project: foam building discs

I loved the building discs shown by Joel Henriques on his blog, madebyjoel.blogspot.com (I love each and every project he shares - thank you Joel!) However, paper discs are a bit tricky to build with, especially for younger designers. I tried the project using craft foam between the paper discs - easy to make and so easy to build! I had fun with the project myself, and my nine-year-old loved it, but designers as young as 4 or 5 can make this with assistance, and build on their own!

Notes: This project makes use of a material and a technique that are very simple and come in very handy. The material is rubber cement - the unsung hero of glues (instructions for application below). The technique is making a guide (again, shown below). This project has many repetitive steps, which can seem laborious but is very rewarding in the end product - you'll have a great set of pieces and truly engaging activity (even I keep fiddling with my disc architecture).

AGE: 8+ can make this on their own. 5+ can still have fun making this with help. 
MESS: Small
TIME: 20-30 minutes

SUPPLIES:

Paper (colored cardstock or fun patterned paper), at least 6 sheets
Foam sheets (from craft stores like Michael's or from discountschoolsupply.com), at least 4 sheets
3" punch (ideal!), or a glass (to trace the circle) and pencil
Scissors
Rubber Cement (the best glue to use with paper)
If you have one: box or round tin (slightly larger than disc diameter) to package the discs

HOW-TO

One. Punch at least 36 circles from paper (at 2 circles per building disc, this will make 18 discs)
Punch half as many circles from the foam sheets
If you are not using a punch, you will have to trace and cut the circles by hand

Two. Cover one side of each paper circle and each foam circle with rubber cement; let dry. Once dry, press the glue-side of a paper circle to the glue-side of a foam circle. Flip the disc over, and cover the other side of the foam with a thin layer of rubber cement; let dry. Then affix the other paper circle (with rubber cement) to the foam.

Using rubber cement: Brush a very think layer of rubber cement on BOTH of the pieces you are gluing. LET DRY, then attach. Any extra rubber cement can be rubbed off of the surface, when completely dry. Rubber cement makes a great bond without creating any wrinkles or warping in the paper. It is a strong bond that is also re-positionable. If you don't line up the pieces exactly right, gently peel apart and try again!

Three. Make a guide to create uniform slits in your discs. Punch one paper circle; fold in half, and fold in half again. Mark the fold lines with pencil; cut a half-inch slit along these lines. Use the guide to mark slits on each disc. Cut the slits with scissors; the slits should be about as wide as the thickness of the foam. For each slit, make two cuts very close to each other and gently pull off the thin bit of foam.

NOW BUILD!