Lovely handmade crafts

Kids and adults alike will be captivated! A collection of DIY marble run ideas

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.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

How about making a marble run for a summer vacation craft or a handmade activity with your kids? We’ve gathered ideas for easy-to-make marble runs using familiar materials like cardboard, weatherstripping, and paper cups.

From simple tracks to complex courses with conveyor belts and spirals, these tips are packed with ways to double the fun of making and playing.

They’re also perfect for nurturing children’s creativity.

Make one together, enjoy the sound of the marbles rolling, and spend some truly absorbing time!

Kids and adults alike will be captivated! A collection of DIY marble run ideas (21–30)

Marble Rolling Tower

[WakuWaku-san] Marble Rolling Tower! <An easy marble coaster you can make with toilet paper rolls and construction paper>

Marble Rolling Tower

How about a stylish marble run, a Marble Rolling Tower, made from toilet paper cores and colored construction paper? First, stack three toilet paper cores vertically to make one long tube.

Next, let’s create the tracks where the marbles will roll using colored construction paper.

Prepare a rectangular sheet of colored paper, cut it lengthwise in half, then fold the half sheet in half two times.

Unfold the second fold, and along the crease you just made, cut a series of deep, fine slits from one edge to the other.

Once that’s done, fold it into a long, thin triangle to form the track.

Finally, attach the track diagonally to the tube like a slide, and glue a piece of cardboard to the very bottom of the tube as a base—done! Try making it with different colors of paper.

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Marble-rolling game made with 100-yen shop items

[Handmade Toy] Make It with 100-Yen Shop Items! Marble Rolling Game 🎮

Marble-rolling game made with 100-yen shop items

How about making a marble-rolling game like pinball or smart ball using 100-yen shop items? First, prepare a thick document file (the kind used for storing papers) and cut a piece of cardboard to the same size to use as the base.

Paste construction paper on it, then cut out faces of your favorite animals or characters from more construction paper and stick them on.

Punch a hole where the animal’s or character’s mouth is, create a starting point, and slide it into the file—done! Instead of animals or characters, you can also make ramps so the marble slides down, which is highly recommended.

It’s portable, so it’s great as a time-killer for kids when you’re out and about.

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Ideas for DIY marble runs that fascinate both kids and adults (31–40)

Marble maze made from a candy box

Let's make a marble maze with a candy box!

Marble maze made from a candy box

Here’s a marble run you can make using an empty candy box! Prepare a box where the lid and the compartment for the candy are separate.

On the side that held the candy, glue cardboard strips along two opposite edges and cut a hole where you can retrieve marbles that fall through.

On the lid, sketch the course, glue cardboard where you want walls, punch a few holes, and mark a start and a goal.

Once it’s ready, stack the two parts with the lid on top, and you’re done.

Depending on how you design the course, you can create marble runs with various levels of difficulty!

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Marble Climbing

Handmade toy: “Marble Climbing”

Marble Climbing

When you think of a marble run, you usually imagine marbles rolling from top to bottom, but this one makes the marble go upward.

First, prepare a wooden board with many holes big enough for a marble to fall through, and combine it with other wooden boards at an angle to form a box shape.

Next, make a small box just large enough to hold a marble.

Cut holes in the front and back of this box so the marble can pass through.

Attach strings to the box so you can pull it from both sides, creating a mechanism that lifts the marble upward—then it’s complete.

If, while lifting the marble, it slips through the box’s holes and falls into one of the holes in the wooden board, you’re out.

If the marble climbs all the way to the top without falling, you win!

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Cardboard Roulette

[Ultra-Realistic Casino Experience] A Must-See for DIY Fans: A Handmade Roulette That Gets Everyone From Kids to Adults Super Excited

Cardboard Roulette

Let’s make a cardboard roulette and have fun—something that kids and adults alike can get excited about! If your grade-schooler loves games, they’ll definitely get hooked on both building it and playing with it.

We’ll make the rotating base, the roulette wheel, and the spinning mechanism in order.

Next, decorate it with numbers and more, and finally attach a marble slide to finish it off! It’s a craft that gives a real sense of accomplishment, so why not give it a try? You can also go all out with lavish decorations to create a design full of personality!

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Marble run

Handmade marble run

Marble run

This is a fun craft where a marble spirals around and drops down along the core of a plastic wrap roll.

All you do is stick skewers into the roll while keeping step-like levels in mind—simple, but the skewers’ angles and spacing are key.

If you place the skewers poorly, the marble won’t make it to the bottom, so it’s best to experiment as you go.

The light, pleasant sound as it rolls is part of the fun, too, so aim for a satisfying sound by fine-tuning the number of skewers and the angles of the steps.

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In conclusion

A handmade marble run using everyday materials is perfect as a summer vacation craft that both children and adults can enjoy.

You can easily give it a try with items you already have at home, such as cardboard and paper cups.

Both the process of making it and the time spent playing will become cherished memories.

Enjoy the pleasant sound of the marbles rolling and feel the warmth of something made by hand.