Directions to Make Wooden Toys

Construction Toys

• 1

  Cut scrap wood into various block shapes using a table saw or jig saw. Shapes should include triangles, rectangles, squares and arches. Cut 1-inch diameter and larger dowel rod into disks, 1/2-inch to 3-inch thick, to make circular and cylindrical blocks.

• 2

  Make eight evenly spaced marks around the circumference of the 1/2-inch-thick disks.

• 3

  Secure each disk in your drill press. Drill 1/4-inch diameter holes into the disks, 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch deep, at each mark.

• 4

  Cut a 1/4-inch diameter dowel rod into 1-inch through 12-inch lengths, making at least eight of each length for each disk.

• 5

  Have children help sand all the blocks using coarse through extra-fine papers in that order. Explain to your child that you have to fold sandpaper into thirds, accordion-style, with one of the gritty faces out and the other two facing each other.

• 6

  Place the gritty face against the wood, with your fingers on the sandpaper and your thumb tucked, while holding the block in your other hand. Demonstrate how to rub the sandpaper over the block, with the grain of the wood.

• 7

  Stencil letters and numbers on 36 cubes, repeating each vowel and letter, except h, x, q and j, at least twice. Use your wood-burning kit to outline each letter or number on each block.

• 8

  Have children use bright, nontoxic paint to embellish all but one side of each block as desired. Allow the paint to dry overnight before painting the remaining side of each block. Avoid getting paint in the holes in the sides of the disks by pushing short dowel rod sections into each hole while you paint. Remove the rods before allowing the paint to dry.

• 9

  Apply clear acrylic sealant to each block and allow to dry overnight.

Dolls

• 10

  Mix a variety of flesh tones using high-gloss acrylic paints in pink, black, brown and cream, in the sections of a foam egg carton.

• 11

  Paint the heads of the clothespins using all of the flesh tones at least once per peg. Push the feet of each peg into a block of craft foam to keep it upright while it dries.

• 12

  Use a fine-tip watercolor brush to paint your doll's face as desired.

• 13

  Make clothes for your dolls, using cloth scraps, yarn and other miscellaneous craft supplies. Wrap or tie the cloth around the clothespins. Glue cloth in place as needed.

• 14

  Embellish each doll with bead strings, lace, ribbon and other trims as desired.

• 15

  Create hair from string, yarn or fake fur strips as desired and glue it to each doll's head.