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How to Make Fake Snakes

Many children have an endless fascination with snakes. If you want a unique snake toy for your child, you can make one using old bottle caps. This fake snake will be an original toy that none of your child's friends will have, and it is environmentally friendly because it uses nearly all recycled materials. Best of all, this is a project that your child can help you with, making the toy even more meaningful.

Things You'll Need

100 bottlecaps
Scrap wood
Hammer
Nail
Masking tape
Rotary tool with grinding bit
Safety glasses
Newspaper
Spray paint
2 feet red yarn
Large needle
Cork
Glue
Googly eyes

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the first bottle cap upside-down on a small block of wood.
- 2
  Punch a hole through the center of the bottle cap with a hammer and nail.
- 3
  Repeat this process with all bottle caps.
- 4
  Tape the first cap down on the wooden block with masking tape. The shard of metal from punching the hole should face up.
- 5
  Grind the shard off of the bottle cap with a rotary tool and stone grinding bit. Keep the bit moving so it does not overheat. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.
- 6
  Grind all of the bottle caps in this way.
- 7
  Lay out the bottle caps on a piece of newspaper, and spray paint them the color that you want for your snake. Allow them to dry. Flip them over, and paint the other side.
- 8
  Tie a large knot in the end of a 2-foot piece of red yarn. Thread the other end of the yarn through a large needle.
- 9
  Thread the yarn through the bottle caps, one at a time. All of the caps should face the same direction.
- 10
  Hammer the nail through the center of a large cork. Pull the nail out again. Paint the cork to match the bottle caps. Let dry.
- 11
  Pass the needle and yarn through the hole in the cork.
- 12
  Glue the yarn in place on the end of the cork. When the glue is dry, cut the yarn. Leave two inches to serve as the snake's tongue.
- 13
  Decorate the cork head with googly eyes or additional paint.

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