Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play
Did you know that paper cups, which are handy as simple drinking cups, are also great for crafts and indoor play?
When it comes to paper cup crafts, string telephones are the classic example, but they’re also used for a variety of make-and-play projects like kendama and bamboo-copters.
This time, we’ll introduce some activities that use paper cups you likely have at home.
There are plenty of games that use paper cups as-is, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to start playing right now.
If you’re looking for safe toys or games for children or the elderly, be sure to take a look for ideas.
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Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play (21–30)
Easy and fun! Paper Cup Race
@houkagoday_yawara Paper Cup Race 🦑 Draw your favorite picture on a paper cup and let’s compete! Time trials or big group races are super fun too 😀 Materials: paper cups, vinyl tape, raffia ribbon (Suzuran tape), ball Goal: Think about how much force to use, pull so the ball doesn’t fall and doesn’t leave the course, and build your thinking skills ✊ Let’s try it! 🇯🇵child# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlayAfter-school day serviceNagasakiEducational#NeurodevelopmentalDisordersworkTranslationHandmade
♬ Pokopoko cute game style BGM(1527385) – sanusagi
Here’s a fun paper cup race you can make with everyday materials.
Get some paper cups, raffia tape (plastic ribbon), and vinyl tape ready.
Poke holes in the paper cups, thread the raffia tape through, and tie a single knot to assemble it.
It might be nice to draw faces on the cups with a felt-tip pen, too.
Once it’s finished, place a ball on the cup, pull the string, and start the race.
Move slowly and carefully so the ball doesn’t fall off.
Try timing your runs or competing to see who can reach the finish line the fastest and have fun!
Kids and adults alike will get hooked! Paper cup claw machine
A crane game you can make with paper cups that fascinates both kids and adults.
Punch small holes in the bottoms of two paper cups, fold them into eight equal sections, and alternate the folds back and forth.
Leave four of the sections as slits to create movable parts.
Next, insert a straw with cuts in it to act as the arms and provide movement.
Connect that straw section to the other paper cup, and you’ve completed a mechanism that can be operated like a crane.
By adjusting how you move it, you can enjoy grabbing prizes.
It’s relatively easy even for beginners at crafting, and the materials are simple to prepare.
It’s a fun idea that you can get excited about making together with kids—and have a great time playing with afterward.
How to Make an Easy Guitar
A simple guitar you can make with paper cups lets you easily live out the dream of strumming a ringing guitar.
First, glue the bottoms of two paper cups together.
Then stack another paper cup on each side with slits cut into them, and attach rubber bands into those slits—done.
The key here is the length of the rubber bands.
By choosing which slit to anchor them in and lining up rubber bands of different lengths, you can create differences in sound just like a real guitar.
Think about what kind of sound will make it feel cool, and fine-tune it into your ideal guitar.
How to make a paper-cup kendama
This is a paper-cup kendama made with a paper cup and plastic bottle caps.
First, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the paper cup and thread a 60 cm piece of yarn through it.
Be careful not to hurt yourself when making the hole.
Tie a knot at the end of the yarn so it won’t slip out, and secure it to the outside bottom with cloth tape.
Tie a knot in the other end of the yarn as well, place it between two plastic bottle caps facing each other, and fasten them together with cloth tape.
That’s all it takes to complete the main body! After that, customize it with stickers or markers in any design you like.
It’s great because even kids who struggle with a real kendama can have fun and play together!
Halloween paper cup gacha
Gachapon capsule toys are popular with everyone from kids to adults because it’s exciting to see what comes out.
This time, let’s handcraft a candy gachapon perfect for Halloween.
You can easily prepare it since the materials are all easy to find.
Cut holes and slits in a paper cup to create a pathway for the candy.
Make a handle and a tray to catch the candy using colored paper, then assemble the pieces.
Finally, add your favorite treats like hard candies, chocolate, or jelly beans, and you’re done.
Change the decorations for each type of candy, or draw ghost illustrations to create an even more festive atmosphere.
A moving ghost toy
This is a handmade, cute ghost toy that you can move around freely.
It’s very easy to make.
First, decorate a paper cup to create the stage where the ghost will move.
Color it, draw illustrations, and finish it off with stickers if you like.
Next, cut out a ghost from construction paper.
Attach magnets to both a wooden spatula and the ghost.
Make sure to check the orientation of the magnets’ north and south poles so they don’t repel each other.
Once the ghost and the spatula stick together with the paper cup in between, your ghost is ready to fly freely around the world of the paper cup.
It’s also safe to make since it doesn’t involve any cutting with blades.
A UFO catcher made with two paper cups
This is a paper-cup craft that lets you enjoy an arcade-like experience using only everyday materials.
Cut slits into the first paper cup, spread them open, and fix a straw in place to create an arm-like mechanism.
Punch a hole in the second paper cup and thread the straw through it to complete a movable arm.
Set lightweight toys or paper-made prizes in place, and kids can enjoy the excitement of aiming and catching them.
Playing with a device they made themselves boosts their sense of accomplishment and helps develop observation and problem-solving skills.
It’s a unique idea that’s both fun and educational, guaranteed to get everyone engaged.