Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Walnut Boats

When I was a boy, I remember making walnut boats like this with my Grandma.  My sisters and I would play with them in the bathtub.  They were so simple and fun.  This morning we had some walnuts in the kitchen, so I made some boats with the kids!

Just melt some candle wax into a walnut shell.  When the wax gets a little firm, stick a toothpick in it for the mast of the boat.  Let the wax cool. (We stuck ours in the fridge for a couple minutes.) Then attach a paper sail by poking it onto the toothpick.  Ahoy!


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32 comments:

  1. Mammagiramondo.April 13, 2010 at 12:41 PM

    Last winter we've made candles with walnut shell but I've never thought about making a boat of it. Really a simple and fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing.
    xxx

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  2. ruimtevisserApril 13, 2010 at 12:55 PM

    OOOh thanx, we tried this with playdo but it didn't work well!

    k

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  3. UnknownApril 13, 2010 at 1:28 PM

    So großartig!Viele, liebe Grüße, Petra

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  4. TanyaApril 13, 2010 at 2:40 PM

    we've been making walnut boats and paying in the puddles, so much fun! love your sails!

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  5. se7enApril 13, 2010 at 2:55 PM

    Oh we have always tried to make these and never knew how to keep those pesky masts up... I love the wax, its a brilliant idea!!! Thanks again for another great idea!!!

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  6. LuloveshandmadeApril 13, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    They are awesome!!!

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  7. KarumenApril 13, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    cute idea!! luv the boats :))

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  8. BabyT24April 14, 2010 at 1:55 AM

    Good idea. I will try this with the daughter of my neighbors at the weekend.

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  9. patriciaApril 14, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    lovely idea! i will try it for sure with my son, thanks!

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  10. JolayneApril 14, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    someone mentioned a book.... do you have a book coming out?? I do hope it is true :)

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  11. Joel HenriquesApril 14, 2010 at 10:20 AM

    Thanks everybody! Yeah, this craft really takes me back. I love it.

    Jolayne - Yes, I'm writing a craft/toy book. It will be out fall 2011. You can read more about it here:

    http://madebyjoel.blogspot.com/2010/03/exciting-news.html

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  12. The Telford FamilyApril 14, 2010 at 3:00 PM

    Your ideas totally inspire me. Especially for a simpler, but easily just as enrichening, childhood for my three boys. I cannot wait for your craft/toy book to come out. And please keep up the wonderful photography. Simply charming.

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  13. HollyApril 15, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    I made something like this as a child with milkweed pods--it was in first grade and we made one to represent Columbus' ship. Cool.

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  14. AG AmbroultApril 16, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    We made walnut boats over the holidays! The kids love these and were playing with them just this week still. in the mud puddles, of course :)

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  15. MinnaApril 16, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    Super idea. That´s something I should try to make with my boys.

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  16. carolineApril 16, 2010 at 1:40 PM

    I've just discovered your site. It's brilliant ! thanks for all these little creations.

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  17. Neslihan DurmusogluApril 16, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    Gr8 idea:)Have u got a twitter account? I want to follow u ıf u have. My account @neslidrmsgl

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  18. Joel HenriquesApril 16, 2010 at 2:29 PM

    Thanks everybody!

    Neslihan - Nope, sorry I don't have a twitter account. Maybe someday.

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  19. AlisonApril 16, 2010 at 3:04 PM

    What's the best way to crack the walnuts so you end up with two nice halves like that?

    Love this idea. Thanks.

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  20. Joel HenriquesApril 16, 2010 at 6:08 PM

    I cracked these nuts by gently pounding them over the seam with a wooden muddler I had in the kitchen. When the seam started to come apart then I pried it open the rest of the way.

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  21. RomeroApril 26, 2010 at 10:03 AM

    super idea!!!!!

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  22. InduApril 28, 2010 at 8:35 AM

    Your blog is superb. Am very inspired by it. I teach a weekly art class at a community school in Mumbai and am planning to teach something inspired by your walnut boats. Here's a link http://bit.ly/96FKTr

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  23. PiaMay 2, 2010 at 3:16 PM

    Mine sank... wish I had the Joel-touch =)
    Absolutely love your blog!

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  24. AnonymousMay 19, 2010 at 11:16 PM

    Those walnut boats are so great, I had to post them too! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  25. Mammagiramondo.May 29, 2010 at 2:14 AM

    We did it!
    Di caravelle e del viaggio di un Cheesecake
    So much fun!

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  26. Joel HenriquesMay 29, 2010 at 3:40 PM

    Thanks everybody. Your boats are fantastic!

    Mammagiramondo - What a great experience you made! Nice!

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  27. AnonymousJuly 28, 2010 at 4:04 AM

    Awesome walnut boat!! Great idea, I never thought about it:)

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  28. Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes)August 25, 2010 at 4:09 AM

    These are wonderful - I made these with my children yesterday and they loved them - thank you! (blogged here: http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2010/08/three-ways-with-walnuts.html)

    Your blog is amazing - a complete inspiration - and I was delighted to read that you are already working on a book - do you have a release date for it?

    Best wishes,
    Florence

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  29. JulieAugust 25, 2010 at 9:32 PM

    These are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

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  30. JoSeptember 12, 2010 at 12:24 PM

    I also did it :)you cas see it here:
    http://bawimy-sie.blogspot.com/2010/09/odeczki-z-upinki-orzecha.html

    I used it for my son's birthday party, to decorate a table :)
    thank you :)

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  31. AnaNovember 3, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    Tienes unas ideas estupendas, Gracias.
    Espero que alga el libro, será interesante
    un abrazo

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  32. gabiFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Nagyon tetszik! Most rögtön kipróbáljuk:)

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