DIY Pool Floats for Your Doll

This inflatable, Barbie pool with solid colored pool floats dates from the mid seventies. It is in excellent condition.
The straw float craft is an easy one, but like most of the crafts included here, children need adult supervision to complete it.

        Now is the time for having some fun in the sun with your dolls! Above is an inflatable pool and blue floats from my childhood collection. The straw floats with alternating colors are easy to make at home. But you will need adult supervision because these are melted together using a hot iron.

Supply List:

• drinking straws
• parchment paper (to protect the iron and other surfaces from melted plastic)
• iron and ironing board
• scissors
• clear plastic bags (this will act as a layer of glue)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose a pattern you would like for the pool floats. I alternated purple and green straws for one pool float and teal and red straws for the other.
2. Heat up your iron to it's highest temperature, and ask your parent to watch and help you in your progress.
3. Lay a sheet of parchment paper on the ironing board. The parchment will separate the straws from the hot iron and keep the appliance clean from melted plastic. The parchment is very necessary for this craft.
4. Lay the straws side by side and then layer a sheet of plastic bag on top of the straws and fold the parchment paper over the straws before pressing them with the hot iron.
5. Press down on top of the parchment with the hot iron. It only take a few seconds to melt the straws together.
6. Now lift the parchment and remove the melted straws carefully.
7. Turn off the iron.
8. Trim the excess plastic around the edges of the straws. Turn the straws over; the front side of your melted straws should not appear melted.
9. You can trim the edges of the straws with scissors if these are uneven.
10. Now your 12" dolls have new floats for the pool to play with!

Left, fold the parchment paper over the straws before pressing them with the hot iron. Center, Trim the excess plastic
 around the edges of the straws. Turn the straws over; the front side of your melted straws should not appear melted.
Right, Now your 12" dolls have new floats for the pool to play with!