How to Make Your Own Homemade Shaker

Household cups can be turned into musical shakers.

Making a shaker is a simple craft for kids that can provide endless entertainment. Shaker crafts are perfect for classrooms, daycare facilities or birthday party activities and can be made using a few simple supplies. Look around your kitchen and see how you can recycle containers or cups to give them new life as music makers for kids to play with. Once shakers are made, organize a parade with the kids and their new shakers.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups (plastic, paper or foam)
• Stickers, glitter paints, permanent markers, paint pens or construction paper
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Beans, rice, pasta shapes or beads
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Decorate the cups. Foam cups can be drawn on with markers, or you can cut shapes out of construction paper and affix them with craft glue. Use glitter squeeze paints, permanent markers or paint pens to decorate the cups with designs, or embellish with stickers.

2. Fill one of the cups halfway with something that will make a noise when shaken. Use dried beans or rice, beads or small, uncooked pasta shapes, such as elbows.

3. Line the mouths of the cups with the hot glue gun and press together to adhere them. This will form one large shaker. Allow the glue to dry for 1 to 2 hours.

References

• Kaboose; Maracas; Amanda Formaro
• Activity Village: Mardi Gras Cup Shakers