I’m back with more simple paper toys you can make at home. Paper Tops are sturdy and easy to spin, even for little ones. You can decorate them and watch as your designs blend into circles when the top spins.

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Simple Paper Toys: Paper Tops

Materials 

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE HERE

• Colorful Cardstock
• Template
• 6″ Bamboo Skewers or 12” Bamboo skewers cut to 6” length
• Wood Beads
• Scissors
• Rubber Cement
• Hot Glue
• Sharpies(optional)

Instructions

• Step One Print out your template on cardstock. Medium weight cardstock (65lb-70lb) works best.
• Step Two Cut out template along BOLD lines. DO NOT cut light lines. Cut slightly through each center point.
• Step Three Fold along light lines. Burnish folds with fingertips to create a crisp crease along each fold.
• Step Four Spread glue on two tabs and hold them in place until glue sets. If desired add a piece of tape on inside of tabs to help secure.
• Step Five Spread glue on remaining tabs and press shape together while glue sets.
• Step Six Gently pierce top at center point with skewer and then through to the bottom. Skewer should be about ¼” through the bottom.
• Step Seven Add hot glue to bottom of exposed skewer and thread on a wooden bead. The skewer end should NOT be exposed.
• Step Eight Decorate as desired with markers.

You’re done! Spin that puppy! If you’ve decorated yours they are really fun to watch as they spin and the artwork blends together. The pentagon shape disappears and your eye sees only a circle.

Tips

• Use glue with some tackiness to speed up the drying process. We used rubber cement. Rubber cement should only be used by adults and older children.
• If your glue isn’t setting up quickly enough try taping the top together with clear tape. Be sure to tape all edges so you have a rigid top.
• Younger kids can decorate these before you cut and assemble them.
• For designs that are visible when the top is spinning, be sure to create bold dark areas on your top. They stand out as the tops are moving.

Looks Like

Myriam Bleau. Myriam Bleau is a Canadian digital artist and composer who has created beautiful works of installation art that explore light and sound. They are hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing. One of her recent projects Soft Revolvers involves spinning tops that emit sound and light as they revolve. for this reason I’ m profiling her here today. They magic of the spinning motion and the beauty of artwork that blurs the lines of music, light and design are not to be missed. Check out the Soft Revolvers video here.

Conclusion

I love making paper toys because they utilize materials we already have at home and teach kids about design and resourcefulness. Paper tops are simple to make and the long skewer stems make them really easy for kids to spin.

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