Den Building E-Book

Jane Hewitt

• Herausgeber: Crown House Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Every child needs a special space of their own where they can let their imagination run wild. When you become a den builder, the most ordinary of spaces can become a magical, secret world. A den, or a fort, is a special space that you create for yourself, a space where you can use your imagination, a space where you can play, or read, just chill out or be creative. In Den Building, Jane Hewitt and Cathy Cross show you how, with just a few household objects and these imaginative ideas, you can make hundreds of wonderful dens, with minimal mess and fuss. Using found items, creativity and imagination you can transform any space into a completely new environment. There are plenty of rainy-day activities and ideas for getting outside in the fresh air. Complete with hints and tips on finding materials, building and decorating dens, these brilliant ideas will keep children busy for hours - and adults are very welcome to join in the fun too. How many different things can you make with a cardboard box? How can a simple table be transformed into a spooky Halloween lair or a Viking ship? How much fun can you have with an old parachute? How do you make a miniature town from old packaging? Discover the magic in everyday objects and get den building! Suitable for all children who like making things and creative play, Den Building is a great gift and also makes a great resource for organised groups, such as nurseries, Scouts and Guides and afterschool clubs.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Getting started

Resources

Project 1      Sketchbook

CARDBOARD BOX DENS

Project 2      Castle den

Project 3      Spy den

Project 4      Nature den

Project 5      Rocket den

Project 6      Famous den

Project 7      Shop den

Project 8      Wearable den

Project 9      Thinking outside the box

Project 10    Open the box

Project 11    Miniature dens

Project 12    Miniature town

TABLE DENS

Project 13    Spooky table den

Project 14    White table den

INDOOR DENS

Project 15    Living room den

Project 16    Paddling pool den

Project 17    Fashion den

Project 18    Duvet dens

Project 19    Sleepover den

Project 20    Dens without walls

OUTDOOR DENS

Project 21    Tepee dens

Project 22    Open-air den

Project 23    Whirligig den

Project 24    Umbrella den

Project 25    Trampoline den

Project 26    Yard den

EXTREME DENS

Project 27    Extreme dens

Acknowledgements

GETTING STARTED

Welcome all new den builders!

Building dens is really easy when you know how. It doesn’t cost lots of money – you can use items that are readily available around your house (check with grown-ups first though – they can become quite grumpy if you cut up their best duvet cover to make a roof for your den!).

You can create dens on your own or with groups of friends. Grown-ups will be desperate to get involved – it’s up to you if you let them join in or not. (Sometimes they can be really helpful!)

So what is a den? It’s a space that is separate, a space that you create for yourself, a space where you can use your imagination, a space where you and your friends can play and be creative. It can be fixed or transportable, huge or miniature, indoors or outdoors – basically it can be anything that YOU want it to be.

Where could you create a den? Wander around your home to begin with and make a list in your sketchbook (see Project 1 for a description of how to make one) of all the great places you could build a den. How about underneath the stairs or the kitchen table? In the corner of your bedroom or behind the sofa?

The next step is to begin collecting den-making materials (the resources section has ideas to get you started). You will find lots of ideas in this book about what to use, how to fasten everything together as well as how to stay safe.

The coloured boxes each tell you something different:

YOU NEED

Things you need to build your den

TOP TIP

Ideas to help you

REMEMBER

Things that you need to be careful about – safety tips

Now let’s look at the materials you can use to get den making.