[Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
Kids love new toys, don’t they?
They figure out how to play, add their own twists, and discover new ways to have fun.
Here are some ideas for making handmade toys that are easy to customize and adapt!
These ideas use materials you already have at home or can pick up at a 100-yen shop, so they’re all things you can start making right away.
It’s great for adults to make them, and there are plenty of ideas kids can make themselves, too.
Original, one-of-a-kind toys become extra special—and even more fun!
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[Let’s Make and Play!] DIY Toy Ideas (141–150)
Marbles and rubber bands
It’s a simple-looking craft that doesn’t seem like a spinning top at first glance: just link rubber bands together and attach a marble to each end.
The key is how you spin it.
Hold one marble, then rotate the other in circles to wind the rubber bands around the marble you’re holding.
Once the rubber bands are wound tightly, you’re ready—let go, and the rubber bands unwind, making the two marbles spin around rapidly.
The sight of it gradually expanding and the colorful marbles zipping around is quite striking.
Dice made from felt fabric
Which character will it be? Let me share an idea for making dice out of felt.
What you’ll need: felt, a needle, thread, and scissors.
Since the dice are made of felt, they have a soft, gentle texture that’s really appealing.
The character faces are cute, and the colorful dice are sure to get kids excited! If you add number designs as an extra touch, children can also get familiar with numbers while playing—highly recommended! Give it a try!
A toothbrushing doll that lets you try flossing too
Recommended for kids who aren’t good at brushing their teeth! Here’s an idea for a tooth-brushing doll that also lets them try flossing.
You’ll need an ice cube tray, a toothbrush, decorative pom-poms, illustrated face parts, craft glue, a whiteboard marker, a small storage case, and yarn.
Use the tooth-brushing doll to help kids develop a positive attitude toward brushing while they play! Pretend the decorative pom-poms are plaque stuck on the teeth, and it feels great to remove it with yarn as floss.
It’s also fun to scrub with a real toothbrush!
plastic bottle cap
The spinning top made by connecting plastic bottle caps with string has a unique wind-catching shape and a colorful look that really stands out.
Make a hole in the center of each cap, connect them with string to form a ring, and adjust the angles as you shape it into a circle.
Once it’s neat and round, attach round pieces of thick paper to the top and bottom center, make holes in them, and add the axle to finish.
If it’s too small and hard to spin, try increasing the number of connected caps or making the axle larger for an easier grip.
Also pay attention to which direction it spins more easily, and aim for a more stable rotation.
Plastic bottle windmill
Introducing a simple pinwheel you can make with a plastic bottle.
Get a plastic bottle, an awl, permanent markers, and a hanger ready.
Use the awl to make a hole in the bottom of the bottle.
Color the sides of the bottle with your favorite permanent marker colors.
Use a utility knife to cut slits in the side of the bottle, then fold them outward at an angle to create six blades.
Thread the hanger through the bottom of the bottle, bend the tip with pliers so it won’t slip out, add a straw, and you’re done.
When the blades spin, the colors you drew with the permanent markers whirl beautifully, making a lovely pinwheel!
paper pinwheel
It spins amazingly well when it catches the wind! Let me share an idea for a paper pinwheel.
You’ll need a decoration ring, a bamboo skewer, tape, a pencil, and scissors.
A decoration ring is a strip of paper; you can make it by cutting origami or other paper into long strips about 2 cm wide.
The steps are simple and easy to understand, so it’s a great craft for kids.
Since there’s a step where you cut the bamboo skewer, be sure to proceed with safety in mind.
Soap bubbles made with pipe cleaners
Like a magic wand! Let’s make a cute item that makes blowing bubbles even more fun.
First, prepare a cookie cutter in your favorite shape.
Shape a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) along the cutter and twist to secure it.
Next, thread a few beads of your choice onto the lower part of the stem.
To prevent the beads from slipping off, twist the tip into a small loop—and you’re done! The steps are simple and exciting to do, so try making it with family or friends and use it for your bubble play.
Let’s defeat the aliens!
Harness your creativity and make it with construction paper! Here are ideas for “Defeat the Aliens!” In the video, we use a cup-ramen rocket, but it could also work as a target for throwing stars! What you’ll need: construction paper in your favorite colors, tape or glue, scissors, pens, and round stickers.
What kind of image comes to mind when you think of an alien? Maybe a tall, slender green one, or a round, light-blue one—everyone has a different idea.
Use construction paper to freely create that image.
It really sparks creativity!
Scrap-wood Archery
Make and play with everyday materials! Here are some ideas for upcycled archery.
You’ll need: a paper tube, an awl, a straw, rubber bands, paper cups, tissue paper, and scissors.
First, use the awl to make a hole in the paper tube.
Cut off the accordion part of the straw, then ball up some tissue paper and attach it to the tip.
Cut a notch at the back of the straw where you can hook a rubber band, and you’re done! Stack paper cups to make a target.
Insert the straw into the hole in the paper tube, hook the rubber band, and launch.
Try experimenting with different ways to shoot!
pull chain
The movement of the rings is mesmerizing! Let me introduce a pull-chain idea.
All you need are a spring holder and colorful rings.
You can easily get the materials at 100-yen shops, so it’s a highly recommended idea.
There are no complicated rules or mechanisms—just pull the spring holder to play! It’s fun to watch the colorful rings spiral down as the pulled spring holder spins.
If you attach a card ring, you can hook it in various places and play with it too!