Collection of handmade spinning top ideas: how to make tops for use in childcare and play
Spinning tops are a classic item enjoyed as a New Year’s game.
They’ve traditionally been played with because you can enjoy watching the top whirl around by pulling a string or twirling a stick, and they’re popular with children, too.
In this article, we’ve put together a roundup of handmade spinning top ideas that let you enjoy both making and playing.
Many can be made with simple materials you have at home, like milk cartons and flyers, so they’re easy to try.
Give it a go and create your own original tops with any illustrations or patterns you like.
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Collection of handmade spinning-top ideas: How to make tops you can use in childcare and play (21–30)
Cute with origami! Handmade spinning top
Let’s try making a cute-looking spinning top using origami that you can find in any household.
This top is made with three sheets of origami paper.
You can use the same color, but using different colors makes it more colorful and fun to watch as it spins.
First, make the base of the top.
The key is to make crisp creases; this will help the later steps go smoothly.
Once the base is done, make the part you’ll spin with your fingers and the part that connects it to the base.
Combine all the pieces, and you’re done.
It’s a project that’s fun both to make and to play with once it’s spinning.
Just paper plates and a bottle cap! A spinning top that even 1-year-olds can make
Koma (spinning tops) are perfect both for New Year’s games and for everyday play.
This top is easy to make: paste small torn pieces of origami paper onto the surface of a paper plate, then glue a plastic bottle cap to the center.
A tip is not to use the paper plate as is, but to fold it in half twice to make creases beforehand.
Doing this creates a central shaft-like area, making it spin more easily.
Hold the cap and try spinning it on a hard floor.
For a more festive look, use not only solid-color origami but also traditional Japanese patterned paper.
Origami spinning tops you can play with during the New Year!
@niconico_mama How did you spend New Year’s? 🥰Origami#origami
♪ Isn't it enough to be just cute? – First Chorus – CUTIE STREET
Here’s an origami spinning top idea you can make once you know the “zabuton fold.” You’ll use two sheets of origami paper, so prepare your favorite colors.
First, let’s fold the first sheet.
Do a zabuton fold by bringing all four corners to the center, then repeat that same fold two more times.
For the second sheet, also do the zabuton fold three times, but flip the paper over after each fold.
After the third zabuton fold, flip the paper over and open out the corners that are gathered at the center to the outside.
This will be the body of the spinning top; the first sheet will be the handle.
For the handle, squash the areas between the corners so the center stands up, then insert it inside the body of the spinning top, aligning the corners as you go.
Now your top is complete—use the handle to spin it and have fun!
sunflower
This sunflower spinning top incorporates a seasonal touch, looks cute, and spins really well! It’s a great idea for a summer vacation craft.
First, cut the rim of a paper cup into 16 equal sections and spread them out, then trim off any excess.
Rounding the edges of the sections that will become petals makes it extra cute! Next, attach a plastic bottle cap to the bottom of the paper cup, and you’re done.
You can use colored paper cups or decorate plain white ones.
It’s easy for small children to spin, so be sure to make it together as a parent-child activity and have fun playing with it.
Perler beads
Perler beads are arranged to create your favorite shapes and then fused with heat from an iron.
Let’s make a handmade spinning top using Perler beads—a craft that’s fun not only for kids but also for adults! The charm of this idea is that you can arrange the beads into any shape you like, such as circles, squares, or flowers.
If you get creative with color placement, you can enjoy the changing patterns as the top spins! Note that fusing Perler beads requires applying high heat with an iron, so if you’re crafting with children, make sure an adult handles this step.
jelly cup
We’d like to introduce a simple, well-spinning handmade top using jelly cups! If your kids love jelly and you end up with lots of empty cups you want to repurpose, this is an idea worth trying.
First, the trick is to choose jelly cups with a rounded bottom.
By combining this idea with plastic bottle caps, you can make four different kinds of tops.
They’re all very easy to make, so have fun making them together with your children.
For the finishing touch, decorating with washi tape or stickers can give your tops a unique, personal look.
CD
If you’ve got CDs lying around at home, why not repurpose them into handmade spinning tops? By combining a CD with a marble, you can transform it into a top that spins really well! The trick is to choose a marble that’s slightly larger than the hole in the center of the CD.
To make it, just apply glue around the center hole of the CD and fix the marble in place.
You can also add a small piece of double-sided tape where you pinch it, or use a finger cot for extra grip, making it easier to spin.
Plus, it’s fun to design and decorate the disc! Try making your own original top in your favorite colors and have fun spinning it.