_The Jumping Frog._--If you are skilful with your pocket knife you can
cut out a representation of the animal from a lump of wood, and paint it
to make it more realistic. If, however, you have not the requisite
skill, you can still construct the toy by using a walnut shell in place
of the carved model. In either case the actual mechanism for "jumping"
is the same.
You want a good-sized shell, or rather half-shell, some very strong thin
twine, and a match. First you must bore two holes in the sides of the
shell, not too near the edge, then tie a loop of twine round the holes
and the edge (Fig. 95). Now if you put a piece of match stick between
the strings, and twist the string by turning the match round, you will
complete the jumping mechanism (Fig. 96). Keep your finger on the match
to prevent it flying back, and carefully turn the shell upside down on
the table, holding it all the time. Now if you press one finger on the
side of the shell so that it slips suddenly from under, then your frog
will perform an astounding leap in the air. But, in your eagerness to
get a big jump, do not twist the string too tightly, otherwise the holes
will break out.
[Illustration: FIG. 95.]
[Illustration: FIG. 96.]
If, as mentioned above, you are skilful enough to cut out the frog, you
will need to hollow out the body so that there will be room for the
turning of the match.
You can also do very much the same with a fowl's "wishbone" if you tie a
loop of string round the two prongs and use the match as shown above.
The shell of an ordinary hen's egg does not seem to give much scope for
construction. Yet much can be done with it. One of the best things you
can make is
_An Egg-shell Yacht._--Next time mother is making cakes, or anything
which needs eggs, tell her you want the shell intact, and ask her to let
you blow out the contents. To do this, bore a small hole at each end,
and blow. Of course, if you have ever collected birds' eggs, and are an
adept at egg-blowing, you will only need one hole.
Stop up the holes with sealing wax or plasticene. This complete shell is
to form the hull of the yacht; it will be necessary to add a keel,
mainmast, bowsprit, &c., to finish the craft.
For the mainmast get a very thin piece of wood--a very thin piece of
bamboo or a piece of split cane will do--and pass it carefully through
two holes which have previously been bored in the opposite sides of the
shell. Let it project an inch or two below (Fig. 97_a_). Fix in position
by means of sealing wax. In similar fashion arrange a bowsprit.
[Illustration: FIG. 97.]
As the hull is very light, it will be necessary to have a good steadying
keel. A piece of sheet lead about 2 in. long and 1 in. wide will do
admirably. Secure it to the shell and the projecting piece of mainmast
by means of sealing wax (Fig. 97_b_).
Now if this floats properly you can proceed with the rigging, which may
be as simple or as elaborate as you please. Fasten the spars to the
mainmast by means of very thin wire. (Sealing wax will do, but is not at
all reliable for this.) For the sails use tough tissue paper, gluing the
main and top sails in position, and fixing the jib and foresails by
means of threads.
The addition of a cardboard rudder--fixed by wax--will complete a trim
little craft which will sail in approved regatta fashion, if it has been
properly adjusted (Fig. 98).
[Illustration: FIG. 98.]
Nor must broken egg shells be despised. These can be decorated with
paints, and some very amusing little articles provided. Legs and arms
can be added, fixed into place with dabs of sealing wax; clothes can be
devised; and grotesque little toys improvised--toys suitable for the
decoration of the Christmas tree or sale at bazaars, &c.
Quite a number of amusing little toys can be made from those cylindrical
cardboard cases in which incandescent mantles are usually sold. For the
most part the only things needed for the construction are a sharp knife
(one with a very thin blade preferred), a tube of glue, one or two odd
pieces of cardboard, and some paints.
_A Money Box_, for instance, is always useful, and, by the aid of the
paint box, can be made very attractive.
Take off the two end covers, and glue one end of the case to a circle of
thick cardboard, about 1/4 in. larger in radius than the case. Now for
the other end construct a conical top. To do this, draw out a circle
with a radius of about 1-1/4 in. and cut out a sector (see Fig. 9, p.
8). The two ends can then be brought together and fixed with a piece of
glued tape, and the whole thing can be glued to the other end of the
case.
Before this is done, however, the money slot should be cut in the side.
Much can be done to make the article attractive by a judicious use of
the paints. The money slot, for instance, can be regarded as the mouth,
and a grotesque face drawn round it.
If you care to cover the conical top with felt or flannel, you can make
the model very funny indeed. In the spring you can damp the felt or
flannel, and spread on grass seeds: these will grow and give your
grotesque figure a fine crop of bright green hair (Fig. 99). Of course,
if you are going to damp the upper parts of the model, you must obtain
and use some sort of waterproof glue.
[Illustration: FIG. 99.]
_A Pin-hole Camera_ is another extremely simple yet extraordinarily
interesting contrivance (Fig. 100).
[Illustration: FIG. 100.]
For this you require two mantle cases, one just large enough to slide
easily into the other. Take the smaller one, and cover one end with
tissue paper. This must be done neatly and strongly, otherwise, as the
case slides up and down in the outer one, the tissue will tear. You
should draw out on the tissue a circle just as large as the end of the
case, and then all round, draw and cut little pointed tags to lap over
the edges and stick down (Fig. 101).
[Illustration: FIG. 101.]
One end of the outer case should be covered with thick brown paper in
just the same way, and a tiny pin hole pricked exactly in the centre of
the brown-paper end.
Now if a lighted candle be placed near to the pin hole, and if the inner
case be moved to and fro till the right spot is found, an exact picture
of the candle flame will be seen on the tissue paper.
_A Doll's Easy Chair._--Apart from accurate and careful cutting there is
not very much difficulty in this. Take a mantle case and remove the
covers. Now draw a line from end to end and use this as a base line,
measuring the distances to right and left to the different points: this
will ensure accuracy. Fig. 102 shows one design suitable for the
purpose; but you will possibly like to make up your own. The fitting of
the seat is done as follows: On a piece of cardboard mark out a circle
having the same radius as the case, and another circle with a radius 1/8
in. larger. Cut this out as shown in Fig. 103. Now cut a slot a little
more than half-way across the case from the front, at a level suitable
for the seat, and into this slide the seat. If the slot has not been cut
far enough across, go on cutting till the seat fits correctly in the
case. Then glue it in position.
[Illustration: FIG. 102.]
[Illustration: FIG. 103.]
All that is now required is a coat of paint, and any ornamentation you
may care to add.
In conclusion we would point out once more what we stated at the
beginning--namely, that the examples given are intended merely to
suggest ways and means of making countless other articles.
Printed by The Edinburgh Art Printing Co. Ltd.
Edinburgh
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Illustrations have been moved to logical locations between
paragraphs.
The following suspected error was changed in the text: on page
69, changed "somethng" to "something"