A leave-it-anywhere craft

Time to completion: 5 minutes. 1 minute, if you take out the drying time.

Supplies

• A paper napkin (like one left over from last night’s take-out)
• 7″-10″ sticks, dry, gathered from the yard
• White gel pen
• Black permanent marker, fine-tipped

Steps

1. Take the stick, and, about an inch from the top, use the white gel pen to draw the whites of the eyes. SET STICK ASIDE WHILE THE EYEBALLS DRY.
2. Take the napkin, and tearing with the grain, tear off an inch wide strip. (If you tear with the grain, the napkin will tear in a straight-ish line. If you tear against the grain, the tear will jump all over and wave and do obnoxious not straight things)
3. Fold the napkin in half until it is roughly 6 inches long.
4. Twist the napkin gently.
5. Tie the napkin around the stick—below the eyeballs—with a single overhand knot. Knot to the back. (Gently now. You don’t want to rip the napkin in half.)
6. DOUBLE CHECK your eyeballs are dry. (Even the thick parts. You don’t want to ruin your permanent marker! Those things aren’t cheap.)
7. Using the fine point permanent marker, draw the pupils of the eyeballs, and any other features that tickle you pink.

You are now done.

What now?

Stick the stick person in a potted plant.

Be quietly (or loudly) satisfied every time you greet your stick person, knowing that your friendly companion will, with time, gently and harmlessly reabsorb into the earth’s sweet dirt.

A craft so easy that you can finish it while standing in a slow-moving grocery line.

Argyleimp