Posted on: Monday, April 21, 2008
Child's play for Earth Day
By Jennifer Forker
Associated Press
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Clockwise from top: Earth Day crafts include crazy hair people, wine cork coasters and mint tin boxes.
BILL ROSS | Associated Press
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Join our discussion: Earth Day: What are you teaching your kids?
To honor Earth Day in kids' crafting, one really needs to think trash.
That is, "What can I rescue from the garbage bin and reuse?"
This is no time for going heavy on the nonrecyclable doodads, such as pipe cleaners and pom-poms, in our art projects. For Earth Day, which is tomorrow, consider these crafts that make the most of objects you probably already have:
WINE CORK COASTERS
These are fast to make and last forever. An excellent conversation piece, they really will protect your tabletops.
You'll need:
Wine corks of approximately the same size, about 10 or 11 per finished item
Heavy felt
Glue (such as Elmer's or Aleene's Tacky Glue)
What to do:
Cut a square of felt that's approximately 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
Lay the wine corks on their side on the square in any pattern of straight lines that you'd like, trying to cover the felt.
Test your coaster by placing an empty glass on top of it: Is it steady? If not, substitute any offending corks for others.
Glue the corks to the felt. The glue may seep to the back of the felt, so dry this item upside down.
When dry, flip over and use, cork side up. Cheers!
MINT TIN TREASURE BOXES
Finally, here's a use for your staggering collection of empty mint tins. Instead of paper, you can visit your local wallpaper store and ask if they have any discarded sample books to give away. You receive free "paper" while rescuing the sample books from the landfill.
You'll need:
Mint tins, such as Altoids, empty and wiped clean
Patterned paper scraps, such as from scrapbooking, or wallpaper scraps
Glue (such as Elmer's or Aleene's Tacky Glue)
Found objects, such as buttons, beads, fake jewels and faux flowers, or anything that's small and colorful
Optional: stickers and markers
What to do:
Trace the tin's lid onto the backside of a piece paper. Do this twice; the paper does not have to match.
Trace the tin's base onto the backside of another scrap of paper.
Glue the three pieces of paper onto their respective places: Outer and inner lid, and inside base. You may need to trim the paper to make it fit.
Decorate the outside lid as desired, with buttons, beads, jewels, and other found objects.
Decorate the inside lid and base, ensuring that nothing bulky is used that would hinder closing the tin.
Note: Older kids may like the challenge of trying to cover the sides with paper, using the same tracing and gluing technique. This will take extra precision.
CRAZY HAIR PEOPLE
This craft can be fully compostable if you use biodegradable paper cups. Check your local coffee shop or health-food store, or purchase from a sup-plier such as Eco-Products, www.ecoproducts.com. If you can find wheatgrass seed, you can cut your friend's "hair" for juicing — another kick for kids.
You'll need:
Paper cups, preferably compostable
Markers or crayons
Potting soil
Grass seed, such as wheatgrass, or any lawn variety, such as tall fescue
Spoon, measuring spoon, small scoop or trowel
Water
A small plate or saucer
Optional: Plastic wrap and rubber band
What to do:
Draw a face on the side of the cup with markers or crayons.
Punch a small hole in the bottom of the cup (for drainage).
Fill cup two-thirds full with soil.
Add about 1 tablespoon of grass seed.
Mix grass seed into soil with finger or spoon. Moisten soil with water. Put in sink for drainage or on saucer.
To encourage growth, cover cup with plastic wrap and secure with rubber band
Place cup in sunny window. Water as needed.
Remove plastic wrap, if using, when sprouting seedlings grow near.
When your "crazy hair" is long enough, you can cut it and watch it grow again.
When ready to discard, compost or throw out; it will biodegrade.
