Try this old-fashioned toy that I remember from my childhood. Kids and adults love trying to figure out the secret behind these magical pencils.
Materials:
two pencils
scissors
craft knife or sharp paring knife
straight pin
cardboard or emery board
Steps:
- Cut six to eight knotches down into the pencil along one ridge, spacing them equal distances apart (about 1/2 inch) (figure A).
- Make an angled cut on each side of each slash to form a wedge.
- Cut emery board (1/2" x 2") and poke a straight pin through the center. This will serve as a propeller for the whimmy diddle. Move the pin around to make the hole big enough so the propeller can spin freely.
- Push the point of the pin into the eraser of the pencil so that it is secure. It may be necessary to cut the end of the pin off if you can't get it to go far enough into the eraser so that it doesn't wobble.
- Hold second pencil in your right hand so that your thumb is pressed against the notched pencil and rub it rapidly back and forth. The propeller should spin rapidly in a clockwise direction. To make the propeller stop and reverse its direction, release pressure from your thumb and apply pressure with your forefinger on the other side of the pencil. Don't forget to say the magic words as you do this..."Sniggle-fritz-ka-fooey!" If this does not work then try "Gee" and "Haw."
Carol's Tips:
- I used an emery board for the propeller, but a piece of cardboard of comparable weight works just as well although it is not as durable.
- There is book titled, How to Make Whimmey Diddles, Whirligigs, and Other American Folk Craft Objects, by Florence H. Pettit. It is filled with all sorts of interesting toy crafts such as jumping jacks, colonial lanthorns and corn shuck dolls.
Resources How to Make Whimmey Diddles, Whirligigs, and Other American Folk Craft Objects
by Florence Harvey Pettit (ISBN: 0690413890)
This title is out of print. Consult local libraries, used book stores or click
here for Amazon.com's book search.
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