![[Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Ideas for a Target Shooting Game](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/PWADqO7GUXU/maxresdefault.webp)
Starting with festival-style shooting galleries, target games are a popular pastime enjoyed by both kids and adults.
It’s a simple game where you just aim at and hit the targets with a ball or similar, but missing can be so frustrating that you can’t help getting hooked.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of DIY ideas for target games.
If you’re looking for handmade games that will delight children, why not give these a try?
Decorate the targets as ghosts or demons, and prepare different ways to knock them down—not just balls, but also toy guns, archery sets, air cannons, and more—to make things even more exciting!
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[Let’s Make and Play!] DIY Target Shooting Game Ideas (1–10)
Balloon gun target-shooting game
Let’s enjoy a target-shooting game with a balloon popper! The balloon popper is easy to make: take a paper cup and cut out the bottom, then stretch a balloon with the tip cut off over the opening and secure it with tape.
Be sure to cut off the part you blow into and tie a knot in the mouth of the balloon.
For the targets, cut a paper cup in half vertically and attach round pieces of construction paper with point values written on them.
For the projectiles, crumple up some paper into a ball and wrap it all around with tape.
Put the ball into the paper cup, pull back on the balloon, and let go—the ball will shoot out with a good burst of speed!
Target-shooting game with a plastic bottle air cannon
Let’s have fun knocking down targets with an air cannon! Making an air cannon is easy.
Cut a sturdy plastic bottle about 5 centimeters from the mouth, and reinforce the cut edge with vinyl tape.
Snip off a bit of the balloon’s expandable part, then stretch it over the cut end of the bottle and secure it with tape.
Be sure to tie off the balloon’s mouth.
Pull and stretch the balloon, then release it, and air will shoot out from the bottle’s mouth to knock down the target.
Make the targets out of lightweight materials like construction paper.
Demon-slaying play in pachinko
Pachinko, long popular with children, makes a perfect toy for target practice.
Cross the ends of two chopsticks in a plus shape and tie them with a rubber band.
On the opposite end, lay a short chopstick across horizontally and secure it the same way.
Cut a small rectangle out of sturdy material like thick paper or a milk carton, then punch one hole on each side.
Thread a rubber band through each hole and tie them, then attach the other ends to the split tips of the chopsticks you made earlier.
That’s it! For targets, stick origami paper onto toilet paper rolls, draw faces to make little “oni” (demons), and you’re ready.
Make it by Setsubun and try your hand at “oni-slaying” on the day!
Target shooting game with a rubber band gun
This is a target game that uses a rubber band gun made with straws and a clothespin.
Rubber band guns are often made with chopsticks, but for small children, straws might be easier to handle.
It may seem difficult to make, but in fact you only need to attach five points, so follow the steps and take your time.
Fixing the straw and the clothespin can be a bit tricky depending on age, so an adult should help with that part.
You can use anything for the targets, like construction paper or paper cups.
Just be sure not to aim at people or animals.
Target shooting game with milk cartons
Here’s an idea for making a target game using a single milk carton.
After washing the carton well and letting it dry, cut off the bottom and the spout.
Snip along the corners of the remaining part to open it up, then cut it in half vertically.
Take one half and fold it in half lengthwise (mountain fold).
Next, fold both ends inward toward the center crease (valley folds) so it forms an M-shape from the side.
Staple only one of the valley-folded sides—this completes the launcher tool.
Take the other half of the carton, divide it into three pieces, and draw pictures or designs on them to make your targets.
Hook a rubber band onto the launcher, then spread the un-stapled end to the left and right—the rubber band will shoot forward with a snap.