You don't need to own a factory to make toys. Author and toymaker Bob Knetzger has been making fun stuff all his life with simple technology like vacuum forming and mold-making. In an age where makers are tantalized by the capabilities of 3d printers and other digital fab technology, this book takes you back to old-school hand tools, simple electronics, and working with metal and plastic to make toys every bit as good as those you can find in a big-box store. This book has something for everyone, from a marble maze to a talking booby trap; from custom cookie cutters to an "EZ Make" oven. Discover the basic principles of science, electronics, and engineering through hands-on projects that range from easy to more challenging... and are always fun!

A fascinating, detailed and well illustrated collection of 106 toy games and toy making instructions from Victorian times. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, high-quality, modern edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on the history of toys.

Delight young children and encourage play through unique handmade toys. From sewn and stuffed musical instruments to interlocking paper building blocks and wooden animal figurines, the projects in this book are meant to encourage open-ended play. Organized by kid-loving subjects, the toys here follow the themes of Zoo; House; Blocks, Cars & Trucks; Dress-Up; Music; and Art. Overall, the projects here are meant to stimulate imagination, build confidence through success and enjoyment, and enhance the bond between family and friends through the creation of unique, artistic handmade toys and crafts. The thirty-five projects in this book include a variety of crafts, from drawing to sewing and light woodworking. The toys presented here are made out of wonderfully tactile materials—repurposed fabrics, wood, and paper—and invite opportunities for creative and imaginative play. Every project is easy to complete, made with accessible materials, and requires little time to make. The projects are simple enough that endless variation can come from the making of each, leaving enough room for you to make the item to suit your own personal interests. With a design aesthetic that is clean, simple, and modern, each project is presented with full-color photos and hand-drawn instructional illustrations and templates. Projects include: • Modern Doll House and Doll House Furniture • Portable Zoo Animals • Abstract Vertical Puzzle • Wooden Nature Scene • Bottle-Cap Tambourine • Exploration Cape • Modern Alphabet Game • Shadow Puppet Theater • And more!

Make your own toys and learn how best to play with them in this wonderful starter's manual. Ideal as a companion text for the beginning woodworker or young parent, this book introduces the reader to the basics of crafting wonderful and simple toys. Durable toys made of wood, and disposable toys made of paper are covered in detail in a plain, straightforward English easy for both adults and children to understand. Illustrated diagrams sketch and portray approximations of each toy for better assembly and visualization. Additionally, we are shown how to best to make use of certain toys which have been made as we examine and explain fun and easy to stage games involving the toys within this book. Thus the reader and his family or friends have the twin pleasure of making his creations, and using his creations once they are made.

Part oral history and part rule book, The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games is a joyous collection of memories of playing indoor and outdoor games; of making dolls, homemade board games, playhouses, and other toys--each with complete instructions and the flavor of southern Appalachia. Every toy and game has been tested by the Foxfire students and is devised to make or play yourself, without major expense, complicated parts, or electricity. Originally published in 1985, the book includes familiar games like marbles, hopscotch, and horseshoes, as well as more obscure entertainments such as stealing the pines, crows and cranes, and thimble. Here, too, are instructions for constructing playhouses, noisemakers, puzzles, and whimmy diddles. The book also provides information on special games traditionally played on Sundays and holidays. For those who are tired of worn-out batteries and electronic toys and for anyone curious about the playtimes of an earlier generation, The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games is a welcome and entertaining guide.

Readers can make their own toys and games, like slime and a homemade harmonica, with these exciting projects. Step-by-step instructions and photos guide the projects, and Science Takeaway sidebars explain the science behind their creations.

Includes instructions for making nineteen wooden items, including a butterfly mobile, yo-yos, Freda the Frog, and Chris Clown's crazy car