Fossil Hunter

25 min · $3-8 · Easy

Khaki vest, toy brush, magnifying glass, and cardboard fossil bones in a belt pouch.

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DIY this week — ~$3-8, 25 min

• Buy the magnifying glass and pouch.
• Draw bone shapes on the cardboard with the pencil: a femur, a rib, a skull.
• Cut the bones out with the scissors and shade the edges with the pencil for the dug-up look.
• Tuck the cardboard bones into the pouch so the tops peek out.
• Wear the khaki vest over a plain shirt, the pouch on the belt, the magnifying glass in one pocket and the brush in the other.

Tip: crumple the brown paper bag into a specimen bag and label it with the pencil. One labeled prop sells the whole expedition.

You need

• Khaki or tan vest with pockets, 1 (own, or buy: thrift store)
• Toy paintbrush or makeup brush, 1 (own, or buy: dollar store)
• Toy magnifying glass, 1 (buy: dollar store)
• Cardboard for fossil bones, 1 sheet (make: from a shipping box)
• Small canvas pouch or fanny pack, 1 (own, or buy: dollar store)
• Brown paper lunch bag, 1 (own)
• Scissors, 1 pair
• Pencil, 1

Steps

1. Buy the magnifying glass and pouch. Pull the khaki vest from the closet.
2. Draw bone shapes on the cardboard with the pencil: a femur, a rib, a skull. Keep them chunky, thin cardboard bones snap.
3. Cut the bones out with the scissors and shade the edges with the pencil for the dug-up look.
4. Tuck the cardboard bones into the pouch so the tops peek out.
5. Safety: round all cardboard corners, and carry the brush bristles-down so nobody gets poked.
6. Wear the khaki vest over a plain shirt, the pouch on the belt, the magnifying glass in one pocket and the brush in the other.
7. Optional pro finish: crumple the brown paper bag into a specimen bag and label it with the pencil. One labeled prop sells the whole expedition.

Common questions

How do you make cardboard bones look like fossils?

Cut them chunky, shade the edges with pencil, and rub a little dirt-colored eyeshadow into the surface. Uneven shading beats perfect coloring.

What goes in the belt pouch?

The cardboard bones with their tops peeking out, plus the brush. A pouch that bulges with finds reads as a real dig kit.

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