KS1 / KS2 Design and Technology: Making a design box

Whatever project you do,it's always easierif you have the righttools for the job.The same goes for design.Now, no one would expect you to haveall the tools that a designermight ever need, but I like tokeep what I call my design box,so whenever I go to makeor design something,I know that I've always gotsome essential tools to hand.

Let's see what's inside it.I always like to keep two setsof scissors - one big and one small.I've got the larger scissorsfor any time I'm cutting throughcard or paper and I want to makesome nice straight lines.Just works really easily.You can also use the larger scissorsfor fabric.I've also got some smaller scissorswhich are really greatif you're cutting roundsmaller shapesand you just want to make it a bitmore intricate and detailed.These are great for cuttinground cornersbut they're also goodfor cutting threads.

So, also in my toolbox, I've gotsome measuring tools.I've got three sets here -a large tape measure,and this is great for whenyou're measuring really big spaces.I've also got a small rulerwhich is really usefulfor if you are measuringaround card or paper.Then I've got a measuring tapewhich is brilliantbecause it's flexible so it's reallyuseful for around fabrics.

Put these back in.

Next, I've got two sets of glue.First, a glue stickand this is really usefulfor sticking bits of cardand paper togetherbut then I've alsogot a craft glue.This is great for sticking thingsonto your materialand you can get this fromany craft store.

Next up, another really importantthing for me is a sewing kit.In here, I've got loads of differentcoloured threads whichare really, really useful and alsodifferent sized needles, so whenyou have different thicknessesof fabricyou can choose which needle to use.I've also got some safety pinswhich are really greatif you want to hold somethingin place before you sew it.Another must in the design boxis some pens and pencils.I've got some marker pens herewhich are really greatfor marking on to fabricbut also a pencil -really simple andreally great for sketches.Don't forget a rubber as well, justin case you make a few wrong marks.

Lastly, one thingthat I really like to dois collect pictures for inspiration.Whenever I'm just sat down readinga magazine, I'll be lookingat pictures of colours and textures,anything that really catches my eye.If I really like it,I'll just rip out the pictureand put it in my design boxfor later.

Now, you can get everything in herequite cheaplybut you don't need to get itall in one go.The thing about a design boxis that it grows over timeand the box doesn't haveto be expensive.Why not recycle somethinglike an old shoe box?You can personalise it in any way youlike. What about using coloured card?You could stick that allthe way around your boxor you could even use fabric,different types of fabric.Stick that all the way around.You can even customise itwith ribbonsor get some felt-tip pens and crayonsand draw your own special design.At the end of the day,it's your design boxand you want to decorate it withwhatever you think looks good.