Applications to share your makes at All Pikes Peak Makes are now open! Please use the form below to submit your idea. We can't wait to hear from you! 

When:  Sat., April 27, 2024 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Library 21c

A maker is someone who creates – to be innovative, to solve problems, to bring something beautiful into the world, or simply to have fun. They have an idea and they bring it to life. Making can encompass just about anything, from high tech to low tech to no tech, from art to fabrication to artistic fabrication, from needles to table saws to software.

Join us for this event as we spend the day celebrating ingenuity in the Pikes Peak Region – by tinkering, thinking, and, of course, making! Past experiences include:

  • Paper rockets
  • Lego builds
  • Local makerspaces
  • Cosplay
  • Whittling
  • Cardboard creations
  • 3D printing
  • And so much more

Want to share what you make?
The application for exhibitors is now open. 

Submit your application here

If you have any questions, please email us at APPM@ppld.org.

Materials for this December Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning December 8, 2023. For more pictures with instructions see pdf file link below.

Materials provided:
paper
Materials you provide: 
crayons or markers, scissors, glue, ruler, black marker

Pablo Picasso is a famous artist from the 20th century. He’s known for co-founding the Cubist movement. In Cubism, subjects and artists are broken up and rearranged in an abstract form. The name Cubism comes from the cubes and other geometric shapes contained in the artwork. Picasso combined different pieces of his subject to make things look very fragmented, often using geometric shapes. ‘A head’, said Picasso, ‘is a matter of eyes, nose, mouth, which can be distributed in any way you like’. He had different styles of Cubism during his life.
Directions:

Papers 1 & 2:
Draw a self-portrait using bright colors. Cut it up and glue it to another paper in an abstract way.
Paper 3:
Use the ruler to divide your paper in quarters – draw a vertical linein the center of your paper and also a horizontal line in the center.
Divide your paper into 4 quadrants again – this time drawing lines from corner to corner, both directions.
Using only straight lines, draw facial features.
Color with crayons or markers. Outline the features with a black marker.

Materials for this Take & Make, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning November 10, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials We Provide:
Plastic Cup, paper base, dinosaur
Materials You Provide:
Colored Pencils, crayons, and/or markers, paper scraps, scissors, glue, natural objects.
Directions:
1. If possible, go outside and collect small natural objects to use in your dinorama. You might consider pinecones and or needles, pebbles, leaves, and such.
2. Use paper scraps to make other items such as trees, water features, and food to create your dinosaur habitat.
3. Create the habitat to your liking.
4. Check that the cup will fit over the top.
5. Glue the inside pieces down.
6. Glue the cup over the top.

Materials for this eclipse Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, October 13, 2023.

Materials and Instructions

Materials Included in Take and Make:
Black paper
Circle template
White, non-toxic chalk
You provide:
Pencil
Scissors
Masking Tape

OPTIONAL: Brightly colored construction paper or foam sheets for cut-out horizon detail.

Instructions: See pdf file below for more pictures and science information.
1. Place the template on a piece of dark paper. Secure with a loop of masking tape or simply hold down with one hand.
2. Draw a thick circle of chalk around the template. Go around 2 or 3 times. It does not need to be neat.
3. Holding the template in place, smudge the chalk away from the center of the circle using a finger to create the corona of the Sun.
4, When you are done smudging, remove the circle template.
5. Add words, pictures, or fun designs.

The free supplies for this September Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning September 8, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
plastic needle, yarn, styrofoam plates
Materials you provide:
pencil, scissors, tape, scrap paper (optional)
Directions:
Here are tutorials (https://tinyurl.com/bdfv82kk) for basic sewing stitches. We recommend running stitch, backstitch, whip stitch, and cross stitch for this project. Also, see additional photos in the pdf file provided.
Running stitch and Backstitch – great for sewing straight lines
Whip Stitch – great for adding a border
Cross Stitch – great for adding details
Step 1:
Use your pencil to create a design on your plate by gently poking the pencil through the plate. The holes should be at least ½" apart. (You may want to draw it on scratch paper first.)
Step 2:
Cut a piece of yarn no longer than your arm. Thread it through the needle. It may help to tie one end of the yarn to the needle so it doesn’t come unthreaded. You should have a long end and a shorter end.
Step 3:
Beginning at the back of the plate, sew in and out of the holes you poked to complete your design. Pull the yarn taut after each stitch, but don’t pull too hard and tear the plate. You may tape the end of the yarn to the back of the plate to hold it. When you run out of yarn you can either continue with the same color or begin a new color.
Use the second plate to create a different design.

Materials for this Take and Make project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, August, 11, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Paper strips and circles

Glue Dots

Skewer

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Glue Stick

Glue gun, optional (for adult use)

Pin, optional

Pencil, optional

Directions: click on the file link below to see more information.
1. Cover the back side of a circle with glue and attach 2 of the strips directly across from each other. Add more glue and 2 more strips. Continue until you have all 8 strips evenly spaced.
Put glue on the back of another circle and use it to cover your strips to secure them in place.

2. Do the same with your remaining circles and the other ends of your strips.

3. Poke a hole through the center of each hole. Use a pin to start your hole, if desired. You can also use your pencil to make the bottom hole a little bigger than the skewer.

4. Push the skewer through the bottom hole, up through the center of the spinner, through one of your glue dots, and slightly out the top hole. Secure the point with an additional glue dot. An adult could also secure these using the glue gun.

5. After the glue has dried a few minutes, spin it by rubbing the end of the skewer between your hands.

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libaries beginning July 14, 2023.

A thaumatrope is an optical toy that teaches persistence of vision.” The name thaumatrope means “wonder turner."

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
cardstock templates
straws

Materials you need to provide:
Pencils, crayons, markers
tape

We have provided two options for this activity.

Option One:
Cut out the circles with the printed templates.

Option Two:
Cut out the blank circles. With one on top of the other, draw an image on the top circle. If youpress firmly with your pencil as you draw, you will be able to see the image on the bottom circle to better align your images. Draw a complimentary image on the second circle.
Both options:
Tape the end of a straw to the back of one circle. Carefully align and tape the other circle back-to-back with the first one.
Here are some ideas:
Bird in a cage (bird on one side, cage on the other)
Emojis (face on one side, yellow circle on the other)
Butterflies in a jar (butterflies on one side, jar on the other)
Giraffe with spots (solid giraffe on one side, giraffe outline with spots on the other)
Spider in a web (spider on one side and web on the other)
Fish in a bowl (fish on one side and bowl on the other)
Rocket on the moon (rocket on one side, moon on the other)
Dueling lightsabers (one lightsaber on each side)

Spin the Spin the straw between your hands. As it spins, the two pictures will appear to blend into one.

Supplies for this Take and Make, for ages 5-12, will be available at no cost at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, June 9, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

Lemonade Slushies are a great way to beat the summer heat! There’s little to no mess. They’re fun for all ages. And you get slushy goodness!

Supplies:

Materials provided: 1-gallon ziploc, 1-sandwich or quart ziploc, lemonade packet

Materials you provide: water, salt, ice, spoon, cup (optional), towel (optional)

Directions:

Place ice cubes and salt in the gallon sized ziploc bag. Start with 15-20 ice cubes and 1-2 tablespoons salt.

Mix HALF of a lemonade powder packet and 8 – 10 ounces of water in the smaller ziploc. Remove as much excess air as possible and seal the bag.

Place the bag with lemonade into the bag of ice and salt. Seal the large ziploc.

Shake or knead the bags for about 5 minutes until your lemonade has become a slushie. If the bags get too cold, wrap them in a towel.

Carefully remove the lemonade bag from the larger bag. You don’t want to get salt in your lemonade. Pour it into a cup to eat it or eat it right out of the bag.

Tips:

If it seems to be taking too long, add more salt and ice.

Other beverages also work, so experiment to find your favorite.

Supplies for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning May 12, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Use the provided paper or your own supplies to draw a shape to race around on your magnet track. You might choose a vehicle (car, truck, train, boat, etc.), an animal (cow, fish, turtle, dog, etc.), or something entirely different. It should be small enough to go on your paper plate (less than 2 inches). Attach a magnet to the back using double-sided tape or a glue dot.

Use your own markers, crayons, or colored pencils to create a course on your race track.

Use double-sided tape or a glue to to attach a magnet to the end of your craft stick. Before you glue, you need to make sure that the magnet on the car and the magnet on the stick attract rather than repel each other. If they repel each other, turn the magnet for the stick over before attaching.

Test your track! Set your shape (vehicle, animal, or other) on your track. Use the magnet on the craft stick under the plate to move and race the car.

Have fun!

Find the tutorial video at https://ppld.librarymarket.com/virtual-kidsmake-magnetic-race-tracks

The free materials for this Take and Make (for ages 5-12), will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning April 14, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Coffee Filter

Pipe Cleaner

Military person toy

Secure the Military person to the center of the pipe cleaner. You may choose to wrap the pipe cleaner around your person or thread it through any openings.

Poke one end of the pipe cleaner through the edge of the coffee filter. Poke the other end through the opposite side. Fold over the ends to secure.

Drop from a high place (or toss in the air) to watch your parachutist float down. It may help to pinch the center of the coffee filter first.

Free materials for this Take and Make, for ages 5-12, are available starting today at area PPLD libraries. For more pictures of this project, click on the pdf link included at the end.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
Circle Template
Large Paper Clip
Large Straw
Materials you provide:
Scissors
Tape
Markers

1. Color the sections of the circle template with rainbow colors.

2. Cut the circle out. Also cut on the lines between each color, stopping about ½” from the center. Fold flaps down.

3. Straighten the paper clip and then fold a small part of one end down to a 90 degree angle. Carefully poke the paper clip through the center of the circle and tape the small folded part to the colored side.

4. Bend the other end of the paper clip so it can be inserted in the straw and stay secure. Cut the length of the straw in half.

5. To fly your spinner, hold it between your palms with the circle at the top. Roll it quickly and let go. It should spin and float. The colors will blend as it flies. It may take some practice.

Call for art! It's time to get creative! 

Homeschoolers can submit one artwork (drawing, painting, sculpture, needlework, etc.) for this non-juried exhibit. Drop off your entry at the East Library Children's Department from Mon., March 18 – Thu., March 28, 2024. 

Artwork will be displayed throughout the month of April. Grades K - 12. Contact jfleishhacker@ppld.org for more information.

Click here for more event details

Materials for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries, beginning Feb. 10, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

For additional pictures of this project, click on the pdf file link below.)

Jumbo craft sticks (2)

A wide rubberband

Two smaller rubber bands

A straw

You provide the scissors.

1. Cut two pieces of straw that are 1 – 1 .5 inches long.

2. Stretch the thick rubber band around one of the craft sticks.  Place one of the straws under the rubber band.
3. Put the other craft stick on top and attach them with one of the small rubberband on the same end as the straw.

4. Stick the other piece of straw at the other end of the harmonica, but this time place it on top of the wide rubber band.  Secure the end with the second small rubber band.

5. To play the harmonica, all you have to do is blow.  Our younger kids were wanting to hum into it at first, but then they got the hang of it.

It makes a really cool noise!  When you blow, the wide rubber band vibrates and makes a sound.
To change the pitch, slide the straws closer together or farther apart.  When you slide them closer together, the section of rubber band that is vibrating is shorter, so it makes a higher sound. Slide the straws all the way to the edges to get the lowest possible sound (which is still pretty high, but lower).

Make it an experiment!

Does the thickness or the tension of the wide rubber band affect the pitch?  Try different ones.

Can you change the pitch by blowing harder or softer?  Does the shape of your mouth affect the pitch? (Yes, it does! One of my boys figured out how to play a song by blowing different ways.)

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at PPLD locations beginning Friday, January 13, 2023.


Supplies and Directions:


Materials we provide:

Colored Cardstock

Stickers

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Alexander Calder was an American sculpture known for his colorful giant sculptures . See some examples of Calder's work in the pdf link below.
Directions:
1. Take a cardstock rectangle. Decorate it with markers, crayons, or colored pencils if desired.

2. Fold it in half.

3. Make cuts similar to those in the picture that almost reach the fold.

4. Unfold.

5. If desired, use colored stickers to decorate.

6. Fold, alternating folding one toward the back and the next toward the front. Alternate this way to allow your sculpture to stand. (For example, the right side would be back, front, back, front, etc. and the left side would be front, back, front, back, etc.)

Get creative with your cutting to create additional amazing sculptures!

Free materials for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning Dec. 9, 2023.

Materials provided:
Spool
Washer
Rubber Band
Toothpicks
Materials you provide:
Scissors
Tape
Markers, if desired
Directions: (see additional pictures in the pdf link below)
1. Use markers to decorate the spool, if desired.
2. Push the rubber band through the center of the spool. Use a toothpick to help poke it through if needed.
3. Break a toothpick, slide it through one rubber band loop, and secure it to the spool with tape.
4. Slide the washer onto the rubber band loop at the other end of the spool.
5. Insert a toothpick through the loop.
6. Wind the toothpick.
7. Set it down on a smooth surface and let go. Watch it race or spin!
8. Experiment with how you can adjust it to make it go straighter or farther. You can also race your friends.

How does your brain understand how far away something is? This experiment shows how your eyes work together to perceive distance.

Our eyes both face the same direction. Because they do, they produce slightly different views of the same object. Our brains are able to use this overlapping information (retinal disparity) to figure out how far away an object is. (If our eyes were on the sides of our heads like some animals, we would have poor depth perception.)

Try this: Close one eye and focus on a nearby object. Switch which eye is open and focus on the object again. You should see the object shift. Try it again with a faraway object. When you use just one eye, your brain can’t use feedback from both eyes to discern depth perception.

Materials needed:
Pipe cleaners – use half for each
Clay
Scissors
Pencils

Instructions:
1. Cut your full pipe cleaner in half. Use ½ pipe cleaner for each.
2. Bend the end of a pipe cleaner so you have a circle that’s slightly bigger than a pencil. Twist it to secure.
3. Use a bit of clay to make a stand for the pipe cleaner.
4. Make 2 more pipe cleaner stands with slightly bigger circles. You should have 3 pipe cleaners on stands.
5. Test your depth perception – Place the pipe cleaner with the largest opening on a table in front of you so you cannot see the opening. Close one eye and try to put the pencil through the hole. Try it again with both eyes open. Which is easier? Try it with each sized hole and see the difference.
6. If this is too easy, try getting a needle and thread and threading the needle with one eye closed!

Based on: https://www.kiwico.com/diy/stem/anatomy-biology/seeing-depth-perception

Take and Makes for this project will be available at area PPLD libraries on Oct. 14, 2022.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Paper Templates

Cardboard

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Penny

Glue

Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils

Directions:

Color your template. Glue the template to the cardboard. Cut out around your template.

Cut a small slit in the center of the circle to insert the penny. The slit needs to snugly hold the penny.

Spin. As it spins, note what you see.

The Science Behind it: Something in motion stays in motion unless a force acts upon it. In Penny Spinners, the friction between the penny and the surface slows it down and eventually causes it to stop. This project also shows color mixing as the colors combine when the spinner spins.

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libraries, beginning Sept. 9, 2022.

Supplies:

We provide:
Coffee Filters

Washable Markers

Leaf Template

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Cup of Water

Pencil

Directions:
(See pdf link below for additional pictures of this project.)

1. Stack your coffee filters. Use the template to trace a leaf on the top one. (If you’d prefer, just draw your own leaf.) Cut the leaves out through all the coffee filters.

2. Use a washable marker to draw a thick circle in the center of each coffee filter leaf. Do not fill in the center of the circle or color the entire leaf.

3. Fold the leaf 3 times (in half, in half again, and in half again). You should have a point in the middle of your circle.

4. Carefully dip the point of the leaf in the cup of water and hold it there until the leaf is saturated. It may need a minute or so. You will probably want a new cup of water for each leaf.

5. Let the leaves dry on a surface that can get color on it. Once they are dry, carefully unfold them.

This STEM project is a favorite from our quarantine days of virtual programming.

Supplies:

Large jar (24 oz. spaghetti sauce jar or a large mason jar)
Water - 2 1/2 cups water (or until it reaches 3/4 of the way up the jar)
Oil - 1/2 cup
Sprinkle in as much salt as necessary but you'd need about 1/4 cup total
Food coloring (optional)

Directions:

Pour water 3/4 to the top of a mason jar. Stir in optional food coloring.
Pour oil into jar. Allow water and oil to separate.
Sprinkle salt into jar. Watch the reaction occur and make observations.
Watch this project at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3qhs9SW-RA

Shark Week begins July 24. Here's a preview into our cool shark game Take and Make, for ages 5-12, which will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning July 8, 2022.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials provided in Take and Make:

  • Paper Tube
  • Blue paper
  • Googly Eye Stickers
  • Yarn
  • Bead

Materials you provide:

  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Markers
  1. Tape blue construction paper around the paper roll.
  2. Create and tape a triangular fin to the top.
  3. Decorate the roll at one end to look like a shark with its mouth open. Use the sticker eyes if desired.
  4. Push one end of the yarn through the bead and tie a double knot. You may need to use a pencil to push the yarn through.
  5. Tie a double knot around the paper roll. Leave approximately 6-8 inches for the ball to swing on. Cut off any excess yarn.
  6. Gently swing the ball and see if you can catch it in the shark’s mouth! Gentle swings are the key!

Supplies:

Clean, clear jar with lid
Thin glow stick
Scissors
Table covering or tray
Glitter (optional)
Directions:

With a grown-up's help, cut the tip off the glow stick.
Place the open end of the glow stick in the jar and shake it back and forth so that it splatters. Turn the jar as you splatter.
Add a small pinch of glitter, sprinkling onto the sides of the jar where the splatters are.
Cover with lid and take into a very dark room.
Fireflies are not flies but beetles and do exist in Colorado! They hang out by permanent water sources like ponds, lakes, and streams. Watch this project at: https://youtu.be/LRNWJVQRFYw

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning this Friday, June 10, 2022.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials We Provide:

File Folder

Origami Paper

Rubber Band

Materials You Provide:

Stapler

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil
Directions: (for additional pictures, see pdf link below:
1. Draw a rectangle along the fold of your file folder that’s approximately 4.5 x 7 inches. The folded edge should be part of your rectangle. Cut it out, but don’t cut the folded edge. When you open your rectangle, it should be about 9 inches x 7 inches.

2. Fold one side down to the folded edge. Turn the folder over and do the same to the other side.

3. Fold each side back up to the top. Crease well.

4. Open the folder up along the original fold. Staple the rubber band to one end near that center fold.

5. Use the origami paper to fold a classic dart airplane.

6. Stretch the rubber band around the front of the launcher and around to the back. Hook it to the back near the top.

7. Slide the airplane into the center slot of the file folder launcher. It should rest all the way back against the rubber band.
8. Pull the sides of the launcher apart. The rubber band should propel the airplane forward!

To expand this project, experiment with different weights of paper for your airplane, different rubber band thicknesses, and different launcher lengths. You could also change the trajectory to see how the distance traveled changes.

Based on: https://frugalfun4boys.com/file-folder-paper-airplane-launcher

Take and Makes for this project (from May 13, 2022) may still be available at area PPLD Libraries!

Supplies and Directions:

Materials we provide:

  • Paper plate
  • Contact paper
  • Yarn

Materials you provide:

  • Natural materials
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Go outside and pick up a variety of natural materials.
  2. Cut out the center circle of your plate.
  3. Peel the backing off your contact paper.
  4. Place your contact paper sticky side up on your surface.
  5. Place the outside plate circle over the contact paper.
  6. Arrange your natural materials on the sticky side of your contact paper.
  7. Use the yarn to hang your suncatcher.

Based on https://handsonaswegrow.com/craft-for-toddlers-nature-collage-suncatche…

Can your water balloons survive a big drop? Find out with this experiment.

Supplies and Directions:

  • One balloon
  • Water
  • One plastic shopping bag
  • One rubber band

Directions:

  1. Add water to your balloon, don't fill the balloon, leave lots of room to tie the balloon closed.
  2. Cut the ends of the handles of the bags. Tie or rubber band them to the knotted end of a water balloon
  3. Go outside and drop it from a high place to see if it breaks when it lands.
  4. Test and retest until your balloon breaks.
  5. Try it again with another balloon.
  6. See what else you can attach to your parachute and let drop.

Happy Earth Month!
Does your family recycle? There are tons of companies in town that recycle. Maybe you could encourage your family to join in this simple process but yes, it's does cost something. Try cleaning and saving some plastics with caps and cardboard and other stuff. Make a Trash Art creation!

Did you know you can't just recycle anything? According to one recycle business in town, here's what you can/cannot recycle:

Do Recycle:
CLEAN glass jars and metal lids (but not all companies accept glass)
CLEAN plastic bottles and containers. Look for the recycle symbol with a #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
Flattened cardboard cereal and other dry food boxes, shoe boxes, tissue boxes, moving boxes, soda cartons, TP/paper rolls
CLEAN aluminum, steel, or tin cans and lids
Newspaper, scrap paper, paper bags, index cards, envelopes

Do NOT recycle:
Styrofoam
dirty cardboard like pizza boxes
electronic devices and monitors
yard waste
shredded paper
plastic bags
plastic caps unless there is a recycle symbol on it
food
dishes
paint cans
motor oil containers