Handmade okonomiyaki craft

Let’s try making okonomiyaki and yakisoba—just like the ones you see at summer festival stalls—using craft materials! Here, we mainly introduce how to make the griddle and spatula.

Feel free to create the okonomiyaki and yakisoba themselves using yarn, felt, and other materials.

For the griddle, cut 2 cm-wide strips from both long edges of a color foam board and attach silver origami paper to them.

Then cover the remaining center piece with black construction paper to form the griddle surface, and glue it between the cut side pieces.

Also attach 1 cm-wide strips of silver origami along the top and bottom edges of the griddle.

Draw in the vent openings, and it’s complete! For the spatula, cut a milk carton into a spatula shape and cover it with aluminum foil—that’s all you need!

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Flower fidget spinner

How about making your own hand spinner that twirls between your fingers or on a desk, finished in a cute flower shape? Use two circles cut from cardboard for the finger pads, connect them with a toothpick to form the axle, and attach the spinning flower piece between them, leaving a slight gap as you assemble the axle.

The way it spins will change depending on the gap between your fingers and the rotating part, as well as the size of the hole the toothpick passes through, so try building it while experimenting with ways to make it spin longer.

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An hourglass made of straws

Let’s make a toy where short straws fall like an hourglass.

First, cut a wire to 40 cm and wrap it around a pencil to make a spring.

Prepare two small paper cups and make a hole in the center of each bottom; thread one cup onto one end of the spring and secure it.

Stretch the spring and thread short, cut pieces of straw onto it.

Then thread and secure the other paper cup on the opposite end.

To prevent the spring from expanding and contracting, bridge two chopsticks between the two cups and glue them in place, and you’re done! Decorate the paper cups and chopsticks with masking tape or stickers to make it cute.

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Flower Hand-cranked Spinning Top

Let’s make a hand-spun top that you spin vigorously with your hand, designed with a cute, flower-inspired look.

We’ll use a disposable chopstick as the top’s axle, and wrap long, folded strips of paper around it to form the shape of the top.

Everyone should clearly imagine their favorite flower and think about which colors of paper will best match that flower.

Wrapping the paper tightly is the key to making the whole piece sturdy and ensuring it spins well.

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Cute shaved ice piggy bank

Here’s an idea for a shaved-ice coin bank made from a milk carton.

It’s adorable because a little face pops out when you put a coin in.

Prepare a small milk carton and peel off the outer printed layer so it’s white.

Cut the spout into a mountain shape.

Draw the syrup part with a pen, attach an iridescent (aurora) sheet, and create the slot for inserting coins.

Next, pierce a rotating cardboard piece with a bamboo skewer and fix it inside the milk carton.

Thread the face piece onto the part of the skewer that sticks out of the carton and glue it in place, then decorate the other end with beads.

Attach thick paper around it to hide the skewer, and close the spout to finish.

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Cream soda trinket case

When it comes to summery drinks, cream soda is a classic! So let’s make a cream soda-themed trinket holder.

This idea uses a flower vase sold at 100-yen shops.

It’s shaped like a rectangle topped with a half-circle, and it already looks like cream soda, doesn’t it? Apply green iridescent origami paper to the rectangular part and white masking tape to the half-circle to represent the drink and the ice cream.

Glue a cherry made from a pom-pom and a craft pipe cleaner to the outside, then insert a straw.

Add iridescent round stickers to mimic bubbles for an even cuter finish.

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Bead and pipe cleaner ideas

Thread beads onto pipe cleaners to make all kinds of little accessories.

First curl one end of the pipe cleaner, then thread on a bead.

Insert the curled tip into the bead’s hole, pull the other side to lock it in place, and after that just add your favorite beads and form a loop.

Make it larger for a bracelet, or use flower-shaped beads to create a flower crown for a doll.

You can also use them for cable ties, tiny bottle decorations, and many other situations.

Because you’re using pipe cleaners, the beads don’t slip off easily after threading, making this an easy activity for toddlers and lower-grade elementary school children.

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Making felt flowers

Why not try making flowers that never wilt using felt and pipe cleaners? It’s very easy and cute.

First, cut petals out of felt.

Slightly fold the base of each petal and snip along the crease—this is where you’ll thread the pipe cleaner later.

Cut a light green pipe cleaner into three 4 cm pieces.

Lay two pieces in an X shape, then place the third straight across and twist to form the stamen.

Wrap a green pipe cleaner around to make the stem, and wrap a yellow pipe cleaner around the tip of the stamen to represent the pollen.

Finally, thread the petals onto the stem and glue them in place to finish.

Try making your favorite flowers!

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A box for doing hair styling

Why not make a hairstyling box using a large empty box, felt, and yarn? It’s a great craft for kids who love tying or braiding doll hair.

First, cut out parts like the face, eyes, and mouth from felt, and stick them onto the box lid.

As if making a pom-pom, wrap yarn around cardboard, tie it at one point, then cut the looped ends.

Punch holes in the top of the face area on the box, thread the tied yarn through, and attach the “hair” around the face.

Make the side sections and bangs separately.

Also, secure the side hair at the upper left and right sides of the face.

Finally, decorate as you like with ribbons and more, and you’re done! Use the yarn as hair and enjoy styling it.

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Handmade croissant craft

Croissants, whose toasty aroma practically comes through just by looking at them, are a popular bread across generations.

Let’s recreate that delicious croissant appearance using materials you can get at a 100-yen shop.

For the base, cut a puzzle mat into three different sizes, then glue them together while creating steps.

Once the base is complete, apply double-sided tape across the entire surface and wrap brown yarn around it to mimic the look of a croissant.

Since the layered dough and variations in browning are part of a croissant’s appeal, experiment with how you wrap the yarn and also use paint to reproduce these details effectively.

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