How to Make a Yo-Yo Out of Cardboard
The yo-yo was first patented by James L. Haven and Charles Hettrich in 1866, and important figures in history such as Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington are said to have enjoyed them. Ancient Greek yo-yos, made from terra cotta, are displayed at museums in Athens, while other yo-yos have been made from stone, clay, wood, fabric and even cardboard. Make a cardboard yo-yo at home using a drinking straw, scissors and a hot glue gun.
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard backs from spiral notebooks
- Protractor
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Drinking straw
- Packing string
- Tape
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
Instructions
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1
Draw eight 2 and 1/2 inch circles on the cardboard notebook back. Press firmly with the protractor to leave a mark in the center of each circle. Cut out the circles.
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2
Insert the protractor into the center mark on the cut-out cardboard circle. Draw a 1/4-inch circle. Cut out each 1/4-inch circle with a craft knife. Repeat the process on five other cardboard circles. Two full circles will remain without holes in the center.
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3
Place a full circle on the table. Glue three circles with center holes on top of the full circle. Make sure to line up the center 1/4-inch hole and the outer circle edges. Repeat the process with the remaining circles.
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4
Measure, mark and cut a drinking straw to 3/4-inch. Measure and cut a piece of packing string 36 inches long. Tape one end of the string to the center of the 3/4-inch drinking straw.
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5
Put a drop of hot glue in the center holes of the cardboard. Insert the ends of the 3/4-inch drinking straw in the two holes. Press together firmly.
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6
Tie a loop in the end of the 36-inch string. Wrap the string around the 3/4-inch straw.
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