Cut one piece of felt or flannel to fit on the inside of the box lid and glue it in place (sky blue is a good, neutral color for this background).

Cut the scraps of felt into figures, which will naturally stick to the story board. Try making trees, fish, birds, flowers, stars and even letters. People and animals can be made up of several shapes, so be sure to cut out circles for faces and eyes, as well as rectangles for arms and legs. (You can also clip magazine pictures, coloring book characters and real photos for the storytelling board.)

Glue the cutouts to cardboard and glue a strip of sandpaper to the back so they will adhere to the fabric.

Once you have a variety of characters and props, let the storytelling begin. Make up an imaginary story, retell a traditional fairy tale, or use real photos for true-to-life stories. When the story is done, clear the board and start a new one. When finished, pack up the felt figures and store them in the shoebox.

Using the knife, cut a 4-inch slit down each corner of the larger box (a parents job). Fold the two 18-inch sides in toward each other so that they form a peak (to make them fold in more easily, lightly score the folds on the outside of the box).

Holding the peak in place, raise up the other two flaps to meet the peak. Trace the peak shape on each side flap, then cut away the excess with the knife.

Make the ridge pole by cutting out a 1 1/2 by 21 inch strip of cardboard. Cut a small notch in the top center of each side flap. Set one end of the ridge pole in each notch, then fold up the roof so it meets the ridge pole. Tape all the roof edges in place.

To make the left Dutch door, measure and mark a 6 by 9 inch rectangle that is at least 1/2 inch from the bottom and top of the front, and 1 inch from the left edge. Cut along the top, right and bottom edges of the rectangle and also cut the door in half. Repeat, reversing the directions, for the right door. Score down the hinged edges on the inside of the box. (If you’re using a different sized box, adjust the dimensions to your liking, but leave a 1/2-inch sill above and below the door to maintain the box’s stability.)

For a four-stall barn, cut doors on the opposite side as well. Cut a 2 by 3 inch window on each side of the barn.

Make the stalls by cutting a 4 1/2 by 18 inch and a 4 1/2 by 14 inch piece of cardboard. Make a 2-inch notch in the center of each strip, then interlock them to form a cross. Slip the cross shape inside the barn.

Use the roller to paint the barn and the roof; when dry, use the brush to paint on the trim.

To make the tack room, fold in the peak of the small box and measure and cut the side flaps as for the barn. Tape in place–minus a ridge pole this time. Cut a door and windows. To attach the tack room to the barn, poke four small matching holes through one sidewall of the tack room and one sidewall of the barn.

Slip a paper fastener through each hole and bend it to hold in place.

Draw giggling faces onto the undersides of two sturdy cardboard plates. Add yarn hair, if desired.

Place the plates together (topsides) so that the rims line up and there is a pocket of space between them.

Punch holes along the rims. Then lace a long piece of yarn in and out of the holes, remembering to slip the beans into the pocket before tying the two plates completely shut.

Tape the noisemaker to the end of a dowel or broom handle and give it a good shake.

Thread the rubber band through the holes of two Life Savers, then balance the roll of Smarties between them, across the rubber band.

For wings, balance the stick of gum on top, perpendicular to the Smarties, and pull the rubber band up and over each side of the gum to hold it all in place.

Decorate the wings with tiny heart-shaped stickers or a message.

Fold the cardboard stencil, heart side up, over the white paper card.

Lay out plenty of newspaper to protect the work surface.

Squirt some paint onto the bristles of the toothbrush, then, holding the brush over your card, rub your thumb back and forth across the bristles so paint sprays off and spatters through the heart cutout onto the card below.

Let the paint dry, then use markers to write your message.

Begin by laying out three feet of plastic wrap, cutting it in half lengthwise. Place candies or groups of candies every three inches.

Roll the plastic over and tie bows between each candy using six-inch strips of ribbon.

Tie the two ends of the plastic wrap together and cover the knot with another ribbon.

To make the paints stick to the glass, first mix the colors with some glue. Keep the paint thick so it won’t run.

Use brushes or cotton swabs to paint a design on the jar. To erase a mistake, use a paper towel to wipe off the paint before it hardens.

Let the paint dry, then seal the finished design with a coat of glaze.

Fill the pump bottle 3/4 of the way with water. Add just enough paint to color the water–too much will clog the spray nozzle. Tighten the cap and shake well to mix. Adjust the nozzle so that it will shoot a thin, straight stream.

Hang the sheet or newsprint over the clothesline. Then stand a few feet from the sheet and begin painting. (If two or more kids plan to paint at the same time, be sure everyone stands on the same side to avoid mishaps and remind them to aim only at the canvas.)

After creating a masterpiece, try squirting on a signature. Or, hang up a new canvas for a challenging long-distance game of tic-tac-toe.

Fold the nylon in half horizontally. Position the fold on the bottom. With a pencil, draw an outline of a fish, letting the fold serve as its belly and making a 5 1/2-inch-wide mouth. Cut the doubled material along the drawn line and glue the seam closed along the fish’s back.

Twist together the pipe cleaner ends to form a ring that’s 10 inches around. Slip the ring around the fish’s mouth. Fold the edge of the nylon over the ring and glue it down.

Glue six 2-foot lengths of ribbon to the fish’s tail.

Invert the windsock so that the seams are inside. Then paint on scales and eyes.

To ready the carp to fly, use a slipknot to tie the middle of the string to a notch in the dowel top. Snip a small hole into each side of the mouth, push a string end through each, and knot.