Everyone loves a parade.

Remember that one time I competed in One Month to Win it?  I know, ages ago, right?  I definitely planned on showing you my tutorials from OMTWI well before this, but life happens, right?  Last week we got our ducks in a row for our house appraisal, which meant I was busy with other tasks I can show off at a later time - everything from cleaning and laundry to repairing the porch railing and sprucing up our kids' bathroom vanity.  It was quite the few days getting everything ready.  (And no, we're not moving, just refinancing, so don't go starting rumors.)

ANYWAY.  I can now, FINALLY show off some OMTWI tutorials!  I have two yet to share, but they will both come as a series of posts, since there are multiple parts.  On to the Kids Can Craft submission!

I wracked my brain for something I new my kids would love.  Something that would last the summer, and maybe longer.  Something inventive and new.  And due to it being summer, and all the fanfare that brings, I came up with "Parade in a Box!"  Because everyone loves a parade, right?


First, I decided on several different musical instruments that I knew the kids could help me make.  I asked bug for his opinion as well.  We chose:
Bugle
Harmonica
Drums
Xylophone
And bug, being bug, insisted upon Maracas.


Then I knew we'd need a baton for directing the parade, and flags for waving.  Every parade needs spectators and those spectators need flags.


Oh, and for the curious, YES, all of these homemade instruments do actually work.  Not one of them is purely decorational.

For the purposes of these tutorials, I will begin with the wind instruments.  


First off, the bugle.


You'll need:
10' Extension hose (1 hose will make two bugles)
Funnel
Hot glue
Duct tape


Ready?  Get out your hose.

Cut it in two - pretty much right in the middle - though you don't need to be too precise.

I just use my old scissors and it worked well.

Put some hot glue around the skinny end of the funnel.

Stick the funnel in the cut end of the hose - leaving the end of the hose with the attachment alone.

 Cover this with duct tape, for some extra security.

This part is optional, but I decided to spruce it up a little.  I took pieces of duct tape and wrapped them around the hose randomly to add stripes.  Just a little more interesting that a plain green garden hose.

Next, wind your hose around, so that it forms a loop and the metal attachment and the funnel are opposite each other on the top of the loop.  Use duct tape to secure the ends of the hose to the loop.

Now, you need to squish the hose down into a trumpet shape.  Just squeeze the bottom and top of the loop of hose together, then use a long piece of duct tape across the middle to connect them.

And you've become a boogie woogie bugle boy!  (It's a bugle not a trumpet, see, because there are no valves.  So, it takes some practice to move up and down in pitch, but you can do it!)

Now, to the harmonica.  Yes, I know.  It's not really a wind instrument.  But it's not really in a parade either, so whatever.

You'll need:

Two craft sticks

Two small rectangles of paper

One large, wide rubber band

Two smaller, skinny rubber bands

Scotch tape

Coolest thing about this?  I had it all on hand.

First, we used some markers to decorate.  Because it was just too plain.  Although, if you're worried about toxicity of markers against your children's lips, maybe skip that.  Or just don't blame me.

Lay one stick on top of the other.  Wrap one piece of paper loosely around both sticks on one end, and secure the end of the paper with tape.  Do NOT tape the paper to the sticks.

Do the same thing to the other piece of paper on the other end of the sticks.

Slide the top stick out of the paper loops.  Stretch the big, wide rubber band around the bottom stick with the papers on it, the long way.

Put the other stick over the top of this and secure it to the bottom stick at each end with the skinny rubber bands.

Here's what the other side looks like:

 You put your mouth on the middle of the sticks, over the rubber band and blow.  The paper pieces act as sliders, and as you blow, you slide them along the stick and the pitch changes.

She's got the blues.

Stay tuned for percussion instruments, extras, and pulling it all together!

*Be sure to check just below for all the fun parties I link to!