Tutorial - Recycled Paper/Color-Your-Own Building Discs

If you're a blog reader, I'm sure you've already stumbled across this post in one of my favorite blogs, Made By Joel:

Slotted Building Discs


These little guys are SO CUTE. The circle shape is great for making oddly shaped structures, and they're fairly easy for the kiddos to work with (my testers are 3 and 3.5 yrs old). I've got one or two sets lying around the house, and one in my daughter's backpack for playing with at restaurants and other places that have "waiting times."

So why are mine different? They're not really...just a another take on the same idea. The kiddo and I like to do crafts together, so I thought it would be more fun if she could help decorate the discs. And, since I love using recycled materials, we decided to make them out of cardboard boxes. So here's my attempt at being somewhat original...



STEP 1: Click on the picture to download and save or print the template (8.5 x 11 sheet).

Now, you have the option of just using these discs (that's why I put a bunch on the page) if you prefer white paper. If so, then cut these out and proceed to step 5. If you'd like to be green, then follow me...

STEP 2: Cut out one circle to use as a master. It doesn't have to be perfect...none of the others you cut out will be either.

Once you have the disc cut out, make tiny holes where the little grey dots are marked. I used a tiny hole punch, but a pencil jammed thru the paper will work too. It doesn't have to be pretty. These holes are the guides to mark the end of the slits you'll cut later.

STEP 3: Using your master circle, trace circle and mark the dots onto the back of recycled cardboard boxes. We used cereal, cracker, granola bar, etc. boxes. They're nice and sturdy without being too thick (your scissor hands will thank you). Cut lots if you don't want hear, "Do we have any more?" over and over and over...


STEP 4: Cut out some circles. Take a break, massage your hands, and cut some more. Repeat.

STEP 5: Cut the slits. First, cut a line from the edge of the disc to the dot (red line).

Try to make the lines perpendicular to the edge of the circle, or the slits will be wonky. Refer to the original template to see how the first cuts should look (the little grey lines connecting the dots to the outside of the circle).

Now, cut another slit just a *HAIR* away from the first cut (yellow line).

This creates a V-shaped notch that will make it easier for the discs to slide together. Don't make the notch too big or they won't stay together.

STEP 6: Now comes the really fun part...coloring! Have your builders decorate the discs in any way you see fit. Crayons, pencils, stickers, whatever! Just don't cover up the slits or the discs won't work.


STEP 7: Build something. The discs will lock together to form many shapes. If you tower gets too big and falls over, just start building on another part or it. Here are some examples of what our little architects made:




A set of, say, 40 of these little boogers would be a great home-made gift to give a mom of a 3 - 6 year old. IF you want to get fancy, trace the circle template one pictures printed on cardstock...youcould literally build your own family tree. :) Use your imagination. And if you like this tutorial, pass it on.

Enjoy!

Okay, I had to do it...

Two posts in one day. Are we shocked and amazed?? Don't get used to it...I just foundt his random thing and had to post it.

I love Etsy. I mean, really love it. I'm trying to find handmade presents for all my friends this year, and I ran across this book, Baby's first physics book - Pat Schrodinger's Kitty, in Electric Boogaloo's Shop.







For those of you with kids out there, I'm sure you own, have read, or at least have heard of Pat the Bunny. This book kick's Pat the Bunny's little fluffy white tail.

Now why didn't I think of that?

As a soon to be mom, I have thought at least a few times how having a baby will affect my choice of jewelry. I know that may sound silly, but I'm a jewelry designer...I think of these things! Well, good for me that someone else was thinking too.


The Friendswood, TX jewelry artist behind Sparkly Strandz came up with this neat necklace: the Nursing Necklace. Designed for mothers who are nursing, the necklace gives your baby something to sparkly grasp at (besides your hair or something else). The necklaces are made from glass crystal (not lead) and beads strung together on a continuous loop of wire. And since we know that babies can be quite strong when they want to, the necklaces are made to be pretty sturdy.

Sparlky Strandz jewelry and crocheted baby items are available through the designer's website or her Etsy store. Cheers.

Let's face it...we had the best toys

Legos, army men, rubber duckies, plastic dinosaurs...toys that made you use your imagination, toys you could get in a giant bucket for $5. What ever happened to those toys? They got made into soap.

Local Houston resident Lisa Chouinard started making small batches of handmade soap in 2003. After gaining a large internet following as well as nods from national magazines FHM and Penthouse for her unique and offbeat soap "embeds" -- like razor blades and tiny clay fetos -- she launched her company, FetoSoap. Chouinard also makes fun soaps, scented soaps, lip balms, lotions, and other products that aren't so, well, strange. But then again, strange is good!

All of FetoSoap products are handmade from scratch in small batches right here in Houston. Good to know...now go get clean!

The grass really is greener on the other side

I like to shop, mostly because it gives me the opportunity to find new designers and boutiques. While doing my daily hunt for cool stores in Houston, I came across greener grass design and gift, a web-based Houston boutique that has both a clean, crisp look and a great stock of unique and nifty items (both big +'s in this surfer's notebook).
"Rather than support the further standardization of design, we want to seek products which
can have added value, be beautiful, functional and have lasting significance," states the authors in the "About Us" page of the site. The site has stuff for your home, your pet, your kids, and you; the products range from just the plain weird "Cube Clock" to eco-friendly organic cotton "Onsie and Beanie" set.

My favorite pieces on the site are the "Fireplace for the Tabletop" by Carl Mertens and "Eddie's Cat Room" by The Pet Project.

Happy Shopping. Cheers.

Howdy, baby!

I'm not a baby, but if I were, I would wear these. Perfect for any cowboy just getting her spurs, these onesies are for sale by Etsy member "Lone Starlet," The sweet little red number boasts a yodeling cowboy, and the green one, a Texas State Map (complete with H-town, of course).

Fashionable enough for ya, partner? Cheers.