Idea 13: Swingset

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Crafty Time

By Dave Pierik, Shelton-Mason County Journal

Fun with a Swingset!

Happy Tree Village Park includes a playground with a teeter-totter and a merry-go-round. Why not a swingset?

Tools: ruler & markers, scissors, wire cutters, paintbrush, clothespins.

Materials: corrugated cardboard, bamboo skewers, flat toothpicks, craft sticks, fine chain (such as for bead crafts), color-coated steel paperclips, masking tape, school glue, sand, super glue, acrylic paint.

1. Measure, mark & cut

For the base, corrugated cardboard, 4.5” x 2.25”. Four posts, 2.5” high and one, 3.5” long from bamboo skewer. Three seats, each ¾” wide, from craft sticks. Two cross-supports: cut flat toothpicks to 1.25”. Six swing chains 1.75” long. 12 paper clip bends for seats and top bar.

2. Structure

Test-fit bamboo skewer parts, then poke holes in the base for the posts. Blob glue over the holes and place the poles. Flock glue with sand. Bend them to the middle and glue the top bar on, supporting with masking tape until dry. Glue and place the cross-supports evenly, clamp with clothespins or tape.

3. Assemble & prime

For top bar swing supports, test-fit and glue 6 paperclip bends to the top bar, bend side down. For seat handles, superglue 6 paperclip bends to the outsides of each seat, bend side up. Superglue chains to  tops of seat handles and bottoms of top bar swing supports. Let dry. Prime base and structure white.

4. Details & paint

Dust structure with silver paint, leaving some white for that oxidized look. Don’t paint the seats or handles unless you want to. Don’t paint the chains, unless you want to add rust effects. Paint the grass with 2 greens, and the wear stripes with 2 browns. Kids wind swings around. Test that if you like. 

5. Happy Tree Park

The park at Happy Tree Village now has a swing set. It feels like it was always meant to be there.

What would you like to see in an upcoming Crafty Time? Email dave@masoncounty.com with your input! Have you created anything crafty? If so, we’ll share it here if you like.