Tutorials - 21/24 - The Idea Room

Make a Miniature Marshmallow Gun

Finally…I have a fun project you can make for and with your boys. This blog has leaned a bit toward girls lately, so I am excited to have a fun idea for the other half of the population (although I know plenty of girls who would love these too).

These minature marshmallows guns are so much fun. If your boys are like mine EVERYTHING becomes a gun.

My SIL threw a birthday party for my nephew and they made all the boys their own marshmallow gun. My son loves it!

You place a mini marshmallow into the end of the gun, blow on the other end and shoot the marshmallow at your target. They are amazingly accurate!

It is ALWAYS a good idea to have your kids wear safety goggles when using these guns, because everyone knows that it is only fun until someone gets an eye shot out!

I did a little searching on the internet about making these marshmallow guns and found this great idea for making a pair of safety goggles out of a 2-liter soda pop bottle. I followed these directions but used duct tape to line the sharp edges and make the head strap.

To make the head strap, I simply folded about 20 inches of duct tape in half length-wise and then put another 20 inch peice on the folded peice and folded it in half also. So it was 2 layers thick. Then I just cut it to fit with a little extra on each end of the mask so it can be adjusted for different size heads, after I threaded it through the 2 slits I made on each side of the mask.

You will need:
a 12 inch length of 1/2 inch PVC pipe (sprinkler pipe)
1-1/2 inch end cap
2-1/2 inch elbows
1-1/2 inch T joint

Take your 12 inch length of pipe and with a hacksaw, cut off three peices of pipe that measure 2 inches each and then cut two peices of pipe that measure 3 inches in length.

Take your parts and use the above picture to put them together to make your gun. This is a very simple gun style. If you want a different style, all you would need to do is buy a longer length of PVC pipe and some more joints depending on what shape you are trying to achieve.

I ended up making a gun for my other boy and they spend a lot of time in the backyard having marshmallow wars. They played with them so often that I never had any marshmallows left when I needed them. They buy their own marshmallows now!

So if you have a birthday party coming up, these might be something you would like to make as a party favor, or as a gift for the birthday boy. I was also thinking how much fun these would be at your next family party with Grandma and Grandpa and that pesky brother-in-law!

May 18, 2009 · Filed under: Activities, Boys, Kids, Outdoors, Tutorials Tagged with

Make A Child’s Artist Smock From A Man’s Shirt

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I found this artist smock and loved her creative idea but decided to come up with my own version. Here is how you do it. Take a man’s button up shirt.

Then cut up each seam on the front of the shirt. This will be up both sides and across the shoulders. You should have a front panel that is now separated from the back of the shirt.

Then repeat, by cutting off the seams on the back of the shirt. You now have two panels, a front and back. The back of the shirt, will become the front of your smock and the front of the man’s shirt will become the back.

Cut off the entire collar (front and back) and unpick any buttons used for buttoning the collar down. Save the buttons that button up the front of the shirt. These will be the buttons on the back of your artist’s smock.

I then took two lengths of ribbon (measure on child before determining how long you would like it to be. I attached my ribbon to the front (button-less) panel and then wrapped the ribbon around the back and tied it in the front of the smock. You can choose to make it so that your ribbon ties in the back if that is your preference. If I remember correctly, I made my ribbon 2 peices at 30 inches a piece.

*Take the new front panel and iron a 1/4″ seam around the entire shirt panel. Fold over another 1/4″ seam and pin in place. Take one ribbon and place it inside the seam and pin it in place. I placed mine right in the armpit of the original shirt. This is where the shirt material comes out into a peak on the side.

Sew around the entire panel. When you come to sew in the ribbon, sew it into the seam and then also sew a square in the top of the ribbon to secure it to the panel.

Repeat the same process beginning with the star now on the new back panel. (You will want to make sure that the top button is about 1/4 to 1/2 inches below your FINISHED seam line, so that it does not pull apart at the top).

Pin the front and back shirt panels with the right side of the material together at the shoulders only. Sew together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Now you are basically finished. Only the shoulders of the smock are sewn together. The sides are left open so that the smock can just go on right over the head. When you tie it, the sides just naturally tuck in around your kid.

I did however add a few flourishes so that it did not look so plain. I carefully unpicked the pocket that was originally on the front of the man’s shirt and just sewed it onto the new front of the smock. I also added a pink iron-on flower that I had left-over from a previous project. Ta-Da! An adorable artist smock for your budding artist.

Stay tuned for a recipe for some homemade paints and a homemade easel to complete your artist’s ensemble.

**If I were to make a boy’s version, I would sew the tie onto the back panel and then wrap it around the front so it can tie in the back.

This bird was right outside the window for a long time while I was working on this smock. He made my day!

May 13, 2009 · Filed under: Crafts, Kids, Re-Purposed Items, Sewing, Tutorials Tagged with

Drawstring Backpack and Matching Swim/Beach Towel Tutorial

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Take one of your towels (the other one will be left alone and will be the matching towel) and cut 2 squarish shapes. My original towel measured 30 x 60 inches. (I found mine at Target and they were $5.99 each). You can get two backpacks out of one towel. I cut my 2 squares about 15 inches x 14 inches. I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance unless otherwise noted. I also made sure that I had a 3 inch strip of material the length of the towel for the backpack straps.

One peice of material should have a raw edge at the top (the other peice should already have a seam from the edge of the towel). Fold raw edge over at top and sew seam down about 2 inches from the top of the towel.

Fold the tops of each peice and sew a 1.5 inch casing to thread your pull string (rope) through. Do this by turning the seam into the inside of the back pack so your seam in on the inside of the finished backpack. Do this to both peices separately.

Now take the long 3 inch strip and iron the edge on both sides in about 1/4 inch. Then iron again in half length wise. Sew these two edges together as close to the edge. Sew from one end to the other. When sewn, cut strap in half, so you now have two straps.

Pin your straps on one of the squares of material, so that they are inside of the backpack and come to the outside on the top and the bottom of the backpack. I had the longer 15 inch length be the vertical direction of my backpack (I hope that makes sense).

Now pin the two squares together, right sides together, and sew around all three edges leaving the top edge open. DO NOT sew through the casing. Stop right at your seam so that you can get your rope through without sewing the opening closed. I also added a zig-zag stitch just inside of my straight stitch to keep the terry cloth from unraveling (or your can surge it).

Now, reinforce the strap you have just attached. Sew right on your previous seams so as not to close your casing opening.

Do it on the other side of the strap as well. I went back and forth a few times to make it good and strong.

Now cut a length of rope to about 20-22 inches.

I tied a tight knot in one end and used a long knitting needle to help me thread it through my casing. (My son wanted a knot on each side of the back pack??? so that is why you see one on the other side too).

When you have pushed it through both sides, you should have the two ends of rope hanging out one end. Tie both ends into knots and then burn the ends of the rope (carefully) with a match to prevent them from fraying. Yeah! You are finished! Now get out there and enjoy some of that warm sunshine.

If there is some part (or all) of these directions that is confusing or written poorly, please let me know and I will try to improve them. Please feel free to ask if you also have any questions on any of this. I realize I am not that great at explaining things sometimes. I would also love to see pictures of yours if you end up making any. So send me a comment with a link! Happy Sewing.

**There are probably easier ways to make these, this is just how I made it being an unprofessional seamstress and all. I just really started trying to sew this past fall :)! If you have a better way, please let me know!

To make a swim bag and matching towel for little girls (or mommies) go here.