How to Make a Paper Top

Make spinning tops from recycled paper.

Tops, also known as spinning tops or spintops, are one of the oldest and most popular antique toys that are still used by children for entertainment, according to the National Library of Australia. Cultures from the Arctic to the southern tip of South America have used the toys, which resemble a cone and can be spun on an axis by balancing on a point. Toy manufacturers use wood, paper, clay, metal or plastic materials to make the toys.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors or paper cutter
• 2 to 3 sheets of paper
• Glue
• Wooden toothpick

Instructions

1. Cut two to three sheets of paper into ¼-inch wide strips with a pair of scissors or a paper trimmer.

2. Place a small dot of glue on one end of a paper strip to adhere the paper to the toothpick so that no more than ¼-inch of the bottom part of the toothpick is exposed. The top part of the toothpick is also exposed so that you can spin the top with your fingers when it is finished..

3. Roll the paper strip around the toothpick tightly.

4. Glue another strip of paper to the end of the first strip and repeat Step 3. Keep doing this until the paper strips create a ¼-inch-diameter circle around the base of the toothpick. The number of paper strips that you will need vary depending on the thickness of the paper you use.

5. Place a dot of glue on the end of the last strip of paper to adhere it to the paper underneath.

Tips & Warnings

• Recycle paper scraps by utilizing old newspapers or scrap craft paper.

• Use a paper cutter to quickly cut your paper strips.

• The tighter you roll the paper around the toothpick, the easier it is to shape your top.

References

• Busy Mommy Media: How to Make a Homemade Paper Top
• National Library of Australia: The top: "Universal Toy, Enduring Pastime