Working with your children making wood projects is a memory in the making. Children will remember the good time they spent with you while making something they can use and save for later to show their kids.
Children ages 3 and up can make the wood working projects with Popsicle sticks.
Picture Frames
Supplies:
- Popsicle sticks
- Paint (Craft Smart or Folk Art) acrylic craft paint
- Paint Brushes
- Newspaper
- Foam shapes
- Elmer’s Glue or Wood Glue
First, take your child shopping with you. Lay the newspaper down on the table. Lay out your Popsicle sticks and paint them. Then glue the items in the shape of a picture frame stacking them three stacks high diagonally for each stack. Then glue on your foam shapes or stick them on if they are the sticky back kind. Let dry and then you can tie a piece of string or glue a soda pop can top to the back to hang up.
Candy or Miscellaneous Boxes
You can make a candy dish or miscellaneous box to put your candy, money or jewelry in.
You use the same items as the last project. Paint the sticks the color that you want and let them dry. Lay them out to make a bottom by laying them straight and then gluing three or four of them the opposite direction to hold the bottom together. Stack them up on the edges to box it in. You may want to use a hot glue gun for this project to make sure that they stay together and that the foam pieces stay on.
Pencil Holder
- Wood (Pine)
- Paint or wood stain
- Wood Glue
- Bandsaw (Best bandsaws can be found here: http://www.sawinery.net/best-band-saw/)
- Tape Measure
- Sand Paper
You need to purchase a piece of wood 2 feet by 2 feet — smooth pine will work. You need to measure out four pieces, 3 inches by 4 inches and one 3 inch by 3 inch piece to cut. With wood glue you would want to glue the pieces together and let dry completely. Then paint the pieces or wood stain. Let dry and give as a gift or keep for a pencil holder.
Toy Box
Make a toy box that is 32″ wide by 20″ deep. This project uses one sheet of plywood, a list of materials. This project is for skill level. Here is the website to make this project:
http://www.woodcraftplans.com/osc/simple-plans-p-242.html
Bird House
You can make a decorative bird house for the yard or one that the birds will actually use. This project is for a little bit older kids that use power equipment. Here is the site for bird houses.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo p;=Build/BrdHouse
Have fun and enjoy your time with your children.