Is your child's pencil box still hanging around from the end of last school year? Try putting those old nubs and half used pencils to work. All you'll need is a handful of washers…
I found this idea on Palimpsest blog where the original post by Gunter of the Lexikaliker blog was translated from German. The idea is to make small spinning tops from old pencil nubs with the help of a washer from your toolbox or local hardware store.
It's a simple idea to keep kids entertained and add a little extra value to their art table this summer. Just place one over the end, spin, and away it goes! If your pencils aren't yet short enough you could cut them with a pair of gardening shears.
• Read More: Palimpsest
(Image: Lexikaliker)

Nomade Express Slee...
Way cool!
This is simply brilliant.
Good idea. FWIW, note that is a very soft graphite pencil (thus the darker the lines) ; not something most kids will have. A 'B' & the higher the number, the darker the line. Pencil with an 'H'; the higher the number, the lighter the line.
Color pencils might not be too intense, but still interesting. Back to school pencils are so cheap now, this would be a very inexpensive art/decorating project.
Thank you, AT!! This post has it all! I love spinning tops (have a look at these spinning tops from an Austrian manufacturer - they are to die for). And I love pencils. So this idea simply is genius.
And as if that were not enough, there's also a German blog I've never heard of before. It's mainly about - pencils, and it is brilliant!
Thank you so much ♥
What a brilliant idea! @Mollyheyer what an amazing set of tops that company has.