Nov
Henry the Tank Engine
When we purchased a small stereo unit for our home last month the box was set aside. Good crafters throw nothing away; you never know what you can use in a new project. While watching our grandson play with his Thomas the Tank Engine toys they idea clickety clacked into our minds. We asked Westin what engine he wanted to be and he chose Henry.
I made several mistakes along the way in making this, I will note a few here but not all of them.
For starters, cover the floor. Westin donned an old t-shirt of mine and got started paining three sides green and the front side black after I used strapping tape to secure the bottom of the box closed and the top flaps open.
I then painted the flap section in the front white and the flaps on the side black. Once dry I stood the box with the bottom side up (from this point on it the top). I started cutting an opening two inches from 3 sides and 7 inches back.Later I had to cut further back because it was not balanced. With a picture of Henry in one 
of his favorite books to use as a guide, we purchased red and orange duct tape.
Orange duct tape across the top and the sides from the black flap top to opposite black flap top. Add red duct tape along the bottom from edge and top of the black flap areas on the sides. Paint the number 3 at the back of the side sections and on the back of the tank.
My husband cut out 7 six inch circles from plywood and also 2 15″ strips. Three circles were painted green 
and one black. The strips were painted black. I made a color copy blow up of the face of Henry from the book. Three wheels are glued on each side using liquid nail and the black rod attached to the wheel using the same. Glue the face of Henry to the black circle and using liquid nails attach to the front in an appropriate place.
To make the appearance of coal being pulled in the freight car I sponge painted black on the green on the top of the engine. Straps were added to the opening.
Henry was the hit of the trick or treat fun this Halloween AND will be used for daily fun and play time for months to come.
