HERE’S HOW YOU CAN MAKE A MINI BEACH HUT

SHRINK down and shelter from the sun’s hot rays in this mini beach hut.

The tiny accessories are fun to make so you can let your imagination run as wild as the ocean waves. YOU WILL NEED: For the beach hut – wooden lolly sticks (regular and wide); a small cardboard box; sandpaper or an emery board; paint; scissors; glue For the accessories – a small plastic washer; cocktail stick; sand; plasticine; paper; paint; scissors; glue

METHOD

1. Trim the cardboard box to your chosen size.

2. Ask an adult to help you trim your lolly sticks to fit your model. This can be done with a pair of scissors. We used wide lolly sticks for the roof and thinner ones for the door but either size works well. Sand off any rough edges with sandpaper. If you don’t have sandpaper, an emery board (for filing nails) works really well.

3. Before you stick your lolly sticks onto your box, paint them in your chosen colours, then leave them to dry.

4. To achieve a weathered, beachy look, water down some white paint and coat your lolly sticks with a thin layer. Use your fingernail to scratch in lines to look like woodgrain. Allow to dry.

5. Glue your sticks in place and leave to dry.

6. Use a small brush to paint in details such as a door knob and hinges.

7. Add some accessories. Our surfboard was made by trimming down a wide lolly stick. For the mini life ring we painted a plastic washer and glued it in place.

To make a mini sandcastle, take a piece of plasticine and make it into a sandcastle shape. Cover it in glue and roll it in sand. Use a cocktail stick and some coloured paper to make a flag.

You might want to add some more accessories such as a deckchair or some small shells or rocks. Sprinkle some sand around – play sand works really well, or even light brown sugar (just make sure you ask your parents first) – and you’re ready to hit the beach. Tubular!