Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction

A rubber band and a pencil have more recreational potential than your stationery drawer suggests. Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction is a fully illustrated project book for turning ordinary office supplies into miniature contraptions, including catapults, slingshots and crossbows. It suits the person who sees a pile of desk supplies and immediately starts wondering what else they could be.

The appeal is the build, not just the tiny arsenal. Step-by-step instructions and inexpensive, easy-to-find materials make this a low-commitment excuse to tinker. As a gift, it makes sense for someone who enjoys hands-on projects with a slightly ridiculous end result. A miniature catapult is a more interesting fate for office supplies than another afternoon of holding papers together.

Small does not mean harmless, though. These projects can cause injury, so children need adult supervision during both construction and use. Keep the target practice away from people, and leave unsuspecting coworkers out of the experiment.