- Age Guideline: 5 Years and Up
- Time Required: 20 minutes (Does not include drying time)
The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.
Materials Needed:
- Lightweight Cardboard (from a cereal box)
- Crayons or Markers
- Fabric Scraps
- Large Hole Beads
- Hole Puncher
- Scissors
Instructions:
Cut the cardboard into 4 inch wide strips that are long enough to fit around the ankle fairly snug so it does not slip down. Decorate the plain side of the the cardboard with geometric designs (or whatever you prefer) using the paint, markers, or crayons.
Use a hole puncher to punch holes along one of the long edges of the cardboard strip. This will be the bottom edge of your leg rattle. Punch one hole in each top corner also.
Now, you want to cut fabric strips about 1-inch wide and about 8- to 10-inches long. The number of fabric strips you cut depends on the number of holes you punched in your cardboard strip.
Starting with the second hole in from the edge, string a fabric strip through each hole so you have the same amount hanging over on each side. Leave both end holes on the bottom empty, and also both holes along the top edge. You now want to string 2-4 beads on each piece of fabric, making sure you string them on both strands. Tie a knot in the end to hold the beads in place, and trim off any extra fabric if necessary.
Your leg rattle is now done and you can tie it to your ankle. Take your extra fabric strips, string them through the empty top and bottom holes and them tie it to your leg!
If you want, you can use yarn or string instead of the fabric scraps. Also, you can use some home-made Native American Clay Beads instead of store-bought beads.
