Time still flies, even when you are under quarantine. We are now about to embark on our 5th #JHUMakesToys Challenge! Last week, we attempted to avoid the intrusion of creepy dolls in our lives by constructing a sailing ship. It worked! We now just have to deal with the judging eyes of snarky flamingos.
Wait. What? Snarky Flamingos? “Why does this librarian have a creepy doll obsession,” you may wonder. Anyway, let’s review! Special Collections recently acquired a charming set of instructional toy-maker cards created by the illustrator Kate Angus. The cards most likely date to the early 1930s and were meant to provide children with afternoons of fun by crafting toys from common and inexpensive household objects. Since we all could use a bit of whimsy in our lives right now, we would like to invite you to participate in our #JHUMakesToys Challenge!
Interested in becoming a vintage toy-maker? Here’s the scoop:
Follow @jhuspecialcollections to see the challenges as soon as they are released.
Tag @jhuspecialcollections so we can see your photo and add #JHUMakesToys to your caption.
Challenges will be announced weekly on Fridays from April 3 through May 8.
Each week shall be a new chance for internet fame and glory!
Please note that we may share your wonderful creations on Johns Hopkins social media channels.
This week’s challenge offers an opportunity to give all our handmade toys a wonderful new home. We are going to construct a model village! After all, creepy dolls need homes to haunt, snappy race cars need roads to roam, and Vikings need villages to plunder. Here are the instructions for building your very own model village. May it not become a Village of the Damned scenario unless that, um, ambience fits your personal brand.
