If your children enjoy playing with toy boats, this little cardboard lighthouse will be a great addition to their nautical games. Using just a few simple bits and pieces from around the home, it costs next to nothing and is very easy to create, even for very young children.
Homemade toy boats are also very simple to make, so if your children would like to create these as well (therefore making a complete game), please refer to some of the other articles on My Kid Craft.
The basic shape of this little lighthouse (a cardboard tube attached to a paper cup) is also extremely versatile for a number of other projects. To create a fancy bugle, paint it with bright colours and patterns, for a pirate's binoculars paint it black (perhaps using gold or silver glitter-glue for an extra flourish) and for a rocket ship paint it black, grey or silver.
Time: Since this article involves painting and drying time, it's best to be stretched out over a few hours or even overnight.
Age: Any Age
Level: Easy
Materials
1 cardboard paper towel roll
Acrylic paint - white and black
1 bright-coloured (preferably red) sauce lid, or anything with a pointy top. This will be the top of your lighthouse.
Black felt-tipped pen - ideally one with a relatively thick tip
Clear plastic sticky-tape - if you have a roll of wider tape this is preferable, but any will do.
Using masking tape, attach the cardboard tube to the bottom of the paper cup. Use plenty of tape so they're attached together firmly. Refer to the photo below if you're unsure how this should be done.
Cover the attached tube and cup with white acrylic paint, and leave to dry. If necessary, use a second coat.
When the paint is completely dry, paint a door and windows onto your lighthouse. About two-thirds of the way up you can also paint a black stripe around it, if desired, and any other details you think will enhance the design. Although I chose to use paint, you could alternatively use a black felt-tipped for this. If you use paint, be sure to wait until it's completely dry until you progress to the next step.
Using the clear sticky-tape, attach the sauce lid to the top of your lighthouse. To create the appearance of a light, we also stuck on another clear lid, just below this. Your homemade lighthouse is now complete!
