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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Back to School Motivatonal Owls

August 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

It’s back to school time again, and I wanted to make a simple project busy parents could throw together in a couple of minutes to add something fun to their family’s morning routine.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Supplies

2 toilet paper tubes

x-acto knife

scissors

stapler

markers

tag board/index card

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Directions

Fold one end of the tube down as shown, creating your owl’s ears.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com   How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Grab your second TP tube, fold it flat, and cut it into several same-sized pieces.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Staple two bundles of four tube strips together.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Cut two holes at the same height on each side of the first tp tube (the owl’s body) with an x-acto knife. Insert one bundle of tube strips into each hole, and adjust the strips to look like owl wings.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Draw a cartoon owl face on the body tube, and you’ve got yourself an owl! Next, I made a second owl following the same steps.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Then, I made cartoony speech bubbles that say “Whooo’s ready for school?” and “I am!” You can easily mount the speech bubbles on the owls with some rolled tape.

I think these would be cute breakfast table surprises for kids on the first day of school, or for kids who are struggling with getting along in the new school year. These are also the right size to put some candy in if you pack cold lunch for your kids.

How-to: Back-to-School Owl Motivator | HandsOccupied.com

Filed Under: Back to School, How-to Tagged With: back-to-school, easy, kid crafts, motivator, toilet paper tubes

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #wip #knitting
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
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