Tag Archives: Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight

Make: Mini Lid Flyers!

Posted in Children's Books, FLIP!, Free Tutorials, Kids, Paper, Stuff to make by

I’ve been (virtually) visiting schools with my picture book, FLIP! How the Frisbee Took Flight, and having so much fun making and experimenting with make-your-own flying objects. Together with students, I’ve made DIY discs out of all sorts of materials: paper plates, aluminum pie pans, origami paper, and, for one oversized experiment, a fabric-covered hula hoop (watching this ginormous creation fly was truly epic).

What is left? Well, now that I’ve gone big, it’s time to go tiny.

I collected a bunch of 3″ diameter, see-through lids from cylindrical chip containers, i.e., Pringles, or the slightly healthier kind we get from The Good Crisp Company. (While I wish I could blame my kids for eating most of the chips, I’m pretty sure it was mostly me.) But back to our craft–with an easy flick, the lids fly impressively well. I’m sure other plastic lids–from yogurt containers or cream cheese or whatever could work well, too–but I chose these lids because they were see-through so I could decorate them the way I wanted to. Here’s how I made my mini lid flyers:

MATERIALS:

see-through 3″ plastic lids

origami or construction paper in fun colors

clear cellophane tape plus scissors and glue stick

DIRECTIONS:

1.With a pencil, trace around the lid on a piece of your colored paper.

2. Cut out; trim to make sure it fits inside your lid and then trim a bit more so there’s some space to tape the paper inside of your lid.

3. Decorate however you like! Use marker or collage like I did and create rainbows, stripes, spirals, smiley faces–whatever pleases you. If you’re collaging, I recommend using glue stick.

4. Cut tiny pieces of your clear tape and tape your design all around the edges of your paper circle and adhere to the inside of your lid. Voila! Now you can terrorize your siblings or cats or parents with these mini Frisbees 🙂

Check out www.margaretmuirhead.com for more information about Flip! You can order your copy at Indiebound, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at your favorite neighborhood book shop.

Make: Crochet Discs

Posted in Children's Books, FLIP!, Kids, Knitting, Stuff to make by

My friend Janet is a crochet wonder! She made these foldable, flyable, crocheted Frisbees for me to celebrate the publication of my book FLIP! How the Frisbee Took Flight (out *this* week)! You can tuck one in your pocket and take it to the park or fling it around your house–it won’t dent your walls or a human person.

When it comes to crochet, I’m a true novice. But if you’re interested in stitching a yarn flying disc, I found this super sweet video with clear, easy instructions by Jayda InStitches. Let me know if you give it a twirl! 

Check out www.margaretmuirhead.com for more information about Flip! You can order your copy at Indiebound, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at your favorite neighborhood book shop.

Make: Giant Frisbee!

Posted in Children's Books, FLIP!, Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

Here’s another activity to celebrate my new picture book, Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight, and this one is a goodie. In fact, it’s one of the funnest projects I’ve done. And yes, I know, “funnest” is not a word–but it best expresses how satisfying it is to make a giant flying disc.

I’m sorry I didn’t photo-document the process better. The whole thing felt like a wild experiment with an uncertain outcome. But . . . it worked! I recommend trying this one at home.

MATERIALS:

  • 1 hula hoop (I used child’s size hoop.)
  • 1 yard of cotton or nylon fabric (or enough to cover the hoop).
  • Iron
  • Scissors or pinking shears
  • Hot glue gun

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Iron your fabric so it’s wrinkle free. I used cotton because that’s what I had on hand. I also tried to make it look a splashy by sewing together four colors but that’s optional and an extra step.
  2. Lay out your fabric on a large working surface and place the hoop on top. If necessary, trim fabric so there’s about 5″ inches of fabric outside the circumference of the hoop.
  3. With a hot glue gun, squeeze drops of glue on a 5-6″ segment of the hoop.
  4. Fold the fabric over the glue and shape to the curve of the hoop.
  5. Repeat adding glue to a segment of the hoop and folding the fabric over it. Make sure to pull the fabric taut as you go.
  6. Once it’s all glued, trim off the extra fabric. Tuck the remaining fabric in. (I added glue here and there to make sure the fabric ends were tucked in well.

That’s it. Take it outside and give it a spin!



















Check out www.margaretmuirhead.com for more information about Flip! You can order your copy at Indiebound, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at your favorite neighborhood book shop. 






			

	
	



			
				


	

					
				
Make: Flying Saucers
						

							
			Posted in Children's Books, FLIP!, Kids, Paper, Stuff to make		
			
	
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Is it an Unidentified Flying Object from outer space? Or is it a very cool do-it-yourself Frisbee? This craft is geared to kids in preschool through grades 1 and 2. It’s simple, satisfying, and the best part is watching your saucer soar! All you really need is a paper plate (or two). This is a great hands-on activity for families, teachers and librarians to pair with my nonfiction picture book, FLIP! How the Frisbee Took Flight. Give it a whirl!





MATERIALS:





  • Paper Plates
  • Scissors
  • Stapler (or Hot Glue Gun)
  • Optional: Paint, Markers, Dot Markers, Stickers, Sequins





INSTRUCTIONS: Watch this short video to learn how to make this simple, satisfying toy!


















Check out www.margaretmuirhead.com for more information about Flip! You can order your copy at Indiebound, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at your favorite neighborhood book shop. 

			

	
	



			
				


	

					
				
Make: Origami Flyer
						

							
			Posted in Children's Books, FLIP!, Free Tutorials, Kids, Paper, Stuff to make		
			
	
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Once kids get a hang of folding these Origami Flyers, they won't be able to stop! The good news is flinging these flyers won't damage your walls or furniture and they pair perfectly with my upcoming nonfiction picture book, FLIP! How the Frisbee Took Flight. 

Materials: 
The list couldn't be simpler! Origami paper. To make one origami flyer, you will need 8 pieces--4 in one color, 4 in another. I recommend a happy medium--about 15 cm x 15 cm. That's big enough for kids new to origami, but not so large as to be too floppy to fly. 

Instructions:
Watch these 2 short videos, and follow the folds!































Check out www.margaretmuirhead.com for more information about Flip! You can pre-order your copy at Indiebound, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at your favorite neighborhood book shop.