Lovely handmade crafts

Craft a real playable DIY claw machine using everyday materials!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

A crane game that kids and adults can’t help but get hooked on! Why not try recreating it as a handmade version you can play anytime? Using familiar materials you already have at home, you can make a realistic crane game.

From the arm’s movement to the claw opening and closing, there are plenty of playful mechanisms.

Options range from battery- and motor-powered electric versions to manual versions operated with twine, with varying levels of difficulty.

You’ll enjoy the building process, and once it’s finished, you can have an exciting time playing with family and friends.

Here’s how to make your own handmade crane game.

Make it with everyday materials! DIY claw machine ideas you can really play with (21–30)

Mini crane game with straws

@ranmaru_shien
Mini Crane Game#HandmadeToys work Childcare Educational # developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay
♬ Super Mario Bros Main Theme – Geek Music

This is an idea for enjoying a crane game easily using just simple materials.

Bend the accordion section of a straw and secure it firmly with tape to create the arm.

Wrap construction paper around it to add strength, and cut the tip with scissors, spreading it out like petals.

This serves as the crane’s claw, allowing you to grab small prizes.

For operation, lighter materials are easier to handle, so colorful pom-poms or small beads are recommended.

Because the straw is easy to move, even children can operate it without using too much force.

It’s a fun idea that combines the ease of crafting with playability.

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A crane game where you can grab capsules

[Crafting LIVE] I made the crane part of a crane game that can grab capsules

A crane game where you can grab capsules

A capsule-compatible claw machine made from cardboard offers an impressive look and engaging controls.

Cut the main body parts from cardboard, temporarily hold them in place with tape, then assemble.

Making use of the corrugated structure increases strength and stability.

Thread yarn through the claw section for opening and closing, and set up additional yarn to support the body so it can be operated.

To prevent the claw from opening too wide, use items like batteries as stoppers for a more realistic motion.

Reinforce the claw so it can grip capsules without dropping them, and add eye designs to give the appearance a sharper finish.

Small adjustments to the details change the difficulty, making this a three-dimensional idea that expands the fun of play.

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Handmade UFO catcher with magnets

How to Make a Handmade Toy Claw Crane with Magnets [UFO Catcher] - DIY How to Make a Claw Crane -

Handmade UFO catcher with magnets

A handmade UFO catcher that combines colored paper clips and neodymium magnets is a unique craft that uses magnetism.

Fix the magnet to the end of a string and secure it firmly with glue.

For the main body, connect two plastic bottle caps vertically with masking tape, adding thickness to the sides so that the clips won’t stick to them.

Thread the string through the caps to complete the arm.

Pre-drill a hole in a clear bottle, pass the string with the main body through it, and drop the clips inside.

When lowered, the magnet attracts the clips; when pulled up, the distance increases and the clips release—just like a real claw machine.

It’s a clever idea that makes good use of magnetic properties.

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Water Play Crane Game

@silk_haru3mama
Playing a crane game while splashing around#HandmadeToys #Summer Vacation Summer Vacation Craft work #AtHomePlay
Idol – YOASOBI

A crane game made with plastic cups for water play is a craft that really shines in the summer.

Cut slits into the bottom of a plastic cup, fold the sections back, and make a small hole in the center.

Thread a straw through the hole and secure it firmly with a hot glue gun so it moves smoothly—even underwater.

Float the finished crane on the water and use small toys or beads instead of prizes, and you can play a scooping game.

The unique sensation of operating it in water is fun, and kids will get absorbed in the challenge.

It’s a cooling, summertime-perfect idea for play.

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In conclusion

Among easy-to-start crafts, handmade crane games have a particularly deep appeal.

The process of assembling each part and building a crane that actually moves is full of discovery and joy.

There are many materials and methods you can use, but be sure to savor the sense of accomplishment when you finish—and the fun of playing with your very own original crane game.