Olympic Torch Crafting

I know, I know, the Olympic Games are almost over, but don't underestimate the appeal of a bit of crafting to small children; something that they can make, wave around, pretend it's a sword or wand, hit each other with. I pinched this idea from a sports day afternoon we went to a few weeks ago and thought it was such good fun that I really wanted to share it. The ones we created there were made with paper, but they did not stand up to over-enthusiastic play, so I made these from card.

You will need:

1. Yellow tissue paper
2. Orange tissue paper
3. Gold card (A4 size)
4. Red card (A4 size)
5. Double-sided sticky tape
6. Scissors
7. Glue
8. Ruler

• Cut both the red and gold sheets of card in half diagonally, corner to corner.
• Using the double-sided sticky tape, stick the two pieces of card together, along their long sides, making sure the gold side is on top (pic 1).
• Roll into a cone shape and secure with more sticky tape. The card is stiff and kids will need a bit of help with this part (pic 2).
• Using the scissors, snip rough zigzag/flame shapes into the top of the red card (pic 3). Younger ones may need some supervision with this, as you need sharp scissors for the card.
• Roughly cut or tear the tissue paper into small triangular shapes (pic 4).
• Dab some glue onto the straight end of the tissue paper triangles and fix to the inside of the torch.
• Wave around while cheering on your own team of choice.

We had lots of fun with these. The older ones were able to do most of it themselves, while the younger ones (despite huge enthusiasm for the glue, scissors and tissue paper) needed some help. The girls insisted on "Princess Torches", hence the pink one below (it's awful, I know). The boys could not have cared less and just wanted to hit each other with them. 

I am so very proud of the British Olympic Team, of their achievements, their conduct, and their success. This time one year ago this country was rioting. It was a grim time. It just feels so good to celebrate good news and positive role models.

Last of all, a golden postbox! The Royal Mail promised to spray paint a post box gold in the home town of every gold-medal winning British athlete. The Brownlee brothers, from Leeds, won gold and bronze in the triathlon on Tuesday. I drove past it this week but it's a busy road and there was no-where to pull over, so I found this image on the internet. Do you know, Yorkshire has won more medals than any other county in the UK. With 6 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, if Yorkshire was a country it would be 11th on the medal table*! 

Image from  http://www.goldpostboxes.com/gallery?postbox=70

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* I do hope I worked that out right. Please correct me if I am wrong!