Some old, metal lunch boxes are worth a little money as collectors items. Others, however, are just ordinary and basically obsolete. Even though kids now have new means for carrying their lunches to school old lunch boxes can be restored into new game sets for kids. When you go on vacation, or when you take the kids along on a short trip, youll be thankful for the play sets which can keep kids busy for hours. Its really easy to make games for young girls or boys when you start with the lunch boxes and a few cheap craft supplies.
The type of metal lunch box you need to use to make game sets are the ones which are square. The top is flat and theres a lift-up metal hinge that keeps the lid closed. These lunch boxes are perfect because theyll easily sit on a childs lap. Make sure the lunch box you use is one that has no raised images on the front or back. Of course, if the lunch box youll be using looks good you wont have to do anything else to it. If its a little rusty you can sand and paint the box. Use paints especially for metal when you do.
There are many different game and play sets you can make when the lunch box is all set. In fact, when you use magnetic sheeting to make the games, you can make several in the same lunch box. Youll find the magnetic sheeting, sold by the sheet or by the roll, at most any craft store. Use the sheeting to make game boards, game pieces and more. Print out pictures of checkerboards or other games and affix them to the magnet. Simply pull off the adhesive covering, position the game board on the magnet, then trim away the excess paper or sheeting. These game boards will easily stick to one side of the lunch box. Go online and youll find many game board images that you can print out for the game set. Make a tic-tac-toe game by simply printing one out. To make the game pieces print small images on paper then stick them to a small piece of magnetic sheeting. The game pieces will stick easily to the magnetic game board. Instead of pictures you can make game pieces from colored pom-poms, plastic novelties, decorated milk jug lids, flat buttons, small wooden shapes and similar items. Just stick the lightweight objects to magnetic sheeting - or button magnets - to make the game pieces. Although some game pieces are lightweight enough to be held by the magnetic sheeting others are a little heavier and will require the use of button or flat, square magnets. Since the lunch box will only hold magnetic game boards which are no larger than the box you can make larger ones by cutting the game boards into four sections. Make the game board the size you want then cut it down the center. Cut each of those pieces down the middle and theyll all fit inside the lunch box. Now you can just put the four squares together, sticking them to the lunch box, and the game board can be slightly larger than the box itself. Board games arent the only type of travel sets you can make. Create others by cutting scenes from magazines. Use childrens magazines to cut out images of a playground, a classroom or even a flower-filled meadow. After attaching it to magnetic sheeting it can become the backdrop for the play set. Cut out additional images of animals, kids, a sun, vehicles, furniture and more. Kids can use these items to set their own scenes. Catalogs, posters, calendars and product boxes are all good sources for finding images you can use in the game sets. Inside the box you can place things that will help the child keep the play set organized. For example, you can add small, zipper lock bags for the game pieces. Or, kids can simply stick the game pieces to the inside walls of the lunch box. Use one lunch box to make a game set and a second box to make a cartoon character play set. Kids can take several of the fun travel boxes with them since they dont take up much room.
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