PaDdLe BuG

  Make your own hula hoop!!!!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	7-foot, 4-inch length of 100 psi 3/4-inch polyethylene irrigation tubing*
	Very hot tap water in a bowl or bucket
	3/4-inch pipe coupling
	Funnel
	1 cup plastic beads
	Electrical tape in assorted colors
	*This length of tubing will make a 28-inch-diameter hula hoop. For a 24-inch hoop, use a 6-foot, 4-inch length; for a 36-inch hoop, use a 9-foot, 6-inch length. A hacksaw works well to cut the tubing. You can buy irrigation tubing at hardware stores and home centers.
Time needed: Afternoon or Evening

1. Soften one end of the tubing by soaking it in very hot tap water for two minutes.

2. Slide the heated end of the tubing over the coupling until it reaches the midpoint line.

3. Soak the other end of the tubing in the hot water. Before the tubing cools, use a funnel to quickly pour the plastic beads into the coupling-end of the tubing.

4. Immediately slide the bare end of the tubing onto the coupling so that the two ends meet.

5. Wrap the seam with a couple of layers of colored tape to seal it. Decorate your hoop by wrapping it with contrasting colors of tape. Wrap each color at a different angle for a woven look.

we got this awesome idea from family fun.com

Kids will love to put their names on the line, sculpting them from flexible wire to hang on their door or wall.

For other cool crafts that celebrate kids' names, check out Identi-tee, Personalized Photo Holder, 3-D Key Chain, and Letter-Perfect Corkboard.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Heavy-gauge, lead-free solder wire (available at home-improve­ment and hardware stores; we used Oatey Safe Flo Silver Lead-Free Plumbing Solder)
	Needle-nose pliers
	Scissors or wire cutters
	Coated colored craft wire (we used 22- and 24-gauge Fun Wire)
	Beads
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. Unroll and straighten a section of the solder wire, but don't cut it from the spool until the name is complete.

2. Using pliers to hold and bend the wire as needed, begin shaping it into letters, starting with the first letter of the name.

3. Once the name is complete, cut the wire from the spool and use the pliers to curl both ends, being careful of the rough edges.

4. Use craft wire to add colorful embellishments and to attach beads.
we also got this from family fun

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Ruler and pencil
	Card stock or construction paper
	Scissors
	Glue stick
	Artwork
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. The following directions are for a 4 1/4-by-6-inch card (which fits nicely into a store-bought envelope), but obviously you can adjust the dimensions to any size you like. Using the ruler and pencil, trace a 12 3/4-by-6-inch rectangle onto your card stock or paper and cut it out.

2. Fold the rectangle in thirds, accordion style. From the top third, cut out a window that will fit your artwork, leaving at least a 1/2-inch border around the edges.

3. Slip the artwork behind the window so that it's centered. Now, glue the back of the artwork and the frame around the artwork to the paper behind them. Place the finished card under a book for about an hour to set.

Tips:
If you don't want to part with your child's original artwork or want to use a very large piece of artwork, you can make reduced copies with a color copier.

In the summer, kids aren't simply best friends, they're inseparable. To prove to each other that their bond will last even past the start of the school year, your child and her pal can fill up their arms with a batch of friendship bracelets.

To make each bracelet, gather six 24-inch strands of embroidery thread.

1. Hold the strands together with the ends matched up, then tie an overhand knot 1 inch from an end. Tape the knot to a tabletop or anchor it in a closed drawer. Holding the free end, twist the bunch repeatedly in the same direction until it is tightly wound.

2. Pinch the twisted band in the center and fold it in half so that the free end matches up with the knotted end. Release the center--the band will automatically twist back on itself.

3. Slip the ends through the loop (the pinch point) at the opposite end of the band, tie a knot to secure the bracelet, knot again and

This clever treasure box, which is organized around the principle that anything goes, has ample room for plastic bags of beach sand, seed packets, subway tokens, maps, sea glass, photos, finger paintings, invitations or even a tiny book of best friends' autographs.

Start with a sturdy cardboard box (one with a lid), which your child can label with his name and the date. As he amasses odds and ends, he can tuck them inside or, if he prefers, glue some onto the outside of the box. To give the box a durable finish, brush on a coat of white glue thinned with water or cover with Con-Tact paper.

A beach bag over a kid's shoulder announces to the world she's big enough to carry her own stuff. This sturdy, washable sack, constructed from an old towel, comfortably fits a kid's shades, Frisbee and flip-flops, with plenty of room left over for shells and sea glass.

MATERIALS
Scissors
Hand towel
Washcloth
Pins
Embroidery needle and thread (or a sewing machine)
Button or snap (optional)
1 yard of 1/2-inch-thick nylon rope (available at hardware stores)

1. Clip any fringed edges off the hand towel, then fold it in half. For a pocket, position and pin the folded washcloth on one side of the bag. Unfold the bag and sew on the pocket. If you like, you can attach a button or snap at the top of the pocket to keep it from hanging open.

2. Fold the bag in half again. Stitch together the sides of the bag, either by hand or on a machine.

3. Cut a length of 1/2-inch-thick nylon rope to your desired length: longer for a shoulder bag, shorter for a handheld bag.

4. Using the scissors, carefully poke a hole through both sides of each top corner of the bag. Thread one end of the handle into each hole, then knot the ends of the rope to secure.

FAMILYFUN TIP
Before washing your beach bag, untie and remove the rope handle