Educational toys are extremely popular nowadays. And this phenomenon can be easily explained, because every parent wants the child not only to have fun, but also learned something new or received practical skills. Very interesting and, importantly, absolutely safe and natural toy - herb. It's not difficult to make it with your own hands and believe me, it's much more interesting than buying a factory production option.
Grasshopper - what kind of beast?
A few years ago, ecocenotes or herbs appeared in many flower shops and children's departments. In a packaged form, the souvenir resembles an interior toy. This is a small figure of a man, a fairy-tale character or animal. Often, the grasses look like just "freaks" or they can be just bags with glued eyes. The essence of the game-experience is simple - inside the herb, in addition to the main filler there are seeds of grass. It must be soaked or sprinkled abundantly with water and put in a bright place. Very soon you will be able to see how your "pet" will begin to grow green "hairs."
Materials for crafts
Before discussing how to make a herb itself, let's see if you have all the materials for this toy? The forging consists of a bag for stuffing, filler, seeds and decorative elements. As a basis for a herb, you can use kapron socks or pantyhose. If you want your herb, made with your own hands, was bright - try to use children's knee socks. Do not need to make any special holes, through the fabric of the tights the sprouts of the grass will independently find an outlet to the light. As the main filler, you can use sawdust, sintepon or cotton wool.
Simple grasses with their own hands: a master class for the youngest
Invite the child to make such a toy together. This work can be entrusted to the three-year plan. Prepare in advance socks made of nylon, if the craft is made by a very small child, as a filler, it is best to choose something soft: cotton or sintepon. Advice - if you want the grass to grow in a certain place, that's where you put the seeds. However, many like grasses, in which green shoots climb in a chaotic order. In this case, the seeds should be mixed with the filler. So, your goal is to fill the sock with a sintepon or cotton wool. Do not forget to add seeds, disposing them accordingly to your idea. Sew the pouch, you can form a circle or an oval. Actually, the herb itself to do very simply, you have almost coped with this task, it remains only to decorate the craft. Glue on the waterproof glue eye, you can also draw something on the figure, but only if you are sure that the paint will not run out in contact with water.
How to grow a herb?
The meaning of the game-experience with the herb is the germination of herb seeds. To do this, you need to load the finished product in a container of water and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then take out the toy and place it on a saucer or some other stand. Now you just have to wait for a miracle - after 5-7 days, the first shoots will appear. Knowing how to make a herb with your own hands, if you want, you can collect a whole green zoo or family of eco-humans. Try to experiment with the shapes and sizes of the figures.
Developing toy, pet and interior decoration
Grasshopper is a long-playing craft. The child will receive a lot of positive emotions during its manufacture and will be able to show a taste and imagination during its design. After the end of the toy, the herbal toy, made with her own hands, will not become another useless souvenir. After soaking, you can observe the appearance of the first shoots. From time to time, it is also useful to spray the herb, or you can even gently water it. But this game does not end with an eco-figure. If you decide to make herbs yourself, be sure to try to cut it. Such a game will bring a lot of positive emotions to any child. What is especially interesting, "hairs" will again grow back and if desired they can be cut again and again.
Crafting figured herbs
An interesting and unusual piece of art is a hedgehog. With your hands, you can do it on the same principle as more simple toys of this type. The animal can sit upright or stand on four legs. The most interesting thing your work will look like if the grass will grow only on his back and head, depicting needles. Accordingly, when filling the stocking base, place the seeds accordingly. The paws are most conveniently made separately in the form of small balls. They can also be tightened with threads, forming fingers. To the hedgehog body, sew them with thread. A small secret - heavily stuffed with sintepon or cotton wool nylon - is a very plastic material. He can be given the most interesting shapes, fixing them with simple stitches of thread and tightening well. You can work out the features of the muzzle of the animal in detail, make him chubby cheeks and a pronounced sharp nose. How to make a hedgehog with your own hands, what details will help emphasize the image of this animal? In addition to the eyes, sew a toy from a large bead. If you have a paint that is not afraid of water, you can draw eyebrows, mouth and blush on the cheeks.
Helpful Tips
One of the most popular questions among those who make eco-toys for the first time, is where to get the seeds of grass and which ones will fit? You can use a gas mixture. However, this only makes sense if you plant such grass in the country, because they sell it in large packages. If you do not have your own infield, get a small bag of grass seeds for pet cats in the pet store. Also suitable for almost any agricultural crop: oats, wheat, rye. An interesting idea is that you can put the seeds of herbs in the herbs: dill, parsley or basil - in this case you will get not only a beautiful toy, but also a constant source of fresh greens in your own kitchen. To make an artifact in the described technique it is possible and more difficult. An interesting idea: sew a doll, and put the seeds of grass into just one of its elements. Do not be afraid to stuff each element of the toy fairly tightly, observing this simple rule will help keep the figure shape. When making a souvenir, remember that it will have to be soaked and sprinkled with water. Accordingly, do not use for decoration items made of cardboard, paper and other materials, afraid of high humidity. Be sure to try to make herbs yourself. The master class given in this article is sure to help you and you will succeed!