Party in a Box for the Robot Birthday!

This simple toy is fun to make and really easy- using stuff you probably already have around the house. You can make it any size you like, and as fancy or plain as you like. And it can be used to teach about static!

Easy and fun- what’s not to like?

Materials :

small cardboard jewelry box

tiny (about 1/4” shorter than the height of the box bottom) paper robots- you will need either wrapping tissue or a napkin pulled apart to single ply)

Freezer paper (if you decide to print the robots. If you draw each one, you don’t need this, but it does make it easier to handle things)

tape (clear cellophane or washi tape if you want to be pretty)

clear plastic produce or bakery box (with flat top and the labels removed.)

Glue (glue stick for paper, and if you use something heavier like a button, white glue)

optional: a button, fancy papers, washi tape, glitter, toothpick, bits of foamcore

Tools:

scissors

Optional :iron and ironing board

Cut out the flat part of the top of your produce plastic box. Then take the box and sit it on top of the plastic and trace around it with a pen that writes on plastic. Cut it out.

run a piece of tape along one long edge- try not to overlap the edge more than 1/8” .

Put the plastic flat over the top of the box bottom (you won’t use the top for anything) and fold the tape over that edge. Now it will flap.

Now you need to make your robots. If you are going to to draw them, draw each one to be at least 1/8” to 1/4” shorter than the box height.

these can be tricky to cut out!

To make it easier, or to be able to make your robots on a computer and print them out- try this:

Cut a sheet of freezer paper to 8 1/2 “x11”

Take your tissue paper or napkin and lay it over the plastic shiny side on an ironing board. Iron carefully with medium heat until the paper sticks to the freezer paper. (The plastic melts and sticks to whatever you want to attach to it- this is also great for other thin materials or even thin cloth, making it easier to run through a printer or handle by hand)

cut out each robot, leaving a tab of about 1/8” on the bottom - this will be attached to the floor.

Make your base. Cut a piece of decorative (or plain if you prefer) paper to fit the bottom of the box. DON”T put it in yet.

are you going to give the robot a birthday cake? I cut a small piece of foam core into a 3/4” roughly square, cut a pice of red paper as a tablecloth and glued it on top, then glued that down to the base with white glue. You don’t have to use the foam core- I liked the raised look.

How about candles? Take the toothpick and chop off 3/8” off of each end. Take these tile and color the end red with a marker if you have it.

Dab some white glue on the back of the button and push the “candles” through the sewing holes . Then glue the button on the table with the white glue.

Now it’s time to add the robots. I added six, that was plenty.

Fold the tab at the bottom of each robot over for the feet.

put a dab of glue (either the stick or white glue) on the napkin or tissue side of the tab (feet) ONLY .

now to peel the backing (freezer paper) off, take a piece of tape and stick it to the freezer paper side of the robot. It only needs to catch a small part of it.

now use that tape to help you peel the front tissue or napkin off the freezer paper side of-GENTLY.

Stick the robot to the base by the tab only- the robot body is not glued down.

Continue to do that until all the robots you want to use are in place.

Now spread some glue on the bottom of the box.

Gently push the base down onto the bottom of the box.

NOW STOP. You need to let the whole thing DRY- any moisture from the glue will prevent it from working.

So set it aside and do something else for an hour or two. Really. I’m not kidding!

Now you are going to to finish it. If. You want to- you can even add a pinch of glitter right now- but just a pinch!!! Or not- depends on what you like.

fold the plastic cover you attached earlier over the top.now put. A strip of tape along the other long edge (try not to overlap the top more than 1/8” ) and fold over the side. Trim the excess. Then add a strip of tape on each of the short sides (again, try not to go more than 1/8” over the top) and fold over the sides, and trim the excess.

You can decorate the outside of the box if you like.

You are now ready to PARTY!!!!

To use, rub rapidly over the top of the plastic cover with your DRY fingers to build u a static charge and get the dancers dancing. Other things you can use to make a charge is a blown -up balloon rubbed against your hair to build up a charge, then touch the top of the box- you can make the dancers move by moving the balloon.

Another thing that will build up a charge is wool rubbed on the plastic. But I find fingers work just fine

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBOT!!!!!