How to Make a Miniature Toothbrush

What better accessory to add to your cabinet or bathroom counter top than a toothbrush? Read on to find out how you can make one or two for yourself.

Because of the materials this uses, I've added a second set of instructions in the off chance that you don't have or are unable to locate a baby brush or, if you decide you just prefer the looks of the other brush better. I found the first brush much easier to make than the second.

What You Will Need:

Baby Toothbrush (The ones that are rubbery and designed to slip onto your finger)
Air - Dry Clay, or Play Doh.
Glue or Double - Sided Tape.

How To Make It:

1. Take your clay or Play Doh and roll it into a long rod like shape. Break off any excess that is longer than two inches.

2. Shape the top of your brush into a diamond shape by pinching the top into a reverse "V" shape. Do the same for the portion just above what will be your handle. Pinch it into a "V" shape. Try to pinch both ends at the same time and reshape as needed. Pay careful attention to how thick you make this. You want it fairly thin and fairly flat in the back.

3. Break or cut off the excess handle of the brush to your desired length. Keep your scale size in mind while choosing the size of your handle.

4. Set aside and allow it to dry thoroughly.

5. Take your baby toothbrush and lay the dried toothbrush over it. Cut around the shape of the toothbrush top. (Alternately you can draw the shape out on paper and lay against the toothbrush. It might be a bit easier than working with the clay brush that has a tendency to shift as you cut.)

6. Glue the piece you cut from the baby toothbrush to the oval area of the toothbrush. Allow to dry completely. All done!

The second type of brush is made with those plastic tabs that you often find on socks or clothing. These are the tabs that have a "T" shape at one end. This brush takes some skill and manual dexterity to make along with a great deal of patience.

What You Will Need:

Those Little Plastic Pieces That You Often Find Holding Tags On Clothing
Air - Dry Clay, or Play Doh.

How To Make It:

1. Take your clay or Play Doh and roll it into a long rod like shape. Break off any excess that is longer than two inches.

2. Shape the top of your brush into a diamond shape by pinching the top into a reverse "V" shape. Do the same for the portion just above what will be your handle. Pinch it into a "V" shape. Try to pinch both ends at the same time and reshape as needed. Pay careful attention to how thick you make this. You want it fairly thin and fairly flat in the back.

3. Break or cut off the excess handle of the brush to your desired length. Keep your scale size in mind while choosing the size of your handle.

4. Take your plastic pieces from the clothing that you collected and place them into the soft clay or Play Doh. I used thicker, stiffer plastic for this to mimic the thicker, stiffer toothbrush bristles.

5. Cut the pieces to the desired size careful not to pull them out or to knock them over. (Alternately you can cut these pieces prior to adding them to the brush, but they will be harder to work with as they are very short.)

6. Adjust any pieces that were falling over as a result of your adding more pieces or your cutting them.

7. Let the clay or Play Doh dry thoroughly. All Done.

Hints, Tips and Ideas:

* You can add a section of the back of the baby tooth brush to the handle of the toothbrush to mimic the rubber grips that most toothbrushes have.

* If you don't have the baby toothbrush or cannot locate it, you can add an extra piece of clay or Play Doh to the handle to mimic the raised shape of most toothbrush handles.

* If you don't have clay or Play Doh you can use cardstock or cardboard for your toothbrushes and attach the bristles in the manners described above.

* If your bristles tend to fall over when using the plastic tag method, they can resemble the worn out and crooked bristles of an old worn out toothbrush.

* Make two toothbrushes. One new and one with old, crooked bristles. You can switch between them in your home or room box for a more authentic look that a real family lives there.