Make it with everyday materials! A collection of fun summer vacation craft ideas

A marble coaster with interchangeable tracks!

Interchangeable Tracks! Marble Coaster, Marble Run No. 9 – Marble Run Machine #9

When you keep playing with the same toy, you can get bored, right? At times like that, try making a marble run with interchangeable courses so you can keep it fresh! First, build the base track out of cardboard.

Using bamboo skewers or similar materials, create features like an escalator-like lift that carries the marbles upward, or a spiral where the marbles twirl down.

For the swap-in courses, prepare pieces of cardboard shaped to fit into the base track, and on each one attach small cut pieces of cardboard, straws, or short wooden sticks to make a variety of course types.

By swapping these in and out, you can enjoy your marble run for a long time without getting bored!

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Marble coaster with a spiral coil

How to Make a Marble Run/Spiral Coil — How to Build a Marble Run Machine Spiral Coil

Let’s make a slightly unusual spiral-type marble run using wire! First, wrap the wire around a rod whose diameter is close to that of the marble.

As you wrap, check to make sure the marble can fall properly through the coiled wire and that the loops aren’t so large that the marble drops straight down in an instant.

Next, create a path out of cardboard that leads the marble to the spiral wire, and combine it with the wire to complete the course! It’s also fun to connect it with other tracks.

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Marble coaster with a spiral coil

How to Make a Marble Run/Spiral Coil — How to Build a Marble Run Machine Spiral Coil

Let’s make a slightly unusual spiral-type marble run using wire! First, wrap the wire around a rod whose diameter is close to that of the marble.

As you wrap, check to make sure the marble can fall properly through the coiled wire and that the loops aren’t so large that the marble drops straight down in an instant.

Next, create a path out of cardboard that leads the marble to the spiral wire, and combine it with the wire to complete the course! It’s also fun to connect it with other tracks.

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Marble run made from cardboard

Cardboard Craft: Marble Run — Childcare Tips Useful for Practicum and Training

Let’s try making a cool marble run using cardboard.

Prepare a rectangular piece of cardboard that isn’t too thick, and cut off one section on the large face and one section on the narrowest side.

Then, using the pieces you removed and other bits of cardboard, build the pathways for the marble to roll along and attach them to the base cardboard.

Instead of connecting every path all the way through, it’s also fun to leave gaps here and there so the marble drops down to the next level and continues.

Be sure to set up the goal area so the marble stops securely and doesn’t roll out after reaching the finish.

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Marble roll with a toilet paper core

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

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 roll with a toilet paper core

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

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 Rolling Tower

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

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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