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 roll with a toilet paper core

Play with a marble run made from toilet paper rolls—upcycling fun!

Marble roll with a toilet paper core

This is a simple marble run you can make using toilet paper rolls.

Prepare eight toilet paper rolls.

Cut two of them in half to make two shorter pieces each.

For the remaining six rolls, make a single slit in each so they can be opened up.

Assemble these six into two vertical towers by stacking three each.

Attach the halved rolls diagonally across the openings of the towers to form slide-like chutes, and you’re done! To ensure the marble drops down properly, be careful not to glue one end of each chute completely to the tower—leave a slight gap at the end.

Decorate the toilet paper rolls by drawing on them or adding washi tape or patterned origami paper!

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Marble coaster made from drawing paper and milk cartons

[Elementary School Craft] Marble Coaster: A Handmade Toy Made with Construction Paper and Milk Cartons

Marble coaster made from drawing paper and milk cartons

Let’s try making a complex marble run using a milk carton and construction paper! First, close the opening of the milk carton to make a complete cube, then wrap it with construction paper in any color you like.

Next, use construction paper to craft detailed tracks in various shapes.

Make different kinds of paths—curves, sharp angles, and zigzags.

Once the tracks are ready, attach them to the milk-carton cube however you like, and you’re done.

There are no rules for how to build the tracks, so create an original and fun course full of personality!

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Safe Design Marble Game

No.156 “Safe-Design Marble Game” [Handmade Toy by Nursery Teacher]

Safe Design Marble Game

Kids love rolling toys! Many children want to play with marbles, but when kids are small, there’s a risk of swallowing them, which worries caregivers.

So here’s a toy idea that uses marbles safely.

Inside a box, move plastic bottle caps with marbles set inside them toward a goal without letting them fall into holes.

The marbles are firmly fixed to the caps, and the caps are also tied to the box with string, so it’s safe.

Decorate the box and caps with any designs you like, and play by tilting the box to slide the caps around.

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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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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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