Make & Shake: The World’s Easiest Tambourine Craft
by Gabby Cullen
Got a paper plate? If so, you can easily make this fun instrument
Give your kids a crash course in music appreciation, and fill an afternoon with creative fun by helping them make a DIY tambourine. Scroll down to find out what you’ll need (a few supplies and lots of imagination!) to make this paper plate tambourine, and your baby Beethovens will be hosting their own jam sessions in no time. Feeling crafty? Check out these other homemade instruments that actually work.
What You’ll Need to Make a DIY Tambourine
1. Stiff paper plates (we used Chinet lunch plates)
2. Curling ribbon— any color
3. Silver jingle bells
4. Marker pens
5. Stickers
6. Scissors
7. Fishing line
8. Hot glue gun (parental supervision required)
9. Hole punch
Design the Paper Plate Tambourine
Let your kids design their own tambourine using markers and stickers. Each plate will be a side of the instrument.
Assemble the DIY Tambourine
Step One
Measure and punch along the edge of the two paper plates. One spot at a time, use a pen to line up the location of the holes on each side of the tambourine.
Step Two
Using the fishing line, thread two jingle bells through each hole. Continue until every punched hole has two bells strung tightly.
Step Three
Curl strips of ribbon with the scissors and then using just a dab of hot glue, insert and secure the strips to the bottom of the tambourine.
Play the Tambourine
They’ll love the impromptu jam session that occurs right after the project is complete!
