[Summer Vacation Crafts] Not just make-and-done! A collection of practical ideas you can use every day

A piggy bank that helps you save while having fun

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Let’s use Daiso’s 3-tier drawer case to make a fun, game-like piggy bank over summer break.

First, flip the second and third drawers upside down and reassemble them so the flat sides face the front.

Next, cut corrugated plastic (plastic cardboard) into any shapes you like and attach it to the outside of the drawers to create a design that looks great.

Inside, apply double-sided tape so coins pause partway and drop slowly as they travel down.

With a piggy bank you made yourself, saving money becomes fun and easier to turn into a habit.

It’s a unique, practical idea that can change your everyday life through creativity and ingenuity.

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mutō

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Original handmade watch

Summer Vacation Craft Series ♡ Part 6: Handmade Clock ♡ Let’s Make Your Very Own Original [Koujoucho] DIY

When you go to a 100-yen shop or a handmade goods store, you can find just the clock movement for sale.

Let’s use that to make your own original clock! For the base of the clock, use a photo frame or a plastic plate.

Once you decide where to fix the movement, drill a hole.

Tighten the nut to secure the movement, and then decorate it to your liking.

Paint it, attach parts, or add glitter to make it sparkle—depending on your ideas, you’ll end up with a clock full of originality!

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Hane Keisuke

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Original T-shirts made with stencil printing

Perfect for summer vacation crafts and DIY! How to make an original T-shirt with stencil printing!

How about making your own T-shirt over summer vacation? We’ll use a technique called stenciling to create an original T-shirt.

You place a cutout of letters or illustrations on the fabric and paint over it with ink or other pigments.

Since you’ll wear the T-shirt, you’ll likely wash it too.

When stenciling on T-shirts or fabric, be sure to use fabric ink that won’t wash out.

While this can be a summer vacation homework project, it can also become a fun summer memory.

You might even make matching T-shirts for the whole family.

There are stencil T-shirt kits available online, so why not give them a try?

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Nakajima Junko

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Let’s make a cardboard pochette

[Anywhere Art Summer Vacation Craft] Let’s Make a Cardboard Pochette — For Elementary School Students

Here’s an introduction to making a pochette using cardboard.

Do you have cardboard boxes at home from parcel deliveries or from purchases at the supermarket? If you have some on hand, you can make a pochette simply by cutting it into shape, folding it, and assembling it.

Cardboard has lines where the inside is hollow.

The key is to keep those lines in mind when you cut.

If you want to create curves in your cardboard parts, cut across those lines.

Doing so will expand your creative possibilities.

Designing the pochette itself is sure to be an enjoyable time, too.

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Nakajima Junko

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Bird call making

Super easy summer vacation homework! Make a bird call with your kids! Try talking to wild birds while camping or hiking!

As a craft project perfect for children who love nature observation, I recommend making a bird call.

Prepare a hand-sized wooden branch and drill a small hole in the center.

Screw in a metal part called an eye nut, and when you twist it so the wood and metal rub against each other, it produces a sound like birdsong.

Real birds may sometimes respond to this sound, so trying it out in a park after making it is part of the fun.

The volume and pitch change depending on the type of wood and the depth of the hole, so by experimenting and recording the differences, you can enhance the quality of the project as an independent study.

It’s a hands-on idea that lets kids connect with nature while sparking curiosity about how sound works.

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A one-of-a-kind toy clock in the world

Summer vacation craft project: Want to make a one-of-a-kind toy clock?

The idea is to make a clock using a clock movement and a board, then attach various toys to it.

You can get a clock movement at a 100-yen shop or a handmade goods store, and you can buy the board for the clock face at a home improvement store.

First, draw diagonal lines on the board to find the center point, and mark where to drill the hole for the movement.

Next, use a protractor to decide where to place the numbers on the clock.

After drilling the hole and painting if you like, it’s time to decorate the face.

Use a hot glue gun to attach the toys however you like.

Finally, secure the clock movement in the hole, and you’re done.

Arrange your favorite toys with style and create a wonderful clock!

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Hane Keisuke

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Sea memo stand

Summer vacation craft! Make an ocean-themed memo stand with your child ♪ Easy, hassle-free resin ♪ Let’s pack in your memories, too!

Some families may go swimming at the beach during summer vacation, right? When we think of the hot summer, many children surely picture the sea.

So why not make a memo stand using resin with an ocean theme? Prepare parts to embed in the resin, such as seashells, sea creatures, and clear or blue stones.

Of course, it’s also nice to include shells you picked up at the beach.

Place your favorite parts and the memo stand into a container, then pour in the resin.

After that, leave it undisturbed for the specified time.

At this stage, the key is to prevent dust and debris from getting in—for example, by placing the piece in a box.

If you include seashells you collected at the beach, you can create a lovely piece that captures your summer memories.

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Nakajima Junko

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