This workshop contains some simple suggestions for toys that can be used in many different settings. All three can be adapted for a modern day house or a period one.

Pencils or crayons Box of bricks Jack-in-the-box Wobbly clown

Pencils or crayons

These are quick and easy to make but look very realistic

You will need:-  Cocktail sticks (one stick will make two crayons, and the centre bit will make wax crayons or chalks)  A craft knife or match cutter  Felt tips in a variety of colours  Gold pen

Method

Take one cocktail stick and cut part of the pointed ends off, making sure that there is still some shaping to form the point of the pencil.  Measure 2cms from the pointed end and cut with a craft knife or match cutter.  Take a black felt tip for the pencil or a coloured one for a crayon and colour the pointed end.  Leave the rest of the 'point' with a plain wood finish; colour the body of the pencil to match the crayon colour or to resemble the type of pencil. If the pencil is to have a 'rubber' at the end colour it yellow or orange. Mark a narrow ring round the pencil where the metal section would grip the rubber with a gold felt tip.

To make chalks or wax crayons use shorter pieces of cocktail sticks without the tapered end and colour them with bright colours for the wax crayons or pastel shades for chalks.

Box of bricks

Bricks can be almost any size but make sure that they are small enough for a 1/12th scale child to hold in a hand. They can be all cut to the same size or can be a variety of sizes as long as they fit in the box.

You will need:-  A piece of stripwood or if you have any off-cuts from square spindles they are ideal as they are already prepared.  Craft or lolly sticks  Large craft sticks or tongue depressors or stripwood  A small piece of cotton tape for the box hinge  Felt tips  Paint

Method  It is much easier to build the box around the bricks so start making the bricks first. Take the piece of stripwood or the square cut spindle and cut out a set of bricks. I recommend that for a first attempt nine or twelve cubed shaped bricks are the easiest to work with.  Paint your bricks at this stage or put letters and numbers on them using all the sides.  Set out your bricks in an even pattern three or four across and three down  Take one of the lolly or craft sticks and cut off two pieces that are the same length as the set-out bricks - these will form the sides of the box.  With the lolly stick sides in place measure the length of the other two edges and cut two pieces of craft or lolly stick to that size.  Remove the bricks and glue the sides of the box together making sure that the corners are at right angles. When the glued frame of the box is dry, place on the large craft stick or stripwood and draw round the frame. Cut the base of the frame to this size  Cut an identical sized piece to form the lid of the box  Glue the frame onto the base piece  Using a small piece of cotton material, tape or binding, stick it in place as a hinge so that the box top will open and shut.  Arrange the bricks inside the box and decorate with paint, felt tips or cut out a picture from a catalogue to stick on the box. Jack-in-the-box This is a simple toy that would be appropriate in many period nurseries or modern day playrooms.- You will need:  A spring from a pen or liquid soap dispenser  Large wooden craft sticks or tongue depressors  Small pieces of felt  Felt tip pens  Tiny scraps of wool or fur-like material  Wooden bead for head  Seed beads  Small piece of cotton tape for a hinge  Paint Outline shape (not to scale) Method  Take a large craft stick and cut out four identically sized pieces 2 cm by 2 cm and lightly sand the cut edges.  Glue these pieces together to form a box-like frame with no base or lid, making sure that the box corners are all at right angles to each other.  Once the glue has dried, carefully stand the box on another craft stick and draw round the outside edges to form the base.  Glue the bottom edges of the box and place onto the base - leave to dry.  Cut another piece the same size as the base to make a lid for the box.  Attach the lid to the box using a tiny piece of material to act as a cloth hinge.  Decorate the box with paint or pictures cut from a magazine.  Using the shape shown here as a guide cut out two identical pieces of felt in your choice of colour making sure that the 'skirt' end of the puppet will fit inside the box.  Glue around the edges of the body except for the 'hem' of the body and stick the two pieces together.  Decorate the puppet with seed beads or felt tip pen for buttons.  Stick on two felt 'hands'.  Use the wooden bead as a head and draw features on it with a felt tip pen, glue in place onto the body.  Using the wool or fur-like material, stick on some hair.  Take the spring and stretch it a little if necessary, place inside the body of the puppet and glue in place.  Once the glue had dried place the spring inside the box and glue to the base. Wobbly Clown These toys were often made of papier maché and had a weight inside the base of the body, which helped them to return to an upright position. You will need:-   Two spherical beads of different sizes  Scraps of felt and seed beads  Glue  Paint or felt tips Method  Glue the smaller of the two beads on top of the larger one (the body) to form the head.  Using paint or felt tips fill in the features, the arms and the rest of the body as in the picture.  Form the bow from felt and stick in place under the chin.  Decorate with hair, a hat, and buttons as you please.