It's fun to spin! A collection of DIY toy ideas

A spinning top made from the bottom of a milk carton

[Craft Play 062] How to Make a Spinning Top Using the Bottom of a Milk Carton: An Easy-to-Make, Well-Spinning Handmade Top

There used to be a word, “milk bottle,” and for a long time milk normally came in bottles.

Back in the day, the milk served with school lunches was in small bottles, too.

Maybe people shied away from them because bottles are heavy and dangerous when they break? It feels like milk cartons took their place in no time.

But those milk cartons are paper and yet surprisingly sturdy, aren’t they? So how about making a spinning top using a milk carton? Just cut out circles or squares with scissors and stick a toothpick through—it’s almost done.

You can even use a plastic bottle cap as a handle.

And don’t forget to add your own special decorations!

Beautiful and fun origami spinning top

Speaking of spinning tops, personally I picture wood as the material.

If you’re from the beigoma generation, maybe iron comes to mind.

In fact, even in the Reiwa era, beigoma are quietly gaining popularity, and I’ve heard there are even superalloy versions on the market.

If you’re thinking, “Metal ones seem dangerous when you swing them around…,” then origami tops are a great recommendation.

You can enjoy making origami tops to match your crafting level, from simple ones made with a single sheet of paper to more advanced versions with a toothpick axle.

Some beautiful origami tops even use three or four sheets of paper.

If you’re confident in your dexterity, give it a try!

Coma with a Myakumyaku motif

@kei.chiiku

@kei_chiiku Thanks for checking this out♡ Subtle hints for growth, tucked into play. I share educational play ideas that parents and kids can enjoy together♪ If you have any questions about development or anything on your mind, feel free to DM me. I feature concerns and reply in Stories. ☆・☆・☆・☆・☆・☆・☆・☆・☆ \Watch the eyes wiggle when it spins!?/ I made a mysterious spinning-top doll inspired by “Myaku-Myaku,” the official character of the Osaka-Kansai Expo! [What we used] • 3 sheets of origami (15 cm) • 1 sheet of origami (7.5 cm) • Round stickers • Pen • Glue • Scissors • Tape [Learning points] ● Fine motor skills → Nurtured through detailed tasks like placing stickers and drawing eyes with a pen ● Spatial awareness → Enhanced by thinking about how to place parts in a well-balanced way ● Imagination and creativity → Expanded by freely drawing facial expressions and playing with it as a character ● Force control and wrist use → Developed by learning to apply just the right amount of force when spinning the top ● Expressiveness and storytelling → Naturally grows by role-playing as Myaku-Myaku and enjoying pretend play [Lastly] Spinning tops have been loved for generations. Compete as a family, cheer each other on as Myaku-Myaku… Have fun discovering new ways to play together! Thanks for reading to the end 😊 I’d love to hear your thoughts—like “We tried it!”♬TranslationExpo 2025 Osaka, KansaiExpo 2025 Osaka, Kansai#MyakumyakuKomaSpinning a topTraditional children's gamesSpin it and play#HandmadeToys#HomeCraftsSimple craftOrigamiFinger Dexterity EducationFostering creativityEducationaldevelopment# developmental support (ryōiku)#Kei Educational Play

♬ cute kawaii – nanaacom

Did you go to the Osaka-Kansai World Expo held in 2025? Although it was billed as a “no-lines Expo,” in the end people still had to line up; there were comments like not seeing many flying cars after all, and that it was so crowded it just left you tired.

But I believe the Osaka Expo offered emotions and excitement that far outweighed those negatives.

One of the stars of the Expo, Myaku-Myaku, was incredibly popular too.

It could be fun to make a spinning top in Myaku-Myaku’s colors—white, blue, and red—and use it to liven up your Expo memories.

If you can’t make a top with origami, simply painting a store-bought top in Myaku-Myaku colors works fine.

And if you can draw, definitely try illustrating Myaku-Myaku as well.

Make with Kids! Mini Gem Spinning Tops

Do you know your birthstone? It can vary depending on the tradition, but each month has an assigned birthstone—like garnet for January and amethyst for February.

The diamond for April feels kind of luxurious, doesn’t it? A spinning top decorated with those gemstones would be lovely.

For the body of the top, a simple coaster with the round bottom of a plastic bottle glued on is enough.

Then just decorate it with your favorite “gems,” and you’re good to go! I think little kids who love sparkly things will really get into it!

Cardboard hand-cranked spinning top

Kimie Gangi’s Cardboard Maru’s Transformation: “Hand-Cranked Spinning Top”

Back in the days when there were no video games or smartphones, kids played by hitting baseballs or kicking balls around.

Then you wonder—what did they do before baseballs and balls existed? They hopped on one foot, played tag, and in the end, they knew how to have fun within whatever environment they were given.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, why not make and play with a spinning top out of cardboard? It’s simple: just cut a circle from cardboard and insert a Frankfurt sausage stick or a pair of chopsticks.

Have fun painting it however you like! In an age when we have everything, a simple cardboard top might even feel refreshingly new.

Fun to spin! Cardboard top

Fun to spin! A top made from cardboard

What do you like about spinning tops? One thing I find charming about them is how their impression changes when they’re still versus when they’re spinning.

When a top painted red and blue starts to spin, it even looks slightly purple—doesn’t that seem lovely? So, how about making a cardboard top and giving it a beautiful paint job for fun? You can simply cut the cardboard into a circle to make a top, but there’s also a special appeal to making one by cutting the cardboard into long, slender strips, tidying them up, and layering them in concentric circles.

Decorate it with colored paper or chiyogami so vibrantly that you can’t even see the original cardboard!

A playable spinning top made from a paper cup

[Craft] New Year’s Craft — Easy Spinning Top

How about making your own traditional New Year’s spinning top this year and playing with it? You can easily make one with a paper cup, a straw, and a plastic bottle cap, so give it a try.

Leave about 5 millimeters of the bottom of the paper cup and cut around it with scissors.

If a child is making it, please have a guardian watch to prevent any cuts.

Once you’ve made slits all the way around, spread them out and draw your favorite patterns.

Make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, insert a straw cut to about 6 centimeters, and secure it to the cap—that’s it! Spend a fun New Year with a one-of-a-kind spinning top!

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