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)
One sheet of origami! How to fold a spinning top you can display and play with
This is a spinning top you can make using steps similar to the classic crane.
Please prepare a toothpick-like twig for the handle and axle.
Prepare one sheet of origami, fold it into a triangle twice, then squash the pocketed part into a square.
Next, crease and change the shape into a diamond.
Up to this point, it’s the same as the crane, right? Turn a layer of the paper to change the face, then fold up the bottom corners on both sides to make the origami into a triangle.
Now that you should have four triangles on the sides, make a mountain fold along each triangle’s center line and collapse it sideways, flattening it so each triangle becomes half its size.
When it looks like a pinwheel, flip the origami over and fold the collapsed sections inward to create a spiral pattern.
Insert the toothpick-like twig into the center, and it’s complete.
How to fold a spinning top using two sheets of origami paper
Here’s how to fold a spinning top that twirls with just a light touch.
First, fold into a triangle twice to make crease lines.
Fold all four corners to the center to set the creases.
Turn the paper over so a corner faces you, then fold that front corner up to the top crease.
Open it and turn to the front, then use the “Kannon” fold to make guiding creases.
Fold the corners along the creases so they overlap into a square.
Shape it into a three-dimensional form like a spinning top—this completes the shaft.
Using another sheet of origami paper, start from the “zabuton” fold to make the body.
Finally, stack the two pieces together and you’re done!
How to fold a playable spinning top
Here’s a simple spinning top idea made with two sheets of origami paper.
If you can do the “zabuton fold,” where you fold all four corners toward the center, you can make it.
Use the first sheet for the body of the top and the second sheet for the handle.
For the body, do one zabuton fold, then flip the paper over and fold the same way.
Flip the paper over once more and do another zabuton fold.
Then fold the four corners that have gathered on the back outward into triangles, and the body is done.
For the handle, do the zabuton fold three times in a row without flipping, then valley-fold along the diagonal and press it flat.
Insert the handle into the inner, folded-back section of the body to complete the top.
Cute to display! A flat spinning top
Perfect for wall decorations, too! This is a flat spinning top made from a single sheet of origami.
First, fold the paper into a triangle to make a crease, then open it and rotate it so the crease runs vertically.
Next, fold both lower edges in to meet the crease, then flip the paper over.
Fold the top corner down into a triangle to make a crease and unfold it, then fold the top corner down again along that crease.
Using the crease, make two roll folds on the same section, then flip the paper over.
Fold the bottom corner up so it sticks out slightly above the top, then fold the left and right corners to shape it like a spinning top.
Turn the origami to the front, and fold both sides to the back so the colored section forms a triangle.
Finally, make a step fold at the bottom corner to finish!
How to fold a playable Anpanman spinning top
Let’s make a Beyblade you can easily battle with using origami! In this idea, you’ll use four sheets of origami paper to create the outer body, inner body, handle, and hand decorations, then combine them into a single Beyblade.
The inner body and handle are basically made with the zabuton fold.
The outer body follows the same steps as the trick boat up to a point.
After making two boats, squash both sides into squares, then transform them into diamond shapes.
Draw the Anpanman illustration on this part.
Finally, make four hand decorations using origami paper cut into quarters, insert them into the illustrated section, and you’re done! The folding steps themselves aren’t difficult, so it’s perfect for parent-child origami time.
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.