For this puzzle you will need:
- 1 shipping tag - about 6 cm x 12 cm (or cut one out of oak tag)
- 24 cm piece of string
- 2 beads, each larger than the hole in the tag
- scissors
- ruler or other straight edge
To make the puzzle:
1. Fold the tag in half.
2. Place the ruler as shown below, parallel to the edge and so that you can see the top of the hole and going all the way to the hole.
3. Move the ruler down until it is just above the bottom of the hole. Draw a second line parallel to the first. Be sure the distance between the lines is less than the diameter of the hole (see diagram to the right).
4. Starting at the fold, cut along both lines. Be sure you do not cut into the hole.
5. Unfold the tag. Thread one end of the string down through the hole, up through one of the slits, over the strip between the slits, down through the other slit, and back up through the hole.
6. Pull the ends of the string so that they are even. Tie a bead to each end of the string. (Check that you cannot pass the bead through the hole of the tag.)
Now the puzzle is ready to be solved. All you have to do is separate the string from the tag without removing the beads or tearing the tag.