I fondly remember these crazy haired pencils from the 80s.
My friends and I could hardly get enough of them.
We made them in scouts.
We made them in camp.
We made them at birthday parties.
Ahh...the joy of smoothing out your pencil critter's hair, then rolling the pencil rapidly between your palms to achieve maximum crazy hair volume. I guess times were simpler then...we didn't have a thousand channels on TV, and handheld video games were still a decade out.
When brainstorming a fun valentine project for my girls to make this year, the old pencil project came to mind. I had a hunch that even the children of the digital age would have a hard time resisting their wacky charm.
The project was a hit at home and pencils were a smashing success in the classroom. Of course, we couldn't bear to part with them all. (If you don't hear from me in a few days, someone may have to intervene and hide my crazy haired pencil).
How to make
Crazy Hair Pencils
Cost: Inexpensive
Time: Less than an hour
Materials (for 16 pencil critters)
Craft Fur (1 9x12" piece)
Scissors
16 pencils
Hot Glue Gun
Googly Eyes (16 pairs)
Optional: Valentine printable (free HERE)
Optional: Felt for bow ties
Step 1: Cut craft fur into 3" tall strips. To cut craft fur, measure up from the bottom by 3 inches. Use your hand, or a hair brush, to brush the hair in the opposite direction, exposing a visible line of backing. Cut along the backing. Repeat with remaining fur. Now cut into 2.5" wide pieces. Brushing is not necessary for vertical cuts.
Step 2: With backing-side facing up, run a line of hot glue along the left, bottom and right edges (see photo below).
Step 3: Set pencil in place along the right edge and proceed to roll from right to left.
Step 4: Press edges together where they meet. Press base of fur tightly around the pencil. This will give a finished-looking edge.
Step 5: Glue googly eyes in place. Create a small bow tie by cutting a small rectangle of felt. Snip a triangle out of the top and bottom to create a bow tie shape. Glue in place.
Step 6: (optional) For valentines, print the valentines sheet on heavy card stock. Cut out valentines, then use an X-ACTO knife to cut slits along the top and bottom border of the middle box. Insert pencil.
Go wild!
ar campaignName = "";
var postLabels = $('.post-labels a');
var insertBefore = $('.post-footer');
//END CODE OPTIONS - DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE
var labels=[];var label;var alternateLabel;var minposts=minimum-1;if(postLabels.length===1){label=postLabels.text().trim()}else if(postLabels.length>1){$(postLabels).each(function(){labels.push($(this).text().trim())});label=labels[Math.floor(labels.length*Math.random())];var labelLocation=labels.indexOf(label);if(labelLocation===labels.length-1){alternateLabel=labels[labelLocation-1]}else{alternateLabel=labels[labelLocation+1]}}if(label!==undefined){var title=$(".entry-title").text().trim();var labelCount=0;var alternateLabelCount=0;var matches=[];var url=$('link[rel="alternate"][title*="Atom"]').eq(0).attr("href");$.ajax({url:url,data:{"max-results":maxSearched,alt:"json-in-script"},dataType:"jsonp",success:function(e){$.each(e.feed.entry,function(t,n){if(e.feed.entry[t].category!==undefined){var r=[];for(var i=0;i
These are really cute and simple to make. Love them!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to dress up the pencil! I'm sure any child would love them.
ReplyDeletecutey cute! You have had some great Valentine crafts, Lady!
ReplyDeleteLezlee
lov these cant wait to make these with the grand children.THANKS
ReplyDeleteSuch fun memories. I loved crazy hair pencils as a girl. Too fun!!
ReplyDeletecute pencils we are going to make them this year. Where do you get crazy fur? Walmart? Michaels?
ReplyDeleteThese are too cute. Just popping by to let you know I included your project in my "10 cute printable valentines for kids" round up on Creative Green Living.
ReplyDeleteHA I remember these guys!! I just loved your valentine printables (and pencil topper) so much that I shared them on a Printable Valentines roundup today! Great job, they are so cute! - Dee @ From Wine to Whine
ReplyDeleteThese are so great! I had one in elementary school and it was so much fun! My daughter wants to make them for her friends for Valentine's Day. Where did you find the red craft fur? Any online craft supply stores you can recommend? So far, we found black...not so fun :) I'd appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are so great! I had one in elementary school and it was so much fun! My daughter wants to make them for her friends for Valentine's Day. Where did you find the red craft fur? Any online craft supply stores you recommend? So far we found black...not as fun :) I'd love any suggestions you have. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth, thanks! I found my red craft fur at my local Michael's store, but Create for Less also sells it at a good price: http://www.createforless.com/Darice-Long-Pile-Fur-9x-12-Red/pid145368.aspx
DeleteThe brand is Darice, btw.
Happy crafting!
Jenn
We found white at Joann. And used red bow ties.
DeleteWe made these today. I forgot how messy that fur is (I made a wizard beard with it for Halloween). Ours have white fur - it's the only color our JoAnn had in stock (besides brown). I needed 20 pencils, so I made the hair a little shorter and was able to get 20 out of one piece of fur. We love them!
ReplyDeleteOnly complaint is that I wish my kiddo could have helped more, but that glue gun is hot. We're planning to put them on cards - I made some with my son's favorite mouse on them - after school today.