A TOY VILLAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TOY VILLAGE.

MADE FROM MATCH BOXES.

Materials necessary: Mixture for whitening, whiting mixed with water and glue to form a stiff paste. Proportions: One part of glue to eight of whiting and enough water to moisten it. Match boxes, thin white cardboard, lid of a small box, pencils, sponge, sawdust, cotton reels-, green paint. A village from match boxes is one of the most charming toys you are able to make, and one which gives free rein to your imagination. Glue two match boxes together by their largest sides. Cut a small piece of thin cardboard about Oin x 2Mn. Divide this in three equal parts and fold in a triangle to form the roof, and glue it to the top of the boxes. Cut two pieced of cardboard into a triangular shape, leaving a small margin around so that the edges may be bent. Place these at each end of the roof. Whiten the whole* house. Paint the, windows and the doors, remembering that the roof would be prettier if it resembled a thatched roof or red tiles. Another kind of house is obtained byplacing two boxes one above the other on their biggest surfaces and two other boxes side by side across the first two. This gives an overhanging effect. The roof is made in the same manner as the first, except that the dimensions must suit the larger size. All the shapes of the houses may be constructed on the same principles — the number of the boxes varying according to the size. By spreading a little of the sawdust tinted with green on the walls and the roof, previously covered with glue, the house will lookas though it is covered with climbing plants. By cutting openings here and there in the edges of the round lid of an old box, one can make a pretty village green. Use a white box, cover the inside of the lid with glue, on to which throw green sawdust and this will make an excellent imitation lawn. One can make a- pond by sticking a leaf of silver paper on to the box before covering it with grass.

To make trees, tint with green soma pieces of old sponge, and stick them on to pieces of pencil. To make them stand up, put the pencil in an old cotton reel painted brown. A signpost could be made in the same manner by using a piece of wood instead of the pencil,, pointed at one end, with a piece of cardboard stuck on to it on which is written the names of the nearest, towns.

It is better to make houses of different shapes. You might be able to make or buv some animals to place on the green, and they will find endless amusement by altering'the shape of the village.