(May be combined with other similar programs/themes, such as “Fashion Crafts” or “Stuffed Minis”.)
It’s time to revamp your toy box with Toy Maker Pro! In this creative program, we will create our own toys, games and dress-up accessories to add to our collections. In Toy Maker – the possibilities for fun are endless… We could sew our own puppets or stuffed animals. We might make ooey gooey silly putty. create our own board games or fashion our own capes, dinosaur tails and monster masks! Join us as we learn how to make the best toys – in Toy Maker!
In this program, it will be up to the Instructor(s) to gauge the interests of the group and decide how best to structure the overall term. Some things to consider:
- Instructors should prepare for any new craft/project by making a “prototype” themselves. To practice and troubleshoot and to inspire the group with a quality finished toy.
- If sewing, Instructors should always prepare for the lesson(s) by pre-cutting any patterns and threading needles. It’s a good idea to have at least twice the number of needles prepared than the number of students – so you don’t have to do this on the fly.
- Instructors MUST keep track of all needles. If you hand out 10 needles, you need to get them all back before the end of class. Do not ever give a child a new needle without having them return the one just used.
- Sewn Felt projects should NEVER be sewn inside out and then turned. When working with felt, please sew along the outer edge for the best finished product.
- Stitches should be small and close together to keep the stuffing in – keep an eye on student’s work and correct/encourage where needed. Check all work before allowing a student to take home a completed craft – it should be done to that student’s best ability (this means it will often take 2 weeks to complete a project).
- Children are NEVER permitted to draw on material/felt with any type of marker.
Lesson Options:
- Monster Finger Puppets
- felt, scissors, needles, embroidery thread, glue gun set, stuffing (for instructor use only)
- Bunny (or any animal) Felt Hand Puppets
- templates, felt, scissors, needles, embroidery thread, glue gun set (for instructor use only)
- Model Magic Finger Puppets (or pencil toppers)
- model magic, markers
- Pygmy Puffs
- yarn in various colours, felt, glue gun set (for instructor use only), scissors
- Juggling Cubes
- felt, scissors, needles, embroidery thread, stuffing
- Paper Airplanes
- paper of various sizes, colours and weights, markers, scissors
- Catapults
- wide craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoons, pom poms
- Parachutes
- table cloths, coffee filters, yarn, kitchen twine, ribbon, gift ribbon, scissors, scotch tape, painter’s tape, mini aimals/dinos/minifigures
- Sock Monkeys
- socks, scissors, needles, embroidery thread
Toy Maker Packing List
Additional items may be requested by emailing Liz at any time. Please give at least 1 week notice when requesting supplies.
| QUANTITY | ITEM | |
| PAPER | 1 folder | white paper |
| 1 folder | white cardstock | |
| 1 folder | colourful cardstock | |
| 1 folder | construction paper | |
| 1 folder | large white paper | |
| DRAWING & ART MATERIALS | 1 bag | pencils |
| 1 bag | pencil crayons | |
| 1 bag | crayons | |
| 1 bag | markers | |
| 1 bag | sharpies (for instructor use only) | |
| BASIC SUPPLIES | 1 bag | scissors |
| 4 rolls | scotch tape | |
| 2 rolls | painters tape | |
| 2 bottles | white glue | |
| 1 set | glue gun and glue sticks (never glue a stuffie together, this is only to be used by an instructor for embelishments) | |
| CRAFTING MATERIALS | 1 bag | ribbon |
| 1 bag | small yarn skeins | |
| 1 bag | kitchen twine | |
| 1 bag | gift ribbon | |
| 50 pieces | felt | |
| 1 container | buttons | |
| 1 bag | pom poms | |
| 1 container | key rings | |
| 1 tin | sewing needles | |
| 1 tin | straight pins | |
| 1 bag | embroidery thread | |
| 2 bags | stuffing | |
| 30 | socks for sock monkeys (or 2 per student plus 1 extra set for Lead instructor practice) | |
| 1 set | model magic | |
| 1 bag | wide craft sticks | |
| 2 containers | rubber bands | |
| 1 bag | plastic spoons | |
| 2 | table cloths | |
| 25 | coffee filters | |
| 1 bag | mini animals/dinos/minifigures | |
| PATTERNS | 1 folder | stuffed mini patterns (instructors are encouraged to also source/print/create their own patterns to suit the group) |
| 1 folder | stuffie & sock monkey patterns (instructors are encouraged to also source/print/create their own patterns to suit the group) |