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Thread: Need project ideas for grandkids

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Southern Ontario Canada
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    Need project ideas for grandkids

    My 3 grandkids are coming for a week. The youngest girl 11 asked if they could build something while they are here. We did birdhouses last year so thats out. Any ideas.
    Rick
    I support the Pens for Canadian Peacekeepers project

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Memphis, TN
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    112
    How about a fancy bird feeder to go with the houses? They are more interactive for the kids.

  3. #3
    rick, most kids like to build knick-knack shelves or shadow boxes they can hang in their rooms...tod
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  4. #4
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    Mar 2006
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    Round Rock, Texas
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    Tool Box

    Rick: Not sure of their interest in woodworking, but I built a toolbox last month with my 11 Y.O. Grandson and gave him all the old hand tools in the shop. He loved it and I learned with him in the process. See http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...deo#post391653 For Xmas I am building a Bread Box for one of my daughters, but they are so simple I think you and the kids could build one out of pine or other inexpensive wood, stain it and send them home to Mom with it! There are pictures of the box under "Jakes first Rodeo" here on SMC. If you decide to do this, I can copy the plan from a book I have and fax it to you. I also was given some great bread box pictures recently on a post I did under bread boxes pictures http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...xes#post405900

    Mike
    Last edited by Mike Hill; 08-02-2006 at 12:24 PM.
    Mike Hill

    Form Follows Function

  5. #5

    I echo what Tod said

    I echo what Tod said. My daughter even asked me to build shelves for her. She also mentioned a step stool - helps those littel short people get up to the top shelves.

    Have fun with them. Let us know what you choose

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Northeast Ohio
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    A few very simple ideas

    What about "napkin holders"? Not a ring that a napkin slides through but the type used for holding paper napkins. Looking at it from the side, the cross section is "|_|" shaped. I received one as a gift that had a swan or duck shape for the sides. I believe it had eyes and a few feathers painted on it for effect. Very simple shape with minimal painting.

    Second idea, perhaps a paper towel roll holder. Basically a flat base with an upright dowel. It could be "fancied-up" with an edge on the base or decoration on the dowel. Could add a second smaller upright dowel as a 'tearing point'.

    Third idea, wall-hanging magazine rack. A back is not necessary, just the two sides and bottom. Side view "\|", top is open. Could use dowels for front cross pieces or get more rigorous and mortise&tenon or dovetails. As complicated as you wish.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    I've built a number of things with my grand kids the latest was napkin rings. Simple project, but they were fun to make and allowed lots more hands on.
    Napkin Rings
    Bird houses and feeders hardly ever go out of favor with kids.

    Kites are lots of fun, you can cut your own sticks and make a string winder too.

    Wooden toys are a big hit, they help make them and then get to play with them.

    Planter boxes for Mom or Grandma

    Wall Shelves

    Stilts

    Puzzles. Glue magazing photos to luan plywood and cut out pieces with a bandsaw or jig saw.

    Step stools to help them reach the sink, make two one for your house and one for home.

    Bug houses for capturing and observing critters can be fun.

    Simple boxes for storing priceless kid treasures in.

    My son enjoyed making a rack to hold his baseball glove, bat and ball. Mom liked it too as it kept them off the floor.

    Wooden stacking puzzles, tic tac toe games, chinese checker boards, etc.

    If you can pre cut difficult pieces ahead of time, kids still have a ball just doing the assembly and finishing.

    Make sure they know the shop rules and that everyone including Granddad wears hearing protection. Make sure they wear old clothes when working in the shop. DAMHIKT. Girls should have hair clips or braids if they have long hair to keep it away from the tools and finish. Work safe.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
    Go Navy!

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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Northern Virginia
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    Rick, how about toolboxes? Well, more like tool totes, open top with a dowel handle.

    Maurice

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Houston, TX
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    I've had good luck with step stools, boards with pegs to hang hats and backpacks, toolboxes and pens.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Near saw dust
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    How about a cutting board? I still have mine from 7th grade. I secong the magazine rack suggetion too.
    Strive for perfection...Settle for completion

  11. #11
    We do the tool tote and birdhouses with the local Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Quick and easy with a large group.

    For our paying classes the kids really enojoy building Train whistles and Wooden Locks.



    We also have a crayon truck that is popular as well.


  12. #12
    How about a jewelry box for the girl and a treasure chest for the boy. Pirates are big this summer, I hear. Yaaarrr!
    Silence is golden but duct tape is silver.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Round Rock, Texas
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    I know one thing for sure. This link is going in my memory bank for when the grandkids visit next summer. A lot of really great ideas.
    Mike
    Mike Hill

    Form Follows Function

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Southern Ontario Canada
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    Thanks, there are some good ideas there. I'll go over some of them with the grandkids when they get here and hopefully post pictures of the completed work. My grandson turns 16 this summer and loves to cook so I was thinking of the wooden salad tongs that were in wood magazine a while back. The girls I'm not sure about yet. The 14 year old likes horses and the 11 year old is a budding artist so we will come up with something.
    Rick
    I support the Pens for Canadian Peacekeepers project

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