Most people throw out
their old cardboard cartons
and tubes for recycling but
Matthew Taylor has a different
use for them - he
recycles the rubbish into
toys.
Matthew's two-year-old
daughter Elizabeth has a
unique collection that
includes a castle, a space
rocket and a letterbox piggy
bank.
Matthew's hobby began two
years ago when he found himself
looking at all the rubbish
around the house and wondering
how he could turn it into
something useful.
He said: "I make 100 per cent
destructible toys which I don't
mind being jumped on or
thrown about.
"They are made to be
destroyed although none of
them have been broken yet
because Elizabeth plays with
them so nicely.
"Her friends come and play
with them too. Her favourite is
probably Iggle Piggle, a character
from the BBC
children's programme In The
Night Garden. She likes to say
that Daddy made this for me."
advertisement
Elizabeth still has plenty of
conventional toys bought by
her mother Karina Moran, 35,
and grandparents.
Matthew, 36, of Bolney
Road, Brighton, said: "It
annoys me sometimes when
my partner buys all this stuff
which costs a small fortune
and then they get broken.
If only she'd waited I could
have done it myself."
It takes between two hours
to a week to make a toy.
Matthew said Iggle Piggle took
five days but pencil holders
made out of things like old
Pringle tubes are quick to
produce.
Matthew, who works as a
salesman in the city, is
inspired by television shows
such as Art Attack, Mister
Maker and Smart.
He insists the toys would
pass all health and safety regulations
and prides himself on
the fact they are non-toxic and
biodegradable. He said:
"They're not going to go up in
flames."
Matthew has not yet managed
to convince any of his
friends to follow his example
but believes it would be good
for the environment if they did
so.
He added: "Every creation I
make is better than the last.
"As Elizabeth gets older I
expect my creations to
develop. If I had my way I'd do
a lot more but my partner
Karina doesn't like all the junk
around.
"We're not married but you
never know. If I manage to sell
enough on ebay it might pay
for a wedding."
Do you enjoy making things? Tell us about your creations below
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
