Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
Let me introduce some handmade toys using paper cups!
If “store-bought toys get boring quickly” or you “want to do crafting play with your child,” try making toys with easy-to-find paper cups.
We’ve gathered ideas that children of preschool and kindergarten age are sure to love, so have fun!
Paper cups, which we usually use for drinking, can move or even become musical instruments! They’ll surely make kids’ eyes sparkle with interest.
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Let’s make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys (41–50)
windmill
We’re going to make a windmill that spins in the wind using a paper cup.
First, use an awl or similar tool to make one hole in the bottom of the paper cup.
Cut six evenly spaced slits down the sides of the cup to create the blades, then fold each blade slightly at an angle.
Next, insert a toothpick through the hole you made first, slide a straw onto the toothpick, and then insert a chopstick into the straw—your windmill is complete! Paint the blades in your favorite colors and have fun!
Let’s make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun DIY toys (51–60)
Paper Cup UFO Catcher
The “Paper Cup UFO Catcher” is a popular DIY recreation idea you can enjoy with elementary school kids.
Cut eight slits into a paper cup to make tentacle-like arms, then insert a straw through the center to move it.
Place another paper cup over the top and move it up and down—this opens and closes the arms.
The moment it grabs the target is super exciting! It’s easy to make with everyday materials, yet the movement feels authentic and makes it really fun to play.
Figuring out the controls is part of the charm, and it gets even more exciting when friends compete.
It’s a recommended activity that combines the joy of crafting with the sense of achievement from a game.
Ogre puppet made from a paper cup
@hoikushisatomi [Easy to Make] Oni (Demon) Puppet CraftNursery teacher / Childcare worker#100-yen shop DIY#NurseryTeacherDailyLifeSetsubunOni of SetsubunPuppet
♬ Find you in the dark feat. Nenashi – Ovall
The “Oni puppet” made from a paper cup is a unique handmade craft idea that can be enjoyed year-round.
By simply attaching horns and a face designed from origami or construction paper to a paper cup, you can create an oni with lots of expression.
Both the materials and tools are simple, making it appealing for children to work at their own pace.
During the process, imagination is nurtured through experimenting with colors and shapes, and it naturally encourages interaction with caregivers and teachers.
The finished piece is fun to display and is a highly satisfying craft made from familiar materials.
Paper Cup Frog Puppet
Easy to make! Here’s an idea for a paper cup frog puppet.
Paper cups are familiar items often used in preschools and at home, right? This time, let’s make a frog puppet using a paper cup.
You’ll need a paper cup, a pen, glue or adhesive, round stickers, and scissors.
If you want to be particular about the cup’s color, you can attach construction paper or origami paper to the cup.
By getting creative with how you draw the facial expression, you can make frogs that look different even with the same basic method.
Authentic handmade guitar
Here’s an introduction to a genuine-sounding guitar you can make using items like toilet paper rolls and paper cups.
You’ll also use a sample-size paper cup; the key is to choose one whose bottom fits the toilet paper roll.
Cut slits in the paper cup, hook rubber bands onto both the cup and the toilet paper roll, and stack the two pieces together.
By adjusting the position of the toilet paper roll, you can improve the sound when you pluck the rubber bands.
If you attach the sample cup and make a pick, you can create an even more authentic guitar—give it a try!
A toothbrushing doll to make with children
Fun from infancy! Here are ideas for making toothbrushing puppets with your children.
You’ll need a milk carton, colored construction paper, and white round stickers.
Cut the milk carton and transform it into your favorite animal! For the final touch, stick the white round stickers—pretending they’re teeth—inside the mouth.
Infants can enjoy this step too, so it’s great to work on together with parents or teachers.
How about practicing scrubbing teeth with the milk-carton toothbrushing puppet you made as a team?
Sunflower pinwheel
https://www.tiktok.com/@utatan_simple_crafts/video/7376898403973778706Cute looks, too! Let me share a sunflower pinwheel idea.
You’ll need a paper cup and scissors.
Make 12 evenly spaced cuts into the cup, then spread the blades out like a propeller.
The key is to tilt the base of each blade about 30 degrees—and be sure to angle them all in the same direction.
You can also add leaves made from construction paper to the handle if you like.
Try making this sunflower that spins in the wind—its cheerful, cute look is sure to brighten your day!