By Christina VanGinkel
The first time I ever saw a model built from matchsticks it was just a picture. I was about ten years old, and one of my older brothers was working in Oklahoma. He sent me a picture postcard, and the postcard had a picture of the Taj Mahal built out of matchsticks on it. I thought it was one of the grandest structures ever, and that it was built out of matchsticks just made it all that much better. I actually kept that postcard for many years, not because my brother sent it, but because I was so fascinated by the building. I could not get over the fact that someone took the time to create something so detailed out of something as ordinary as a matchstick.
Matchitecture has created models made of what are called Microbeams. Essentially, the basis of the common matchstick was turned into a mini beam used to create all sorts of structures. From the Eiffel Tower, to the Empire State Building, the Taj Mahal, to a Mississippi Steamboat, to a train from the Gold Rush days. There are now pre-assembled kits for all sorts of amazing structures. The kits include everything you will need to turn that pile of Microbeams into whatever design it has intended. Included in each kit are all the required Microbeams for the project at hand, one acetate sheet, one Microbeam cutter, one bottle of wood glue, 1 Microbeam tweezers, all necessary plans for the project, and complete instructions. Some kits may include additional contents.
The construction process for assembling one of these kits can be a challenge. With the included plans and cutter, the builder will need to measure each beam and cut accordingly. If you have a child that is interested, in model building of any kind, or one who is interested in the prospect of architecture, these Matchitecture kits can be a great way for them to explore the world of building and creating magnificent structures from common materials.
When compared to how kids at one time would have had to collect used matchsticks and save them until they had enough to create whatever it was they were dreaming of creating, these kits might seem like a breeze. Save for the fact that all of the supplies are included, along with plans and instructions, these kits are still a great challenge. They might come pre-assembled, as in all of the materials are included, but from the cutting of the first Microbeam, until the last one is glued in place, there is a lot of work and potential fun in between, and a lot of room for the great feeling of accomplishment one will feel upon completing any of these structures.
From bridges to cathedrals, prop planes to trains, if you are interested in any sort of model building, but are looking for something a bit different to try, then do check out the Matchitecture models. Amazon.com has a good selection of Matchitecture kits available. Prices range from less than fifteen dollars (bulldozer kit) upwards to around thirty-five dollars (windmill). Refill kits of Microbeams are also available. Amazon.com has one with 2000 Microbeams for $13.99. It is ideal for finishing off any pre-assembled Matchitecture kits where you might have made a few miscalculations and are in need of a few more Microbeams to finish your structure in the making, or these refill kits could also be used to create your own one of a kind designs. With your imagination as your limit, the possibilities are endless. I like the idea of these refill kits as much if not more so than the kits themselves. They are much more reminiscent of the first matchstick structure I saw, with each builder having to come up with their own creations.
I was unable to find a recommended age for the Matchitecture kits but would say that kids as young as elementary age to adults would find these kits to be both fun and challenging. They would be a great way to challenge the mind and end up with something that one could be proud to show others and display. If you or someone you know enjoys building models, or has shown an interest in the hobby of crafting models, then try one of these for something a bit different that your typical kit model.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Rainy Day Craft Ideas for Kids
Even though it is summer time, there are many days when it is too hot or rainy for outdoor activities. Most kids love to work on crafts ands a bad-weather day is the perfect time to pull out the crafts and get started. By making a trip to the cart store ahead of time-- and by having basic craft supplies on hand-- you can be ready for a rainy day any time.
There are a few basic supplies that are good to have on hand at all times. Kids are creative and can come up with their own ideas how to use these items. Or, you can check online at craft websites or in craft books for some fun things to make. Here are some basic craft supplies that you may want to have on hand:
Construction paper
Card stock
Paints-- both watercolors and acrylics
Colored pencils
Crayons
An assortment of paint brushes
Glitter glue
Tape
Felt
Pipe cleaners
Sequins
Beads
Stencils
Stickers
Child scissors
The craft store also has some great craft kits that are easy to use and can provide hours of fun for you and your kids. Some favorite kid crafts include:
"Stained glass" ornaments-- These are actually plastic ornaments that can be painted with special paint to make them look as though they are stained glass.
Stepping stone kit-- These kits come with molds, cement mix, glitter glue and multicolored stones for decorating. Mix the cement with water and pour into the mild. Let it dry (usually for about a half an hour) and then decorate with stones, glitter, etc. It will be a day or two before you can remove the stepping stone from the mold.
Jewelry making kits-- Little girls will love to thread beads and stones onto wire to make bracelets and necklaces. Look for ready-made kits that include every thing you need or scout around for a variety of beads and stones that you think your kids will love.
Photo scrapbook kit-- If your child is a little photographer, help display his or her talents by making a photo scrapbook together. Many scrap booking kits can be bought with everything already included. If you'd rather make a more customized scrapbook, buy a scrapbook in any style that you wish. You will also need background papers, adhesives, scissors, a mini paper cutter, page protectors, stickers and other embellishments. The background papers and stickers are especially fun to shop for, as these can make your scrapbook very customized.
Paint by numbers. Remember these fun kits from the 1970's? Well, paint by number kits are back and they're a great way to give an unconfident or budding artist a much-needed boost. Ready-made templates are easy to paint-- just paint each numbered section with the corresponding color (example, all of the areas that are marked with a number 1 might need to be painted blue). Paint by number kits provide instant gratification for young painters!
Wood items to paint-- And speaking of painting, if your child is a bit more advanced, check out the section in the craft store that houses assorted wood items. From mini shelves to wall letters to small ornaments-- these wood pieces can be painted with inexpensive acrylics. Stock up on a variety of colors (small bottles of acrylic paints run well under a dollar each). You may want to also buy some glaze or varnish top coat to protect your child's works of art.
Make your own:
Play dough by mixing together 2 and a half cups of flour, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of salt. Roll the dough into a few balls and tint with the food coloring hues of your choice. This dough can be stored in your refrigerator after you use it.
Wrapping paper or gift bags by decorating a plain roll of brown paper or plain white or brown shopping bags. Embellish them by gluing on sequins, felt and by using markers, crayons and glitter glue. You can use a rubber stamp to decorate a roll of plain paper-- just stamp away.
Creative crafts will keep your kids busy during those long summer days-- and you may even find that they look forward to shopping for supplies with you as you plan your next craft!
There are a few basic supplies that are good to have on hand at all times. Kids are creative and can come up with their own ideas how to use these items. Or, you can check online at craft websites or in craft books for some fun things to make. Here are some basic craft supplies that you may want to have on hand:
Construction paper
Card stock
Paints-- both watercolors and acrylics
Colored pencils
Crayons
An assortment of paint brushes
Glitter glue
Tape
Felt
Pipe cleaners
Sequins
Beads
Stencils
Stickers
Child scissors
The craft store also has some great craft kits that are easy to use and can provide hours of fun for you and your kids. Some favorite kid crafts include:
"Stained glass" ornaments-- These are actually plastic ornaments that can be painted with special paint to make them look as though they are stained glass.
Stepping stone kit-- These kits come with molds, cement mix, glitter glue and multicolored stones for decorating. Mix the cement with water and pour into the mild. Let it dry (usually for about a half an hour) and then decorate with stones, glitter, etc. It will be a day or two before you can remove the stepping stone from the mold.
Jewelry making kits-- Little girls will love to thread beads and stones onto wire to make bracelets and necklaces. Look for ready-made kits that include every thing you need or scout around for a variety of beads and stones that you think your kids will love.
Photo scrapbook kit-- If your child is a little photographer, help display his or her talents by making a photo scrapbook together. Many scrap booking kits can be bought with everything already included. If you'd rather make a more customized scrapbook, buy a scrapbook in any style that you wish. You will also need background papers, adhesives, scissors, a mini paper cutter, page protectors, stickers and other embellishments. The background papers and stickers are especially fun to shop for, as these can make your scrapbook very customized.
Paint by numbers. Remember these fun kits from the 1970's? Well, paint by number kits are back and they're a great way to give an unconfident or budding artist a much-needed boost. Ready-made templates are easy to paint-- just paint each numbered section with the corresponding color (example, all of the areas that are marked with a number 1 might need to be painted blue). Paint by number kits provide instant gratification for young painters!
Wood items to paint-- And speaking of painting, if your child is a bit more advanced, check out the section in the craft store that houses assorted wood items. From mini shelves to wall letters to small ornaments-- these wood pieces can be painted with inexpensive acrylics. Stock up on a variety of colors (small bottles of acrylic paints run well under a dollar each). You may want to also buy some glaze or varnish top coat to protect your child's works of art.
Make your own:
Play dough by mixing together 2 and a half cups of flour, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of salt. Roll the dough into a few balls and tint with the food coloring hues of your choice. This dough can be stored in your refrigerator after you use it.
Wrapping paper or gift bags by decorating a plain roll of brown paper or plain white or brown shopping bags. Embellish them by gluing on sequins, felt and by using markers, crayons and glitter glue. You can use a rubber stamp to decorate a roll of plain paper-- just stamp away.
Creative crafts will keep your kids busy during those long summer days-- and you may even find that they look forward to shopping for supplies with you as you plan your next craft!
If Your Hobby is Reenacting: Keeping in Character
It doesn't matter what time period you're portraying; staying "in character" and never mentioning cell phones, computers, on any other 21st century amenity is hard. So how do you know how to watch what you say and actually act as though you're a person from another era? It's easy if you keep a few simple rules in mind.
(1) Study the time period you are portraying. Study so hard that you think, feel, and breathe that era. Learn what people ate, how they talked, and what they wore. Acquire a liking for fried eel, poached quail, or any other historical favorite that may no longer be on the menu (okay, you don't have to go *that* far). Find out what people knew of geography at the time; it's hardly appropriate to be talking about the Australian
Aborigines if you're portraying a man or woman from the Middle Ages.
(2) Dress the part. Don't come to a reenactment, a historical wedding, or a Renaissance faire dressed like a 21st century American. Not only is it embarrassing to your fellow reenactors, but people will think you're not as much of a history buff as you claim. You don't need to spend tons of money on an authentic reproduction outfit, but you *can* find sewing patterns and create your own gowns, coats, trousers, etc. Whether or not you go the whole mile for historical authenticity, buying or sewing petticoats, shifts, corsets, and stockings, it's your call. You have to decide how much is too much.
(3) Check your accent when you speak. Is somebody from Cockney England going to have a Southern accent? Not likely! If possible, listen to tapes, watch TV shows, or talk to a friend with the same accent you are trying to copy. After you've spent enough time practicing, you'll realize that you know the inflections that will help you sound like a true Cockney. (Don't expect to sound exactly like them, however. Accents are extremely hard to copy perfectly unless you grew up in that part of the world. If the person you've "become" would have spoken in a voice that you simply can't duplicate, don't worry. You don't need to impress anyone; you're just having fun. Every other bit of you can be historically accurate, and no one is going to notice if you have the right accent, unless you call attention to the fact.
(4) Check out personal habits. For instance, if you're reenacting a Middle Eastern person from any era, you have to know that only one hand was used for eating. If you use the wrong hand, there's a chance no one will notice, but you won't be staying in character. If someone *does* notice, it's kudos to them, but embarrassment to you! Study the personal and cultural habits of the time period in question. There are limits, however, as in any extreme hobby. If you're portraying Attila the Hun, you don't have to pillage and plunder to stay in character, even if it was a habit of his culture! Be yourself.
(5) There are even certain rules that apply to eating. If you're visiting a medieval banquet, and everyone uses their hands to tear into that boar's leg, you don't want to be the only one with a hamburger and bottled water. Even if it's not your favorite food, you might want to grin and bear it; after all, your ancestors did, and you're trying to be just like them, right? Don't be overly obsessed with hygiene if it's not a staple of your time period; of course, a *little* hygiene is just fine and actually expected, but you don't want everyone to know you're new in the reenacting guild.
(6) Make sure you can answer a few questions about your time period. If you make it very clear that you're a 17th century Puritan, and somebody asks you what the Puritans believed, you won't look very historically accurate if you don't have a clue what to answer. This is another place where research comes in handy. You want to feel like you're a part of the culture you're trying to emulate, and finding out the basics of that culture is the first step. You don't have to be a genius and know every single little thing about your chosen era, but knowing a few basic facts always helps.
(1) Study the time period you are portraying. Study so hard that you think, feel, and breathe that era. Learn what people ate, how they talked, and what they wore. Acquire a liking for fried eel, poached quail, or any other historical favorite that may no longer be on the menu (okay, you don't have to go *that* far). Find out what people knew of geography at the time; it's hardly appropriate to be talking about the Australian
Aborigines if you're portraying a man or woman from the Middle Ages.
(2) Dress the part. Don't come to a reenactment, a historical wedding, or a Renaissance faire dressed like a 21st century American. Not only is it embarrassing to your fellow reenactors, but people will think you're not as much of a history buff as you claim. You don't need to spend tons of money on an authentic reproduction outfit, but you *can* find sewing patterns and create your own gowns, coats, trousers, etc. Whether or not you go the whole mile for historical authenticity, buying or sewing petticoats, shifts, corsets, and stockings, it's your call. You have to decide how much is too much.
(3) Check your accent when you speak. Is somebody from Cockney England going to have a Southern accent? Not likely! If possible, listen to tapes, watch TV shows, or talk to a friend with the same accent you are trying to copy. After you've spent enough time practicing, you'll realize that you know the inflections that will help you sound like a true Cockney. (Don't expect to sound exactly like them, however. Accents are extremely hard to copy perfectly unless you grew up in that part of the world. If the person you've "become" would have spoken in a voice that you simply can't duplicate, don't worry. You don't need to impress anyone; you're just having fun. Every other bit of you can be historically accurate, and no one is going to notice if you have the right accent, unless you call attention to the fact.
(4) Check out personal habits. For instance, if you're reenacting a Middle Eastern person from any era, you have to know that only one hand was used for eating. If you use the wrong hand, there's a chance no one will notice, but you won't be staying in character. If someone *does* notice, it's kudos to them, but embarrassment to you! Study the personal and cultural habits of the time period in question. There are limits, however, as in any extreme hobby. If you're portraying Attila the Hun, you don't have to pillage and plunder to stay in character, even if it was a habit of his culture! Be yourself.
(5) There are even certain rules that apply to eating. If you're visiting a medieval banquet, and everyone uses their hands to tear into that boar's leg, you don't want to be the only one with a hamburger and bottled water. Even if it's not your favorite food, you might want to grin and bear it; after all, your ancestors did, and you're trying to be just like them, right? Don't be overly obsessed with hygiene if it's not a staple of your time period; of course, a *little* hygiene is just fine and actually expected, but you don't want everyone to know you're new in the reenacting guild.
(6) Make sure you can answer a few questions about your time period. If you make it very clear that you're a 17th century Puritan, and somebody asks you what the Puritans believed, you won't look very historically accurate if you don't have a clue what to answer. This is another place where research comes in handy. You want to feel like you're a part of the culture you're trying to emulate, and finding out the basics of that culture is the first step. You don't have to be a genius and know every single little thing about your chosen era, but knowing a few basic facts always helps.
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