Home Occupations for Boys and Girls Part 11

Do same with card C on _wrong_ side.

Now we are ready to unite the cards by the ribbons.

Take one strip of ribbon and paste one end on right side of card A at figure 1. Run it beneath the card and bring it out so as to paste the other end on the right side of card B at figure 1.

Take _two_ strips. Paste one end of each at 2 on card A. Run beneath card B and turn up over so as to paste on figure 2 of card B.

A and B are thus loosely united and the toy may be considered finished, but it is more mysterious if made longer, as follows:

Turn over and at each figure 3 on card B paste the ends of two strips of ribbon. (As ribbons already placed are loose this can be readily done.)

Run beneath B and bring up so as to paste the ends on each figure 3 of card C.

Take another strip. Paste the end on 4 of card B. Run ribbon beneath card C and turn up so as to paste on figure 4 of card C.

This completes set of three. Others can be added _ad infinitum_ by ingenious children.

To operate (if the word be not too pretentious a one in this connection) take hold of one of the cards at either end and keep turning it up and down so that first one narrow edge and then the other is uppermost. The remaining cards should fall in a continuous cascade.

The rough sides may be finished by pasting on each a pretty paper lining cut just to fit. (See ill.u.s.tration.)

MISCELLANEOUS

=Chinese Kite= (_Kindergarten slats_, _paper_, _glue_)

Take a firm, light paper (druggist's paper will do). Cut two oblongs, 7 10 inches. Cut off all the corners by an oblique line of three inches.

Fold each oblong lengthwise. Place the folded edges back to back, still folded. Take two slats and place one _under_ one oblong and _over_ the other, horizontally. Do the same with the other slat, but reversing the _under_ and _over_ positions. Take four strips of paper, which should be about one inch wide. Paste two strips over the splints, one on each side, to hold them in place. Place a third strip from top to bottom of the folded oblongs to hold them together. (They meanwhile lying back to back.) Turn the oblongs over and place the remaining strip in corresponding position. The result is a four-winged kite. Tie a cord around the slats and it is finished.

=Ash-Tray= (_Cigar bands_, _gla.s.s saucer_, _photographer's paste_, _square of felt_)

For some time past children who are under the sway of the collecting instinct have acquired from friends or by purchase the bright colored bands that come around cigars and then have utilized them thus: Make an ash receiver by getting at a stationer's a gla.s.s dish and its accompanying piece of felt. Paste bands in pleasing positions upon the under side of the gla.s.s. (Photographer's paste shows no discoloration.) Meanwhile, the felt should have been thoroughly wet, stretched to fit the under side of the dish, and hung up to dry. When dry, paste upon the under side of the dish and trim off neatly the projecting corners.

=Pen-Tray= (_Materials same as above, except that stamps or embossed letter-heads are subst.i.tuted for cigar bands_)

There are many who do not wish to encourage smoking, and to such we suggest a pleasing modification of the above.

Buy the gla.s.s dish and felt above mentioned, and instead of the bands paste upon the dish canceled postage stamps or letter-head monograms, etc., for a pen-tray. A smooth gla.s.s saucer and any piece of bright-colored felt that may be in the house may of course be used.

=Sc.r.a.p-Book= (_Colored paper-muslin_, _heavy sewing silk or worsted_, _paste_, _paste-stick_)

Cut paper-muslin of pretty colors, pink, blue or tan, into pieces 8 13 inches (six pieces in all). Fold each one over once and fit together to make a book, the cover being of a color different from the body of the book. Sew all together by overcasting the back with st.i.tches 1/2 inch apart in one direction, and then going back in the opposite direction through the same holes, thus securing a cross-st.i.tch effect. Show the child how to paste sc.r.a.p-pictures neatly in this book. He may keep it for himself or give it to the children's ward in a hospital or to some younger friend. A very little paste or glue will suffice; a bit in the centre and towards the corners of a picture.

If the child has collected a large a.s.sortment of cards before beginning to make the book, let him cla.s.sify them, putting together on one page animals, on another plants, on another pictures typical of the different seasons, etc. He may in this way suggest a house, putting on one page kitchen furniture arranged in some logical order; on another page the furnis.h.i.+ngs of bedroom, etc. Pictures for this purpose may be cut from magazine advertis.e.m.e.nts, trade journals, etc. In the same fas.h.i.+on a store may be furnished with articles for sale, the counter, scales, and desk. This gives practice in selecting and arranging. Good taste may be inculcated even from such small beginnings.

CHAPTER IV

THE SEWING-BASKET

While busy with thread and needle, the mother may find it necessary to suggest some happy employment for the little one who asks for something to do. What do the contents of the sewing-basket hint?

b.u.t.tONS

=Spinning b.u.t.ton= (_b.u.t.ton_, _thread_)

Show the child a b.u.t.ton strung upon a strong thread about 12 inches long. Then hold the thread firmly between thumb and finger of each hand and twirl it rapidly, drawing it suddenly taut. The b.u.t.ton whirls round, making a pretty spinning figure.

=Stringing b.u.t.tons= (_b.u.t.tons_, _waxed thread_)

If baby is so old that he is not tempted to swallow a pretty b.u.t.ton, give him a strong thread waxed at the end to make it stiff, and let him make a chain of b.u.t.tons. They may be strung according to size or color or shape, giving practice in counting, in arrangement, and in choice.

=b.u.t.tons as Counters= (_b.u.t.tons_)

Save disused b.u.t.tons of the same kind and let the child cla.s.sify into two or more sets to be used as counters in games like checkers or go-bang. See page 62.

=b.u.t.ton-Mold Wheels= (_Molds_, _brush_, _water-color paints_)

Give the child four wooden b.u.t.ton-molds of the same size and let him paint spokes upon them so that they will be ready any time to use as wheels for a toy wagon. Call him a little wheelwright.

=b.u.t.ton-Mold Tops= (_Molds_, _match or toothpick_, _gilding or paint_)

Paint or gild a b.u.t.ton-mold and then stick through the hole a toothpick or burnt match whittled to right size and show the child how to spin it.

=b.u.t.ton-Mold Counters= (See page 62)

SPOOLS

=Toy Furniture= (See page 15)

=Toy Tree Boxes= (_Spools_, _green paint_, _matches_, _green paper_, _scissors_, _paste_)