Handmade Anpanman toy ideas
When it comes to characters popular with toddlers, “Anpanman” is definitely one of them!
In this article, I’d like to introduce ideas for handmade Anpanman toys.
I’ve gathered lots of ideas, from using recycled materials like plastic bottles and milk cartons to durable fabric toys you can use for a long time.
There are many cute Anpanman toys available to buy, but sometimes you might want to make your own.
If that’s the case, please use this as a reference!
Some ideas are easy to make, so it’s also great to enjoy crafting together with your child.
Handmade Anpanman toy ideas (1–10)
Marble Drop
Why not try making a marble drop inspired by Anpanman? The base will be a plastic bottle.
First, cut it into three equal sections, then insert a piece of thick paper between the sections and reassemble them.
Punch marble-drop holes in the thick paper and decorate it to evoke Anpanman.
You could also make the thick paper look like Anpanman’s or Baikinman’s face.
Once you add the marbles, it’s complete.
Its cute appearance and the sound of the marbles dropping will captivate children.
You can enjoy matching pictures too! A plastic bottle toy
Here’s an idea for a PET bottle toy that’s perfect for educational play.
First, prepare several plastic bottles.
Next, cut each bottle at about one-third from the top.
Then, insert a piece of thick paper with a character drawn on it into the open section.
Finally, stick a sticker of the same character on the bottle cap, and it’s complete.
Kids can enjoy opening and closing the caps and matching the character designs.
Using caps in different colors makes it look colorful and extra cute.
felt ball
Felt balls, which can be played with in many ways, are also recommended.
First, download a pentagon template from the internet and use it to cut cardboard.
Next, cut felt to match the pentagons you’ve made and embroider the characters on them.
Once you have 12 pieces, assemble them, stuff them with filling, and you’re done.
I hope you’ll play freely—roll it to see which character shows up or toss it in the air.
You can also put a bell inside to enjoy the sound.
Button practice toy
Here’s a toy idea that lets kids practice buttoning using Anpanman’s facial parts.
It’s made with felt.
First, stack two circular felt pieces to create the base of Anpanman’s face.
Embroider the eyebrows, nose, cheeks, and mouth outline on it, then sew buttons onto the eyes, nose, and cheeks.
After that, sew the corresponding attachable parts that fasten onto the buttons, and you’re done! You can use either snap buttons or regular buttons with holes—choose whichever seems more fun for your child.
milk carton car
Here’s an idea for a milk carton car that you can actually ride and enjoy.
This project uses a plant stand with casters and milk cartons to make a vehicle.
Once the base is complete, cover it with felt and decorate it.
The visual design is up to you, but it’s a good idea to use popular characters as motifs.
You could also model it after an Anpanman car.
By the way, the plant stand with casters can be purchased at a 100-yen shop.
It’s a very cost-effective idea, don’t you think?
Puzzle
Puzzles are said to enhance imagination and concentration.
So here’s an idea for a fun puzzle you can make.
All you need is a milk carton.
Cut it into parts to form squares, then combine them to create a mechanism where the faces rotate—imagine four blocks rotating inward.
Once that’s done, design a character on each face and you’re finished.
The fun part is that as you rotate the faces, different characters keep appearing one after another.
drop-in box toy
Let’s make a drop-in toy that makes a fun sound when pieces fall in.
The base is an empty milk can.
Cut a hole in the lid to create the entry for dropping pieces.
Next, decorate the can with felt or other materials.
It would be lovely to make the round lid look like Anpanman’s face, too.
Once the can is ready, make the pieces to drop.
You can do this by combining two plastic bottle caps—simple! Its straightforward design makes it easy and appealing to try.