Ingredients
- 1 piece of corrugated cardboard measuring 12 inches by 9 inches, about 1/8 inch thick
- 5 drinking straws, each 7.75 inches long, any color
- 5 pieces of smooth cotton yarn, each 24 inches long
- 1 sheet of plain paper measuring 8.5 inches by 11 inches for a hand template
- 1 bottle of washable craft paint, 2 fluid ounces, optional
- 1 small paintbrush, about 1/2 inch wide
- 1 pair of child-safe scissors, for supervised use
- 1 pair of adult scissors for cutting straws and thicker cardboard
- 1 pencil
- 1 ruler measuring at least 12 inches
- 1 glue bottle of craft glue, 4 fluid ounces
- 1 roll of painter’s tape, 1 inch wide
- 1 drop cloth or recycled paper grocery bag measuring at least 18 inches by 12 inches
- 1 small paper cup containing 2 fluid ounces of water for rinsing the brush
- 1 clean cloth or 2 paper towels for spills and drying the brush
Instructions
- Cover the table with the drop cloth or a flattened paper grocery bag before you bring out the glue and paint.
- Place your hand flat on the 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper with your fingers comfortably apart. Trace around it with a pencil, then draw a simple wrist opening that is 2 inches wide and 2.5 inches long beneath the palm.
- Cut out the paper shape and place it on the 12-inch by 9-inch cardboard. Trace around the template, then cut the cardboard hand with adult scissors.
- Mark three short horizontal lines across each finger, spacing them about 3/4 inch apart. Lightly score the cardboard along each line with the closed edge of the scissors.
- Fold each finger gently forward and back at the scored lines. Do not force a deep crease.
- Cut the five straws into 15 pieces, each 1.25 inches long.
- Lay the cardboard hand face down. Place three straw pieces along the center of each finger, with one piece between each pair of fold lines. Leave about 1/4 inch of space at the fingertip.
- Secure each straw piece with a 1-inch strip of painter’s tape across its middle.
- Thread one 24-inch piece of cotton yarn through each finger’s three straw guides. Tie a small knot near each fingertip.
- Test one finger by holding the palm flat and pulling the yarn gently from the wrist end.
- Paint the front of the cardboard hand with a thin coat of washable craft paint, leaving the yarn and straw guides on the back untouched.
- Allow the painted hand and glued straw guides to dry for 1 hour.
Notes
Children ages 6 and up can help with this project under close adult supervision. Keep glue out of mouths and wash hands after painting.
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
