How to Make a "Missing to Kissing" Puzzle from a Straw

This Japanese puzzle represents two separated lovers (the little beads) who wish to be reunited. Their journey begins at opposite ends of the puzzle and it's up to you to reunite them.

You can make this puzzle using just a plastic straw, two plastic beads and a piece of string. While it's simple to make, it's fairly difficult to solve! Your objective is to bring them together on one side without untying the string, and let them kiss. For their happiness, they need your help!

Note: In honor of the originating author who is from Japan, this article is dedicated to reuniting the missing people with their loved ones.

1. Draw a face on each of the plastic beads.
   
   
2. Cut a piece of straw 8 -10cm (approximately 4 inches) in length.
   
   
3. Flatten the center of the straw.
   
   
   • Make a hole in the straw that is the same width as the straw (this should be approximately 6mm/0.23" in diameter for a 6mm /0.23"straw) because you will be sliding in the other straw, so the hole needs to be large enough without cutting the straw in two.
     
     
   • Placement of the straw in the hole punch.
     
     
   • The resulting hole.
     
     
   • A side-on view. Note that the hole has not cut the straw in two!
     
     
4. Cut a piece of string about 50cm (20 inches) long and thread it through the straw first.
   
   
   • Insert another piece of straw through the hole, as shown. You'll need to weavearound the thread running through the first straw.
     
     
5. Clip down the added length of straw, leaving about 2cm (1 inch) even length on each side of the added straw.
   
   
   • How it now appears from the side.
     
     
   • Here is what it appears like as a whole.
     
     
6. Add the beads to complete the puzzle creation. Follow this main diagram if you want to understand the entire structure of the threaded string within the puzzle as you move along threading the string and beads.
   
   
   • Thread one bead onto the string.
     
     
   • Once the bead is in place, bring this side of the string up and through the small inserted piece of straw that has no string in it yet.
     
     
   • Wind this piece of string around the two straws as shown in the image (click on image to enlarge if needed). Bring the string under the long straw to one side, then up and over the short straw on one end, and then under the other side of the long straw.
     
     
   • Now bring the loose end of string back down through the short piece of straw. As shown in the image, you should now have a circular shape underneath the short straw. Leave the piece of string dangling out at the end as shown.
     
     
   • Thread the other bead on to the dangling piece of string.
     
     
   • A close-up showing both beads on the string.
     
     
7. Tie the loose end that sits just under the second bead up with the piece of string that is coming out of the end of the long straw. Tie a neat and strong knot so that it won't come apart when trying to do the puzzle. Slide the knot neatly into the long straw so that you don't see it.
   
   
   • Adjust the puzzle so that it sits evenly as in this image.
     
     
8. Solve the puzzle! You need to:
   • Bring this lover to...
     
     
   • This lover, so that...
     
     
   • They can be together!
     
     

• When you and your better-half have quarrel, play this and get-together again!

• 1 plastic straw (the straw used in the pictures measured 6mm/0.23" in diameter.)
• 2 plastic beads which are bigger than the straw. The beads used in the pictures measured 10mm/0.39" diameter.)
• String (about 50cm/19.68" in length)
• Hole punch (hole size: 6mm/0.23" diameter)
• Permanent marker
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