw board, fasten them in with paste, and the little girl will stand alone (Fig. 114). The doll's back is shown inFig. 115.
Fig. 114—Little girl doll made of a clothespin and dressed in raw cotton.Fig.114—Little girl doll made of a clothespin and dressed in raw cotton.Fig. 115—Miss Dolly's back.Fig.115—Miss Dolly's back.Fig. 116—The clothespin boy.Fig.116—The clothespin boy.
Fig. 114—Little girl doll made of a clothespin and dressed in raw cotton.Fig.114—Little girl doll made of a clothespin and dressed in raw cotton.
Fig. 115—Miss Dolly's back.Fig.115—Miss Dolly's back.
Fig. 116—The clothespin boy.Fig.116—The clothespin boy.
Make the
(Fig. 116) stand in the same manner; fashion his hair of dark cotton, his trousers of a strip of white cotton tied around the waist and pushed in between the prongs of the clothespins. Cut the coat from a folded piece of cotton, a hole in the centre of the fold for the head to pass through; straight sleeves horizontally cut along the fold; and the remainder in sacque form like a Japanese coat or pajamas. The sleeves form the arms and the hands of the boy.
Fasten a belt high at the back and low in the front around his waist, giving the coat a Russian-blouse effect; make him a ribbon bow necktie, and ink the features.
These small people are very bewitching, as are also the animals.
You can color the sheet cotton slightly here and there with water-color paint if you are clever with a paint brush. As you work with these little dolls and animals you will find ever so many ways to vary them in effect. They are so soft and fluffy that a baby can play with them without injury, and a school or college boy may be amused by being presented with one, appropriately dressed, as a souvenir of pleasant experiences at a college luncheon or dinner.
To make a foot-ball player, finish the blouse without necktie or belt; make the shoulders wide and the hair rather short, like a college boy's rough head. So much for the boy. Paste a letter cut out of colored paper on the front of the blouse to make it look like a college sweater, and gather the trousers in a little at the knees. You can tuck an egg-shaped ball made of brown raw wool under one arm for a realistic touch, if you choose.
Little girl dolls may be similarly made to represent basket-ball players in short skirts and school or college sweaters, with appropriate emblems on the front, for a special entertainment.
Making these figures is much less trouble than dressing dolls entails, and much more of a novelty, too. They take so many shapes that they fit almost any occasion.
In fact, the possibilities of these cotton and clothespin toys are almost endless in the hands of ingenious young people.
Thenursery scrap-books made of linen or colored cambric are, perhaps, familiar to most of our readers; but for the benefit of those who may not yet have seen these durable little books, we will give the following directions for making one:
Fig. 117—Scrap-book opened and stitched through the middle.Fig.117—Scrap-book opened and stitched through the middle.Fig. 118—Scrap-book folded and then stitched.Fig.118—Scrap-book folded and then stitched.
Fig. 117—Scrap-book opened and stitched through the middle.Fig.117—Scrap-book opened and stitched through the middle.
Fig. 118—Scrap-book folded and then stitched.Fig.118—Scrap-book folded and then stitched.
Cut from a piece of strong linen, colored cambric, or white muslin, four oblongs twenty-four inches long by twelve inches wide. Buttonhole-stitch the edges all around with some bright-colored worsted, then place the oblongs neatly together and stitch them directly through the centre with strong thread (Fig. 117). Fold them over, stitch again, as inFig. 118, and your book is finished and ready for the pictures.
Fig. 119—Three Wise Men of Gotham and Fig 121—Little Jack Horner.Fig.119—Three WiseMen of GothamFig.121—Little Jack Horner.
Fig. 120—Materials for Three Wise Men of Gotham.Fig.120—Materials for Three Wise Men of Gotham.
It is in the preparation of these pictures that you will findthe novelty of the plan I propose. Instead of pasting in cards and pictures which have become too familiar to awaken interest, let the young book-makers design and form their own pictures by cutting special figures, or parts of figures, from different cards, and then pasting them together so as to form new combinations.
Fig. 122—Materials for Little Jack Horner.Fig.122—Materials for Little Jack Horner.
Any subject which pleases the fancy can be illustrated in this way, and the children will soon be deeply interested in the work and delighted at the strange and striking pictorial characters that can be produced by ingenious combinations.
Stories and little poems may be very nicely and aptly illustrated; but the "Mother Goose Melodies" are, perhaps, the most suitable subjects with which to interest younger children, as they will be easily recognized by the little folk.
Take, for instance, the "Three Wise Men of Gotham," who went to sea in a bowl. Will notFig. 119serve very well as an illustration of the subject? Yet these figures are cut from advertising cards, and no two from the same card.Fig. 120shows the materials;Fig. 119shows the result of combining them.
Again, the little man dancing so gaily (Fig. 122) is turned into "Little Jack Horner" eating his Christmas pie (Fig. 121), by merely cutting off his legs and substituting a dress skirt and pair of feet clipped from another card. The Christmas pie in his lap is from still another card.
In making pictures of this kind, figures that were originally standing may be forced to sit; babies may be placed in arms which, on the cards they were stolen from, held only cakes of soap, perhaps, or boxes of blacking; heads may be ruthlessly torn from bodies to which they belong, and as ruthlessly clapped upon strange shoulders; and you will be surprised to see what amusing, and often excellent, illustrations present themselves as the result of a little ingenuity in clipping and pasting.
Another kind, which we shall call the
will be found exceedingly amusing on account of the various and ever-changing pictures it presents.
Unlike any other, where the picture once pasted in must remain ever the same, the transformation scrap-book alters one picture many times. To work these transformations, a blank book is the first article required; one eight inches long by six and a half or seven wide is a good size.
Cut the pages of this book across, one-third the way down.Fig. 123shows how this should be done. The three-cornered piece cut out near the binding allows the pages to be turned without catching or tearing. Leave the first page uncut; also the one in the middle of the book.
Cut from picture-cards, or old toy-books which have colored illustrations, the odd and funny figures of men and women, boys and girls, selecting those which will give variety of costumes and attitudes.
Fig. 123—Transformation scrap-book with pages cut.Fig.123—Transformation scrap-book with pages cut.
Paste the figure of a woman or a girl on the first page, placing it so that when the lower part of the next page is turned the upper edge of it will come across the neck of the figure where it is joined on to the shoulders.
Fig. 124—Leaves from a transformation scrap-book.Fig.124—Leaves from a transformation scrap-book.
Cut the heads from the rest of the pictured women, turn the lower part of the next page and, choosing a body as different as possible from the one just used, paste it upon the lower part of the second page, directly under the head belonging to the first body. Upon the upper part of the second page paste any one of the other heads, being careful to place it so that it will fit the body. Continue in this way, pasting the heads upon the upper, and the bodies on the lower, part of the page, until the space allowed for the women is filled up; then, commencing at the page left in the middle of the book, paste upon it the figure of a man, and continue in the same manner as with the women, until the spaces are all used and the book is complete.
The combinations formed in this way are very funny.Old heads with young bodies; young heads with old bodies; then one head with a great variety of bodies, and so on.
The first picture may represent a man, tall, thin, dressed in a rowing costume, as shown in the illustration. Turn the lower part of the next page, and no longer is he thin and tall, but short and stout, the position of this body giving the expression of amazement, even to the face. The next page turned shows him to be neither tall nor short, thick nor thin, but a soldier, well-proportioned, who is looking over his shoulder in the most natural manner possible (Fig. 124).
The figures inFig. 124were cut from advertising cards, and the head belongs to none of the bodies.
A curious fact in arranging the pictures in this way is that the heads all look as though they might really belong to any of the various bodies given them.
Instead of having but one figure on a page, groups may be formed of both men and women, and in the different arrangement of the figures they can be made very ludicrous indeed.
Mix one-half cup of flour with enough cold water to make a very thin batter, which must be smooth and free from lumps; put the batter on top of the stove—not next to the fire—in a tin saucepan, and stir continually until it boils; then remove from the stove, add three drops of oil of cloves, and pour the paste into a cup or tumbler. This will keep for a long time and will not become sour.
Justa glance at a pile of ordinary every-day kindling wood could hardly suggest to one the possibilities existing in the crude material for building all sorts of interesting and realistic things for the little folks, but experiment and you will find that Klondike log-houses, rail-fences and lumber camps, bridges, and substantial little rafts which will float on water in laundry or bath tub, pond or stream, can be easily and readily built from the little sticks we use to start our fires.
Let us build