Author Topic: tips needed for recycled construction craft  (Read 17073 times)

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Offline creations

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tips needed for recycled construction craft
« on: February 08, 2013, 00:02:53 am »
I'm looking for some ideas on how to stick recycled boxes, cartons and packaging together for a 2 yo.
Sticky tape doesn't really hold stuff in place (unless we use tons and then the thing we make is more of a sticky tape structure than a 'robot' or 'train' or whatever he wants to make - plus tends to fall apart if he starts to play with the item), pva glue requires more patience than DS has to hold it whilst it dries, staples don't reach through boxes and cartons, super glue is too dangerous... I'm really lost for ideas.

I can see DS has some lovely ideas for 3D construction, I have a big collection of recycled stuff, great shapes etc, and obviously I will help him build his vision, but i really hope for something where he can be involved (not just watching) and it can be instant enough for him to see results and not lose interest.

Any ideas?


Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2013, 00:08:32 am »
Honestly, the best thing for cardboard is a hot glue gun...but so not appropriate, unless he will let you glue and watch. It dries and cools superfast, my dad used to make us awesome cardboard doll houses with just a glue gun.
Heidi




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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2013, 00:14:14 am »
Oh, that's one of the things I've thought of and avoiding because he really wants to do the making himself, not just play with something I've made yk?  For sure I will let him use one when he is older (and perhaps not as old as some might wait), but not at 2.


Offline speechie

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2013, 01:24:20 am »
what about duct tape?
Cathie
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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2013, 01:31:55 am »
Ooh, they make all sorts of neat coloured ones now too, not just boring grey.
Heidi




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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2013, 12:00:07 pm »
I'll get some!
Wow, never knew there were so many colours and patterns, amazing!


Offline C&B&E

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2013, 12:25:04 pm »
I wonder, could you use some more sturdy containers (I'm thinking plastic milk bottles/margerine tubs etc) and put velcro onto different parts of them, then he could stick them together and take them apart again?  Would potentially mean he could do it all himself.
Claire x



Offline Hedgehog17

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2013, 14:07:47 pm »
If it's cardboard, then the safest thing is to cut slots that you can slide other pieces of card into.

May require some trial and error and design planning  ;)

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2013, 14:37:00 pm »
Claire I was just thinking of velcro!  My mum recently gave me a pack of the sticky stuff (rather than the sew on stuff) for something else, but it got me thinking.  yes I'll try that! I can see him enjoying that.



Offline amayzie

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2013, 09:39:53 am »
I'll have a look on playschool- they are always making stuff from the useful box... i'll see how they join it... Although the duct tape sounds good...
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


Offline Lolly

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2013, 09:54:15 am »
What about double sided sticky tape? You can get different widths and it would hold lighter/ smaller bits on.

Laura


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2013, 10:05:46 am »
It can be quite sticky too....
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2013, 13:55:58 pm »
Yes, good idea on the double sided tape.
he's been desperate to put 'stuff' together and now that I have some ideas he doesn't seem interested.  Think it might be a few days before I find out if these things work with him.

I also thought maybe pipe cleaners.  I'd have to make some holes safely for him first which is not *really* what we are looking for, BUT some things are joining edges to flats (if that makes sense) and I thought if there are holes in place maybe he can thread a pipe cleaner through, almost like sewing but on a v big scale, and we can twist it to finish off.  If he can't thread it in I can help hand over hand but at least he'd feel involved.

I bought some brads (like split pins) on-line thinking they were big enough for him to pick up and shove in a hole then I could split them at the back to kind of rivet pieces together (good for adding wheels too as they would actually turn!).  Don't know how i got the sizes so wrong, they are really small and although he has good fine motor skills I think they are just too small (or maybe they sent the wrong size).

This is great.  Still open to more ideas to try if anyone thinks of any :)


Offline Edesanja

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2013, 19:15:36 pm »
I bought this kit which uses plastic pieces like nuts and bolts that was a hit with my cardboard-creation-making-nephew. They are reuseable.
The website demonstrates how it works and tells you where you can buy it https://mymakedo.com/
Jenny - mama to



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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2013, 21:04:58 pm »
WOW!  Brilliant!
I've only had a very quick (30 second) look at the site and it looks amazing and perfect!
Thank you so much  :-*

Off to have a better look now :)


Offline C&B&E

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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2013, 21:31:19 pm »
ooh they're great!  They've got them on amazon, just put them on B's wishlist  :)
Claire x



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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2013, 21:37:39 pm »
I was going to suggest the makedo as well - I've seen a friend's child play with it and it looks awesome. I'm hoping to get some for F (and DH) soon ;D
*Nuala*










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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2013, 21:49:17 pm »
It's so totally perfect!
I've added them to DS's wish list and will order tomorrow after a quick chat with DP about which set/s to get.
I'm SOooooo excited!

Anyone know what the pins/clips are like if they are painted?  I suspect DS will want to paint his creation after construction because he really has a taste for painting 3D objects rather than onto flat paper (which he does too but doesn't get so excited about).  I think paint might wash off for re-use.  I suppose it doesn't really matter that much if it doesn't, just adds to the recycled nature of the constructions.
The concept is similar to my idea of using brads, but this is so much better.  The photo gallery is amazing :)


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2013, 23:58:18 pm »
:D
Jenny - mama to



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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2013, 12:07:41 pm »
Claire x



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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #20 on: February 17, 2013, 13:57:12 pm »
which makedo set did you buy in the end?
Gemma



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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2013, 08:46:49 am »
I haven't had a chance to show them to DP yet but have ear marked the kit for one, the robot and the wheel set.  it looks great.

Meanwhile we trialed a few other ideas.
The velcro was a disaster, the hook and eye sides stuck together far more strongly than the sticky side so all that happened was they fell apart, tearing some of the packaging at the same time.  I was hopeful at the time, and DS enjoyed sticking them on, but ultimately not satisfactory.
Double sided sticky pads were more successful but still not really satisfactory.  Most of the packing is pretty uneven, like the sides of an egg box for example (rather than the flat top), so don't give a great surface to stick to.  These did at least get the robot together although it wasn't really strong enough to play with afterwards.

Card slots is what I've done a lot of in the past.  DS does get excited to see something being produced but ultimately wants to be more involved and it's too tricky for him to work out where the slots need to be or cut them etc.  We've got a couple of fantastic space rockets made this way though that have lasted a LONG time and get played with a lot too.  He also enjoyed painting and decorating them.


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2013, 09:52:53 am »
What about if you are just a bit liberal about your masking tape use? Get nice big pieces and sort of wrap them around?

What about not one piece of double sided tape- but 2 pieces- a piece on each side... they might stick to each other better? What about a lot of clag glue?

Sadly pinterest has let me down on this occasion... no decent ideas!
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2013, 14:58:55 pm »
I think the makedo set, sticky pads and a gaffa tape combo is going to work out the best for us.  Just need to get DP to have a look and get them ordered.

Katy I'm not surprised pin interest has let you down on this, it's quite a tricky thing to resolve for young toddlers when their development is a bit out of balance, in that they want to do stuff but can't necessarily use the right tools, might not have the fine motor skills needed, or might not understand that putting two items together is difficult with uneven surfaces etc.  DS sometimes watches Mr Maker, and is all inspired to make stuff but most of the stuff needs a much older child or an adult, and even then it's all a bit make shift and would fall apart (like joining the edge of a toilet roll tube to another box with pritt stick glue which in reality would just NOT stick there isn't enough surface area for that sort of glue).  My pre-mum life I was a design lecturer (further ed college) and a good percentage of my students would find it difficult to stick stuff together and they WERE allowed hot glue guns and all sorts of tools!


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Re: tips needed for recycled construction craft
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2013, 16:06:14 pm »
yes- i agree! It is really hard sticing that stuff together! And also- when he's even just a year older he'll better understand that sometimes you need to just have some things that you put together and then just LOOK AT- as in not play with them as they'll fal right apart!
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!