|
Ages 5+ |
Time 45–60 min |
Level Beginner |
Materials About $10–15 |
This is the best first hammer project there is. Kids drive a lot of nails, but every nail only goes in partway, so it's quick and forgiving. When the nails are in, they wrap colored string around them to fill in the shape.
Handy Famm Tools You'll Use
- Wammy the Pink Giraffe Hammer or BamBam the Blue Giraffe Hammer – real metal head, sized for small hands
- Any Handy Famm tape measure – to space the nails evenly
- Lola Kids Safety Glasses
Materials
| 1 pine board, about 1" x 8", cut to 12" long (ask the store to cut it) | ~$4–6 |
| 1 box of 1-1/4" wire nails with flat heads | ~$3–5 |
| Embroidery floss or thin yarn, 2–3 colors | ~$2–4 |
| Printed shape (heart, star, first initial) and painter's tape | At home |
| 1 clothespin – the finger saver | At home |
Prices are approximate and vary by store.
Grown-Up Prep
- Sand any rough edges on the board.
- Print the shape so it fits on the board with about 1" of space on every side.
Step-by-Step
1. Center the shape
Use the tape measure to find the middle of the board. Measure across, divide by two, and make a small pencil mark. Do the same top to bottom. Line up the middle of your shape with the marks and tape the paper down at the corners.
2. Mark the nail spots
With the tape measure, make a dot every 1/2" around the outline of the shape. Corners and points always get a dot.
3. Hammer the nails
Safety glasses on. Pinch a nail in the clothespin and hold it on a dot. Tap gently until the nail stands up on its own, then let go of the clothespin and tap a few more times. Stop when about half the nail is still sticking out. Do every dot.
4. Tear off the paper
Pull the paper away from the nails. If a piece gets stuck, the hammer's nail remover can lift a nail back out to free it.
5. Wrap the string
Tie the string to any nail with a double knot. Wrap it around the outside of the shape first, then zig-zag back and forth across the inside until the shape is filled in. Switch colors any time. Tie off the end and trim the extra.
Safety Notes
- Safety glasses on the whole time the hammer is out.
- Fingers stay on the clothespin, never on the nail.
- Short, gentle taps beat big swings.
Make It Your Own
- Spell out a name with one letter per board.
- Paint the board before you start.
- At a party, pre-tape a shape on every board so kids can start hammering right away.
Share Your Build
Post a photo or video and tag @handyfamm. We feature community builds right here.
Need the tools? The Kids Starter Tool Box has a hammer, a tape measure, and safety glasses in one set. New to building? Start with How to Host a Build and Play Party.
