From food to art work to bubble wands, it is greatly rewarding to fire up your creative side and your ingenuity and create something special. Here are a few items that I have successfully made and want to share. (no need to show the failures!)
I love bamboo and I wanted a simple instrument to make and play with. Most bamboo flutes are made in traditional flute fashion with the hole you blow across, but I did not have huge success with that. It wasnt until I tried making the recorder style woodwind that I tasted victory. This was much more labor intensive but works very well and my son enjoys making noise with it every night
Commercial bubbles are terrible! The wands are cheap and dont blow good bubbles and the solution is weak and lifeless. My son loves bubbles and I dont know many people who dont! So I wanted to make my own set; my own wand and bubble solution. The solution is still waiting to be made and tested but the wands are finished.
I got some heavy gauge wire and some pipe cleaners from the craft store. I colied the pipe cleaner tightly around the wire and then bent the wire around a golf ball sized tube. The area where I tied the wire off is a but messy looking but it is study and gets the job done. Then I twisted the wire down to make a stem. I found a cedar branch outside, carved it into a handle that was nice and smooth and drilled a small hole in the top. I then glued the stem of the wand into the handle and violla! An awesome home made bubble wand.
I have dabbled in bead jewelry for a few years, but this year I got more serious and used some nice crystals and followed a few tips for making earrings. Not only is it more economical to make things yourself, but they are more meaningful to others to give as presents. And who knows, I might sell a few pair for a small profit!
In closing, it feels good to be creative and productive. You save money and improve yourself by getting into making things. Its a win - win situation! Let me know what you can make!
Hey! How come I've NEVER gotten a pair of earrings???