Donna's Day: Creative Family Fun
A Summer Toy With Zip!
BYDONNAERICKSON

If your school-age kids are moping around with nothing to do, show them how to make their own fun with this actionpacked "Zip Toy." Not only does it make a great "zip" sound going down the line, but its name could just as likely refer to how quickly you and your kids can put it together.

Here's what you'll need:

--2 16-foot lengths of vinyl-coated clothesline wire

--2 clean 2-liter plastic soda bottles with labels

--4 old CDs --Plastic electrical tape or strong packing tape

--Pointed scissors

--Paint or stickers for decorating (optional).

CUT off the spout ends of each bottle 1 inch below the top of the label. For a cutting guide, you might wish to draw a line first. You will now have two funnel shapes for the toy. (You will not use the lower portions of bottles.)

MAKE six 1/2-inch slits equidistant around the cut edge of one of the funnel shapes. Slip the cut edge of the other funnel shape over the 1/2-inch slits. Hold the attached funnel shapes in front of you so that the spouts are exactly opposite each other. Wrap tape around the middle to hold the two pieces together securely.

SLIDE both lengths of clothesline through the toy. Make a handle for each of the four ends of clothesline as follows:

From one end, fold over 18 inches of clothesline and double knot to create a large loop. To protect hands, thread a CD through its hole sliding it up against the double knot. Make another knot on the opposite side of the CD. You'll now have a loop to put your hand through. Repeat with three additional ends.

TO PLAY: Two players stand opposite each other and slip their hands in the small loops, holding on to the single knot by the CD as if water-skiing. Make sure the two lengths of clothesline are together, straight and taut. Slide the plastic toy in front of one player. He quickly opens his arms wide to send the toy zipping to the other player. Immediately, he should bring the two clothesline wires back together to receive the toy again. Remember: Always keep your hands behind the CDs.

Donna Erickson's new award-winning television series "Donna's Day" is airing on public television nationwide. Visit www.donnasday.com to find out when it airs on your local PBS station and to sign up for Donna's e-newsletter.

(c) 2007 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.