Craft store find

[JenJen]

I found potential toy material at my local craft store, however I'm not sure it's safe to use! They appear to be made out of wood -- what type, I do not know. Has anyone ever used these in their toy making projects?

Also, what is the word on using food color (the kind you'd buy straight from the store) to dye said blocks or even strands of jute/hemp?

Thanks for any insight/suggestions!

 

[hacatta]

I too use wooden cloth pins but only because so many people use them.
So i figure they are safe.
And food dye is safe,just add a few drops in water.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Food dye is perfectly safe, and if you want vibrant colors, mix it with Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). The alcohol is safe, as it will quickly evaporate.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I just saw one of your pictures are wooden clothes pins. Those are NOT safe, unless you remove the metal spring.

 

[MomtoPercy]

Wooden clothes pins are usually made from pine and, with the metal spring removed, makes a nice, easy to hold, chew toy.

I'd be cautious of the beads though - is there nothing on the packaging indicating what wood they're made of? It seems from the pics that this item is made in China - remember, their rules about labeling may be different to ours. Be very sure about the beads before you use them. I'd kill to get beads like that, provided they are safe untreated wood.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Doesn't that speak for it self?

You really must have NO idea about what some people use for bird toys. I'd rather point out the obvious, than get an accident report down the line.

 

[hacatta]

You're right.
I do have some people on the internet seen doing some weird things.
Just the other day i found an website with recipes for birds,almost every recipe used 1 cup of salt or sugar,wonder how long her parrot's will life.

 

[JerseyWendy]

You're right.
I do have some people on the internet seen doing some weird things.
Just the other day i found an website with recipes for birds,almost every recipe used 1 cup of salt or sugar,wonder how long her parrot's will life.

OMG, I'm speechless! :11: :11: :11:

 

[hacatta]

My mother and i were looking for birdie muffin recipe's ,imagine our surprise.
And that isn't the worst of it,it wasn't the only one we found.
You have to understand that it was in my language ,Dutch.
And here we are behind on information about parrots at least a decade or so.
At least i came to that conclusion when i came to this forum.
Their are a lot mistakes in every book about parrot's here.

 

[JenJen]

The clothes pins I was relatively sure would be fine. Definitely intend to remove the metal spring! I was really hopeful the beads would work...but I couldn't find a single mention of what type of wood they used. I do plan on checking out the local lumber yard, but am clueless as to what I should ask for. I see mention of "untreated pine" but to be honest, I'm so paranoid that Zulu will wind up with a tainted toy.

I love doing crafty things but can't seem to find a good "source" for supplies.

 

[Terry57]

I used to work at Michael's arts and crafts, and I know we had a small wood section, with balls, and spindles, and that kind of thing. I just can't remember what they were made of, but I know they were unfinished.You might check there.

 

[JenJen]

Thanks, Terry. I'll try there the next time I'm out near a Michaels. In the absence of, I'm limited to either JoAnne's and Walmart. I'll have to do a little more digging to see if I can use anything from there.