Introduction: Tiny Swords
The tiny sword was conceived by Maddie and Holden, as a way to make presents and just make a lot of something. They like the idea of making them all the same way, using similar materials they found in their craft bin. They gave one to their Auntie D for her birthday this year, stabbed into a heart shaped pancake. Auntie D is a high school CTE engineering and makerspace teacher, and thought her elective students might learn something valuable by getting instructed by an 8 and 5 year old. Maddie and Holden couldn't come to Auntie D's school in person, so we recorded the how to on a Zoom conference call.
Miss D then turned the tutorial into an Instructable in the format she assigned the finishing Makerspace Tech elective students of Spring 2021, who's class final is writing and sharing an Instructable tutorial to teach ANY new maker in their lives how to make something they made in class this year. More on this project in this Google Doc.
Supplies
2 tiny cut drinking straws
1 tiny popsicle stick (can cut a larger one down)
2 1x1 inch colored paper pieces (cardstock or decorative best)
2 tiny identical stickers
Many tiny pieces of clear tape (NOT masking or washee tape)
Sandpaper
Other decorations (glitter glue, washee tape, markers to color) - please note, this change is not fully sanctioned by the original artist
Step 1: Gather Your Tools & Materials
Make sure to get the right kind of sticks, straws, tape, colored paper and stickers. You'll also need child safe scissors and sandpaper. Maddie and Holden just go to their art table and their craft bin (stocked by a very clever mom, Julie). You'll probably have to go to the store...
Step 2: Cut and Measure
You may need to cut down your straws and sticks, depending on how tiny you want your sword.
SAFETY CHECK - Child safe scissors might not be strong enough to cut the stick...be careful and use sharper scissors with the help of a grown up (Auntie D barely counts).
Use a ruler to measure 1 by 1 inch squares out of your heavy paper.
Step 3: Build Your Tiny Sword
1. Tape the two straw pieces on either side of the stick to make the hilt. You can squish them down to flatten them.
2. Wrap the 1x1 inch paper around the bottom to make the handle. Roll it so it makes a little hole to stick the stick into. Tape it too.
Step 4: Sanding the Tip
Take the sandpaper and stand the end of the popsicle stick that is rounded into more of a pointy tip...but not TOO pointy.
Step 5: Decorate
1. Use the two identical stickers to decorate the handle, one on each side. You might need to round them around if they are not tiny enough.
2. You could also use other arts/crafts supplies to decorate the sword more - glitter glue, markers to draw, or washee tape to make stripes
Step 6: Watch the Whole Adventure in One Long 13 Minute Video
CREDITS
HOW TO MAKE A TINY SWORD
MADDIE - BIG SISTER
HOLDEN (NOT HJ) - LIL BROTHER
MISS D-ANIELLE MARTIN - AUNTIE D
THIS VIDEO WAS PRODUCED AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN INSTRUCTABLE FOR A NEW MAKER, THE FINAL IN MISS D'S MAKERSPACE TECH ELECTIVE CLASS AT EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL Dream Lab Makerspace (EAST PALO ALTO, CA) . NO HARM WAS DONE TO ANYTHING TINY DURING THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ERIC MARTIN (DAD) FOR BORROWING HIS CHILDREN, AND ZOOM FOR MAKING AUNTIE VISITS DURING A PANDEMIC POSSIBLE.
START MAKING! DANIELLE MARTIN MAY 2021
