How to Make Tambourines With Household Items

Making a tambourine is a fun kids' craft. They get to express themselves both by creating the tambourine and making music with it. There are several ways to make a tambourine with common household items. Two methods are detailed here.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard
• Newspaper
• Wallpaper paste
• Paint or collage items
• Washers
• Bells
• Old keys
• String

Make a Tambourine From a Plate

1. Decorate the top of an aluminum pie pan or a paper plate or bowl with crayons, paint, stickers or collage.

2. Pick up the pie pan or plate and hold it as if it were a tambourine. Figure out where you will hold the tambourine. This area should be free from holes.

3. Punch holes with a paper punch around the edge of the paper bowl or plate.

4. Cut a piece of ribbon. Thread a washer, a jingle bell, and another washer onto the ribbon. Then thread the ribbon through one of the holes in the plate. Tie it so that it's loose enough for the washers and jingle bells to clang together and make noise.

5. Repeat this procedure for each remaining hole in the plate.

Make a Paper Mache Tambourine

6. Cut a long piece of cardboard into a strip that is 2 to 3 inches wide.

7. Shape the cardboard into a circle so that the ends overlap. Staple the ends together.

8. Tear small, square shapes out of newspaper.

9. Spread wallpaper paste on the inside and outside of the cardboard circle. Cover it completely with the newspaper pieces. Make sure the pieces are flat and wrapped around the edges of the cardboard. Allow it to dry for several days.

10. Make 4 to 6 pairs of holes in the sides of the tambourine with a sharp nail or screw.

11. Decorate the tambourine with paint or collage.

12. Thread bells, washers and old keys on string. Thread the string through the holes in the tambourine. Tie knots on the end of the string.

Tips & Warnings

• Have an adult do the cutting and stapling parts of the project.