Michele Made Me

The Rhythm In The Rhymes

by

This is a guest-post originally published as part of The Crafty Crow‘s “A Book & A Craft” Event in June. Just in case you missed that post, here it is again!

The boy received A.A. Milne‘s book of poetry “When We Were Very Young” as a gift from his Grandma a few years ago. This book, originally published in 1924, is filled with delightful poems, some of which are nostalgic, some of which are thoughtful, but most of which are silly and funny. These are the ones the boy and I love best. We read them together before bed, often clapping our hands as we do because we just can’t help ourselves. He’s got rhythm, the boy does. And Mr. Milne’s poems are very rhythmic indeed.
This got me thinking about a craft that would go along with our beloved book. Whatever could I make? Well, a shaker springs to mind. And the recyclables are waiting, ready to be transformed… Are you ready? Let’s shake a leg then!
Tutorial: Plastic Jug ‘n Bread Tag Shaker
What you will need:
  • Plastic jug
  • 2 wooden skewers
  • 2 wine corks
  • several bread tags
  • a colourful scrap of junkmail
  • pair of scissors
  • marker
  • ruler
  • hole punch
  • carpenter’s glue
  • Mod Podge
  • paint brush
  • drill with small bit
  • small hand saw
1. Start with a clean plastic jug. Using a ruler and marker, draw a straight line somewhere near the middle of the jug.
2. At the line, cut off the bottom of the jug. Trim the cut edge of the top.

3. Using your hole punch, punch 2 holes in each side of your jug top.

4. Prepare your corks.

5. Cut each cork in half using the small hand saw. Sand down the cut edges to make them smooth.
6. Drill a hole in the cut side of each cork piece. Go as deep as you can without piercing the other end.
7. Cut 4 small circles out of colourful junk mail. Use Mod Podge to glue a circle to the top of each cork piece.
8. Cut your skewers so that they are 1 inch (25 mm) wider than the width of the opening in the plastic jug. Divide your bread tags into two equal batches. Place each batch on a skewer.
9. Place a skewer through the holes on either side of the jug as shown below.
10. Put some carpenter’s glue into the cork holes.
11. Place a piece of cork onto each end of the skewer.
12. Repeat steps 9 through 11 for the other skewer.
13. Let the carpenter’s glue dry for a good long time.
And you have shakability!
Enjoy your utterly recycled plastic jug ‘n bread tag shaker (with a built-in handle no less). And stand back as your child lets loose banging out the rhythm in the rhymes!
 
If you’ve never visited The Crafty Crow and you have children, drop everything and go there now. Cassi, the brains behind that operation, gathers an endless array of kid-crafty goodness from across the craftosphere that will keep your children busy till they fly the coop. Really. I’m not even joking. It is NOT to be missed. Thank you Cassi for creating such an indispensable resource!
 
You have a lovely day now won’t you? I’ll be back Wednesday, right here!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Notjustnat says

    Totally genius Michele! I often thought what can I do with the bread tags. I used bread bags before to make string, but the tags no. What a clever idea – thanks Nat

  3. Stitchin' Sweet Sue says

    LOL~this pile of bread tags looks exactly like the inside of my Kitchen Aid mixing bowl in between uses, I call it *conserving un-necessary steps across the kitchen*. Have a great week Michele:)

  4. Michelle L. says

    I admired it when originally posted – love it just as much the 2nd time around. It struck me this time how very PRETTY it is! You know how much I love translucent white plastic, and each row of tags make such a sweet colorful…wait a minute…hmmm…I suddenly sense a bracelet coming on!

  5. rossichka says

    You are amazing, Michele! A lovely way to follow the rhythm of A.A.Milne's rhymes!:-) I have the book in English and I know what you are talking about. How old is your boy? It must be very interesting and funny to have a Mummy like you!:0)
    Thanks also for the link and have a nice week!!