London Double Decker Bus Craft CRAFTS A double-decker bus has two levels or 'decks'. Red doubledecker buses are usually associated with London and have become a national symbol of England. This cardboard double decker bus is great for taking the toys for a ride (and doubling up as a very stylish toy box too!) A large cardboard box Red paint Black paper White paper Yellow paper Silver paper (or card) Pens String 1. Paint the box red and leave it to dry. 2. From the black paper cut four circles to be wheels and stick these to the sides of the bus. 3. Cut a doorway (a rectangle about half the height of the box) and glue this to the end of one side of the bus. Cut a thin silver pole and glue this in the middle of the doorway. 4. Cut rectangles of black paper for windows and glue these to the sides. Cut 2 strips of white paper long enough to run down the bus sides and narrow enough to fit between the two rows of windows. Decorate these as advertisements and stick them to the sides of the bus. You could also use an advert cut out of a glossy magazine. 5. Cut two big rectangular windows for the back of the bus and glue them on. Cut two small rectangles of yellow paper as number plates (you can draw on your own personal number). Glue one to each end of the bus. 6. Cut two silver circles as headlights and a silver rectangle as a radiator and glue these to the bottom of the bus front. Cut 4 black windows to go above and stick these on. Finally cut a white rectangle, write on the route number and destination of your bus and glue it to the middle of the bus front. 7. Make a hole in the front of the bus, thread through your string and tie securely (this bit should be done by an adult). 8. Why not make some bus stops by drawing a large red circle with a horizontal line through on white paper? These can be stuck to the wall with sticky tack and you can pull your bus around dropping of and collecting toy passengers at the various stops.
English Telephone Box Craft Even though these red telephone boxes are rarely seen in England now, they still symbolize England to many. Here's a fun English telephone box craft idea for kids - make a fabulous pencil holder that looks like a red telephone box from England! You will need: Rectangle shaped box Red paint White paper Black permanent marker Glue 1. Cut the box so it is slightly shorter than your pens. Paint the box red and allow it to dry. 2. At the top of each side draw a small crown. From white paper cut four small rectangles and on each write TELEPHONE. Glue one to each side, just underneath the crown. 3. Finally use the permanent marker to add a grid of black rectangles (window panes) to each side. Toilet Paper Roll Crowns toilet paper tubes (preferably with a coloured inside, or paint the inside yourself) a black permanent marker or paint fabric paint a hole punch elastic thread or string 1. With a pencil, draw the outline of the top of the crown on the tube, and cut out the silhouette with scissors. 2. Using a black permanent marker, make a thick outline around the edge of the cut-out design, and add something subtle like black circles to the inside of the tube as well. 3. Using puff fabric paint decorate your crowns 4. Leave the crowns to dry thoroughly and keep away from curious hands as the puff paint smears very easily. 5. Once dry, punch holes and tie on elastic threads or string long enough to go around heads and under the chin.
Pipe Cleaner Crowns 7 blue pipe cleaners Or whatever colour you choose 1. Bend blue pipe cleaner in half and twist at make a loop. Make four like this. 2. Join two (or three, depending on head size) pipe cleaners together lengthwise by twisting ends together. 3. Attach blue triangles to blue band. 4. To close at back of head, simply twist pipe cleaners together! Fairy-tale Castle Craft Who could resist trying this fairytale castle craft! Easy to make from cardboard tubes and others scraps around the home. 4 paper towel tubes Small box 2 colours of cardstock/paper 2 colours of paint to match paper Black pen Glue Sequins/glitter/pens to decorate 1. Cut any flaps off the box. 2. Trim the tubes to size so that they are a couple of inches taller than the box. 3. Glue one tube into each corner and leave to dry. 4. Paint the castle in the paint colour you chose then leave to dry. 5. From the card/paper cut out two side-plate sized circles. 6. Cut the circles in half to make 4 semi circles. Roll the semicircles into cones and tape to secure. These should be placed (not glued) onto the towers as roofs. 7. For the door way / front tower, draw a rectangle as tall as the box and about 2 inches wide, with an arch at the top (see photo above) and cut out. 8. Glue the front tower to the middle of one of the wide sides. 9. With the black pen draw windows and doors on to the castle. Use sequins, glitter, pens and any other embellishments to decorate.
Little Teapot Materials Two small paper bowls Construction paper Any water-based paint Paint brush Scissors Pipe cleaner Glue gun Glue stick Stapler Pencil Pompom or large bead Sequins or craft foam shapes (optional) 1. Think of what colour you want your teapot to be and cut out the corresponding colour of construction paper into a small rectangle. 2. Apply glue all over the surface of the rectangular piece of paper. 3. Roll the paper into a cone or spout shape. Press on the edges to glue them in place. 4. Prepare two small paper bowls to make into the teapot's body. On one bowl, mark the width of the spout's base. 5. Turn the bowl face down and cut out a trapezoid shape between the marked lines, where the spout will be inserted. 6. Cut an identical shape on the other paper bowl. 7. Staple the base of the spout below the trapezoid cut-out. 8. Apply white glue along the rim of the bowl. 9. Put the 2 bowls together, with the spout jutting out from the trapezoid cut-out portions of the paper bowls. Press firmly along the joined rims. 10. Punch a pair of holes on the teapot opposite the area of the spout. Use the tip of the pencil to punch one hole on the top bowl and another one on the bottom bowl. 11. Bend a pipe cleaner in the middle. 12. To make the teapots handle, insert one end of the bent pipe cleaner into the top hole and the other end into the bottom hole of the teapot. Use glue to keep ends of the handle in place. 13. Paint the teapot the same colour as the spout. 14. You may leave the spout unpainted or you may paint it to blend it seamlessly with the teapot body. Let the paint dry completely. 15. Glue a pompom or a large bead on top of the teapot. 16. You may further decorate the teapot with small craft foam shapes, sequins or stickers. Once the glue dries, you're all set for a tea party