I have never been good at crafting.
My childhood best friend can testify to the fact that if a craft involved more than stringing beads, coloring, or cutting and pasting, I found a way to mess it up.
I know I’m not alone in this. Many of you are probably in the same boat as me. But your level of craftiness should never keep you from sending fun, personal gifts to your sponsored child.
So I’m going to show you a craft that’s both fun and fail-proof.
I know it’s fail-proof because I tried it myself. And although there were a few mishaps, the finished product turned out well! This is a gift I’d be proud to send to my sponsored child.
This craft is not just a pretty knick-knack, it’s also a toy! It’s called a paper spinner. Kimbo, from A Girl and a Glue Gun originally posted this on the Makes and Takes blog and her own post is a great place to go for more tips.
How to Make a Paper Spinner:
To make this paper spinner, you’ll need:
- Cardboard
- Markers in a variety of colors
- A very thin rope or string
- Paper
- Glue sticks (tape also works if you don’t have glue)
- Scissors
First, cut your paper and cardboard into circles. I made my circles about 4.5 inches in diameter, and that worked pretty well. Cutting circles is almost impossible without some sort of guide, so try tracing a bowl or circular container, and then cut out the circle you’ve traced. Don’t try to cut your circle freeform. It won’t end well, trust me.
Next, color your paper circles. This is a great way to get your kids involved. Simple patterns like concentric circles, a spiral, or dots work well. Remember, your design only has to look good while spinning. Some of my designs were pretty rough, but they looked much better spinning.
Step three is to glue your paper circles to your cardboard circle. You cardboard circle should now be colorful. Use scissors and poke two holes through the center of the circle. It’s important that your holes are close to the center, so I suggest using a ruler.
Next, string your rope through the holes, and tie the ends together. You can burn the ends to prevent unraveling, but you don’t have to. I didn’t, since burning things in the office is usually discouraged.
Your spinner is now ready to be used! To make it spin, grab one end of your rope loop in each hand. Then, twirl the cardboard circle until your rope is twisted on both sides.
The final step . . .
Pull on the ropes and then relax them, over and over. If you do it right, the circle in the middle should keep spinning, and your design should look really cool.
This is a great gift for a sponsored child because it’s inexpensive, fairly simple, ships easily, and is just plain fun. Personal gifts are a great way to show your sponsored child that you’re thinking about them. A simple gift and a note could be just the encouragement your child needs today.
So, if you’ve been nervous about trying to make a craft for your sponsored child, today is your day! Try this paper spinner, and show us your finished product on Facebook using #sponsorscreate and we’ll celebrate your achievement together.
A Fun Craft for Your Sponsored Child from World Help.