kojotutorial: toy gas pump

So I don't care for character-y kid's stuff (Disney Princess clothes/paraphernalia, for example). I thought we'd be able to avoid the whole issue by not having cable. But, oh boy, was I wrong. Burke loves, and I mean lo-oves, Cars (and now Cars 2, too!). He knows all of the characters, randomly quotes lines from the movies, and is just generally enthralled with anything Cars related.

Here's the kicker- I am totally an enabler of his Cars passion. I mean, he still doesn't have a Cars t-shirt (well, any Cars clothing, actually). But Cars stuff just delights his little heart so much, and I think it's kind of cute. Which means that, with every holiday, he collects more Cars loot. And I don't even want to think about how much Cars 2 stuff will be entering our home in the coming months. Sheesh.

And that's not all... Yes, friends, I have started frequenting Disney's family website for Cars themed crafts for Burke and I to do together. If you would've told me that little fact three years ago, I would've laughed out loud at you. Isn't it funny how having kids changes things? Oh dear.

Anyhow, the other day during Piper Jane's nap, Burke and I put together the Toy Gas Pump (minus the template- we're wild like that) and I took pictures along the way just in case any of you are in the same Cars-mania boat as we are around here.

To make a Toy Gas Pump, you'll need:
-a tea box (the kind that holds tea bags, or any other similar sized box)
-a piece of paper (ours was light blue)
-a rectangle of cardstock (about the size of the gas pump 'face')
-foil
-glue and scissors
-stickers and buttons (for decoration)
-a length of yarn (maybe two feet long?)
-a bendy straw

1. Cover the box with paper.

2. Glue rectangle of cardstock and strip of paper down the center of the 'face.' Add 'buttons' if you please.

3. Make a foil-and-stickers sign that reads, "Gas for Sale." Glue in place.

4. Cut off the end of the straw to make the gas handle. Knot the end of your yarn and pull through the straw, letting the knot 'stick' in the straw. With glue dots, attach a bent paper clip on the side of the gas pump as a 'hook' for the handle. A bit below the hook, use a glue dot to attach the end of the yarn to the side of the gas pump. Cover with a button.

That's it! Hours of entertainment from a tea box and some basic craft supplies!

*I said it once, but I'll say it again- I just took pictures along the way as I made the gas pump from Disney's website. Not my idea.